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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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My DD17 is leaving for France Thursday with her high school. She has taked 4 years of French and they plan a trip to France every other year. She is going for her graduation present. Anyway, the teacher said we needed to exchange dollars for Euros before they leave. She said there are banks by the International Airport in Grand Rapids which is almost an hour away. So I drive there today and said I needed Euros. She asked me if I had an account there and I said I had an installment loan there for our camper. She told me the exchange rate and I thought it was a little low. I asked her about it and she said I had to pay a $24.00 fee because I didn't have a checking or savings account there. I said I would go to my bank just down the road and she said fine and handed me back my money. I went to my bank and they did not have Euros that the other bank did, the first bank I went to. So I go back and I said to her that my bank did not have Euros. The manager there said "we're the only bank in town with Euros"!! I said why didn't you tell me that before I left and all he did was laugh at me!! Then the girls says I still have the exchange rate on my computer. They knew they were the only bank in town and they knew I would be back!! I was the only customer in the back both times so it's not like they were busy!!! They had a big laugh on my account!!!! Really ticks me off!!!!! Thanks for letting me vent!!!
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Sometimes I just shake my head at people. You have to wonder what she was thinking. Do they not know how much of an inconvenience they cause?? or they just don't care......
Really makes you want to have them go through all the hassle to open an account for you, sell you the Euros, then close your account right then. I think I'd write a letter to the parent company of the bank and tell them exactly what happened.
Really makes you want to have them go through all the hassle to open an account for you, sell you the Euros, then close your account right then. I think I'd write a letter to the parent company of the bank and tell them exactly what happened.
I did send an email to the headquarters when I got home.
Wow that was really rude! what on earth is wrong with some people ? I'm glad you sent the email , and I hope your daughter has a wonderful trip!! April in Paris!!!
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Two of my beautiful neices:
auntread loves WDW & the 3 time Champs NE Patriots 1979-3 sisters 1987-cdm 1988-tam 1990-jsm 1995-twf 1997-sew 2000-clw 2002-2 sis 2002-tday 2004-mmwFeb 2006-girls only Nov 2006 just the cool old aunts Feb 2008 spw Dec 2008 grey haired sibs Feb 2010 w/3 repeats
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Really makes you want to have them go through all the hassle to open an account for you, sell you the Euros, then close your account right then. I think I'd write a letter to the parent company of the bank and tell them exactly what happened.
I think, I would have opened an account, to save the $24 and to make them do all the paper work.
Most of the banks in our area, if they don't carry a certain currency will order it in if you request it in advance.
For future reference - most International Airports have exchange booths in them - with the going rate of exchange, and sometimes a small fee (but not $24!). Also, AAA carries foreign currency, at a decent rate of exchange.
I'd let the teacher know - and advise them NOT to recommend the bank do that anymore.
When my DD's school goes, sometimes they'll contact a bank - and get a better rate for a large exchange, then we all pool our money, and buy one large bulk - that is then split.
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WOW! That was beyond rude. It is easy to see why people dislike banks so much...the random, extraneous charges for drawing out your own money, the utter lack of customer service and the economic chicanery and ruthlessness of the large banks really twist my knickers.
I am so sorry you had to deal with that and I hope you get a favorable response from the headquarters...but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Hope your DD has a great time in France. I went my Senior year and had a blast.