The Surviving Deployment Trip Report, Updated 10/18 COMPLETE!! - Page 37 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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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!
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Okay, the moving/unpacking isn't working for me...and on top of that you've got mad amounts of updates!! I just read 10 pages of updates and...Wow...here goes.
Love the interaction of the characters at 1900 PF...very cool!! My boys were in here when I was reading that and LOVED the pictures!! One of my favorite things from our last trip was seeing the fireworks from the Poly at night when we would get back from a park. Love Sha at the t-shirt store...very cool CM!! And the CM that prayed with you...wow, how sweet! Love Victoria's costume and her AMAZING drawings!! We waited on the Minnie Mouse line last MNSSHP and it was the longest line we waited on 45 mins!! Not doing that again. The rest of your wait times so far on this TR were great!! I also just noticed the "Ramp this-a-way...ramp that-a-way" sign on the trip Craig and I took a couple of weeks ago...hysterical! Love that Mickey saluted Michael the Bear. My favorite part of your Pinocchio video is your laughter...completely infectious!! And speaking of infectious...so sorry you got so sick on vacation. But, what a trooper and great daughter Victoria was taking care of her Mom. Hope the next update is better!!
Oh...and let's see, teared up at least 4 times catching up. Seems to be a pattern for me while reading your TR.
I am SO SORRY to be taking you away from your unpacking. I KNOW you would much rather be doing that.
We encountered some really great CMs this trip. They make your trip so much more magical, ya know?
I'm glad you liked my laughter. I was hesitant posting it but what the hey! That's me. We're a happy-go-lucky kind of family who likes to have fun and laugh a lot.
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So sorry to hear that you were sick in bed that one day. I had the exact same thing, kept sleeping and drinking Nyquil. For not feeling good you did accomplish a lot the next day. I give you a lot of credit, plus I know that heat makes you feel even worse. Your lunch at Tutto Italia looks wonderful.
My gosh, woman! I was just feeling sick myself reading about how ill you were (wishing I could time travel back and make you all better) - and then here you are, still sick, and out there having a great time! You are amazing!
Victoria gets my vote for 'best daughter in the world' (which will probably make my 3 mad, but I can't recall when they've taken care of me so well.) What a kid!
And yes - I happen to like your Epcot 'hot mama' photo. I believe Michael will, too.
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My gosh, woman! I was just feeling sick myself reading about how ill you were (wishing I could time travel back and make you all better) - and then here you are, still sick, and out there having a great time! You are amazing!
Victoria gets my vote for 'best daughter in the world' (which will probably make my 3 mad, but I can't recall when they've taken care of me so well.) What a kid!
And yes - I happen to like your Epcot 'hot mama' photo. I believe Michael will, too.
Ready for more fun at MK with your cousin...
I hated coughing around people because my cough sounded soooooo bad! You could see people eye-balling me. But, I always covered my mouth and tried to cough into a tissue or my sleeve.
Hey, if it came down to it, your girls would take care of you, too. Kids are like that.
Just getting caught up Laura! What great pictures! Sorry you were sick and missed a day, but sounds like you had a great time at DHS, and then with your cousin Jennifer as well! More please!
Day 6, Part 2
I leave in one week for WDW again, so I need to get this TR finished! On with the show...
We got to the MK, and there was a mass of people. I couldn't get over how crowded it was.
I don't remember what we did. I'll have to ask Victoria. I know that Jennifer had never seen Mickey's Philharmagic so we did that.
We also rode POT and HM. My mind is just blank. I'll blame it on the Nyquil.
We had an ADR at CRT for 9:10 p.m. I think we got there around 8:30. I didn't realize that you couldn't check in early at CRT, so the CM told me I was a bit early and could check in 10 minutes prior. (I think that's right.)
Ok. No problem. We looked around the castle. We loved the mosaics. They are stunning. I learned somewhere that Drizella has a green face because she is green with envy, and Anastasia's face is red because she is so angry. Neat!
Victoria got the camera so a lot of the mosaic pictures are hers. These are hers as well.
They were preparing for the fireworks and were ushering people away from the front of the castle, but I did manage to snap a couple of pictures first.
We were finally able to check in and were escorted inside where we had our picture made with Cinderella. I really like our picture with her. I thought it turned out well.
I took pictures of our surroundings as we waited.
We were taken upstairs, and I snapped this picture of the stained glass of Cindy.
We were escorted to a table. We weren't next to a window, and we weren't in the center of the room. We were behind a big post. As the evening progressed, it ended up being a terrible location. We couldn't see anything because of the big column.
Our server came with menus and cute wands. Jennifer was giddy! None of us had ever eaten here before, and Jennifer was especially tickled to death. She said it was in the top 10 experiences in her life. She was really happy.
We got our drinks, and soon we heard the announcement of the Fairy Godmother's arrival. Suzy and Perla danced around the place and rushed from table to table. Victoria had her autograph book ready for them to sign. When Suzy came up to our table, Victoria asked her to sign the picture she drew of her. Suzy ran away! She ran all the way across the room. We didn't understand what was going on. We thought she had to go because of the show, but then we saw her running back to us. She gave Victoria a little card that had a picture of herself and Perla and the Fairy Godmother with their "signatures." It was a very nice gesture, but we were rather disappointed that the characters weren't signing autographs. Here is the little card. (It really is little. I'm holding it between my thumb and index finger.)
Why wouldn't they give one of these to every table? And didn't it take longer for her to run across the room, find the card, and run back and give it to us than it would have just to sign her picture? Have they never signed at CRT? Jennifer was able to snap very quick photos as they came by, but they never went to Jennifer's side.
The Fairy Godmother danced and sang a song about wishes and celebrated with the people celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. And, that's it. The FG never went to any tables unless you were celebrating a birthday. I managed to get this picture because I got up and went around the column to get it, but then I was standing in front of other people, and I felt bad. So, this is the only picture I got of the FG.
Personally, I was disappointed. I liked 1900 Park Fare much better. The castle was pretty. It was nice. The food was good, but 1900 PF was so much more entertaining and costs a lot less. That is just my opinion, and I'm sure others absolutely love CRT. We won't be back.
Here is Michael sitting against the wall we were behind. We couldn't see any of the entertainment provided by the FG.
We all ordered the Prime Rib and the chocolate buckle.
It took forever for our server to bring our check and then it took even longer for her to come back for it.
We were finally able to leave but not before the FG show started again. We heard the music and the announcement and out they came again.
We were tired. I was sick and tired. We were all ready to leave. I took one last picture of the castle.
Since Jennifer drove, we followed her to the tram and to her car. She had gotten a great parking space. Jennifer drove us back to Pop. We said our goodbyes, and Victoria and I crawled into bed.
UP NEXT: We decide to sleep in....again....then hit the parks.
Sounds like another great day at the parks (despite your being sick). I have to agree with you about CRT. While DD and I enjoyed it, I did feel like it was overpriced for what we got.
Sorry CRT didn't live up to your expectations. We've never been there and I've heard both the good and bad about it. But I do have to say, you all took some unusual and gorgeous photos of the castle.
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So sorry you weren't feeling very good! Glad you got to visit with your cousin. And...super excited that you'll be able to tour WDW with the real Michael soon!
__________________
Tina
2009 Feb Disneyland - offsite
2007 Aug WDW - offsite
2005 June DCL West Coast/DL & DCA
2002 April Disneyland - offsite
2000 September WDW/DCL - CBR/Wonder
Glad to see that you had a wonderful day with Jennifer and that she got to experience so many firsts. So sad that you are still feeling sick, but at least you got to enjoy the parks today. We enjoyed CRT, but also felt that it wasn't worth 2 tickets. I guess the reason that they do that is because of its popularity. I was glad to have experienced it once, but we won't go back as well.
Glad you were able to fight through and have a great day in the parks. How amazing that you made it to 3 parks...and even more amazing that Jennifer lives so close and hasn't done a lot of the Big rides at WDW. Good thing you were there to enlighten her...I know it was a tough job, but hey, someone's got to do it, right?
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I just read through all the latest updates Im so sorry you got so sick but glad to hear you were able to brave the parks the next day! I made the mistake of watching the video with pinnochio at work and started giggling like crazy my manager thinks im nuts now! But I loved that video it got me even more excited for our trip, Im going to show it to my DH tonight! Thanks for sharring your wonderful trip with us I have loved reading all about it and cant wait to hear the rest plus all about the next one with your DH.
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What a kid! 
Kids are like that.
More please! 
so we did that.
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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