An Animal Kingdom State of Being with Cam and Fam COMPLETED 9/18 - Page 32 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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We did try shopping some in Filch’s Emporium, but it was extremely crowded with folks who had gotten off the ride. I checked on my ride photo, which took quite awhile since I hadn’t arrived until after Luke’s turn to ride. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very good as my seat was moving back and the camera just captured my neck and the side of my head.
We exited the gift shop without any plan other than refilling our mugs as we all three were very hot and thirsty by now.
Look at the heads in this photo and you can see just how thick the crowd has gotten.
In our search for drinks we walked all the way to the exit/entrance to WWoHP as it was almost impossible to veer to the right or the left. The crowd seemed to be a moving mass that you just had to follow with.
I’m not really sure how Luke got this photos in the midst of maneuvering through the crowd.
I did manage to veer off from the crowd to take this photo.
Near the entrance we stopped to talk a bit with the conductor for Hogwart’s Express.
We eventually made it to the exit of WWoHP before we found a place to refill our mugs.
We considered moving into SeussLand, but Luke still wanted to ride the Dragon’s Challenge. He headed back for that while Stefanie and I checked out shop windows, took pictures, and made a restroom stop. Loved the voice in there! At some point in the Forbidden Journey line, Stefanie had discovered that she had her shorts on backwards. She wanted to remedy this situation ASAP. We convinced her it could not be done in line. After our potty break, she assured me she had fixed it.
Here are some of the pictures I took during our wanderings.
Three Broomsticks
Ollivander’s – still very busy
Stef with our refillable mug
This sign is between Jurassic Park and Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
We moved down the street until were back up at the castle. Filch’s Emporium was not as crowded, so we finally looked around and put a few items on our wish lists.
The wait time for Forbidden Journey and it’s not even noon yet.
As we were headed down to Ollivander’s, Luke sent a text that he was off the coaster and would meet us at Ollivander’s, which was still too crowded to shop in. The plan was to return later, and hopefully, the crowd would have thinned out.
Up Next: Malfunctions and the Best Tomato Soup I’ve Ever Had
Those crowds are ridiculous. I am hoping to go with my sis sometime in the future, but not until it's calmed down some. You got some really great shots though.
"Stefanie had discovered that she had her shorts on backwards. She wanted to remedy this situation ASAP. We convinced her it could not be done in line. "
I definitely could not deal with those crowds! It must have been pretty rough for Stefanie being trapped so low with no view at all apart from the bottom half of people's bodies--that's how it is for me on the scooter, too! But the theming is just amazing. Seems like they didn't miss a thing!
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Seeing those crowds makes me happy that we decided to save WWoHP for another trip.....I am just not ready to handle that many people in what looks like a very small area! Love your photos and I can't believe how realistic they made everything seem
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PREVIOUS TRIPS: 1997- Off-site, 2002-Contemporary, 2009- POFQ, 2011- Beach Club, 2012- Disney Magic, 2013 Disney Fantasy
Those crowds are ridiculous. I am hoping to go with my sis sometime in the future, but not until it's calmed down some. You got some really great shots though.
I think because I knew from other TRs that it was going to be crowded that it didn't faze me as much as I thought it might.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Wow, those crowds look overwhelming!
And I am to book 3 now!
Think I'd want to visit IoA in the winter on a weekday! (and not near any holidays!)
On getting to Book 3. We were there on a Monday, but maybe a midday of the week would be better.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lexiemom
Those are some crazy crowds! I love all of your photos, thank you for sharing them!
When I was sorting through the pictures and giving each a title, one of them was labeled Angle 1000 of the Castle. Neither Luke nor I could quit taking pictures of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimros
OMGosh - the crowds are absolutely crazy!!!
But your photos are so excellent and it looks so amazing. I'm really sorry your ride photo didn't turn out, as I would have loved to have seen it.
Cam, I think you've helped me decide to wait it out just a bit longer before we attempt to go. I've waited this long, I can wait some more.
You have me very curious about your next installment...
WWoHP will be there when you can finally go and who knows how excited your face will look when you do make it. That I want to see!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
"Stefanie had discovered that she had her shorts on backwards. She wanted to remedy this situation ASAP. We convinced her it could not be done in line. "
I definitely could not deal with those crowds! It must have been pretty rough for Stefanie being trapped so low with no view at all apart from the bottom half of people's bodies--that's how it is for me on the scooter, too! But the theming is just amazing. Seems like they didn't miss a thing!
I kept thinking as we wandered through this land that they did get this very right.
Stefanie doesn't complain much, but I do know that she often gets tired of seeing only the lower part of people. She's my little trooper!
Just got caught up. Loving the TR so far. I so want to go to HP, but need to wait awhile until DD gets a little taller. But she asks how long til we can go?
Looking at your pictures is getting me so excited to see WWoHP some day! I also love that some of your pictures capture you, Luke, or Stefanie i n the shop windows!
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Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
Luke hasn't read the books and he instantly forgets every movie and TV show he has ever seen, but he still loved it. The ride in and of itself is just very cool!
I just had to chime in here, I am the same way! My DH has seen tons of movies and remembers lines and scenes from all of them. I, on the other hand, could tell you very little about a movie I saw a week ago. And if I saw it a year ago, I could probably watch it again and not even know I had seen it before, ha!
The pictures are great, I really love what they did with the theming, it looks like you are really there...but those crowds, can't believe the wait time at noon. Glad you were able to ride the ride early.
Those crowds look similar to when we visited the week of Thanksgiving. Insane! When we entered WWOHP I was actually getting kind of nervous as people were really pushing and shoving and they seemed to have no control over the crowd, and one person checking for people's "fastpasses" (they were giving them out due to the area being at capacity, all it really was was a slip of paper with a time written on it). I felt like their crowd control was lacking compared to Disney's.
I am a voracious reader and read very quickly, but then forget details. Therefore I was very happy I had re-read the HP series not long before we visited, making those details fresher in my mind and allowing me to better appreciate all the cool little touches they put in there!
Can't wait for more!
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15 total family trips with stays at the Poly, AKL, Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Swan, Dolphin, POFQ, Pop Century, All Star Music, Movies & Sports, and Coronado Springs.
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At some point in the Forbidden Journey line, Stefanie had discovered that she had her shorts on backwards. She wanted to remedy this situation ASAP. We convinced her it could not be done in line. After our potty break, she assured me she had fixed it. 
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Neither Luke nor I could quit taking pictures of it. 
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