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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Ok, so we're leaving in a little over a week and our master bedroom has become packing central. My husband is freaking out about the amount of luggage we're bringing, but I think I'm being reasonable. There are 5 of us, 2 adults and 3 kids (9, 7, 2) and we're going for 8 days. I will not do laundry on vacation. I feel like I'm doing it every day at home with sports and stuff so I refuse to do it at Disney.
I'm trying to get us in 2 suitcases (sized 16x24 and 18x28) but I will really need to jam everything in there, and there will be no room to add anything from Disney so I really think we'll either need to use either our garment bag or the other 16x24 suitcase in addition to the other 2. The kids will each have a backpack to carryon and I will have a carryon with diaper supplies and warm weather clothes since we'll be in jeans and sweatshirts (and a stroller now since I'm not paying that much to rent one!). I don't think that's unreasonable, but admittedly, we haven't flown as a family in several years and DH is used to travelling for work with only a carryon. Am I way out of the norm with what I'm planning to pack?
Am I way out of the norm with what I'm planning to pack?
For 5 people? No way. We usually pack two large suitcases for just my DH and I and our youngest. The other kids have their own suitcases (the small wheeled kind) and they each bring a backpack with stuff they want to help pass the time, Nintendos, iPods, etc. I'd say you're doing great if all you're bringing is two suitcases and a backpack for each kid.
We (me, dh, dd-6 & ds-2) did 8 nights/9 days in December with two large suitcases, 1 carryon suitcase (w/ heavy stuff and dd's princess dress for our first night) and each of us had backpacks along w/ my Baggalini (one backpack was a diaper bag backpack).
I think you're doing great!
FWIW, I did one load of laundry while we were there. It was mostly jeans since we were wearing them most evenings.
I say compromise with DH. Tell him if HE does laundry while you are there you won't need as many clothes and can bring fewer bags!
Another thought: Why not give each kid a carry on suitcase on wheels and put the bulk of their things in that. You can bring one carry on and one personal bag per person. The 7 and 9 year old should be able to manage a bag on their back and pulling one. (Just give yourself a little extra time to get through security and relax on the other side while you wait for your flight.) You can get whatever won't fit into their cases in one of the two larger bags plus the baby and grownup things.
And tell him it's not as bad as he thinks. I am trying to keep my packing for a family of five to THREE large bags, 2 medium size bags to check and 5 carry on suitcases plus 5 personal bags. (Of course my kids are 19, 17, and 16!)
No way! Just watch the weight of the suit cases for the airlines! you might be better off with more bags then to have to pay! BTW I am a family of 5 so I think what you have packed is reasonalbe!
We're leaving in a couple of weeks and we're a family of 6. I've got 3 BIG suitcases plus a big duffel then the carryons for each kid, myself & the stroller. If you can fit evrything in to only 2-3 suitcases, God bless you!
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I would be concerned about the wieght of just two pieces for five of you with 8 days worth of stuff. I would probably dole it out into three cases and still have each person carry a carryon with their own immediate needs (games and stuff in the kids, diapers and stuff in yours, cameras and stuff in DHs, etc).
Yes, I am not insane (well, about this aspect of the trip anyway)!! I love all of the ideas, particularly suggesting that DH do laundry. That should put an end to the discussion!!
Yes, I am not insane (well, about this aspect of the trip anyway)!! I love all of the ideas, particularly suggesting that DH do laundry. That should put an end to the discussion!!
I ALWAYS DO THE LAUNDRY ON VACATION AND AT HOME GIVES ME PEACE AND QUIET FROM MY 8YR OLD SON AND DW
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You put me to shame! Our family of 4 (DH is 6'6" he has very large clothes... me, DS who is 4 and DD who is still under 2) and we use 4 to 5 bags for a ten day trip to WDW. And usually end up doing laundry!! You get to check one bag for each person without penalty. Why not take an extra bag? You never know, one of those two bags might be over weight and then you'd have to pay a fee both ways (I know some airlines the overweight fee is $50 per bag one way!) IMHO, better to be safe than sorry! Good luck with the DH! I know how stubborn men can be about bags and packing! I've got one like that, too!!!
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Also tell him that if the airlines charge you because of the weight of just 2 suitcases...it's coming
out of his spending money!
I think that for your family 2 large and maybe 1 med or large extra suitcase is fine.
Also if your kids are carrying their own fun stuff and snacks, that is great also.
We are a family of four and are leaving next Saturday.
We are checking 2 large suitcases, and one medium one... each child will have a backpack and so will I, DH will have his laptop. We are going for 8 days. And I just know we are going to end up buying a bag to use as a carry on on the way home.
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And a carryon for extra clothes and the camera stuff 
Sammi
Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
Yeah - we always use the full amount of luggage the airline allows. I don't know what I'll do now that the airlines are limiting luggage.
I know how stubborn men can be about bags and packing! I've got one like that, too!!!
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