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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 been a Disney Freak for as long as I can remember, my oldest however is getting alittle sick of WDW. We havent been to US yet, so Im wondering if theres things for lil ones to do like at WDW. I have a teen and a 3 yr old, plus me and my mother. Also is there a dining plan as well? How much time to spend at the park or for a whole stay? Or maybe do a combo trip, US then WDW??? I do like the looks of the Hard Rock....what price range would you compare it to a Disney Resort; Mod or Deluxe??? TIA!!!! Im so not with it when it comes to anything except for Disney Trips...
__________________
Jenn
Past Trips:
Disney Cruise: Sept. 2002
Pop Century: Easter 2006; 60s bldg, Aug. 24-29,07;50sbldg
I can't give info on the resorts as we haven't stayed there but at Islands of Adventure there are things for the lil one and then the roller coasters and such for the older. Each park US and IOA would take a day each if you have never been there b4. in IOA there is Dr. Seusse land which is where the more kiddy rides are. Not really as many as good ol' WDW though. IOA had more intense roller coasters in my opinion. The Hulk and Dueling Dragons. I have a question...how does someone get tired of WDW it just doesn't compute.
I have a question...how does someone get tired of WDW it just doesn't compute.
I know thats what I say, I think alot is that his friends goto US and he hears them talk about it, and I have heard his friends say that WDW is more for little kids and girls because all the princesses...haaaa, Im 32 and I love the place.....
__________________
Jenn
Past Trips:
Disney Cruise: Sept. 2002
Pop Century: Easter 2006; 60s bldg, Aug. 24-29,07;50sbldg
We skipped WDW this year because my 13 yr old DD said that she was too old for WDW now. We stayed at the Hard Rock, and it was beautiful. You can walk to US in under 5 mins, that was super. IOA is only another 5 min walk from US. The rooms and furnishings at Hard Rock are top shelf, but our was very disapointing. We were supposed to get a welcome basket, they even confirmed this at check in by asking if we still wanted milk amd cookies, we got the basket the day that we checked out. I called star services every day as did my wife also, and I went to the front desk every day to ask about it. In my opinion the service that we received was sub par, especiaaly at the price. All of the resorts are 5 star, and much more expensive that a Disney deluxe.
All in all we had a good time. We saw new shows, and rode new rides. I would only give each park one day, that is plenty of time to do everything. On a side note, my DD missed going to the world this year, so we are planning a trip near the the end of the year,
There are many things for small children to do at both parks. IOA has Dr. Suess land which is totally geared towards the younger ones. US has Woody Woodpecker Fun Zone for younger children. Plus, most of the rides and show at US can be for young children.
Here's a thread about Universal for the kids that might be helpful:
I would rank all 3 of Universal's resorts as a Deluxe. Actually, they are nicer than some Disney deluxe resorts. I think the RP and the HRH are nicer than the WL at WDW.
Happy Planning! I think you will be the star in your teen's eyes for taking them to USF!
There are things to do at both US and IOA for both of your chioldren to do. All 3 US hotels are like WDW Deluxe hotels price-wise, but they're better maintained and newer. have you considerd spending a day at Seaworld? Everyone could have a good time there too
I am a ride wimp and before I increased my courage, I could actually find more to do at US than at the Disney parks. DH, who remains a ride wimp, enjoyed US more than any other park because except for the Mummy, the rides are not coaster like. All the 3-D shows have stable seating if your 3 yo would do better with that.
The US hotels are excellent, the customer service is impeccable, and FOTL access to all rides is the best perk ever. MY DD has asked if we could stay at US and visit Disney. There are discounts on the hotels available too.
If you join the Loew's First program on their website, you get a free welcome gift-fruit and water, wine and nuts and cookies and milk are some options. The cookies are wonderful.
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