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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Well, we definitely buy T shirts. We look for original designs, ones we haven't seen everyone wearing. And a few stuffed animals.
This year I know that we will be discussing what pins we will be able to trade and buy at WDW. We already have 'pin fever' and are looking forward to trading a lot!
My kids also have a key chain collection going, so you know we'll pick up a few of those.
As for DH and me, we like to browse through the different country offerings in Epcot to see the beautiful wares. We don't look for anything in particular; we just wait for inspiration to strike! We both love to shop and are thrilled when we find unusual items.
Just thinking about it makes me want to be there now...
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Cruella şoş
"It all started from a Daddy with 2 daughters, wondering where he could take them where he could have a little fun..."
I go for the round metal key chains! This past trip in Feb I bought a MK 2000 & a Rock-n-rollercoaster one from MGM. In Sept I will pick up a AK & Epcot one! Didn't want to over do it!
Also I picked up some Antenna Mickey head balls to give out.....
I also like to collect cloth patches from the different parks.
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Take Care & "Remember the Magic!"
debe-nj
I would collect cloth patches too, except that means I would have to sew them somewhere! I get enough of that with a Boy Scout, a Cub Scout and a Scout Leader in the family! LOL
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Cruella şoş
"...where the young at heart, of all ages, can laugh and play and learn, together!"
T-Shirts are number one. I'm sure everyone knows to get the kind that say "WDW" or "EPCOT" or that kind of thing. Otherwise you could find that shirt at TDS. Other favorites include: Coffee Cups, Hats, Autographs, and anything else that reminds you of your adventure.
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Wow this thread is old
I generally go for typical tourist things wherever I go- tshirts, postcards, pins, baseball caps. I also try to get something small for the girls for Christmas or another upcoming holiday- that always surprises them. Will is never easy to shop for, he never will admit that he likes something, whether that be a shirt or a new coffee mug. I usually still get it and then he's always happy
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~ Kara, mother to Simone ( 12 ), Madison ( 10 ), and twins Rebecca and Riley ( 6 ), and loving wife to Will. Go Red Sox!!!
We tend to add things each year like Christmas ornaments and Eeyore beanies for the collection, although those are becoming few and far between now. I tend not to go for tops, as we've found over recent years that there doesn't seem to be as much new merchandise from one trip to the next, which is a great shame, especially any featuring my donkey boy.
We collect at least one pin from a favorite moment of the trip. Last time it was Splash Mountain because we rode it 6 times and tricked Grandma into getting wet.
We also do the squished pennies, one Disney matchbox car, and DD has started to collect small snow globes. We try to make it things that are specific to the parks like Figment, the Castle, ect.
I always use my left over snack credits to buy goodies including a bunch of tins of the mints. Whenever I start missing Disney I have them for a little pick me up!
I normally buy a magnet/pin of the resort we are staying at. I normally buy a scrapbook if I haven't found one at home that fits the overall theme of the trip. DH usually gets a shot glass for his collection, and if there is an Eeyore beanie, he's usually bought. As far as clothing, it all depends what is available. I usually can find one sweatshirt.
I always get an ornament with the year on it. On my last trip I started Pin collecting (DSS & DD both have a collection started, why should I be left out) but I tend to buy pins that go with the theme of our trip (the resort we stayed at,MVMCP, CLP, YOMD) & of course a scrapbook so I can scrap all the great memories. My BFF's & I exchange ornaments each year for Christmas & both are Disney fans like me, so I usally pick one up for them too!
Do you buy the typical t-shirts and stuffed animals to remember your visit, or something more original?
We buy t-shirts ONLY if there is one my kids just have to have. Our 1 keepsake that is a must is a personalized ornament.
Do you get on the plane with an idea of the treasure you are hunting for? Nope, we just go and buy whatever strikes our fancy
Do you have a special collection of souvenires that you add too with each trip?
Yes our Christmas tree ornaments
Now the important question, do you drive your loved one crazy looking for that special keepsake? YES I spend FOREVER looking at the Christmas tree ornaments and trying to decide which one to get and what I want it to say! My tree is a Disney theme and my friends have even started bringing me back Personalized Ornaments from their trips that I help them plan. It is a great memory!