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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
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.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
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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PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
I'm so excited for you! One of my greatest desires would be to spend Christmas and my birthday at WDW. Christmas will never happen, and my birthday is in March, usually Spring Break for someone, somewhere, and they all descend on WDW.
Great plans! Will you be decorating your campsite?
We don't the blow ups but we will do some decorating. We have some rope lights we use to outline our pad, String lights for our awning. Got to kick my Butt in gear and finish my 2nd Mickey Lamp and find some red and green light bulbs . A small flock of Flamingo's with Stocking Caps.
But the most important items finally arrived, a see out but in screen for the front windshield that proudly proclaims BAH HUMBG and life size Ebaneezer doll
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I really hope this year your plans work out and you make it!
Doing all I can to make it work out. Thanks for Pixie Dust
Your plans sound wonderful!!!! I just know that you are going to spend this Christmas at WDW!!
Thanks Tara I have been channeling my inner you with some of the changes I've been making.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NanaTink
I'm so excited for you! One of my greatest desires would be to spend Christmas and my birthday at WDW. Christmas will never happen, and my birthday is in March, usually Spring Break for someone, somewhere, and they all descend on WDW.
I KNOW you will make it this year!
Having our own Mobile DVC accommodations has made it easier to make this sort of decision easier. That we can bring the KIDS just said it was now not just a fantasy but a option we could turn into reality
Great start and plans Mike! I hope everything works out this time and the trip goes according to schedule!
Thanks Marne. Schedules need to be fluid I know from personal experience, so we plan on what we know is realistic .
Quote:
Originally Posted by KimmyAnn1147
I am so excited to you to have such a LONG stay! This is something i would really love to do in my lifetime.
You may not even recognize me, but I've been a fan of yours ever since you posted the first 4 of 12 steps for Disney Addicts :grin:
Here's hoping that 3rd time's a charm!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
KimmyAnn yes I know who you are in fact I have Been lurking in the backround of your Cherry On Top TR Nice upgrade.
Staying this long is one of the reasons we got our coach that and bringing the dogs. The cats no longer come as Chester did something to Katie and now when sees him she wants to use him as a chew toy. So our neighbor will come over and see to them. Being retired doesn't hurt either
GENERAL INFO
Considering the GIRLS will be less than 3 ( They are still FREE thank heaven) they need to do plenty of running around, At home they have a fenced in back yard to go out and savage I mean play in. So most of our mornings will be spent taking care of them. Between Exploring the Wilderness and trips to the Bark Park we should be okay.
DAY 3
This is a Sunday, I suspect the parks will be at or near capacity. Did book the dining package for the Candlelight Processional. We will an early dinner at Chefs de France
before heading over to get on line. Originally we had the ever popular TBD as the narrator We were thrilled they would be on stage as we are both big fans. Then all of sudden they changed the line up now we have Moana aka Auli'i Cravalho.
We will have some time between when we eat and the show so we are looking at catching The Voices of Liberty while we wait . In fact most of the time we are in EPCOT prior to New Years will be spent touring Wold Showcase for the Holiday decor and special live action shows. I will try for FP's at Spaceship Earth, and Frozen.
DAY 4
CHRISTMAS Eve and my Birthday. Plans for today are simple, This a FORT DAY. Hoping the Girls got the idea I would LOVE to go fishing for a few hours but some how I doubt it. Once they have taken care of Lucille and I will Likely hit the Meadow Trading Post for some last minute shopping. Lunch is slated for next door at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. Current rumors of subdued antics had us questioning our decision for here but we do have hopes. Lucille is super happy about this as she plans to pay me back for her 1st ever trip button.
In 2011 as we arrived she didn't want to come in while I checked us in. Well I explained it to the young lady that she was reluctant to come in and not excited to be here and had no intention of wearing ant stupid button. The young lady smiled and told me to go tell her she was needed and I brought her in. The young woman asked to see her id to confirm it was her. She then gave Lucille a great big welcome for her First ever trip while presenting her with the button. She told her that it was a DISNEY LAW that all First Time visitors wear their button during their stay. To say Lucille was not amused is an understatement. That is until I started getting a hard time from CM's when we went to eat and she got extra attention from others throughout the property. In the end she wouldn't leave our cabin without it. I suspect I will be wearing a BITHDAY Button for some select meals .
After lunch we will head back to the coach where I will put the finishing touches on our golf cart for the RIDE OF SHAME. Disney advertises this as the HOLIDAY GOLF CART PARADE but it is in fact a RIDE OF SHAME. Disney strictly prohibits people from adorning their golf carts and riding around in them. If you get caught by CM's violating this rule you will receive a summons and required to participate. Last year WookieBear let me know if I forced her ride around with me in such a despicable vehicle she would see to it I paid the price and she was going to escort me to ensure I was subject to my full share of abuse and derision. While she may be gone I will decorate my cart so she won't be disappointed in me paying the price.
Dinner is up in the air. We will eat at the coach and will either do take out from P&J's or just some simple burgers and dogs before heading out to the campfire sing along and Movie at the Meadows complex. Depending on how we feel we may even go to the Marina for the last Fireworks in MK before calling it a night.
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Sounds like some good, but laid back plans for those busy holidays in the parks. I'm sure The Girls will keep your energy levels at a high, though. I don't blame you for keeping it simple until after the holiday crowds have left town.
Sounds like some good, but laid back plans for those busy holidays in the parks. I'm sure The Girls will keep your energy levels at a high, though. I don't blame you for keeping it simple until after the holiday crowds have left town.
If the GIRLS don't have our energy levels at high then we can at least count on them to add to the stress and frustration levels . Katie insists on being the first one out the door even if that means knocking me to the floor and blocking my accessto the door to do it .
I have read enough TRs from those in the Bubble at the holidays to know that the KISS ( Keep it Simple Michael) method for touring is likely to be our bestest option Fighting huge crowds to try and enjoy the attractions is not my idea of fun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Great plans for what will no doubt be an exceptionally busy time in the parks!
I remember what you and Mark had to deal with a few years ago along with Lisafredsbo' s account of New Years so we plan on keeping things on the light side for a bit.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
[QUOTE=MikeL;4686738 I remember what you and Mark had to deal with a few years ago along with Lisafredsbo' s account of New Years so we plan on keeping things on the light side for a bit.[/QUOTE]
Yes, we were so lucky on the one New Year's Eve we spent in Disney, as the heavens opened at about 6:00pm and carried on until the early hours of the morning, nicely clearing the park out for the few fools, like us, who stayed until midnight for the extended IllumiNations. I couldn't believe that people had staked out their spots for the fireworks by mid-afternoon and there was just nowhere left to grab a spot. It was crazy!
Yes, we were so lucky on the one New Year's Eve we spent in Disney, as the heavens opened at about 6:00pm and carried on until the early hours of the morning, nicely clearing the park out for the few fools, like us, who stayed until midnight for the extended IllumiNations. I couldn't believe that people had staked out their spots for the fireworks by mid-afternoon and there was just nowhere left to grab a spot. It was crazy!
You guys got lucky. I am not sure we could get that lucky but I also remember Lisa and her Family by 3 in the afternoon being surrounded and harassed by groups of intoxicated people that leaving was the best option for them. Not exactly my idea of a fun day'
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.