Forever Young: A Disneyland Trip 50 Years in the Making COMPLETED 1/16/16 - Page 42 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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!
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I am so glad you are determined soul and found photos of the Drem Suite! How amazing!!! We had planned on doing that tour anyway when we go, but that just clinched it! I know we probably won't get to see that, but the other things make it worthwhile.
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Catching up after falling behind... love cars land at night! And world of color looks so special too. I think when I finally make it back to DL with my kids I want to go for Halloween. HM looked so neat and something I have never seen in WDW. Wonderful tour as well. Seems like a fun time all around!
A great end to your tour with the Dream Suite as I had a feeling your tour was definitely not over after lunch! Thank God for Google Images! Luke must have been in his element with the trains in the apartment! Looks pretty cool but dated obviously! Looked well worth seeing and glad you got some photos at the end, but too bad not in the rest of the apt.!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
SO happy you were able to tour the Dream Suite.
But if I'm not mistaken, the Dream Suite was actually built very recently (in the history of DL), and Walt never saw it? It was an idea he had, but his "real" apartment overlooked Main Street. The Dream Suite was built as part of one of the celebrations, and people could win a stay there. Not sure if they still let anyone stay there? How would THAT be?!
I am so glad you are determined soul and found photos of the Drem Suite! How amazing!!! We had planned on doing that tour anyway when we go, but that just clinched it! I know we probably won't get to see that, but the other things make it worthwhile.
I would really hope that you all would get to visit the Dream Suite, too. But the whole tour was excellent.
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Originally Posted by Pris
What a wonderful end of the tour! And, that's great that you found the pictures on line to use in your scrapbook and TR.
Disney knows how to do an incredible finale.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stardust190
Catching up after falling behind... love cars land at night! And world of color looks so special too. I think when I finally make it back to DL with my kids I want to go for Halloween. HM looked so neat and something I have never seen in WDW. Wonderful tour as well. Seems like a fun time all around!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
Except for the unusual heat wave, we really felt we'd pick a perfect time of year to visit Disneyland. It is spectacular in the fall.
A great end to your tour with the Dream Suite as I had a feeling your tour was definitely not over after lunch! Thank God for Google Images! Luke must have been in his element with the trains in the apartment! Looks pretty cool but dated obviously! Looked well worth seeing and glad you got some photos at the end, but too bad not in the rest of the apt.!
Luke has always felt a connection to Walt because they both love trains.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
SO happy you were able to tour the Dream Suite.
But if I'm not mistaken, the Dream Suite was actually built very recently (in the history of DL), and Walt never saw it? It was an idea he had, but his "real" apartment overlooked Main Street. The Dream Suite was built as part of one of the celebrations, and people could win a stay there. Not sure if they still let anyone stay there? How would THAT be?!
We were told on the tour that the suite was new, but that it had been Walt's plan to build it as his family grew. We didn't get to see the apartment over the Fire Station where the Disneys actually stayed, but we did learn about its design in the first part of the tour when we were there. We were also told that every element in the Dream Suite was laid out according to the tastes of Walt and Lily as the two either mentioned dreams for such an apartment as this or as they were known to decorate their own home. Unfortunately, Walt died before this dream could be realized. Some of the items are actually ones the two purchased in their travels, at least that was what John told us in each room.
Sorry if I made it seem like Walt actually slept here. My lack of notes is making some of entries less coherent than I'd like.
Friday, October 9 – Two Classic Attractions and Loads of Photos
On our first Disneyland day, we managed to cover most of Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, but we barely touched New Orleans Square when we rode Haunted Mansion and dined at Blue Bayou. The most we did in Adventureland was to walk through on our way out to change into our costumes. We never even entered Critter Country or Frontierland. At the party we covered ToonTown. Our plan for following the tour was to remedy this by visiting first Adventureland and then going from there, checking the Disneyland app for wait times.
Right by the steps where we had exited the Dream Suite was the entrance to Tarzan’s Tree House, one of my must dos. I love the animated Tarzan movie. We have a Magic Kingdom board game, and I remember the first time we played it with Stefanie how excited I got when I realized the treehouse at Disneyland was themed to Tarzan rather the Swiss Family Robinson. Since we were already there, we began our ascent into the tree house, though we preceded rather slowly as I was photographing the view as we went plus all of the attraction itself.
The first view I noticed as we climbed was the Dream Suite itself. I also caught just the top of Splash Mountain before returning to catch the Dream Suite. I’m pretty proud of the last photo here as it turned out exactly as I wanted.
Turning back in to the attraction, I marveled at all the little and big details.
Not like my head was ever in danger. I'm way too short.
Then more park views appeared as I finally got a glimpse of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The next part of the treehouse is the scary part where Tarzan’s parents are already dead and Sabor is chasing Kala as she rescues Tarzan. This scene always has me momentarily anxious.
But as we all know Kala does save him, and Tarzan grows into a fine, strapping young man.
In time, Jane arrives and eventually wins Tarzan’s heart, sharing the treehouse while bringing many fascinating items along, e.g. a film projector.
Luke even got into several of the interactive sections.
The fresh water stream flowing through the lower level is so pretty and calming.
Once we exited the treehouse, we had short walk to the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean. This ride was very popular during our stay, but we got very lucky at this time as the line began just barely outside. The queue is very different from the one at MK. The indoor portion is not very long, so that might explain why at times the outdoor queue snaked way back into New Orleans Square. Before I expected it we were inside with these cool murals of various pirates on the walls.
Right as you board, the Blue Bayou restaurant can be seen to the right. I was excited to get this glimpse as we’d be eating there later this evening.
I attempted a few photos while on the ride, but the only decent one is from the very end as the boat is making the last turn before disgorging the guests.
I definitely need to go back and watch Tarzan again. I am very foggy on the story line. More beautiful pictures. Wasn't the Dream Suite done at the same time the suite in Cinderella's castle was done in WDW?
I definitely need to go back and watch Tarzan again. I am very foggy on the story line. More beautiful pictures. Wasn't the Dream Suite done at the same time the suite in Cinderella's castle was done in WDW?
I was thinking as I did the update that I need to watch Tarzan again myself. I think that might be right. I'm beginning to wish I had recorded the tour because my memories are fading fast.
I could sense the felling of awe in you words as I read about the Dream Suite. I know how you felt while in the suite. In 2008, I was able to tour the Cinderella Castle Suite at WDW. They allowed us to take pix while touring. It was amazing just as the one in Disneyland. The art and the ceiling at the tub look similar. It was great that you were able to find the pix online. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank God for Google Images! 
Luke must have been in his element with the trains in the apartment! 
Looks pretty cool but dated obviously! Looked well worth seeing and glad you got some photos at the end, but too bad not in the rest of the apt.! 
would THAT be?!
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that picture of the Dream Suite taken from the Treehouse, and framed by the rope!!! 
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