Feelin’ Groovy: A Cam and Luke TR Completed 7/31 - Page 46 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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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Your introduction to Disney Springs was most enjoyable. This will take a lot of getting used to when we go back. I am afraid that we will probably not be shopping in many of the stores. The main Disney stores and T-Rex will probably be the extent of our visit.
Your twilight pictures are beautiful. Were those actually living statues like they used to have in Italy? They were amazing whether real or simply statues.
They were living statues. The folks posing would change poses periodically and sometimes when taking PhotoPass photos with guests. So cool!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMA
Thanks for the photos of Disney Springs. It's been a few years since we have been to Downtown Disney, but are planning an evening there in September. I'd better pull up a current map and try to get the lay of the land before we get there!
I didn't find getting around at Disney Springs too difficult as many parts that I remember are still there. There actually several ways to get around now, which should cut down on congestion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Oh wow, I am loving seeing all the photos of the Town Center finished - it looked amazing and I cannot wait to see it for ourselves in September!
Disney has really done a great job of re-imagining Disney Springs. Now if they'd just get the roads leading to it done.
That was so nice that you got to spend three days with Pam and Charlotte!!! We enjoy taking small pool breaks while at the Disney resorts because the older we get, the more relaxation time we need! I enjoyed seeing your pictures of Disney Springs since we didn't get the chance to see it all on our last trip. Hope we can eat together at the Boathouse next May!
I'm ready for filet mignon sliders at Boathouse next May!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silvercat
One of my absolute favourite stores in the 'old' Downtown Disney was Reel Finds - I LOVED that place. I once bought a printed script, bound into a book, of a Marilyn Monroe film from there - Some Like it Hot, I think it was (sadly lost in all the divorce hoo-ha 15 years ago). But they had some amazing props and costumes, and really cool film memorabilia and souvenirs to buy. When it closed down, a lot of the stuff moved to Sid Cahuga's in MGM Studios, but of course that has now gone as well. Sad.
Anyway, sorry to be a sad-sack, back to your lovely trip report!
I remember both stores as we loved wandering through them. We never bought anything, but admired many items.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
I love all your Disney Springs pictures! We didn't make it there in June and it has changed so much since November. We are looking forward to getting there next June!
I'm anxious to see how much more is completed by the time we get back in late September.
It was fun to get to explore so much of what we've been watching go up the past few years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NanaTink
That's the name of that store!!! Loved it!
I had forgotten the name, too, but the moment I saw the name, I remembered it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhinohunter
Your introduction to Disney Springs was most enjoyable. This will take a lot of getting used to when we go back. I am afraid that we will probably not be shopping in many of the stores. The main Disney stores and T-Rex will probably be the extent of our visit.
Luke just read about new store that has opened at Disney Springs that has very affordable t-shirts and shorts in Disney and related prints for even less than Disney prices. It's called UNIQLO. We might just check that one out in September as some of the stuff is under $20.
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Sounds like a lovely evening exploring Disney Springs. It looks so much different than DTD, I will definitely have to get use to that. Dinner at Wolfgang Puck's looked delicious!
Great finish to your day in the AK with KRR and other attractions! That's funny you mention "A Very Brady Christmas" and that line about the goose. I remember that as I've seen this so many times! Sounds like a good meal at Sanaa. I think I can recall you raving about the short ribs they used to have there but is now off the menu!
A nice day in Studios with some great attractions. I always liked Indiana Jones show, which was always entertaining. I always liked the Backstage show (forget the full name) that is now closed with the Pearl Harbor reenactment. I got to be a part of it one time and got doused with hundreds of gallons of water, if not more!
Disney Springs looks amazing and looks so different from when I was last there in April, 2014. I can't wait to see it for myself in three months. You captured it well!
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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!
Thanks for the introduction to the new area of Disney Springs. It kind of makes me sad that it seems to be turning into a high end mall instead of the fun, unique stores that NanaTink was referencing, but I'm still excited to see it in a few weeks. I loved all of your giraffe pictures - so beautiful.
Sounds like a lovely evening exploring Disney Springs. It looks so much different than DTD, I will definitely have to get use to that. Dinner at Wolfgang Puck's looked delicious!
I'm very interesting to see how much more has changed when we return in late September.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Great finish to your day in the AK with KRR and other attractions! That's funny you mention "A Very Brady Christmas" and that line about the goose. I remember that as I've seen this so many times! Sounds like a good meal at Sanaa. I think I can recall you raving about the short ribs they used to have there but is now off the menu!
A nice day in Studios with some great attractions. I always liked Indiana Jones show, which was always entertaining. I always liked the Backstage show (forget the full name) that is now closed with the Pearl Harbor reenactment. I got to be a part of it one time and got doused with hundreds of gallons of water, if not more!
Disney Springs looks amazing and looks so different from when I was last there in April, 2014. I can't wait to see it for myself in three months. You captured it well!
I did love the old short ribs, but the new slow cooked beef seemed very similar to me though it had a different name. It seems every time I check the Disney Park Blogs something new has opened at Disney Springs since we got home. So I guess a lot of it will still be new to us in October.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Belle0824
Thanks for the introduction to the new area of Disney Springs. It kind of makes me sad that it seems to be turning into a high end mall instead of the fun, unique stores that NanaTink was referencing, but I'm still excited to see it in a few weeks. I loved all of your giraffe pictures - so beautiful.
I'll still shop at World of Disney, but the restaurants are a bigger draw for us now than the shopping. Thanks! I get so excited sometimes when I see the giraffes that I have to get myself to focus on taking the photos.
Last night before bed, we altered our FastPass+ selections, deleting Jungle Cruise because we’d already done it earlier and choosing a later time for Space Mountain in order to have a later start for the day. I don’t have recorded what time we got up, but I do know from our first receipt that we had arrived at the Magic Kingdom sometime around 10:15. I do recall that the security CM at bag check noticed my Vera Bradley bag and wondered if I had gotten it the day before at the grand opening of the Vera Bradley store in Disney Springs. I hadn’t, but he told me that his wife went and as one of the first 100 people to enter the store had earned a free smaller VB item. He didn’t remember specifically what it was. I told him we had avoided the huge crowds at the beginning and didn’t go until late afternoon. He said he was personally waiting for things to calm down before he checked all the new stuff out.
For breakfast this morning, I told Luke I’d like to try Main Street Confectionary in hopes of getting a Mickey head peanut butter cookie with chocolate ears. Unfortunately, they did not have the same one as I had gotten last May at Studios. Instead I selected a chocolate chip cookie with chocolate ears. This turned out to not be my wisest choice. For the rest of the morning, my stomach had this unsettled feeling. In fact, I did not finish it. Probably too much sugar by this point in the trip. Luke was much smarter as he chose a Smucker’s Oat Bar.
On our way up Main Street, I asked to look in Uptown Jeweler’s. I was still searching for a double pair of sterling silver earrings that I had seen earlier in the trip when shopping in Mouse Gear with Pam. I had checked a number of stores as we had not been back to Epcot, but always without luck. But finally, I found them here. Now my notes tell me to take a photo of these, but I have forgotten. My guess is I was wearing them when I took all the souvenir photos. I will try to get a photo of them as I wear them all the time now. them!
We had a little while before our first FastPass+ attraction so we headed from Main Street to Fantasyland where our first attraction of the day was Mickey’s Philharmagic, our favorite of the 3D movies. Afterwards, we headed to Peter Pan, our first FP+, as we were to meet Linda and Pete. This ride is all too short and really not conducive to discussion as we were in our flying ship and they were in theirs. We did managed to talk for a little while before and after the ride. But when we moved over to it’s a small world, the wait time in standby was too long for them, so we had to say our goodbyes for this trip. But we have already made plans to do more together next May. Now that gets me excited. Because I had a cute scrapbook border that Ginger had designed for the border swap, I had to get some good photos of it’s a small world so I could use the embellishments. I love the personalization at the end of this ride now. In the section with all the signs saying goodbye in various languages, several screens now display riders’ names. Very cool and fun!
By the time we ended our voyage, I felt that I needed to get something better in my tummy than the chocolate chip Mickey head. So we walked a short ways down to Pinocchio Village Haus for some lunch. I had the chicken breast nuggets (which are now more like Chick-fil-A than McDonalds) and apple wedges. Finally, my stomach began to settle. Luke chose the breadsticks with marinara sauce. He let me have a bite and the breadsticks were perfect.
We were now reading to move on to Tomorrowland as our next two FastPass+ attractions were here with the ones for Buzz Lightyear already ripe. I did something on this attraction I have never done before. I only shot my gun sporadically as I spent the rest of the time taking photos for yet another border swap set. This one was designed by Lisa. Of course, since I was focusing on photos, my scores was in the pits.
From one adventure in space to another, we traveled over to Space Mountain for a high speed adventure among the stars. In the end, the adventure proved to be too much for me. Luke could tell immediately that I wasn’t looking too well. He had quickly unloaded, but I was struggling. He helped me out and quickly whisked me to a bench, telling me I could sit as long as I liked. I’m not sure how long I sat, but it was a while before I was ready to stand. Even then I was still shaking, so as we moved along the conveyor belt at the exit, I took a few photos to distract myself.
Another personalized touch at the end of this ride, too.
Once in the shop at the exit, I quickly grabbed a Coke and paid for it. Once outside I told Luke, I wish I had waited as I’d have like to have the Coke on ice. He quickly went over to one of the trucks in the court at Tomorrowland and returned to me with a cup of ice. Then I asked if I had earned some ice cream for riding for the nauseating coaster, and he agreed that I had. We moved over to Auntie Gravity’s where I got a cup of chocolate soft serve ice cream, and Luke got a twist. Fortunately, there was an empty table with an umbrella for shade, so we were able to sit down. With the Coke and ice cream, my head finally seemed to settle down, though I would not be in the mood for another coaster the remainder of the trip.
We still had two Tomorrowland attractions we hadn’t done yet, and best of all, both would allow me to sit down in the air conditioning. Carousel of Progress was up first as it doesn’t really seem I’ve been to the Magic Kingdom unless I get a little history lesson on the progress of inventions in the U.S.A. From here we made our way over to Monster Inc. Laugh Floor. We had a great audience, which I think always make this attraction better. We relaxed and did our share of laughing to fill up the fuel cans. I am sorry I don’t have any more pictures of our time at Magic Kingdom, but Space Mountain really did me in this trip. That also means I didn’t think to take a mystery photo. I commented to Luke that I’m very glad Morgan and JP will be along in October as they both love this coaster. June and I will get FP+ for something much calmer.