An Animal Kingdom State of Being with Cam and Fam COMPLETED 9/18 - Page 76 - 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.
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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
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
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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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Love your elephant and giraffe pictures. I thought the giraffes looked different. Now I know why. our zoo now has one of the elephants from AK. His name is Willie. We had 4 females and no males so Disney loaned us one.
Liz
I love the pictures of the giraffes! I defininetly want to go on this safari one day. All of your pictures are great. If you ever decide to leave teaching you could become a photographer at Disney .
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How in the Halibut did I manage to get so far behind again!! You'd think I'd have more time in the summer to sit and read...but it seems at least this summer I have less.
Well, I'm caught up to after US and it's too hot to be outside anymore today so my mission is to finish the rest.
First of all...I have very fond memories growing up involving apple butter and still LOVE it!! I LOVE your Muggle t-shirt and also the t-shirts you bought while at US. I'm so into t-shirts more these days now that they make them in a bit more feminine fit. (don't like boxy t-shirts). I LOVE your face on FJ. I'm afraid the spider section might actually keep me off of that ride and I'd love to try it one day. I'm just SOOO freaked out by them!!
Poor Luke!! A broken toe and a day full of malfunctions! Glad you're finally heading to WDW!! And I'm definitely going to look into some Sanuk flip flops. Love me a cushy pair of flops!!
Back to catching up...
I really like the new more feminine t-shirts, too, much more flattering for most of us girls. Spiders really freak me out, too. Seriously, I called Luke at work to come home and kill one before. In fact, he had to stop mowing today to come kill one. But this part is not very long and they aren't quite really looking, though they are huge. In other words, if I could do it, you can, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaisynDonald
Just found some time to start your trip report, its on page 75 already so I have lots of catching up to do!! Good thing I'm on vacation this week So excited to hear about AKL club level since that's where will be in Dec.!!!! Usually stay at POP or POR, so super thrilled to try deluxe!! Love reading about your families fun times! Usually just a lurker, not a poster.
AKL club level was very nice, especially for the opportunity to take this safari. for posting!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lonereb
OK, finally got caught up again. Fabulous TR. Wonderful pictures. Wish I was there now. A very belated Happy Birthday to you Cam (sorry I missed it) and also a Happy Anniversary (Late) to you and Luke too. Looking forward to more.
I wouldn't mind being back at AK right now, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaisynDonald
OMG, how cool was that getting to see the cockpit!!! Stephanie must have been on cloud 9!! So happy she got to have that experience!!!
We got some pictures today for her that included the ones of her in the cockpit. She squealed when she saw them, saying, "This is when I was flying the plane!" It was truly special!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roxie2006
Wow!!!...These pictures are amazing. You caught the very essences of the Elephants and the Giraffes. It would be very hard for me to pick which ones to frame. Looking forward to the next update!!!!!
That is my problem right now, which ones to chose!?
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsteiny23
Yay! I'm up to when you're in Disney...albeit with a glich to start with, but I imagine the magic gets better (In fact I know it does ). Craig and I LOVED AKL when we stayed there for the race and the AKL shop is my fave on site too!! We think the boys would love this resort. We're eating at Jiko the last night we are there this trip (because they have pizza for Jason)...I think...and at least they'll get to see it. Maybe we'll stay there next time around. I think we'd upgrade to savanah view, for the boys of course. I love the animal shots...and giraffes are also my fave. I could watch them walk for hours.
I can't wait to hear what you think of Jiko's. I've already told Luke that when we stay at AKLV in 2013, I want to do the sunset safari which includes dinner at Jiko.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsteiny23
Okay...one thing on my absolute to-do list is MK RD. We tried last time and got hung up waiting for 3 busses from BC!!! So, Craig told me if we have to, we'll take a cab so I can get there this time.
LOVE the pics of Stef with CnD...soooo cute! What a smile!!
Great that you guys got some DVC points back!! Craig is finally thinking that we need to seriously consider DVC. I've said it for years but my talking seemed to fall on deaf ears...but meet another Disney family at a picnic and talk to the dad that you JUST met and he managed to change Craig's mind.
I love the new Princess queue. I've heard there is FP for this as well?? If so, Jason may finally get his princess time. He would love to meet them, but not so much my older two. But, if we can FP it, we'll do it this trip.
Love the new FL pics. Beast's castle looks great!!
And we too have the car vinyls! Love them!!
Sending that you finally make MK Rope Drop! Loads of for DVC! There is a FP for both Mickey/Minnie and the Princesses. We just hit it first thing in the morning and had not wait for the Princesses and wouldn't have had much of a wait for Mickey/Minnie if there hadn't been a technical difficulty.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jenny Pot Pie
All your safari pics are fantastic! I especially love the giraffes!
Quote:
Originally Posted by clio
Love your elephant and giraffe pictures. I thought the giraffes looked different. Now I know why. our zoo now has one of the elephants from AK. His name is Willie. We had 4 females and no males so Disney loaned us one.
Liz
That is so neat that you have Disney giraffe locally. I'd have to visit him often.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMA
Wow. I was 11 pages behind after being away for a week. Finally caught up!
Your pictures of all the animals are gorgeous!
Quote:
Originally Posted by omd
I love the pictures of the giraffes! I defininetly want to go on this safari one day. All of your pictures are great. If you ever decide to leave teaching you could become a photographer at Disney .
That would be a dream job!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
More awesome pictures!!! Love the elephants!!
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Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata
Wow. To echo every other sentiment - spectacular photos! Absolutely amazing!!
You all are making me feel so good!
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Originally Posted by jandsdennis
So loving this TR.
I appreciate everyone who reads and follows along!
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Originally Posted by Coop
Your pics are just frame-able! Truely awesome!
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Originally Posted by goofyboysmama
Awesome shots! (I know you've heard this already, but wow!) Many of them could be postcards, I mean it. Really great photography - what a morning!
Luke took some great shots of buildings that you all will see later. I joked with him that between the 2 of us we could pretty much make postcards of everything at Disney.
Up Next: The Sunrise Finale with White Rhinos, Big Cats, and Warthogs
June 9 Part 4
Next on our safari were the white rhinoceros, and I was very anxious to see how much the baby rhino had grown since last summer. I truly love all the animals, but the babies are super special.
This rhino was situated right beside where our truck stopped. I’m almost had trouble photographing him with my big lens.
Rhinoceros are impressive creatures!
And here is the baby!
These two seemed to be a little aggressive with one another for just a few moments, and then they moved away from one another.
The baby is still nursing at this point, even though he is huge now.
Every June our truck driver has pointed out the cheetahs lying way up on the hill, lurking in the shade. If I have the time to stare long enough, there have been a few times when I thought I saw them, but I could never be positive. That changed this year. The cheetahs were sitting way up on the hill, but the sun was shining down and I caught one of them on digital film.
Just a big kitty!
Now Erich announced we were headed into lion country. He mentioned that everyone who takes this tour hopes that the lion will be up and active, but there are never any guarantees with the lion. Remember he is a cat and when has a cat every done anything because it was expected.
First, we sighted the lioness. Not exactly up, but at least in a semi-photographic stance.
Okay, I know all of those look pretty much alike, but I kept firing off shots hoping beyond hope she’d move or do anything even a bit exciting. By the time we drove around to the other side, she’d completely lain down and no picture opportunities appeared. But what about the lion? Let the pictures tell the story.
Only guy I know who can sleep on the job and not get fired. I’m still jealous of all you who have seen that bad boy up and moving. I’m convinced he is snubbing me.
Our final animal spotting was Pumbaa’s cousins, the warthogs, who were up and fairly active this morning.
These guys really are not attractive at all, but I still get so excited whenever we see them.
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But this part is not very long and they aren't quite really looking, though they are huge. In other words, if I could do it, you can, too. 
for posting!
It was truly special!
...These pictures are amazing. You caught the very essences of the Elephants and the Giraffes. It would be very hard for me to pick which ones to frame.
). Craig and I LOVED AKL when we stayed there for the race and the AKL shop is my fave on site too!! We think the boys would love this resort. We're eating at Jiko the last night we are there this trip (because they have pizza for Jason)...I think...and at least they'll get to see it. Maybe we'll stay there next time around. I think we'd upgrade to savanah view, for the boys of course. 
that you finally make MK Rope Drop! Loads of 
for DVC! There is a FP for both Mickey/Minnie and the Princesses. We just hit it first thing in the morning and had not wait for the Princesses and wouldn't have had much of a wait for Mickey/Minnie if there hadn't been a technical difficulty. 
Katie's graduation
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