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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 recently made a local Disney Addict connection with a friend I know through DH's amateur theater group. We both experience the need to go to a park. Like, need. So, it's only natural that we should start planning a trip together!
Who:
Me: 39, mom to 8 yo son, married to DH
N: 61, single (has adult children), pastry chef, Disney Addict.
E: N's childhood friend that I haven't met yet. 60-62 ish. She gets some serious discounts as an employee of Royal Caribbean. She's offered to join us and to apply her discounts to the trip.
DS: Likely joining. Will be 9. Likes DL, but doesn't get why it occupies so much of my time and mental energy.
DMom: 67, Mom is a very easygoing traveler and is happy to join in or hang back. I've asked her to join as a babysitter for DS for evenings out. I'll be paying her travel and hotel. Can't quite afford to pay her park tickets, but she understands. She's got enough extra in retirement that she can do fun things now and then.
DH: May or may not join. He'll probably decide at the last minute. He does not visit theme parks unless it is free or very cheap. He's a tightwad. He also used to work in theme parks (streetmosphere-type performer) so it's hard for him to pay the price tag when it kind of feels like going to work. If he comes, he'll be doing his own thing, but will be able to help out with DS.
When: Spring break 2018. This is the week before Easter. It will be CROWDED. I really don't care at all, and neither does N. It makes it harder on DS, but I just love being in the bubble, and so the crowds don't bother me. Working for the schools, it's really hard to take time off during the school year. When I have done it, it's been such a problem, that it makes it not worth it.
Background: N is a bit unstable. Some past issues with alcohol, suicidality, mania. She is highly creative and is making art all the time. She can be a handful. But I like her a LOT. She's exciting to be with. And she loves The Mouse as much as I do. Maybe more. I love the idea of taking a trip with her, even if it turns out bad somehow. It's a wild thing to do. Hence, the title of this PTR!
Next: This weekend, N, E, and I are going to an annual fabric sale in a neighboring town. My mom may join in too. This will be my first time meeting E. We'll see if we hit it off.
See post 25 for major updates to the plan!!!!
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Themed environment junkie
Last edited by KimmyAnn1147; 09-21-2017 at 09:11 AM..
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Has the makings of a great trip and hoping it will be!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I hung out with N and E yesterday. Here's what I think. E is a very vibrant person with a lot of opinions. We had a few excellent laughs!!! She's a conspiracy theorist and not a scientific mind at all. Bummer, I usually find listening to those conspiracy theories boring, because I don't have the info to dispute the wonky ideas at my fingertips, and there is no way to win in an argument...sigh... BUT, she's pretty, stylish, and energetic. And N was pretty normal with her, I think she's a moderating influence. Which is good and bad, right?! Overall, I think having E along will make the trip better. If N needs support, E will be the primary person, so I shouldn't be pulled to hard away from DS on the trip. Also, she seemed to think I was funny, and who doesn't like to be around people who laugh at their jokes?
The two of them are going to WDW in Sept, and I have offered to research and recommend an itinerary and help with FP+, since they are overwhelmed and not really interested. We'll be working together along the way and I'll have more of a read on how we'll gel over time.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
We have a tentative plan to head to Portland to Oregon's largest fabric store at some point soon. Both ladies are into sewing and theater. I think the situation holds promise. We've decied we won't share a room, so the pressure is off a bit, also.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Glad that it went well! Sometimes it can be scary to meet new people, at least for me it is.
I don't find it scary, usually. But I get bored and frustrated with new people sometimes. I really like hanging with people that are a little kookier than I am. I like being in the "joiner" role, somehow! Hoping this Ms. E is going to be a kook, in an exciting way!
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Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
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I hope you get on well with E. 
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