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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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

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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!

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(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






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Where to Start? Where to Start?

Posted 09-03-2009 at 09:15 AM by Sandra Bostwick
Updated 09-07-2009 at 07:47 AM by Sandra Bostwick
Let's start a group project on starting a project!

September is a time of year where students, teachers, and parents are getting ready for a new school year. Some people are already thinking about the holidays. On top of that, there are any number of projects or jobs that need to be done.

When you have a big undertaking to start, where do you begin? How about creating a project-friendly environment?

I'm going to set a goal to blog about setting and accomplishing a school year's worth of goals, and I'm hoping that you'll join in. I'm also asking that you answer here in comments as much as possible, rather than PMing me. While I LOVE all discussions, the others lose out on the benefit of your comments if I am the only one hearing them. Of course, If you'd like me to know the specific nature of a personal project, PM me briefly, but try to fit your general thoughts into the blogs.

You don't need to need huge project. You might just be trying to get a jump start on the holidays or you might be like Dave and Jennifer, trying to write two guidebooks while coordinating comments from a number of assistants.

No one needs to get too personal or specific. You can just speak in general terms without giving away too much personal information.

So, here I am at the beginning of a school year as an independent contractor in a questionable economy. I also have some major personal projects which are going to take a considerable amount of thought, research, and...well...KAHONAS! (Can you say Kahonas without offending? I hope so!)

Let's start by sharing our ideas on how to create a project friendly environment.

*Do you consider lighting? Some projects are good with bright lights, some are best with soft lights, and, for some, candles are just the calming mood you need.
*What sort of sound environment works best? A particular type of music? Silence? A white noise machine if background noises are distracting? Topic programs such as NPR, books on tape, or motivational CD's?
*How should your work area be organized? Do you have several projects at once that need to be separated? How can you do that?

That is a start, and I am going to stop now, because, for me, one of the best ways to start with the things I need to do is to...well...just GET STARTED!

Here is a silly, but wise, song about an imaginary little guy who eventually started a pretty important journey into the unkown with a rather unusual and unique gift to light up the darkness. I'm kind-of joking here, but I do think there is a measure of wisdom in this song.

http://www.xmasfun.com/Lyrics.asp?ID=99

Now, get started and post something!
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Comments

  1. Old
    christiejay's Avatar
    The main thing I have to do before beginning any project is to do a lot of thinking. And unfortunately that takes a very long time sometimes. But eventually I will get a brainstorm and then I'll get moving on it. As far as the environment goes, I don't usually put too much effort into it. The main thing for me is to eliminate distractions. My desk is turned towards a wall, and I can't see outside unless I get up and walk to a window or door. (The french doors behind me are usually kept covered by the drapes since we don't use that door to go outside.) And I can't work too well with music because that gets me daydreaming. The light level doesn't bother me too much. In fact I usually work at the computer without any lights on, other than what comes through the small skylight tube in the kitchen. Now obviously if I'm going to do work away from the computer I will turn some lights on, but usually just a lamp - that's kind of what I'm used to. In fact, bright lights tend to bother me.
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 09-03-2009 at 05:57 PM by christiejay christiejay is offline
  2. Old
    Sandra Bostwick's Avatar
    I have to agree with you on the limiting distractions. I spent some time working on that today.
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 09-03-2009 at 09:37 PM by Sandra Bostwick Sandra Bostwick is offline
  3. Old
    Diz's Avatar
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 09-04-2009 at 10:45 AM by Diz Diz is offline
  4. Old
    Sandra Bostwick's Avatar
    Too funny, Dorie, and a great comment!
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 09-04-2009 at 11:42 AM by Sandra Bostwick Sandra Bostwick is offline
  5. Old
    GoofEme's Avatar
    I really like to plan, even if its only in my head, and visualize what I have planned and what the result of my project will be. I sometimes have to take things in bits and pieces so I don't get overwhelmed and give up before I get started. Once I get started though, watch out. I get it done, and efficiently. Environmental issues depend on the project, to cook the kitchen has to be relatively clean, I can't cook in a messy kitchen, etc... Other projects I can do in clutter. I love the feelings I have when I've accomplished a project.
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 09-04-2009 at 11:45 PM by GoofEme GoofEme is offline
  6. Old
    Sandra Bostwick's Avatar
    I'm seeing a theme on limiting distractions and clutter, so that sound like a great topic for today..

    Thank you so much for posting, CHristieJay, Diz (Dorie) and GoofEme(Jamie). PLEASE POST, readers. I really want to hear your ideas.
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 09-05-2009 at 07:59 AM by Sandra Bostwick Sandra Bostwick is offline
  7. Old
    Sandra Bostwick's Avatar
    UPDATE:One of the lessons learned was to narrow the focus and be more specific. Our group experiment, or project, is now going to be a year's worth of bringing Disney philosophies into our home lives somehow.

    At the moment, we seem to be doing this by working on daily short exercises.

    I see quite a few bleaders, but not many commenters. PLEASE POST!
    0 Pixie Dust
    Posted 09-07-2009 at 07:53 AM by Sandra Bostwick Sandra Bostwick is offline
 







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