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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 am trying to plan our stay for our Disney vacation in September. We are thinking about going to one of the water parks but I would also love to spend some time at Downtown Disney. I don't think we can do both.
We have 3 kids, 3,6 and 8.
Any thought about this?
Thanks
Diane
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My kids absolutely love DTD. (MyDH and I do too.) Shopping at the World of Disney store is a must for them. We are addicted to the Disney Mr Potato Head parts. They love the Lego store and always have their pics taken near the Lego people. We also take pictures with all of the Disney character statues around the Marketplace too. Picking out an ornament at the Christmas store is a tradition for us. So is eating at Earl of Sandwich and buying some books at the scrapbook/art store. If you like to shop it's a wonderful place to go. Now, my kids aren't big on water parks. The little fountains at DTD and Epcot are more their style. I hope this helped.
We always hit DTD, but have only done a water park once (and that was just my DH and older son). Honestly, the kids have just as much fun in the pool at the hotel.
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While I love going to DTD , I'd personally have to choose a waterpark. We've gone to Blizzard Beach twice and had a blast both times. My sister in law went to Typhoon Lagoon earlier this year with her girls 5 & 2 and said they also thoroughly enjoyed themselves
There are special areas that are age appropriate, but my only concern would be that the age difference in your kids may pose a problem. You would have to split up a lot in order for everyone to do the different things in the parks. Your older ones would probably be able to do most of the slides while your little one would be best suited in the kiddie areas or possibly the wave pool/or lazy river.
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Last edited by carters_mom; 04-03-2008 at 08:09 PM..
Personally, I love water parks so that is a must for my son and I although, I've never been to Disney's so this will be our first experience. We always go to DTD and it has a lot of hidden treasures or not so hidden ones (Lego Store). If I had to pick only one, I'd say water parks and you kids are a good age for it. If I wasn't a water junkie though, I would say DTD. If you show the kids brochures or pics on the web of both which one do they get more excited about?
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Not long now....August 22-August 28, 2011. Fort Wilderness Cabins!
I also say DtD, we didn't even bother with water parks on our last trip. We won't do them this time either. My DD's(5&3, when we are @ Disney) are a little too young, I think money wise, to thoroughly enjoy all the water parks have to offer. Your 2 older ones would enjoy them but with your youngest you might be tied down in the kiddie area(I am sure s/he would have a blast also). The water parks are a lot of fun.
We just use our resort pool and the kids really enjoy it. They love DtD, Lego's, the World of Disney and checking out the different stores.
I would ask the kids which one they might enjoy more.
Love Downtown Disney...Water parks I think are for the bigger kids or kids that are absolutely CRAZY about water. My DD (7) likes, but can live without the water and DS (7) could totally live without the water. Every kid is different though.
Unless you are a huge fan of water parks, I think at your kids ages, you can skip this for now. They'll be happy with the pool at your resort. DTD has a lot for everyone and I think there is an area that has water (squirting out of the ground - fun!).
I think you probably know your kids best, as to how much enjoyment they would get out of a water park. If you think they'd love it, then go for it. If not, then head to Downtown Disney.
My pick is Downtown Disney. The water parks are fun, but @ DTD, you and your children can get things that will keep memories forever. Your kids can't take home Typhoon Lagoon, but they can take home a toy or other souvenier. Also, last time I was at DTD, they had a DJ and dance party aimed for kids that age. Check that out.
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"Go and chase your dreams; you won't regret it! Anything can happen if you let it!" -Mary Poppins
Lindsay --<--<--@
Water parks are a must for our family. My DD loves them, and my wife can't get enough of the wave pool at TL. We have been going since our DD was 4, and she loved them at that age. BB has plenty to do for the little ones.
Here's another vote for DTD. Although my kids (13,11,9) love water parks and enjoyed BB last year, they felt that water parks at home are equally enjoyable. This time they requested to skip the the water parks to spend more time at DTD or in the parks.
Depending on where you're staying, your kids will probably enjoy the hotel pool so the water parks may not be necessary. If your kids like to shop then head to DTD, or you could always head back to the parks for more fun.
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