The Holi-Canoli! Whirlwind Trip That Wasn't Supposed to Be - Page 27 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Glad Victoria was finally able to get Belle's autograph on her picture. She is very talented with her drawings! Great pictures of the three of you around World Showcase!
Thank you! I was pretty tickled that we saw the photographer who did the mini photo shoot. I am really pleased with the pictures. Had I known we'd get such beautiful pictures, I would have dressed a little better. HA!
Quote:
Originally Posted by islandgirl
Wonderful pictures in WS!!! on getting Belle's autograph....great drawing!
Thanks! Victoria certainly loves to draw.
Quote:
Originally Posted by a_bernard
love all your pictures Laura. you look like you're having a wonderful reunion. it is so nice to see.
Thanks, Ann! It was wonderful to be with Michael again. Of course, it's even better having him back home now even if we aren't at Disney.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
More great pictures from Epcot! And how great to see Miyuki! She's great!
Thanks! Yes, Miyuki was terrific. I am so glad we finally got to see her.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
for getting the cool picture in France! I this setting and you all look terrific in it! Victoria's drawing of Belle is wonderful! We have never seen Miyuki, but maybe finally this year.
I was so happy to see the photographer wandering around France with nothing to do. I told him exactly where I wanted the picture. I loved your picture there and knew it would be pretty. Yes, you must try to see Miyuki. We couldn't believe how she made the candy out of nothing. She is very talented.
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.
Love the pictures, so glad that Victoria got to share her drawing with Belle and the mini photo session pictures are wonderful, the lighting was so perfect. The happiness of finally being together definitely shows through in each photo. Just beautiful...
Once we had watched Miyuki create a couple neat candy pieces and hand them out, we explored more of Japan.
America was the next country on our trip around the WS. We missed VoL. It was absolutely packed to see the American Adventure. I think everybody and their brother was there to see it (or get out of the stifling heat.)
It was so good to see the show jam packed. The last few times we've been, it might have been 1/4 full. I'm glad there was very little room to spare. I tried to get pictures of the show.
The show was good, and we filed out with the masses and moved on around the WS. We walked through Italy and stopped for a quick pic.
Then went to Germany hoping to find Snow White at her well. She was there.
China was our next stop.
This is where we waited in line in the blistering heat for Mulan. We didn't get to see her in October. Have I mentioned how hot it was? Phew!
And here is Victoria's picture of Mulan...
More pictures around China.
A PP photographer was nearby so we snagged him for some pictures. I love how you can find them wandering around.
We kept trekking around WS. Norway...
I always like Maelstrom. I don't know why. Maybe it's the frontwards/backwards thing.
We went to check out the Vikings after the ride.
Mexico was our next stop, and we found a PP photographer inside. This picture cracks me up for two reasons. 1) He wanted us separated so he could be sure to get the temple in the background....you can barely see it. 2) Victoria's hat! Too funny!!! I laugh every time I see it!
We proceeded to ride the Gran Fiesta Tour. It wasn't quite a walk-on but almost.
We left the WS. We were so hot and tired by the end of the day.
We had to get our picture in front of SE and the fountain of nations.
I this picture. It is one of my favorites from the whole trip!
We used our FPs and rode TT. I found this hidden Mickey in the briefing room.
After TT, we took another ride on SE. I don't think I mentioned that we rode it when we first got to Epcot. On the first ride, we got stuck going down backwards in the area with all the twinkle lights hanging down. Not a bad place to get stuck but we sat there leaning backwards for about 10 minutes before the ride started going again. When it did get going, my future world video worked. Victoria's and Michael's did not. This was Michael's first time riding it with the new ending and he didn't get to see it. So, on our way out, we rode SE again. This time, it worked, and he got to see the video at the end. He thought it was a nice way to end the ride.
We were ready to call it a day. We were too hot.
This final picture was taken at 6:15 p.m.
I know we ate more at the F&WF, but I didn't take pictures of everything, and I can't find my receipts. Everything we did try we enjoyed. I know I have pictures from another day we went.
We went back to the resort, and I cooked dinner for my family. I can't believe we didn't stay to watch fireworks, but Michael really wanted to take it easy this trip and that is what was most important.
Tomorrow would be a travel day. We are headed to Busch Gardens in Tampa - a first for us.
Love the pictures, so glad that Victoria got to share her drawing with Belle and the mini photo session pictures are wonderful, the lighting was so perfect. The happiness of finally being together definitely shows through in each photo. Just beautiful...
Thanks! I was really pleased with the pictures, too. It was fabulous being together again. Words are inadequate!
What a great day at Epcot, even if you didn't stay for Illuminations! You got some really great Photopass pics, too! By the way, love your t-shirt. It's too cute!
__________________
Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Truly beautiful pictures of the WS countries and you've given me some ideas for my own pictures this June that will turn into some very neat scrapbook pages, I hope. I can see why that picture is your favorite because it is great of all three of you and the one with the sombreros is too funny! I can tell in your 6:15 photo that you two girls at least have been hot. My hair would have been in a ponytail by then.
What a great day at Epcot, even if you didn't stay for Illuminations! You got some really great Photopass pics, too! By the way, love your t-shirt. It's too cute!
Thanks! I like my shirt, too. I've never seen anyone else with it. It is from the Halloween party in 2002 or 2003, I think? I thought it was so cute. I wear it again later in the trip, and I'm glad I did. There were CMs who had never seen it before.
Truly beautiful pictures of the WS countries and you've given me some ideas for my own pictures this June that will turn into some very neat scrapbook pages, I hope. I can see why that picture is your favorite because it is great of all three of you and the one with the sombreros is too funny! I can tell in your 6:15 photo that you two girls at least have been hot. My hair would have been in a ponytail by then.
Normally Victoria wears hair bands on her wrist. She didn't wear any this day, and I think we both could have used one. Phew! Yes, you can tell we'd been sweating up a storm. Our bangs are plastered to our foreheads.
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.
We got plenty of rest during the night and woke up bright and early and ready for a fun day at Busch Gardens in Tampa. Being in the military, we get to go to any Busch Gardens or Sea World for free each year. We went to Sea World in San Antonio in 2008 before Michael deployed. We’ve been to Sea World in Orlando before but had never been to Busch Gardens so we decided to go there. Therefore, we can now say we have been to every Busch Gardens and Sea World.
Anyhoo, the drive to Tampa was really easy. We paid for parking and found a spot really close to the gate because there weren’t a lot of people here. We walked into the park and found the place we needed to turn in our printed ticket in order to get our three free tickets. The “Here's to the Heroes” ticket window was easy to spot. It is so nice of BG to do this!
Next up, I had bought the “All Day Meal Plan” for all of us. You pay a set price and eat at almost any restaurant in the park without paying another penny. You get an entree, drink and dessert or side. We decided to have breakfast here since it was already paid for. We found the place to go to get our wristbands for our meals.
We ate breakfast at Zagora Cafe in "Morocco."
Victoria had the french toast sticks and a hot chocolate.
Michael had the sausage and egg bagel, hashbrowns, muffin and tea. Once again, he couldn’t resist feeding the begging birds.
I had the sausage and egg bagel, hashbrowns, cherry turnover and a lemonade.
It was a nice way to start our morning.
Having never been here before, we decided to move clockwise around the park, diligently following our map to where we wanted to go. We didn’t have to worry about huge lines at the coasters because it wasn’t crowded at all. We came across this band in Morocco. They had spirit and were a lot of fun to listen to.
We hit our first roller coaster of the day, Gwazi. It's a dueling coaster. I don't remember which side we rode on, and I didn't take any pictures. The coaster was a wooden one, and wooden ones don't tend to be my favorite. I like steel coasters much better. But, the coaster was fun, and we can say we rode it.
We left Morocco and visited the Bird Gardens. It really is a beautiful park, and we posed with different things along the way all day. Elephants are my favorite!
The gardens were really beautiful, and there were birds all over the place.
Then we came upon some flamingos. I flamingos!
Sunbathing turtles.
They had some really pretty topiaries.
This is a Coscoroba Swan from South America.
A giant lizard?
Land of the Dragons is for little children, but Victoria couldn’t resist climbing in a dinosaur egg since no one was around.
We circled around Land of the Dragons, not going in. Michael loves hibiscus flowers and stopped to take this picture.
We continued circling around Land of the Dragons and found this Kimodo Dragon and then the other side of the land with more dino eggs.
That's two of the lands. We'll visit several other lands at BG throughout the day. Stay tuned! A coaster was calling our name!
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.