PTR: A Magical Time in a Magical Place--Disney at Christmas - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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.
PTR: A Magical Time in a Magical Place--Disney at Christmas
The trip I still don't believe we're really going to do--
When: December 20-26, 2015 Where: Grand Floridian Royal Palm Club, Deluxe King room Who: Her Dotness and His Drewness, Dot & Drew Why: Another dream coming true--Christmas at Disney in the glorious Grand Floridian.
So, we're lounging about in bed after a leisurely lunch on a very lazy Sunday afternoon. Drew's fiddling around on the iPad doing I'd no idea what because I was caught up in a really good British mystery.
Next thing I know, he's shoving the iPad in my direction saying, "Hey, take a look at this."
Absolutely the last thing I thought he'd be wanting to show me was the official Disney site with a special offer for nearly a full week at the GF for CHRISTMAS???? NO! Impossible!
But, there it was.
Most astounding was that the total cost was less than a similar stay we'd priced for mid-November last year and rejected in favor of a significantly less expensive one at WL.
And now, we've booked the trip I never thought we'd be able to do EVER--Christmas at WDW.
The moral of the story is, "Never stop believing in Disney magic. The impossible happens every day."
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
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.
What spooked both of us was realizing how comparatively little time we have till our 180, slightly more than six weeks. We booked the last two trips so far in advance that it was months, not mere weeks, until our 180. Now, it feels like too short a time to get that all-important (for us) list assembled of where we want to eat.
What really seemed weird was being able to customize Magic Bands almost immediately after doing the booking. Shortly thereafter, I realized it's occasionally a benefit I'm a professional procrastinator. I considered pitching our MB's from last fall's trip since we were certain we wouldn't be returning within two years. Then, as I typically do, I tossed them onto the mess on my desk thinking I'd do that eventually or instead stash them in the Mickey suitcase of stuff that's used only at WDW in case we did something truly nutty like managing to go back next year possibly.
Guess I will dig them out now and stash them with the other "going to Disney" gear. Because, big surprise, we can use them again THIS year!
Just sign me-- STILL Doesn't Believe We're Doing It
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Christmas at Disney is on our list as well but not for quite some time. We are trying to save for Fall 2016 as JB's first Disney trip. Glad you are getting your dream trip.
Is this a delayed April Fool's joke!? I know how much time you guys take in saving up for a grandiose trip & one coming up so soon since your last seems unimaginable.
If this is the real deal then way to go His Drewness!!!!!!
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
Is this a delayed April Fool's joke!? I know how much time you guys take in saving up for a grandiose trip & one coming up so soon since your last seems unimaginable.
If this is the real deal then way to go His Drewness!!!!!!
No, this is for real.
Admittedly, we'll have to do some major finance tweaking to manage this one so soon after last year's blowout. Truth be told, we're not certain we'll be able to do it, but we have until PIF day in early November to figure that out.
We're giving it our best shot because this is the first year Drew's been high enough in seniority that he could snag vacation on Christmas week. We should probably be thanking all the 30-year-plus people above him who retired recently. Yanno?
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 05-04-2015 at 05:26 PM..
I know how the budget game goes. I have 5 more paychecks till my PIF date & then 4 pay checks till we fly out. I'm tired of moving money each pay over to Disney but its SO worth it while we are there!
Definitely try not to pass up Xmas week in Disney!!! I've never been & it's on my bucket list so I have to live through you.....no pressure! Lol
Drew told me after we leapt upon this insane idea that he checks the Disney website now and then for special offers just in case something would show up that we could do. Which is usually diddley squat since he has to choose vacation weeks in the fall for the coming year. So, we get PIN codes we have no chance of using, and he finds plummy deals that don't coincide with his scheduled vacation.
Until now...
Since our not-so-great WL stay last fall, we'd been toying around with doing another less expensive stay in a couple years, probably at Yacht Club. But, one thing or another about YC just didn't sit quite right with us. Not on the monorail, something we REALLY missed when staying at WL. And, comparing notes with other PassPorters, we learned that no other club level is as posh as the Royal Palm Club, not even Sugar Loaf, which at least is at the GF. We both love the comfort and ease of being in the Main Building, no trekking through weather to get to the monorail, for instance. Lots more reasons, but those are the major ones.
Anyway, I soon realized what he's found and is showing me is an absolutely perfect special offer for the precise stay we'd resolved to hold out for:
--Grand Floridian, Club Level Deluxe King room, Royal Palm Club
--Six night stay, five park days with PH
--Free dining which we'd upgrade to Deluxe
--Memory Maker
...and we could get this dream trip FOR CHRISTMAS WEEK. The first time in his nearly 18 years with the company that he had gotten vacation that week.
But, you knew there'd be something, right? There's always something.... When he tried to book it on the Disney website, he kept getting an error alert, no confirmation.
I said, "Call Disney. Maybe it's just the stoopid website."
But, even the CM couldn't get the free dining. She advised us to keep trying, explaining that it just might not be available right then but could open up later. (I restrained myself from blurting that her system was evidently working about as well as MDE and the regular site typically do, which was hardly news to us, and that was more likely why neither of us could book this offer.)
We decided we'd go OOP if it came to that eventuality. This was just too fabulous an offer to pass up even without a dining plan. So, we told her to book it with everything else, which she did.
And then, this afternoon, scarcely 24 hours later, Drew told me he was just going to try adding free dining with the Deluxe upgrade to see if we could get it.
And, we did!
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 05-04-2015 at 06:38 PM..
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
Can't wait to learn all the details. 
Linear Mode
