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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 taking my 5 year old to the world for the first time. I am considering purchasing Mickeys grand welcome from the WDW florist. The description on the web site is great. Have any of you out there ordered this for your trip? Is it worth the $300 price?
I was looking at that also for my niece and nephew. I think I am going to opt for a smaller package (one for each ~$30-$40) and spend some money on other things (I want to take them to BBB for a mini-makeover.
On the flip side, if I only had one child and they were about five, I would definitely do it to get his or her excitement up. I'm all about the excitement kids have.
Not in my opinion That's a lot of money! I always use www.memoriesbybetsy.com for welcome gift baskets. She does a great job, you can control the price and her work is wonderful!
I agree... it seems waaaaay overpriced for what it is. Your family will already be wowed just by being in Disney World. I'd save the money for something else on your trip.
Eileen
I got my kids the smaller one for $30 each..it was nice and they were so excited, it came with the mickey ears with their names on it, pretzels, a chocolate bar, the autograph book and pen...It is called the Ears to You Child.....
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Caribean beach 91, off site 94, Disneyland 03, Pop century 08, Saratoga springs 2009, Beach Club December 2009, Key West January 2010, Beach Club 2010, Wilderness Lodge Christmas 2011, Saratoga Springs 2012, Disney's Grand California Disneyland 2013, Disney's Yacht Club 2013
I did the Mickey and Pals Big Birthday Wish for my ds on this last trip. Ended up being right at $430. Was the merchandise and candy worth that much money? No way. Was the expression on his face when he walked in and saw it? A million times over. I didn't have to leave the parks to set anything up so he had no clue. There were boxes from each of the characters all over the room. Donald's even had a few white feathers in it. I know everyone likes to use the baskets they can get from the other service. But honestly, I don't regret doing the Disney florist one at all. For a one time deal it was worth it.
We used Disney Florists for a smaller welcome gift for my daughter (4 at the time) and a few other "little surprises" throughout our stay.
We spent between $30-$50 for each "treat" (about $150 in total) and although they were a little pricey for what they were (LOTS of coloured tissue etc!) they were worth it to see DD's face when she got home from a long day at the parks. They re-invigorated her for the evening, especially when she thought Tinker Belle and the like had been in her room to "drop off a treat" for her.
Personally I don't think I'd spend $300 on "one treat" but I would spend in the region of $150 for a few of them spread over a few days.
I would do a smaller basket and have the note say that Mickey left it. Baskets are usually delivered to your room about 30 minutes after you check in, if you choose. You can quickly drop your stuff off and then explore your hotel with your child so that the basket is there when you return. Is another adult coming with you? If so, one person could take the child and the other could stay and decorate the room to seem as if Mickey did it. What is really exciting is feeling like Mickey left something for you...and a slightly smaller plush is more practical anyway. I recommend the 22 inch. It's a size that seems large without being impractical to travel with. You know he/she is going to want to travel home with Mickey on their lap!
MissFrizz
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"Why do we have to grow up? I know more adults who have the children's approach to life...They are not afraid to be delighted with simple pleasures..." --Walt Disney
I wanted to do one of these baskets too but couldn't get over the price. So instead I'm going to make my own before we go and put it in her own backpack. Some will be Disney items but a lot will be fun dress up stuff from Wal Mart and the Dollar Store. I"m a scrapbooker and will make my own autograph book.
Since having it waiting is most of the fun there are a few ways to go about it. My DD won't notice the difference because of her age. But have DH go to the room before you and the kids do, run to the gift shop for a quick snack or go check out the pool. That will give him time to get to the room and place the items on the bed. He can then leave and meet back up with you. You could also slip the box on top of your luggage when you get there and act all surprised when you see it, have a note to the child from their fav character stating they heard he/she was coming and wanted to send something special. For end of the day treats just have a parent 'forget' something in the morning and have to run back to the room and place the treat.
Koodos to Disney for such a cute idea but in the end I would rather her pick out her big treat items as we tour.
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Disney Vacation Specialist Magical Memories Travel Chelsey
I got Mickey's grand welcome for my husband and it was worth it. It was the best idea I had about suprising him having Mickey Mouse welcome him to Walt Disney World.
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That's a lot of money! I always use 
Disney Vacation Specialist Magical Memories Travel Chelsey
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