Forever Young: A Disneyland Trip 50 Years in the Making COMPLETED 1/16/16 - Page 51 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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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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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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Sounds like you all had a fun day together! We never got a chance to ride Grizzly Run on our last trip to DL because the line was always too long. I'm hoping we get the chance to do it on our trip this year!
Sounds like you all had a fun day together! We never got a chance to ride Grizzly Run on our last trip to DL because the line was always too long. I'm hoping we get the chance to do it on our trip this year!
We kind of figured that the line would be long since the day was so hot, but it was a bit disappointing.
Saturday, October 10 – Cajun Cooking, a Ghostly Ghastly Crowd, and a Stunning Display
Warning: This will be another photo heavy update.
You all will probably remember my consternation over getting the Fantasmic Dining Package at the Blue Bayou as our departure date crept closer and closer. Finally, a mere 40 days before we left, I was able to get the package at precisely the time we wanted. This was one of the meals I was most excited about as every single person I knew who had visited Disneyland had told us we HAD to eat here. Luke and I both love Cajun cuisine, and the thought of dining with a view of Pirates of the Caribbean sounded so cool. So it was with great anticipation that we left our Grand Californian villa and headed to Disneyland.
We knew exactly where the Blue Bayou was as we’d located it on a previous visit to the park. That enabled us to walk straight back to New Orleans Square and the outdoor podium. Our names were taken and we were told we could way in the lobby, which wasn’t all that large. Some folks were actually sitting on the steps right in the way of everyone who would soon be called in to the restaurant. Didn’t take them too long to figure out they were in the way. I’m sure the heat had worn a lot of guests out this day. Within five to ten minutes, our names were called and we were led to a table one over from the tables at the edge that line the PotC. The décor here is very dark as though you are dining al fresco in New Orleans at night. As we sat down, we noticed our purple foam seat cushions that would be a souvenir of the meal and a comfy seat for Fantasmic.
Our server Devinder was very efficient and knowledgeable. The Fantasmic dining package has its own menu from which you select an appetizer, entrée, and dessert.
Somehow we had forgotten Luke’s eyeglasses in the room, so he was having to use my Vera Bradley readers, which make him look a little bit Harry Potteresque.
I asked Devinder if I could possibly omit the Blue Cheese from my salad as I simply do not like the taste. He said that would be no problem, so I chose ranch dressing for it. The carmelized pecans were my favorite part. Luke picked the New Orleans Gumbo, one of his favorite dishes.
We finished our appetizers and there was a bit of a wait before our entrees came out. So what else could I do but take more photos. These should give you a feel for how dark the restaurant really is.
When our entrees arrived, I totally forgot about photos until our plates were being cleared away. Oops! We both thoroughly enjoyed our choices. Luke chose the Pan-seared Blackened Salmon that came with herb mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. I went for the most expensive item on the menu – Surf and Turf, Petit Pacific Northwest Lobster Tail and Broiled Filet Mignon. My meal came with Blue Bayou Au Gratin Potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Because I had goofed, missing entrée photos, I made sure to get some of desserts. I opted for the 8 Layer Chocolate Hazelnut Cake, which was mouthwatering delicious. Luke had the Peach Blueberry Galette. Again we were both pleased with our choices and didn’t leave even a scrap on the plates.
Luke's dessert complete with birthday candle
My decadent chocolate dessert
We settled our check which came to $120.53 minus a DVC discount of $12.40. We grabbed our cushions for later and headed for the door. We were stuffed, so we didn’t to the exit by any means. Once back outside we talked about what to do between now and the time we were to arrive at the special seating area for Fantasmic. Our favorite Disneyland ride was calling my name, so I suggested Holiday Haunted Mansion. On the way there we heard someone yelling at us, and turned to find Heather and her friend. They were headed to Blue Bayou for their Fantasmic dining package. Heather knew we had already eaten, and wondered what we’d had and what we thought of it. We agreed to look for each other at the seating area later. We made one more stop before reaching HM. Luke saw some CMs already setting up in the seating area, and checked with them about exactly where we should enter later. With directions to a small building just across from HM, we were off again.
When we arrived at Holiday Haunted Mansion, we could see an incredibly long line with what seemed to miles of outside queueing. We decided we really didn’t have anything else we wanted to do, so we’d wait. In all it took us an hour and a half from entering the line until we exited the ride. But I used the time to take loads and loads of photos. Initially, the lighting was wonderful. Then it got darker and darker until I really couldn’t get good photos. I did capture a couple of photos inside just after the stretching room, and then we were boarding our doom buggy. We loved it all over again. Pretty lucky that we got three rides in on this first ever trip. Now here come lots and lots of Holiday Haunted Mansion photos.
When we exited, we technically had about half an hour before we needed to queue up for Fantasmic, but we decided we’d check anyway, and hopefully, at the least find a spot to wait if we had to. While we were inside, the line for HM continued to grow and created a massive bottleneck between HM’s entrance and exit. We wanted to just walk straight across from the exit, but the flow of the crowd carried us first all the way to Splash Mountain. When the crowd thinned out, we turned around to try again. Once again the crowd engulfed us, we realized we’d gone too far when we saw the entrance to HM. These photos will give you just a small glimpse of the crowd's size.
I must have looked pitiful when I told Luke I wasn’t sure I wanted to enter that crowd again. He took my hand and directed me to the far right and we inched our way back up to a kiosk where Luke asked if we were anywhere near the Fantasmic dining package entrance. He pointed us in the right direction, but let us know that no one was being let in just yet, though it would be soon. Luke found me a brick wall where I could be back out of the crowd while he stood in the line. As soon as we could move forward, he waved me over to join him. Somewhere along the line we miraculously located Heather and her friend again. The four of us found a spot pretty much in the center and only a few rows back. Perfect! Those cushions were actually perfect at keeping us comfortable as we sat on the sidewalk. With about 30 minutes still before the show started, we chatted. Then Fantasmic began. I’ll just say upfront, “Wow!” DHS’s version pales in comparison to DL Fantasmic! The basic story line is similar though where WDW has the Pocahontas scene, Disneyland has Peter Pan and the ship Columbia that are so much cooler. The dragon even breathes out fire, so much scarier. By the time Mickey is triumphant at the end, I was blown away, only to be blown away again as snow began to fall all around us. As Heather said, this was a total surprise. I know I was wide-eyed with wonder. Prepare once again for lots and lots of photos.
Then the snow fell all around.
After the snow finished falling, we four remained where we were to view the Disneyland Forever fireworks. It would have been impossible to work our way to Main Street in the short timeframe between the two events. So we missed all the cool additions projected onto the buildings of Main Street, but the fireworks were still splendid. I didn’t take any photos. The snow had mellowed my mood and eased my crowd phobia, so I just enjoyed the splendor of it all. As we walked out of the park this night, I was one very contented little girl. What a way to end the night! We all headed to the Grand Californian because Heather was now there, too. In the lobby, we said goodbye to Heather and her friend as we needed to pick up some juice in Acorn’s Gifts and Goods. Really, all we planned to buy was a Coke Zero and a small orange juice. But then we browsed, picking up two coffee mugs (one a Disneyland mug in navy blue and orangy yellow for Luke; another is Chip and Dale with the mug shaped like a peanut – so adorable – for me). As I was picking up the Chip and Dale mug from a bottom shelf, I noticed a cute Grand California hoodie jacket. Luke grinned as I pulled it off the rack. At the counter we also found the 60th Anniversary pin that we wanted. Okay, that is quite a bit more than a Coke and juice.
The back of the jacket is sparkly.
With our bag of drinks and souvenirs, we leisurely walked back to our room. I packed a wee bit more, and then we were in bed. Sleep came quickly!
What a great night!!! Well, aside for the crowds.
Now you know why, having seen Fantasmic at DL first (including being there for the world premiere!) I was not impressed when I saw it for the first time at WDW.
Isn't the atmosphere at Blue Bayou just lovely? Your dinner sounded yummy.
I'd say you ended up with a bit more than juice & Coke.
Oh wow, Fantasmic! does look amazing - we've still never seen it, despite all our trips to Disneyland. One thing to add to the must-do list for our next visit I think.
What a nightmare with the crowds - I cannot believe how long it took you to do the Haunted Mansion Holidays.
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It really was so good to finally meet Tricia and her family. 
We both thoroughly enjoyed our choices. Luke chose the Pan-seared Blackened Salmon that came with herb mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. I went for the most expensive item on the menu – Surf and Turf, Petit Pacific Northwest Lobster Tail and Broiled Filet Mignon. My meal came with Blue Bayou Au Gratin Potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Because I had goofed, missing entrée photos, I made sure to get some of desserts. I opted for the 8 Layer Chocolate Hazelnut Cake, which was mouthwatering delicious. Luke had the Peach Blueberry Galette. Again we were both pleased with our choices and didn’t leave even a scrap on the plates. 
When the crowd thinned out, we turned around to try again. Once again the crowd engulfed us, we realized we’d gone too far when we saw the entrance to HM. These photos will give you just a small glimpse of the crowd's size.
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