The “Circle of Life” WDW Trip Report – September 10-19, 2009 (Fort Wilderness Cabins) - Page 2 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Day 4: Hollywood Studios, 50's Prime Time and a Dragon!!
Day 4
Finally, the day I had planned most painstakingly had arrived—our full day at Hollywood Studios! If you can believe it, in all of our previous (shorter) trips we had never dedicated a day to Hollywood Studios! The only things we had done was ride Toy Story Mania, and play at the Honey I shrunk the kids playground, so this whole park was new to my family.
We got up EARLY! We got to the park long before park opening, but it seemed everyone else did too! We watched the preshow from the middle of the crowd and when it came time to go into the park, it honestly felt a bit like Black Friday at a small town Best Buy! Awaiting the Land Run!
We got to TSMM and while the group got in line, I got everyone fast passes. This is when we had that awful run-in with the rudest, most obnoxious CM I’ve ever encountered! After he insulted my elderly, handicapped father for misunderstanding the difference between the handicapped line and the fastpass return line, we got back into a now 60 minute line. Also, I think he might have been terminated after we spoke to the ride manager. We didn’t see him again after that. I love what the manager said, “that is not magical at all!” I use that phrase a lot now.
From our first wait in line. Our second wait in line.
Well, unfortunately bad luck continued to poo on my beautifully constructed plans! The whole ride broke down when we were about midway through the line. They told us all to exit and return later. No matter! We went to breakfast at Starring Roles instead of getting down. Great, yummy pastry goodness there too I might add. They gave us so much food for one counter credit! Sugared up and happily fed, we decided to split into our pre-designated groups: Crazies, Oldies, ToddsnRent. The Crazies had a thrill ride fiesta, riding Rockin’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror several times. The Oldies ditched their bad knee approved plans in favor of hanging out with the Todd(ler)s (a)n(d)(pa)Rent. We saw Playhouse Disney and Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Jager LOVED seeing his morning show buddies live on stage and my dad declared Voyage of the Little Mermaid to be as good as “Science Fiction!”—the classic techno-nerd compliment from a career mechanic and lover of all things engineered.
I know we did a lot of other stuff, like running in the rain to The Great Movie Ride and stuff, but I don’t recall it all as well. So I’ll skip ahead. We finally got to ride TSMM after waiting in line again… don’t know why we did that when we had fastpasses, but we did. After that, we were all starved, but our ADRS for 50’s Prime Time weren’t until 5! We went to the restaurant anyway, and I’m not too proud to admit that I begged them to seat us three hours early. Well, after a 20 minute wait, they got us two tables! “Mom” is the best!!! We ate like her dirty, sweaty school children after a day riding bikes in the cul-de-sac. The kids were especially grateful… as you can see.
Oh, and whoever recommended that PB&J milkshake is my new hero! I was about to explode, but I couldn’t waste a drop!
After our late lunch, DF, DM, and DD needed some rest, so they returned to the cabin. DS, DH, DG and myself stayed for some more park time. We went back to TSMM with EVERYONE’S Fastpasses and rode it over and over and over! Mickey and Minnie were smiling down upon us. Again, I have no idea what all we did after that, but it was fun enough that Christina, the roller derby booty blocker with stamina to spare proclaimed her fatigue and we parted ways with DH and DS.
It seems the boys got their second wind when we left and they stayed until well after dark. My son discovered Star Tours and they rode it about 10 times in a row! No joke. They did the 3D Muppet show, a bunch of other stuff and DS got a big dragon painted on his face--his choice, not my husband’s. Enjoy the montage…
They returned home 1 part unconscious. All in all, it was a good day.
__________________
Previous Trips
May/June '96 - WDW Off Site, May '07 - AKL, May '08 - Pop Century, September '09 - Ft. Wilderness Cabins, May '10 - POFQ, December '10 - WL, July '11 - DL - Offsite, November-December 2012 - Contemporary, May '13 - DCL Fantasy & WDW Art of Animation (Nemo Suite), September '14 - Ft. Wilderness Cabins, April '15 - Beach Club (Club Level), May '16 - AKL (Arusha View) / Universal - LRPR...
Just found your TR and got all caught up. (We're considering a cabin for our June trip, so your title caught my eye!). Sounds like a great first three days! I can't for more!
"One part unconscious" Love the dragon and good that the CM got scolded. I love that line about not being magical as well.
LOL! He was so dead asleep that we even got all that dragon makeup off without waking him! Can you imagine a child falling asleep on a Disney bus at close?! He get's his sleeping genes from me!
I've been hoping we'd get a Magic related Pixie for a while now... you hear that Passporter people!?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mommy Princess
Just found your TR and got all caught up. (We're considering a cabin for our June trip, so your title caught my eye!). Sounds like a great first three days! I can't for more!
Good! I loved the cabins! I kind of went nuts replying to someone the other day about the Ft. Wilderness Cabins. Was that you? Either way, I'll post more about in soon in this TR, but in the mean time feel free to ask whatever you're curious about. I had a million questions before we went there, so I got my fill of answers... I'd love to share!
__________________
Previous Trips
May/June '96 - WDW Off Site, May '07 - AKL, May '08 - Pop Century, September '09 - Ft. Wilderness Cabins, May '10 - POFQ, December '10 - WL, July '11 - DL - Offsite, November-December 2012 - Contemporary, May '13 - DCL Fantasy & WDW Art of Animation (Nemo Suite), September '14 - Ft. Wilderness Cabins, April '15 - Beach Club (Club Level), May '16 - AKL (Arusha View) / Universal - LRPR...
[QUOTE=Jajajuna;3101656]LOL! He was so dead asleep that we even got all that dragon makeup off without waking him! Can you imagine a child falling asleep on a Disney bus at close?! He get's his sleeping genes from me!
I've been hoping we'd get a Magic related Pixie for a while now... you hear that Passporter people!?
Two nights Alex fell asleep on me in the very crowded, loud and hot bus.
LOL! He was so dead asleep that we even got all that dragon makeup off without waking him! Can you imagine a child falling asleep on a Disney bus at close?! He get's his sleeping genes from me!
I can't even begin to tell you how many times my girls have slept on the bus back to the resort! In fact, two years ago, the younger one (two at the time) fell asleep on the bus from TTC (leaving MK) to DHS. When we got off the bus, we put her in the stroller, where she slept for almost two more hours!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jajajuna
Good! I loved the cabins! I kind of went nuts replying to someone the other day about the Ft. Wilderness Cabins. Was that you? Either way, I'll post more about in soon in this TR, but in the mean time feel free to ask whatever you're curious about. I had a million questions before we went there, so I got my fill of answers... I'd love to share!
, it wasn't me. I just found out, though, that my sister and her son (15 months during the trip) might be joining us, so we're a little concerned about space. If that happens, we might just head back to ASMusic, because we'll be celebrating DD's fourth birthday, and she LOVES the Three Caballeros pool! I'll keep reading your TR and probably PM you or start a new thread when I have more questions.
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.
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.
Hey...my DD(now 17) has fallen asleep on at least one bus every trip since she was 5.
When she was five she fell asleep under a table at the Rose and Crown in Epcot and started snoring loudly...all the people around us just laughed. She has a deviated septum like her father.
I have pictures...I need to find somewhere and post of she and her best friend sleeping on the buses when they were 15...talk about complaining when they saw the pictures. It was hilarious because they were leaning back to back on each other and both severely sunburned...because of course "Mom" doesn't know anything about needing to reapply sunscreen.
__________________
Cheeser. Maleficent of the Vacation Villians!!!
Partying with the Parrs December 5, 2015:
I have pictures...I need to find somewhere and post of she and her best friend sleeping on the buses when they were 15...talk about complaining when they saw the pictures. It was hilarious because they were leaning back to back on each other and both severely sunburned...because of course "Mom" doesn't know anything about needing to reapply sunscreen.
Those must be hilarious! I have embarassing pictures like that from when my best friend and I were young too. We love them now, we just don't show other people.
__________________
Previous Trips
May/June '96 - WDW Off Site, May '07 - AKL, May '08 - Pop Century, September '09 - Ft. Wilderness Cabins, May '10 - POFQ, December '10 - WL, July '11 - DL - Offsite, November-December 2012 - Contemporary, May '13 - DCL Fantasy & WDW Art of Animation (Nemo Suite), September '14 - Ft. Wilderness Cabins, April '15 - Beach Club (Club Level), May '16 - AKL (Arusha View) / Universal - LRPR...
Day 5
Yeah! Our fully planned MK day had arrived! We got up early, put on our pirate gear and left before 8am! We had themed or matching shirt days… in case you hadn’t already noticed. This was “Pirate Day” as suggested by Auntie Nina (was the kids call, Christina). We all had on our nautical/pirate togs and we looks hilarious, but it proved to be lots of fun explaining each of our choices to the different cast members who asked us about it. J
Waiting for our table at Crystal Palace.
We arrived very early for 8:30am ADRs at Crystal Palace! I scheduled my Dad for a Keys To The Kingdom Tour so he could see the inner workings of the Magic Kingdom and take a peak at the infamous Utilidors! So, took off toward Town Hall and we ran to breakfast. We almost lost our ADRs because my parents took too long getting my Dad’s scooter and they wouldn’t seat us until my mom arrived. In the end, we got our table anyway. Yay! Our table was decorated with streamers and a card for Junebug and the kids loved it! Her card was already signed by Eeyore, Tigger, Pooh and Piglet! We had a wonderful, slow breakfast and enjoyed meeting all the characters again. This is one of must do ADRs every trip and going that early makes it even better, because you don’t feel like you’re wasting time.
June had a ball eating her cupcake and Jager was jealous. J
After breakfast, we went straight to Dumbo. We had a great time watching MJ “fly” for the first time.
June’s view of the Magic Kingdom!
Jager had so much fun; he decided to give Dumbo a hug!
Then we went to cool off at Ariel’s Grotto and run around a bit. Next up, Jager’s first ride on the teacups! He loves this ride. It’s on his list of the top four Disney rides now—1. Star Tours, 2. Pirates of the Carribean, 3. The Made Teaparty and 4. Spaceship Earth. I have a great video of him on this ride—too bad I can’t upload it. J
We rode Cinderella’s Carousel, It’s a Small World, and Peter Pan in Fantasyland before heading to Toontown Fair. We toured the Country Houses and Donald’s Boat and I got in line at the Barnstormer for whoever wanted to join. I felt a little bad letting them in after I’d been in line for a while, but really had no idea how slow the line would be! Oh well, you live and you learn. I was that rude person on that one occasion. ::shrugs::
We took the train from Toontown Fair to Frontierland and got fastpasses to Splash Mountain on our way to Adventureland. We rode Pirates twice and Jager and Jason rode the Jungle Cruise while the girls got Dole Whips for everyone. When they met up with us, their ice cream was melting but still so yummy. J Jager LOOOOOVED his orange dole whip and wouldn’t stop eating it, even though it was melted! June conked out and we decided it was time for some rest.
This is the surest sign of a touring plan well executed.
After our break, we arranged to have early dinner ADRs then hop to MK again for those who wanted to. I had managed (finally) to get us suitable Ohana reservations for this trip, so we headed there for dinner around 5:30. We were all starving since we hadn’t eaten since Crystal Palace and boy, Ohana did not disappoint! We got so lucky on the table again… probably the best table in the entire dining room! It was a large round corner table overlooking the lake! Jager really enjoyed how all the different food came one after the other. He kept saying, “what’s next?” He particularly enjoyed the noodles which I never even read about before. We even attempted to reenact the famous noodle scene from Lady and the Tramp.
The only problem was he kept licking my face afterwards. Just staying in character, I suppose. J
We ate sooooooo much food. I’ve never been so full in my entire life, but I literally could not stop! When that bread pudding and ice cream rolled around, I almost started crying, but I was brave and ate my portion… plus a bit. J Aren’t you proud of me?!
Ohana was my family’s favorite dining experience EVER at Disney and we’ve been to a lot of good restaurants now. Everyone must try this place!
After dinner the kids were clearly pooped and food drunk and parent’s weren’t doing much better. They took the kids back to the cabin and allowed us (Jason, Chris and I) to go back to Magic Kingdom for some near close park activities! This is what’s so great about traveling with all ages—sometimes the older folks keep a similar schedule as the little ones. It works out really well and it’s so nice for the kids to have their favorite people right there to share it all with. Mom! Please come in December! J
We got to MK and ran like crazy around parade watchers to get to the Haunted Mansion before close… I mean, we RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN. I was dumb and wore flip flops… do yourself a favor and never wear flip flops to a Disney Park, especially if you’re in a mad hurry! Ouch! Well, sweaty and nauseous from running flat out on the fullest stomach of my life, we arrived at the Haunted Mansion just in time for me to check into it myself! Gah!
We slowly left after that and kind of watched the fireworks as we walked out backwards. J
Another long day over--starting to feel it now.
__________________
Previous Trips
May/June '96 - WDW Off Site, May '07 - AKL, May '08 - Pop Century, September '09 - Ft. Wilderness Cabins, May '10 - POFQ, December '10 - WL, July '11 - DL - Offsite, November-December 2012 - Contemporary, May '13 - DCL Fantasy & WDW Art of Animation (Nemo Suite), September '14 - Ft. Wilderness Cabins, April '15 - Beach Club (Club Level), May '16 - AKL (Arusha View) / Universal - LRPR...
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
About This Page: 
From our first wait in line.
Our second wait in line.
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Love the dragon and good that the CM got scolded. I love that line about not being magical as well.
Deb
I can't even begin to tell you how many times my girls have slept on the bus back to the resort! In fact, two years ago, the younger one (two at the time) fell asleep on the bus from TTC (leaving MK) to DHS. When we got off the bus, we put her in the stroller, where she slept for almost two more hours! 
, it wasn't me. I just found out, though, that my sister and her son (15 months during the trip) might be joining us, so we're a little concerned about space. If that happens, we might just head back to ASMusic, because we'll be celebrating DD's fourth birthday, and she LOVES the Three Caballeros pool! I'll keep reading your TR and probably PM you or start a new thread when I have more questions. 
Susan
Linear Mode
