Not really a solo trip at all. - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
PassPorter.com
Award-winning travel guidebooks

   guidebooks   |   news   |   podcasts   |   boards   |   blog   |   worksheets   |   photos   |   articles   |   updates   |   register   |   follow us on


Forums Closed
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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

Go Back   PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums > Blogs > Walt's Wave
Register


Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.

To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.

If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.


(This is Main Street by Angie, who is working on art goals here on the blog!)


This has been a personal project to blog every day for a school year on goals and dreams. My hope was that I could find a group of people to work with me.

I was lucky enough to find a small, but sincere group of inspirational people to keep me company. We've been using Walt Disney's philosophies or creations as inspiration.

I am no longer blogging daily, but I am notified if comments are posted, and I'll be happy to keep the discussion going!

Click_Here_To_See_Projects_In_Progress

Click_Here_To_See_Finished_Goals_Or_Projects

Post_goal_updates_here



Two_Alices_fall_down_a_rabbit_hole_and_land_on_the ir_feet_in_WondORLANDO!

art by A.Daley






Please join us and introduce yourself here.
Rate this Entry

Not really a solo trip at all.

Posted 07-21-2009 at 09:48 AM by Sandra Bostwick
Updated 08-30-2009 at 03:47 PM by Sandra Bostwick
My friend Doreen was traveling for business in Boston, and we spent a couple hours on the phone chatting while I ate my Dominos Pizza on the balcony. Doreen and I have had most of our friendship by cell phone...two busy women who catch up while driving from here to there or staying someplace far from home. She commented on how brave I was to plan my first whole week solo trip to someplace so unfamiliar. (Disney solo trips don't count because I know the place so well.) I felt proud of myself...like I'd taken some kind of first steps toward a new independence.

Yesterday was such an amazing day I forgot to blog! I spent about five hours on an ecotour given by Captain Mike Makowski along with the company of Jennifer, the person I first spoke to to reserve my room here at the lodge.

While grabbing coffee, I had a fantastic chat with Jennifer's mother, who was on duty here. I took one last walk and the housekeeper greeted me with a big smile.

This morning I had some PMs and blog comments wondering where my blog was yesterday. I thought about how great it is to have the PassPorter community wherever I go. I've only actually been in the same room with a handful of them, but they are always floating in the air, waiting for me to log on.

As I get ready to power down the laptop and catch the shuttle to Miami, I see that this was not a solo trip at all. I had the freedom to create solitude whenever I chose, but never was there a moment when I could not reach out and find someone.

I feel deeply blessed right now, surrounded by great people, and full of gratitude for people who pass like ships in the night, people who have been on speed dial for years, people who are part of my real-time life, and people who wait in virtual rooms and communities to say "hi" and notice when you are enjoying life so much that you forget to blog!

I'll see you ALL when I am back in Jersey! Signing out from Key Largo.

Namaste.
0 Pixie Dust
Views 3208 Comments 5 Email Blog Entry
Total Comments 5

Comments

  1. Old
    christiejay's Avatar
    The ecotour sounds interesting ... you'll have to give us some details about it in the trip report! Glad to hear you had such a positive experience on this trip.

    Namaste, fellow LOSTie!
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 07-21-2009 at 06:57 PM by christiejay christiejay is offline
  2. Old
    Sandra Bostwick's Avatar
    I can't believe you mentioned LOST! While waiting for my luggage, there was a Sawyer look alike across the baggage claim area. When I looked close, he seemed a bit younger than Sawyer would be, but I had to look close to be sure it wasn't him.

    Like I said...Jersey is BEAUTIFUL!!!
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 07-22-2009 at 11:13 PM by Sandra Bostwick Sandra Bostwick is offline
  3. Old
    Sue M.'s Avatar
    So glad you had such a great trip. Sounds like paradise to me!! I can't wait to go, I know 2 nights just won't be enough in the Keys, but there's always next time.
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 07-23-2009 at 12:43 AM by Sue M. Sue M. is offline
  4. Old
    christiejay's Avatar
    Hee hee, I always have LOST on the brain! And Josh Holloway would make any place a little more beautiful.
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 07-23-2009 at 07:17 PM by christiejay christiejay is offline
  5. Old
    Sandra Bostwick's Avatar
    SIGH! He is gorgeous!
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 07-23-2009 at 09:56 PM by Sandra Bostwick Sandra Bostwick is offline
 







Please login or register to hide these ads -- it's free and easy!

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:39 PM.

-->

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like v3.4.0 Patch Level 1 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
(c) 1998-2017 PassPorter Travel Press/MediaMarx, Inc.
Celebrating 19 Years of Making Dreams Come True
Ad Management plugin by RedTyger