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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I have a very last minute, one night stay at Hilton Head Island....for next week!
My plan is to drive up from FL, so I will have a car. It's just me at this point going (on the fence about my son joining me). I've never been to the resort/area before. Any tips? How would you plan a 1 night/2 day stay there? Any must-do's/see's? I definitely have plans to visit the beach.
With just a couple of days, I'd stick to exploring the island and the beaches. Don't forget that Disney's Hilton Head (I assume that's where you're staying?) has its own beach and beach house, which will be fun to spend some time at. I have fond memories of driving down to Harbour Town and South Beach during our time there.
You should check out the activities board at the resort (assuming you’re at the Disney resort).
We love kayaking in Broad Creek. Rentals available in the Shelter Cove harbor(just across the bridge from the resort).
Eat dinner at Sea Shack!! It doesn’t look like much from the outside, has no view whatsoever, but has the best food on the island.
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Thanks all for the replies. I am staying at Disney's Hilton Head Island. Sorry for neglecting that detail
I wish I had more time there but this was a last minute trip offered to me. I will stick to your advice Cheryl of staying on property and visiting Disney's Beach House. With all the driving to & from, I will most likely want to stay put & rest on the beach
Colleen, I will definitely seek out Sea Shack. Thank you! I've never been kayaking but would love to one day.
HiddenMickey, biking on the beach sounds fun also. I have a feeling this quick little trip will have me convincing my family that we all need a family vacation there.
The Sea Shack is great. Usually a line, so be prepared to wait outside. It's a small place.
Iconic places to go are Sea Pines to see Harbortown and the lighthouse. And have lunch at the Salty Dog in South Beach (also in Sea Pines) while you're there. There is an entry fee to the plantation.
You can cover a lot of beach using bikes. One tip, go against the wind to start out so coming back with the wind at your back is much easier when you're more tired.
(It's our happy place. We own a timeshare, my parents have owned two there and we've visited at least once a year since the 70s...before there was much on the island.).
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You will love HHI! My parents live there. You've gotten some great recommendations. A new restaurant is opening this week - Skull Creek Dockside, which is family friendly, and also right next to Skull Creek Boathouse, a very casual bar. Sea Shack is great local place (lines shouldn't be long right now, it is super quiet on the island right now). I like Stacks pancakes for breakfast. And as others have said - definitely rent a bike!