Finding Walt: a DL TR: Update 2/23/12 - Page 22 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
We headed over to the far side of DCA and hit the Monster's Inc dark ride, of which I neglected to take any pictures because I was trying to take in all the things that don't exist at WDW. I
After we finished the ride everyone was hungry--so Karen led us out of the parks into the Grand Californian to have lunch. Zack had a pizza, Karen had the kid's grilled cheese and I had a cheese burger. I'd be back to Roaring Waters a couple of more times during my stay. --Including breakfast the next day!
Up Next; Dinner at Steakhouse 55!
You're making me homesick. I love Monsters, inc. It was such a surprise! And the GC is a fabulous place to sneak off for lunch - we did it often whether we were staying there or not!
Trader Sam's is really fun (but busy) -- I hope you'll have a chance to go back and have a drink there some day. Tortilla Jo's was our unexpected delight on our last trip -- glad you got to watch some football there and get some good munchies.
I'm surprised and sad about the issues with your steak at Steakhouse 55. It is my favorite restaurant at DLR (I like it better than Napa Rose, even). I'm glad they eventually got your food right, but I agree it seems like a manager should have come over and addressed the situation with you.
Love Trader Sam's - especially good for evening cocktails with Hawaiian music (and dancers one night we were there). As for Steakhouse 55, while they usually know how to prepare a good steak, it isn't at the same level as Napa Rose. Sorry you had a problem with your steak. But now I'm craving one - lol!
This made me laugh because that's the exact word that always comes to mind for me too -- "squatty"!
You all must remember that back in 1955 Walt didn't have enough money to purchase much land, in fact he had to borrow a lot of it from then ABC. Which he paid back in less than 10 years. Also if it had not been for 'trial by fire' in developing Disneyland, there would be no WDW. LOL
You all must remember that back in 1955 Walt didn't have enough money to purchase much land, in fact he had to borrow a lot of it from then ABC. Which he paid back in less than 10 years. Also if it had not been for 'trial by fire' in developing Disneyland, there would be no WDW. LOL
I know and I Disneyland! It's just that the castle is probably the most jarring difference between the 2 parks!
My one and only visit to DL was before Toontown opened (Yikes, can it be almost 20 years??) so I'm really looking forward to roaming around here.
Holy cow - I'm feeling old now! I remember so clearly when it opened in '93 - my San Jose co-worker was a HUGE Disney fan and he was bubbling over with so much "insider" information - he invited me to go to Disneyland at the TT opening, but I ended up marrying another co-worker.
Toontown is wonderful in Disneyland - and it's the same in Tokyo Disney. Much better than they did in WDW in my humble opinion.
I agree--I'm glad they decided to do something else with the area at WDW
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Completely agree! We were at DL for opening day of Toontown and just love it there. Couldn't believe how different that area was at WDW.
Looks like you're having a great day, Heather!
It was completely different! It was a pretty great morning!
Quote:
Originally Posted by disneydreamer33
What great pics you got of Toontown. I haven't seen it since 98. It looks fun.
I'm not sure if it's changed since '98--It was my first visit
Quote:
Originally Posted by disney_duke
Love Toontown!! It's truly a dedicated "land."
So different from what WDW had!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
My one and only visit to DL was before Toontown opened (Yikes, can it be almost 20 years??) so I'm really looking forward to roaming around here.
I'm so glad you are going to get to see it Laurie!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcneal
OK, what about the Christmas tree?!?! I do not recognize it (of course most of the time I barely recognize my face in the mirror!).
It looks like the Christmas tree from Toontown in WDW!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
I completely agree too!
Looks like you had a fun time in ToonTown!
The whole area is just so well done! So many little details!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great pictures from Toontown!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpwife153
Is it bad I wanna go to DL just to see Toontown & do the Roger Rabbit ride?? I wish he was still at WDW.
Nope that's just fine!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shnewell
Great photos from Toontown! We didn't spend much time exploring there on our last trip, so I'll have to oput that on my to do list.
Absolutely! Make sure you take the time to play with all of the little details!
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
DL's Toon Town looks amazing! And wow... I couldn't believe how many characters you saw at breakfast!
Pretty amazing character line up huh!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrDolphin
Looks like a fun, character packed morning!!
It was fun!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
Goofy's Kitchen is a hodgepodge of characters, too. I think it's fun - who needs a theme? And yeah, DL Toontown is so much better. I wasn't really sorry to see the mini version at WDW go.
Me neither!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
What an awesome breakfast, even if the characters were random.
And I can't wait to go to DL some day!
I hope you can plan a trip!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Two4Disney
Totally agree - ToonTown rocks at Disneyland!
Yup!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Two4Disney
That is sad! My mother went there frequently with her family when she was a kid and then she took us when we were kids! So many memories there!
I wish someone would do something about the Carousel!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Two4Disney
lol! That's what we thought when we moved back west from living in FL - we had so gotten used to the tall Cinderella Castle - I'm not sure we ever got used to that "squatty" castle again.
Disneyland also feels crowded quickly because the lands are so narrow compared to the MK at WDW.
(Just catching up with your report so my comments may be a bit late.... )
Agreed about the narrow walkways!
Quote:
Originally Posted by w-steele
You all must remember that back in 1955 Walt didn't have enough money to purchase much land, in fact he had to borrow a lot of it from then ABC. Which he paid back in less than 10 years. Also if it had not been for 'trial by fire' in developing Disneyland, there would be no WDW. LOL
Very true!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Two4Disney
It IS incredible! And I didn't realize there was a Christmas version!
World of Color had a Christmas beginning with Prep and Landing! It was cute!
First off, my apologies everyone for being a little behind on this report, but I've had a few other things on my plate--like rolling out my new PassPorter Dinning Out Disney Blog, work and spending some time with a new PassPorter friend who was in town. On top of everything else my allergies are out of control because of the weird weather we're having here. Usually I get a break in the winter time, but the weather has been so warm here that my fall allergies have decided to roll right into my springtime ones! I'll try and get back with the program so I can finish before leaving for WDW just 30 days from today!
I walked everyone to the front of Disneyland and they headed out. I was right there so I decided that it would be a good time to visit Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. The area leading into the theatre is like a mini version of One Man's Dream. Right at the entrance I encountered this:
This is the bench from Griffith Park that Walt used to sit on while his daughter's rode the Carousel.
And then I teared up again because Disneyland has one of the horses from the Carousel, but they've completely restored it to what it looked like after the 1932 restoration. This is what those sad ponies who have no tails and no paint COULD look like:
The room you enter is filled with a ton of other Disneyana, but I didn't spend too much time looking around because the show was about to start.
I really enjoyed Great Moments with Mr Lincoln. It kind of reminds me of a cross between The Hall of Presidents and The American Adventure. I'm a history nerd through and through and the period before the Civil War was my concentration in college. I find everything relating to that era interesting.
I decided to tour Main Street a little bit before our Decorations tour.. The decorations are pretty impressive!
At WDW you'd be able to see the Castle rising above the decorations--not so much at DL!
The Firehouse
The enclosed car on the DL railroad is unusual to see!
Oh, boy, seeing the restored carousel pony is so poignant. I hope someone steps up to take on the project before it all crumbles away. Love the details in the firehouse and the shot of the closed car.
for your allergies! We're having a warm winter here also, although I think that's about to change.
Hope you had fun with Tracy!
That is so sad, seeing the restored carousel horse, compared to what you'd seen a few days earlier.
I do love the Mr. Lincoln show at DL - although I'd kind of forgotten about it until you mentioned it.
Sorry to hear about the allergies. Winter doesn't seem to have much of a bite anyplace this year.
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.
You know, in all my trips to Disneyland, I've never made it to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln - I know! I really must try harder on our next visit, whenever that is...
You all must remember that back in 1955 Walt didn't have enough money to purchase much land, in fact he had to borrow a lot of it from then ABC. Which he paid back in less than 10 years. Also if it had not been for 'trial by fire' in developing Disneyland, there would be no WDW. LOL
I know - I was there - gasp! It was hard to call my beloved Sleeping Beauty castle "squatty" but it is what it is - especially after living in Florida for a few years - I got so used to the majestic Cinderella castle. Oh well, I'll always love my Disneyland, squatty or not.
And then I teared up again because Disneyland has one of the horses from the Carousel, but they've completely restored it to what it looked like after the 1932 restoration. This is what those sad ponies who have no tails and no paint COULD look like:
I really enjoyed Great Moments with Mr Lincoln. It kind of reminds me of a cross between The Hall of Presidents and The American Adventure. I'm a history nerd through and through and the period before the Civil War was my concentration in college. I find everything relating to that era interesting.
Wonderful pics! So glad you posted the restored Carousel pic. And I, too, love history, especially American history and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is one of my favorites. Was so thrilled the first time I went to WDW and got to see more presidents like that - woo hoo!
PS - So funny the first time my family went to see Mr. Lincoln - everybody was saying, "Is it real?" "I think it IS real." lol!
About This Page: 
I love Monsters, inc. It was such a surprise! And the GC is a fabulous place to sneak off for lunch - we did it often whether we were staying there or not!
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Disneyland! It's just that the castle is probably the most jarring difference between the 2 parks!
I bet the Christmas version is even more spectacular than the one we saw in August.
Liz 
PassPorter Guide Author
I really must try harder on our next visit, whenever that is...
Linear Mode
