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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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As you can tell by my name, I am partial to Jambo house. We have stayed at both, studio only. Both are beautiful, but we feel more a part of the surroundings at Jambo. While both could possibly give quite a walk to the room, especially at night, when you are tired from the parks, I felt that the hike to our room at Kidani was especially long. We like the convenience of Mara and Boma at Jambo. My kids love the gift shop. Animal viewing at both locations is wonderful. We don't prefer one pool over the other. Both are fun. If you have never stayed at AKL or the villas before, I recommend starting with Jambo and a visit over at Kidani. Have a great vacation!
Jambo, that is my EXACT logic for staying at Jambo House!! We have visited many times, eaten at all the restaurants, but never stayed there. I would have loved to have had my kids/grandkids there with me but this will give me some experience for future trips. Thanks for your comments!
You can't go wrong with either, but we prefer Kidani. Our kids love the community hall there, and we love the pool and sprinkler area for DS(4). While the lobby of Jambo is awesome, we actually prefer the coziness of Kidani - I think it has a more intimate feel to it. Also, we prefer the larger 1BR accommodations at Kidani - it really helps to have another full bath since we are a family of 5
We prefer Jambo. We find Kidani to be too spread out and too far from the main action, as we feel it's got limited facilities, compared to Jambo.
have to agrree
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Our family loves them both, but we prefer the activity and grandeur of Jambo. However, we do like that the 1 bedrooms are larger in Kidani - with an extra full bathroom - so choose to stay there when we have a 1 or 2 bedroom. Always Jambo when we reserve a studio. Enjoy your trip!
IMO, Jambo is better for Studio villa but Kidani for larger units.
Studios are pretty much the same at both facilities so I'd take Jambo for the nicer building and closeness to amenities.
But One, Two and Three Bedroom villas at Kidani are larger with more square footage, an extra bathroom and an overall better layout. Personally I'd sacrifice the benefits of the Jambo facility in exchange for spending my entire trip in a nicer villa. Jambo isn't that far away--easy walk or bus ride for occasional visits.
We stayed at Kidani and liked it. The only complaint I had is the food situation. We had a 1BR so we cooked in our room most days. If we hadn't done that, I feel like our food options at the resort were very limited.
Jambo seems to have a lot more to offer in the way of amenities.
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We absolutely LOVED Jambo! It is majestic and wonderfully themed. While the walk can be long to the pool and busses etc (we were at the very end of the Kudu trail overlooking the Arusha savannah), it was never too much. We loved that we could get zebra domes at the Mara and the pool and hot tub were outstanding! Boma is a tradition for us every trip and we always stop in the gift shop. Like I said - LOVE it!!!!
We've stayed at both as well and being someone who likes a little hustle and bustle with her resort (well not in the hallways! ), I prefer Jambo, as well as for the fact that DH and I like to use our CS credit from the DDP for our breakfast meal and being that there is no CS at Kidani, it's not ideal.
However, staying at Kidani in a 1-bedroom+ was just fine as we had the full kitchen and didn't use the DDP that trip! Plus with the extra full bath in the room for any additional guests staying with us, you didn't feel like you were disturbing one another.
Plus, because Kidani is just a few minutes (on foot) from Jambo, it's far enough that if you're looking for a more relaxed setting, this is the better choice, IMO.
Either way though, they're both fabulous resorts! We're heading back again this year.
I have stayed at both, Kidani is my home resort.
Walking in to Jambo is breathtaking. Kidani, for me, is amazing, but not breathtaking.
Either resort, you may have a long walk from the main entrance. I stayed in the furthest part of Jambo my first visit.
Jambo does have more places to eat, but Kidani has Sanaa. Where you can eat and watch the animals.
Kidani has a very nice kids water place.
Both resorts have great views, and programs for kids.
Both are a few minutes away from each other.
Kidani's food court/store is very small, Jambo has a large store and Mara I think is bigger.
I think you are safe in your decision, and if you want to check out Kidani, just walk to it. You do not have to stay there to enjoy the resort.