An Animal Kingdom State of Being with Cam and Fam COMPLETED 9/18 - Page 16 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
That rollercoaster looks seriously awesome! We are planning to visit IOA on our December trip to see Harry Potter, but now I'm wishing we were going to US too!
When DH drops a penny or dime, he'll leave it there so that someone else will have good luck in finding and picking it up later ("find a penny, pick it up..."). Because he had always been told that a "good luck" penny is only good luck if it's heads up, he will actually go so far as to bend over and flip over a coin that he has dropped so that it is showing heads and not tails. He'll even stop and flip over coins that others have dropped to make sure they are heads up, but he won't pick them up. And he does this everywhere, not just at Disney. Just a way of sprinkling some pixie dust, I guess. That was clearly *not* what happened with your guy, but glad that you and Luke were the beneficiaries!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
I am really enjoying all of your pictures and descriptions of US! We normally only do Disney, because I hate to leave my bubble , but the lure of WWOHP is bringing us to US this December. I can't wait to read your review!
__________________
Saturday, October 9, 2014 - Kaitlyn and I before the Happy Haunted 5K at ESPN Wide World of Sports
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
Great trip report! What an amazing plane ride. I love the pictures of Stefanie in the pilots seat Thank you for sharing your experience at Universal. I would love to visit. Can't wait for the rest of your trip report!
OK, all caught up now! As everyone already said, love the zebra laptop bag! Very cute! And your shorter haircut looks so cute in your pic! Was it easy to style in the Florida humidity? Did you miss your ponytail?
More pls!
A little bit behind, but all caught up now! Thanks for the pictures of the Royal Pacific. I've been contemplating a stay at one of the Universal Hotels for our 3 day jaunt off of Disney property next April. I think I'm going to be able to cross the Royal Pacific off of the list--I just don't love the color scheme. (At the moment I have a room booked at Marriott's Sabel Palms and got a great rate on a two bedroom suite--yea employee discounts)
It sounds and looks like dinner was a great success! I love the last photo of Stefanie!
It looks like your first morning at Universal is starting off well. I can't wait to ride that roller coaster!
The color scheme would be my only complaint about the resort as I'm really not into pastels, but the room was spacious and the beds were very comfortable. Pillows were a pain as they were so mushy soft, but so were the ones at AKL both Jambo House and Kidani Village. I was so glad to get home to my medium firm pillow.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ace_Athena
Got a bit behind! How that Stefanie got to pilot the plane! Those goody bags sure helped your vacation start off magically!
Your hotel looks very nice! John and I plan on taking the boys to US/IOA when they are older, so your pics may help us decide to stay there!
I Scooby Doo! Those cartoons were my favorite growing up (I even got to see a German dubbed version in my German Class in HS). It seems like Stef loved the dinner!
That coaster is calling my name! John and I are both thrill ride junkies, so we are hoping the boys are too when they are older so we won't have to kid swap.
Great TR!
Luke and I both loved Scooby Doo as kids! Definitely one of our favorites, so it was for Stefanie to meet him and be so excited!
Quote:
Originally Posted by zacksmom_1993
Cam- Your trip sounds so relaxed and wonderful! Seriously, can you teach me how you do it. I always seem to be so frantic about everything.
I'm glad you enjoyed RPR. Zack and I did too! Really felt like a deluxe experience at Disney moderate prices. And, I'm guessing your next update will really start showing some of the perks of the Express line, etc. They really treat their onsite guests well! Can't wait for more!
I'm frantic, too, but Luke is the great calming factor in our family.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shnewell
That rollercoaster looks seriously awesome! We are planning to visit IOA on our December trip to see Harry Potter, but now I'm wishing we were going to US too!
When DH drops a penny or dime, he'll leave it there so that someone else will have good luck in finding and picking it up later ("find a penny, pick it up..."). Because he had always been told that a "good luck" penny is only good luck if it's heads up, he will actually go so far as to bend over and flip over a coin that he has dropped so that it is showing heads and not tails. He'll even stop and flip over coins that others have dropped to make sure they are heads up, but he won't pick them up. And he does this everywhere, not just at Disney. Just a way of sprinkling some pixie dust, I guess. That was clearly *not* what happened with your guy, but glad that you and Luke were the beneficiaries!
What a sweet thing for your DH to do!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedisney0_0
and PS, I found this TR because your pic of Cape May is on the front page of Passporter today. I want to read that review, too!!
for letting me know! I had forgotten to check the front page yet. The Cape May picture is from the photo archive and dates to June 2010, but I did write about it in last June's TR.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ariel14
OK, all caught up now! As everyone already said, love the zebra laptop bag! Very cute! And your shorter haircut looks so cute in your pic! Was it easy to style in the Florida humidity? Did you miss your ponytail?
More pls!
I loved the new pixie cut for Florida weather and got much better at styling it as the trip went on. It really didn't mess up as much, so I didn't miss the ponytail at all.
Meeting a Donkey, a few aliens, and some cartoon guys all before lunch
June 5 Part 2
As we exited the Shrek 4-D theater, we shopped in the little shop where we learned that Donkey would soon be meeting and greeting just across the street. Stefanie purchased a Universal Studios autograph book, which was actually a waste of money for her as she only ever got one autograph (a stamp) in it.
Once she had paid, we headed across the street where Donkey truly was about ready to come out. This was one of the highlights of our US/IoA portion of the trip. Donkey was incredible! First he loved Stefanie’s name. When he asked her where she was from, she answered Kentucky. He immediately without hesitation replied, “I was supposed to be in the Kentucky Derby, but found out there was no donkey class.” And then he proceeded to laugh at himself. He asked Stefanie who that other girl was with her. When she told him that I was her Mom, he flattered me, saying that he had mistaken me for her sister. More laughter! Stefanie and I were getting ready for Luke to take our picture with Donkey, when Donkey yelled at Luke, “You think you’re Spielberg or something. You think you’re the only one who knows how to use a camera. Give that camera to that lady and get over in this picture..” There was more to the conversation, but this is all I was able to remember long enough to write down. He really was too funny! One of our best character meets ever anywhere!
He never quit talking and so that is why I’m laughing while the picture is being taken.
Once we had told Donkey goodbye, we headed off for new adventures om Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone, starting with E.T. Adventure, a movie that both Luke and I loved the very first time we saw it. This ride is really cute and we all loved the bike/cars that we rode. By the way, our stay at Royal Pacific gave us the Express Pass feature, so pretty much every ride was a walk on for us at US, except for Rip Ride Rockit, which is not included in the Express Pass.
From E.T. Adventure we traveled over to Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster. At first Stefanie was reluctant to ride this one, but Luke told her it was very similar to Goofy’s Barnstormer and then she was ready to ride. She announced to me as we pulled back into the station that is was her favorite ride.
Luke took this one after the ride as Stefanie gave it a thumbs up!
From here we moved to Curious George Goes to Town where initially I remained outside as I didn’t want to get me or the camera wet. Eventually, I followed my buddies as I saw footprints that would lead you through the area without getting soaked.
Forgive my poor videotaping skills, please! The little bitty screen on the Bloggie made it very difficult for me to tell when I was videotaping and when I wasn't and even what I was taping when I was taping. I'm hoping when we get the new iPhone 5 the video on there will replace it as I wasn't very impressed. So glad Luke got it so cheap.
Luke almost soaked Stefanie at one point. Thank goodness she moved or we’d have been heading back to resort to change.
Our AAA package for US/IoA came with a coupon for 2 free refillable mugs, and by now we were all three thirsty. So we set off in search of a spot where we could get the mugs and have them filled.
As you can see from this picture, it really wasn’t crowded. We soon found a place open and had drinks in a flash.
We leisurely walked to Men In Black in the World Expo section. For this ride you must leave your stuff in a locker that is free for the first hour. We easily stowed my backpack, the camera, Stefanie’s backpack, and both our new refillable mugs in the locker we were assigned. We once again used our Express Pass and we quickly on the ride. I don’t even remember a queue. This ride is very ! I like that the guns come off the stand and you can maneuver them in all directions. I even turned and shot behind my back, earning the highest score of us three with 135,500. I didn’t bother writing down Luke’s or Stef’s scores as they were just pitiful compared to mine.
We really wanted to ride this one again as it was a winner with all three of us, but later in the day, we were just too tired and hot to go back.
At 11:30, we thought we’d head into Mel’s Diner to eat as we hoped to beat the regular lunch crowd by a bit. We needn’t have worried as it was a mild crowd compared to say Cosmic Ray’s.
Luke and I shared a Double Bacon Cheeseburger Platter (included fries) while Stefanie had the Chicken Tenders Platter (included fries). All our food was very tasty and caught up on the days notes while we ate.
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
Donkey sounds hilarious! Plus it seems he was really quick witted which is great. We will def. have to try to catch him the next time we are at US! Can't wait to hear more
Glad you hit the park on a low crowd day, sounds like everyone was having fun, loved the video and Stefanie's face when she thought she was going to get hit with the water. Lunch looks to have hit the spot, very yummy.
What an awesome day. It makes me more willing to try Universal. I am not a big coaster girl and I really am not a fan of Harry Potter so I thought there would be nothing there for me. You are definately proving me wrong!
Sounds like fun! Donkey looks hysterical, I think my DDs would love him. I am so glad that Luke missed Stefanie with that water bucket, that would NOT have been a good ending to the morning!
About This Page: 
That was clearly *not* what happened with your guy, but glad that you and Luke were the beneficiaries!
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Holly: 
, but the lure of WWOHP is bringing us to US this December. I can't wait to read your review! 
: Ramoan would probably love it though. LOL
that Stefanie got to pilot the plane! Those goody bags sure helped your vacation start off magically!
for letting me know! I had forgotten to check the front page yet. The Cape May picture is from the photo archive and dates to June 2010, but I did write about it in last June's TR. 
Stefanie and I were getting ready for Luke to take our picture with Donkey, when Donkey yelled at Luke, “You think you’re Spielberg or something. You think you’re the only one who knows how to use a camera. Give that camera to that lady and get over in this picture..” 
There was more to the conversation, but this is all I was able to remember long enough to write down. He really was too funny! One of our best character meets ever anywhere! 
The little bitty screen on the Bloggie made it very difficult for me to tell when I was videotaping and when I wasn't and even what I was taping when I was taping. I'm hoping when we get the new iPhone 5 the video on there will replace it as I wasn't very impressed. So glad Luke got it so cheap. 
Aimee
Linear Mode
