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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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OK, Airlines aren't for me. Well accually its the flying part, So When I go to WDW I always will either take the train, or autotrain, or drive. With that being said, If anyone has questions about the "alternative" travel modes. Feel free to send me a PM and I will gladly tell you the honest pros and cons about train travel.
I'll give you some background....
Our first trip to the world was last October 24 until Nov. 2 (leaving to arriving) We where accually in disney from the 25th to 1st. Whats fun about the train, is accually what people perfer to fly for... The travel. IF and only IF you like to see sights, like to meet people, and can afford to be a little flexible with your time the train is a solid option. BUT, I'll tell you... Food isn't included in the train ticket, UNLESS you book first class (ie: sleepers) Also if you take a silver service train into Orlando you have to book transportation with Mears, or some other private jitney driver at the station. OR rent a car. Disney's magical express does not apply to people arriving on the train.
One of our lessons learned the first time down is that you don't need to pack as much for the train as you think you do. We caught the train in Latrobe, PA and that train doesn't offer checked baggage (its a commuter train called the Pennsylvanian) So we had to lug everything onto and off of the train. in Philly we could check bags... it was rough going on the 4-3.
This year after careful consideration we decided to book the Auto train into Sanford, FL and drive the extra hour down I-4 into the resort. NOw the primary reason being is the miserable time I had on the inter-resort bussing. 2 babies (usually sleeping) a double stroller and the diaper bag made things a tight fit. So hat limited our options to flying and renting a car, driving or auto train.
I'm uncomfortable with flying, I'll say that right away, But I priced it out... 3 tickets and a baby on a lap, renting a car in Orlando, Flying out of Pittsburgh was going to cost roughly 1000 for it all. BUT with the exception of 1 airline we couldn't get a direct flight. (the one airline is southwest and I couldn't book it when I wanted tobecause they are the only airline that I saw that only books 6 months out) Like I said first flight... I'd just want to get there, The auto train with a sleeperette, and having my own car in Disney... Not having to check bags, and us spending a day to meet my cousins baby in VA... 1008 8 dollars more. So....
Pros: my own car
NO anxiety
No wondering where my bags are at (they will be in my car)
free food (at least I know I'll eat on the train :-)
The kids love trains
Cons: 16.5 hours on a train
No ME (if you can consider it a cons after some things I read on here)
No rental fees
NO transfers
The Auto train is the a number 1 train in amtraks fleet and they treat it as such. The silver service trains and basically long distance commuters with checked bags (from most stations). I would recommend the extra hundred or so bucks per ticket for a sleeper if nothing else for a little privacy, and a little more quiet. Its an option if you want to see some things, and some places you wouldn't if you flew. Its not an option if you just want to get there.... For me, the trip is part of the vacation... I guess I'm old school like that...
I am so happy to hear from you on these boards. Part of my bucket list was always to take a sleeper car on a train. So when DD10 and I go to Disney in December, we are taking the train back home. We're in Lancaster PA. I can hardly wait. While I am totally looking forward to our vacation, I will be estatic at the end because we get to come home on the train. Thanks for sharing!
We always fly to WDW and have never driven there (yet). But we did take the train once from Philly (30th Street Station).
We were in coach and the ride south was very pleasant. The train was about 85% full and we were thankfully in a quiet car. We brought our snacks with us and dozed on and off. The seats are very comfortable and there is plenty of leg room.
Our trip back was a different story. The train was very full (and veryloud), the dining car was running low on food and a few of the lavoratories were "broken". I was glad to arrive home after that part of the trip. I would consider taking the train again, but would probably try to book the AutoTrain.
The train is great as long as you can remain flexible and realize that the freight trains take precedence on the rails, so there may (probably will) be delays. Take some reading and/or listening/watching (portable DVD, iPod, etc.) materials with you. There is nice scenery and not-so-great scenery. Dress comfortably and warmly (in layers). Walk around as much as possible and/or get off for a few minutes at stops to work out the kinks. Bring some snack foods (like crackers) with you or pack some sandwiches. The choices in the dining car can be limited.
We took the autotrain in August 2007, and we are planning on taking it again this coming August. It was an adventure for us and a way to ease into and out of our vacation. I loved having my car there. We did not pay extra for the sleepers but the coach seats were comfortable enough for us (of course, we can sleep just about anywhere). We took our own pillows and a couple of blankets. My DDs and I played cards in the lounge car for part of the evening. We brought books, the girls had their nintendo DS's, plus we brought a few travel games. We also brought some snacks and drinks on the train. When I told the girls we are going back to WDW this year, both said they wanted to take the train again.
My parents took me to disney starting when i was about 16 mths old. From that trip til about when i was 6 we Drove. But me i was always sleeping or having a story read to me to keep me occupied.
We started flying when i was 6 and have been flying ever since. I love flying especially since the airport is like 10 mins from my house. So when i was lil we would always have some1 bring us to the airport like my grandparents or something and they would pick us up when we came home. Then after our 2001 trip when i was 15, my dad's health started to decline and he never wanted to go anymore .
I went in may 2007 with my dbf, and my parents brought us and picked us up from the airport. We lost my dad in Nov 08. My mom and i decided to take a girls only trip with the military special. My dbf wants to go but at same time he wants to give us some bonding at disney by ourselves. So he has decided that he will take care of the house and my cats while we r gone. Plus he won't have to worry about missing work. My dogs will be in kennel.
Flying is fun except for the ear popping. I can't wait to fly to disney in Sept.
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