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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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're debating a one day trip to IOA and wondering what the best way to get there would be? We are flying and probably using DME to get to our resort. Does anyone know what would be cheaper and/or easier, take a taxi to Universal or rent a car for the day?
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Mears will take you right from your hotel to / from Universal. R/T is $17 800 759-5219. Very relaible - I've used them for several years to go to Universal, Seaworld and even Busch Gardens
How many are in your party? More than 2 people, Mears is probably a bit costly. Taxi can run between $20 and $40, which is about what a daily car rental would cost.
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.
Be sure and take into consideration that parking at USF is $10 per day.
We did discover though that if you go to park at one of the resort hotels and are having a meal at one of the restaurants there, then they will stamp your valet parking ticket and it will be free, which I thought was excellent. They did that for us when we had breakfast at the Kitchen at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Thank you EVERYONE for the info. Sounds like Mears is the way to go. We're headed out in Feb 2011 and I was wondering if it was worth it. Is 1 day enough at Universal? Jess(who will be 18) wants to see the Harry Potter thing
Hello all. I am sorry if this question has been asked already. I was not sure where to start. The transportation threads seem to center around off-site transpo options.
Back ground info: We will have our own car as we are driving from SC. We will be staying at WDW in the 2nd week of Aug. After doing 4 days at WDW-we will do 2 days at US. Day1, Thurs, USF. Day2, Fri, US-IOA. We will depart from Fl. (booo) directily from US-IOA. We are only wanting to do WWoHP and maybe a few other things at IOA before we head home.
My question: How much time should we allow for our communte in our own vehicle in order to get to USF on a Thur/IOA on a Fri in order to fight morning traffic, trek from the parking lot (which I read can take a long time all by itself) and to exchange vouchers (Thur only) and be there the minute off-site guests are allowed in and to not have to be behind the curve and stuck in long lines all day? We will not be springing for Univ. Express tickets.
Thanks in advance. Sorry for the super long question.
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.
Hello all. I am sorry if this question has been asked already. I was not sure where to start. The transportation threads seem to center around off-site transpo options.
Back ground info: We will have our own car as we are driving from SC. We will be staying at WDW in the 2nd week of Aug. After doing 4 days at WDW-we will do 2 days at US. Day1, Thurs, USF. Day2, Fri, US-IOA. We will depart from Fl. (booo) directily from US-IOA. We are only wanting to do WWoHP and maybe a few other things at IOA before we head home.
My question: How much time should we allow for our communte in our own vehicle in order to get to USF on a Thur/IOA on a Fri in order to fight morning traffic, trek from the parking lot (which I read can take a long time all by itself) and to exchange vouchers (Thur only) and be there the minute off-site guests are allowed in and to not have to be behind the curve and stuck in long lines all day? We will not be springing for Univ. Express tickets.
Thanks in advance. Sorry for the super long question.
H.
We went there last year when my family came to visit. I would say the walk from the parking gargage is about 10 - 15 minutes (should include going thru the gates). I am not sure how busy they will be in early August...our schools usually start in August, but may be starting later this year.
you don't say where you are staying at WDW. If you are staying near or at DTD, you can avoid I-4 by taking Palm Parkway, which turns into Turkey Lake Rd, and goes by the back side of Universal; there is an entrance to the resort accross from Dr. Phillips High School. Palm parkway can be accessed by turing right off of Rt 535 at Apopka-Vineland Rd & Palm Parkway. There is an Olive garden on the corner there. You can get to Universal in 10-15 mihnutes from there...good luck!
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I've used them for 7:30 pickups to US / IOA / Seaworld / Busch Gardens. Make your reservations the day before, and call during the day to confirm pickup for return trip. You can change the time any time of the day too
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Transportation from WDW to Universal
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