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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We are staying in Kissimmee. Any suggestions on good places to dine there? We havea group of 7 with differing tastes, and ofcourse the less expensive the better. We are looking for the local places not just the usual Olive Gardens etc. Thanks.
I don't know of any on the way to Kissimmee, but there are a couple of local restaurants (little strip mall types) by our villa that we eat at every trip. They are pretty good and not expensive located in Davenport/Championsgate just south of Disney. There's Chinese, China 1, and Italian pizza/pasta, Pepperon' located here - 8293 Championsgate Blvd, ChampionsGate, FL. There is a Chili's there too right off 1-4 that has Happy Hour 2 for 1 drink specials if that interests you. They may be too far out of your way though.
If you'd like to try my favorite Chicago pizza, check out Giordanos on 192 West of the WDW entrance. Their stuffed pizza is to die for!
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Michele
I'm living the dream 20 minutes from Disney! Next trip...tomorrow. Follow me on instagram at ShirtsByShell
We have always enjoyed Sweet Tomatoes. This is a salad bar restaurant with super produce, tons of toppings and options. They also have made to order pastas, great soups, flat bread pizza and deserts. Cost is reasonable and very good quality for a buffet restaurant.
Is there a Sweet Tomatoes in Kissimmee?? I love that place too.
Depending on where you are staying in Kissimmee the Lake Buena Vista area may not be too far. We always like visiting the Orlando Ale House. Good selection of items including things like Chicken Nachos, Zingers (spicy wings), salads, burgers, pasta, etc. There is also a China buffet across the street that is really good. Its off of 528 past I-4 and Hotel Plaza Blvd if you are coming from Kissimmee. I can't remember the cross street right now.
Is there a Sweet Tomatoes in Kissimmee?? I love that place too.
Depending on where you are staying in Kissimmee the Lake Buena Vista area may not be too far. We always like visiting the Orlando Ale House. Good selection of items including things like Chicken Nachos, Zingers (spicy wings), salads, burgers, pasta, etc. There is also a China buffet across the street that is really good. Its off of 528 past I-4 and Hotel Plaza Blvd if you are coming from Kissimmee. I can't remember the cross street right now.
That sounds great, like it has something for everybody. We r staying at Terra Verde, off N. Poincana Blvd.I hope its not too far.
Shula's steakhouse at the Dolphin is supposed to be one of the best steakhouses in Florida. Not sure about cheap though. Google best restaurants in Orlando, Kissimee etc, that should help. Shula's
Can't help you with restaurants, but just had to say WOW , I used to have that Mickey Disco record!! I wonder if it's in the box of records we saved in the attic!!
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Looking forward to another Christmas with The Mouse!!
Can't help you with restaurants, but just had to say WOW , I used to have that Mickey Disco record!! I wonder if it's in the box of records we saved in the attic!!