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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Cape Elizabeth Park is just outside of Portland proper and the Cape Elizabeth Light is there. It's pretty, "real Maine" scenery but not too far to drive!
Acadia is a long way from Portland...probably 3 hours.
We love to go down to Old Port to walk the shops and get dinner, lotsa good little restaurants down there!
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The Old Port is a MUST!! Lots of cute shops and great restaurant/bars.
I recommend:
Great Lost Bear -- the food is okay, the beer I've been told is fab (I don't like beer)
Gritty McDuffs -- crab fries, nuff said.
Sebago Brewing Co
And if you don't mind a short drive (20-30 min) in Saco there's a newer restaurant called Run of the Mill which is excellent as well.
Freeport is about an hours drive, but LL Bean is open 24 hours so you can go anytime.
Kennebunkport is nice to wander around, cute shops and such.
Kittery outlets again for shopping.
I live just a few minutes from Portland . . . if you PM me with your hotel and days that you will be there, and some of your likes and dislikes (bustling versus quiet, beach versus lakes, etc.) . . . I would be glad to make specific recommendations to you!
Here are two in downtown Portland: The Victorian Mansion {www.victoriamansion.org] and the McLellan House, which is attached to the back of the Portland Museum of Art. The Portland Museum of Art is FREE on Friday nights from 5 to 9 pm.
"I like lighthouses!"
There is a beautiful one in the Portland area: Portland Head Light. It is surrounded by the beautiful Fort Williams Park. It has lovely views of the ocean and Portland Harbor. And best of all, it's FREE. {www.portlandheadlight.com]
If you want to eat out near Portland Head Light, head to the Lobster Shack. This is a fish shack (picnic tables, paper plates, etc) with stunning views of the rocky coastline. The menu is on their website. You can check out the views with the video on the "About Us" page. [www.lobstershacktwolights.com]
For a more luxurious dining experience, try the Sea Glass Restaurant at the nearby Inn by the Sea. I have not been there, but I have heard the food is good and the view from the dining room is beautiful. [www.innbythesea.com]
A Unique Shop
DCole Jewelers, 10 Exchange Street, Portland
Handmade in Maine, reasonably-priced jewelry for all price levels.
Restaurants in downtown Portland
Someone already mentioned Fore Street Grille, but good luck getting a table. They have gotten a bit snobby from their fame and I haven't been there in years. Some others to try are Vignola, Cinque Terre, Riboletta, Norm's Bar and Grille, Walters, and Fujis. Your hotel should have all these menus.
Anything I forgot? Send another PM! Have a great time!
Last edited by poohmaine; 07-22-2009 at 09:18 PM..
I thought I would answer your PM in your thread in case anyone else wanted the same information . . .
L.L. Bean
The store is open 24 hours a day. If you are going to Freeport just to see this store, I suggest going out to a nice dinner first and visiting the store later in the evening to avoid the crowds. (Please note: the other outlet stores start closing at 6:00, so if you want to shop them, this idea won't work.)
One of the best things about L.L. Bean is the Walk On Adventures. For the bargain price of $15, you can get a lesson in kayaking, archery, etc and your $15 includes everything . . . transport to the lesson, all equipment, and your instructors. I have done the kayaking and the archery and they were FABULOUS! The only drawback: you can't make a reservation . . . hence the name "walk on." For more info: L.L.Bean: Shop New Arrivals, All Backed by Our 100% Guarantee.
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