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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We are thinking about our holiday for next year and are not quite decided on which Disney to go to. DH really wants to go to California as we haven't been before, but I would like to go back to Florida. I think that there would be more for the children to do (DS twins 12 and DD 4), plus DD has not experienced the magic of Disney yet and I think this is the best place. Also, the flight time of nearly 12 hours would play a major part. Can you guys help us out and let us know what there is to see in California that the children would enjoy! Thanks so much.
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California - La Brea Tar Pits, Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios LA, the ocean, all kinds of stuff.
Florida - well, there is more to do, but it's all the same.
Honestly, I'd love to go to either. LA does have more smog, and it's a bit busier. DL is really different from the Magic Kingdom. I love California Adventure.
Hard choice!!! Like Florida, California also has some wonderful attractions besides Disney. There's Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Legoland, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags, Hollywood, San Diego Zoo, and some wonderful beaches... The downside to the California attractions is that they are not located all closer together like the majority of the Florida attractions are. But that's not necessarily a bad thing either, if you don't mind renting a car, grabbing a map and exploring. Mexico isn't far from San Diego. San Fransisco is only a few hours away from Disneyland and is quite an attraction in itself. Even Vegas is only about a day's drive away.
I think it depends on how big of a holiday you wish to make this trip and how much time you have to do it in! I'm fairly equidistant from both Orlando and Anaheim (Anaheim is a bit closer and not quite as expensive), but after 2 trips to Disneyland, I choose to vacation in Florida. It's just personal preference for me.
12 hours in a plane sounds like a lot, but it's only what? another 3 hours extra from what you'd spend flying to Orlando anyway, right?
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I must admit to preferring Florida - I loved my trip to DL -- but given the distance to drive to some of the other So Cal sites and the TRAFFIC in So Cal - I would take Orlando any day!
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It's a tough choice and I don't think you can go wrong with either. There's a lot to do in both areas. If you go for California, you've got LA and San Diego, both of which are amazing cities and well worth a visit. If the flight is a real problem, then maybe Florida would be the better bet?
I agree, both are great! If you are only interested in Disney, MK in Florida feels bigger than DL...everything is packed tighter in DL because it's in a smaller area. Cal Ad. was pretty cool. I like both, but partial to WDW because it's closer and has more "bang for the buck" if you ask me. But I do think you need to experience both.
Sorry I'm not really much help!
I think that everyone should experience all the parks at some point in their lives. If you've not been to DLR, then this might be the time. As noted in other posts, there are a lot of things to do in Southern California, as there are in and around Orlando. I'd recommend deciding what you need to make a memorable vacation, then going through some travel books to see what is in Florida and what is in California.
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My opinion....'
1. Disneyland IS better than the M.K. by a lot!
2. Walt Disney WORLD is a much better vacation destination by a LOT.
3. If i were to go to either resort for just 1 day...I would always pick Disneyland.
If i were to go to either resort for a real vacation...I would ALWAYS pick Florida.
To me Disneyland Resort is a 2 day "get away" It seems more like a weekend thing to do to me rather than a vacation.
I/we have been to Disneyland 2 times and my self alone (while in the Military) one time. I LOVE IT! and WILL go back.
All in all..Disneyworld simply cant be beat.
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Well I live in California and have spent a lot of time at Disneyland. I love it. But now I have been spoiled by going to Disney World. It is so big!!!! Four parks...gotta love it. Do you want your vacation to be all Disney? More in Florida. But other attractions to? Knotts Berry Farm(Which I am not that crazy about--but if you like coasters its great) Universal is in both places. The San Diego Zoo is great! Los Angeles if you see it goes on forever!!! At least thats the feeling I always have with it. I love Los Angeles...but everytime I drive into it I start crying. That place has some serious smog!
so you gotta ask yourself--do you want to rent a car?? Thats the only way to get around LA! I vote you go to Orlando. scott
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Help deciding on Florida or California
DH really wants to go to California as we haven't been before, but I would like to go back to Florida. I think that there would be more for the children to do (DS twins 12 and DD 4), plus DD has not experienced the magic of Disney yet and I think this is the best place. Also, the flight time of nearly 12 hours would play a major part. Can you guys help us out and let us know what there is to see in California that the children would enjoy! Thanks so much.
Caitlin, my BBB Princess, Dec '08
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