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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Wow, I'm still exhausted but what a great conference I enjoyed at the Grand Floridian last week! And I'm thrilled to report that the conference was so good, I never even looked wistfully across the bay or up at the monorail. The conference was very specific to my industry: it was for Human Resources professionals who work within the Architecture/Engineering/Construction (A/E/C) industry. Since I am the "HR Department" for my 40-person architectural firm, it sounded perfect for me. And it was!
But YOU don't care about any of that, do you? You want to know what spring break is like at WDW and how much I enjoyed my first evah stay at the "mother ship," Disney's Grand Floridian! (And did I mention I got to use the conference rate of $199/night for my entire stay? Thought I'd died and gone to heaven! )
OK, dear , let's start with my arrival at the Grand Flo on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. It was about 11:00 a.m. when DME picked me up. I noticed a lot more cars on the roads leading into WDW than I'm used to seeing -- after all, last year I visited in Feb, mid-Oct, and early-Dec.
The weather was gorgeous for my entire 5-night stay, by the way -- sunny with a high of about 85.
Then DME stopped at the WL, where I had enjoyed myself so thoroughly in December.
Goodbye, WL! Gawrsh, I love their theming!
And hello to my new "home" for five glorious nights.
Of course, a Cast Member escorted me to the registration desk, dahling. Look up at that fabulous ceiling!
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.
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.
My birthday is coming up (March 26), so of course when I made all my dining ressies etc. I told everybody at WDW. So the GF immediately gave me a birthday button, which I proudly wore in the parks & on Disney transportation. (I didn't wear it at the conference, although I did "go Disney" the last morning -- more on that later.)
But that has nothing to do with this particular post. I must admit my idiocy here -- while sitting on the DME bus awaiting other passengers, I suddenly realized my purple folder was missing - and I could picture exactly where I'd left it: on the plane, leaning up against the bulkhead. (I'd had a window seat.) I frantically went through my carry-on luggage to confirm my worst suspicions. I had a lot of info about the conference and people I'd set up dinner meets with in that folder. Drat!
I had time so ran back to the DME folks inside the terminal. The manager quickly phoned the Southwest gate I'd exited earlier, and confirmed that those lovely SWA people had spotted my purple folder and were holding it at the gate. Then I committed idiotic act #2: "That's great -- hey, I don't really need the folder until my conference starts tomorrow. Would you send it to the Grand Floridian for me?"
Well, of COURSE DME would be happy to do that. So I ran back to my bus (which now had enough passengers to depart, so I was saying to everybody on board.
As the bus pulled onto the highway, a horrible thought occurred to me: I had prepurchased tickets for the park, and my proof of that was inside the purple folder. So I quietly fretted about that until reaching the Grand Floridian.
When the nice Cast Member started to escort me to the front desk, I explained my dilemma. She assured me that other idiots (my word, not hers) left receipts like that behind, and that any Guest Services desk at any of the parks could look up my payment by my name. Hooray! Hooray!
So now, skipping several hours to around 6:00 p.m. when I first entered my delightful room, what do you think was waiting for me? A thoroughly-taped box with my room number (9509) and my name. Inside was my silly purple folder, all its contents, and the pen I'd slipped inside.
:t hanks: to Southwest Airlines and to Disney's Magical Express! And to the Grand Floridian!
So this photo may not be the most beautiful one you've ever seen, but it sure meant the world to me that Tuesday!
Just to complete this particular story, I can assure you that after taking the monorail to the Magic Kingdom around noon that day, Guest Services (on the right side before you enter the park) quite efficiently looked up my paid receipt for my Parkhopper pass at a special conference rate. So to Disney's Guest Services, too!
And now, back to our original story. I've checked in at the GF's front desk, grabbed my sunscreen and a few other necessaries, handed my carry-ons to Bell Services to hold for me, and started exploring the gorgeous lobby a bit before heading out to the MK.
First, I had to get more detail from one of those beautiful stained glass domes.
Then I went to the next level to shoot this photo looking down at a portion of the lobby, which was fairly deserted during late morning but quite occupied later in the day.
And here's where a lovely band plays in the evenings.
Later, I took great pleasure at getting pics of the characters in the marble floors. Naturally, Goofy gets priority billing from me.
I'd made a lunch ressie for 1:25 p.m. at Tony's Town Square because I'd never been inside. Well, it was now merely 12:00 noon but I was starving and ready. So after getting my Parkhopper ticket from the MK's Guest Services dude, I took a deep breath and said, "OK, let's see how Main Street looks at noon during spring break." I wasn't terribly surprised at the crowds. But the weather was lovely and I was in full "bliss mode." Lookee, there's Cindy's Castle! That's MINE.
Yes, Main Street was crazy-crowded, but my growling stomach didn't care. To my great surprise and delight, the restaurant wasn't crowded at all yet and within a couple minutes of requesting a table for one RIGHT NOW, I was ushered in.
Look, my first birthday treat of the trip! "Pixie dust," said my server, who provided a small plastic bag with this whispered advice: "Be sure to take some with you." (I did. )
I sat very near this lovely framed photo from a movie that debuted the same year I did: 1955.
I begged my server to take me to the spot where I could see Lady and the Tramp in silhouette, and of course she did.
And now, what to order for my first solo meal of the trip?
I'm a sucker for tomato and fresh mozzarella salads, so that was an easy first course for me.
Then a nice Chicken Florentine Calzone (with spinach, caramelized onions, and mozzarella). It was
Naturally, I was too full for dessert. But of course, I was wearing that birthday button, and so my server insisted on bringing me. . . .
A bit out of focus, but by that point I'd gotten over my "innate shyness" and made friends with those at the corner table: a woman about my age with 9- and 11-year-old girls. They were singing "Happy birthday" and I was conducting them -- so it's amazing this photo looks like anything resembling the yummy ice cream with chocolate sauce that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The corner table folks were from somewhere else in Florida and it was their FIRST TIME in WDW. The woman was a bit overwhelmed and not prepared for the crowds. I gave them some cheerful advice about enjoying the surroundings, picking their #1 attractions and then just soaking up the magical ambiance. The girls kept asking me questions, prefacing each with "Cindy, ..." which would catch me off guard until I would remember the birthday button with my NAME on it of course!
Anyway, the woman and one of the girls had already started eating their desserts when they realized Lady and the Tramp were drawn on their plates in chocolate syrup. So of course I had to get a pic of THAT even though Lady was partially eaten:
Before I left, I insisted that the woman and the two girls walk over to the silhouettes, and they were glad I'd told them about that. They wished me a happy birthday and I wished them a magical spring break.
What a dream come true!!! One day I'll get to stay there Glad you are doing a TR....I was missing that you hadn't posted one in a while
Hey, Heather! Nice to hear from you. I hope you're doing well.
I recently had a whirlwind "wicked" weekend in NYC -- see the link below my signature. Your message about me not posting in a while reminded me that I've been remiss in adding links so people can find my fascinating stories
I am soooooo jealous that you got to stay at GF!! I have wanted to stay there for a long time! Can't wait to read more of your TR and see all of the photos
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PREVIOUS TRIPS: 1997- Off-site, 2002-Contemporary, 2009- POFQ, 2011- Beach Club, 2012- Disney Magic, 2013 Disney Fantasy
Great start!!! Love the pictures! GF is gorgeous!!! Tony's is a place I keep putting on our list to try, but haven't yet. Looks like you had a wonderful time there/and some yummy food. Thanks for the review...we just may give it a try next time. Can't wait to read more!!!
Thanks for the update on Tony's! We have ressies there in a few weeks, so I was very interested in what you had to say. Oddly enough, the Chicken Florentine Calzone is high on my list of possibilities!
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Glad you are doing a TR....I was missing that you hadn't posted one in a while 
The woman was a bit overwhelmed and not prepared for the crowds. I gave them some cheerful advice about enjoying the surroundings, picking their #1 attractions and then just soaking up the magical ambiance. The girls kept asking me questions, prefacing each with "Cindy, ..." which would catch me off guard until I would remember the birthday button with my NAME on it of course! 
Susan
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