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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 planning a trip in January to celebrate the adoption of our children but also to surprise one of our foster children (He is 9) that we are going to adopt him also.. He does not have a clue. Any creative suggestions on how to make it special at Disneyworld?
There are so many things you can do. Are there any characters that he loves? If so, maybe a character meal with them? There are also many children's activities. I'm not an expert, as we don't have kids, but I know others will be able to advise you more than I can.
I don't know if the Lilo and Stitch theme is appropriate for your family, but if it is, and since "Ohana means family" either the Spirit of Aloha Dinner or 'Ohana restaurant (both at the Poly) might be good places to pop the surprise. (Whatever you do, don't try to use "Stitch's Great Escape" to send the same message ).
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The Ohana idea is GREAT. They have breakfast with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto. Dinner is good too with hula dancing and such. Spirit of Aloha show is good too.
Ohana sounds great!
Our son just turned 10, and LOVES Star Wars. If yours is a fan, you could do something with the Jedi Training Academy, Star Tours, etc. I'm just trying to think like a 9 year old boy.
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Wow how special. I love the Ohana idea and I would do the breakfast with the characters. I would also call Disney direct and see if there is something they can do to enhance the experience, possibly a special card from the characters. I would also note this in your reservation as it is still under the celebration theme. They will ask you at the time of booking if you are celebrating anything special. I think this MORE than qualifies!!! Welcome to the boards and may I add what you have done is truly a magical thing.
The Ohana idea is great.
One of you could pick up a "What are you celebrating" button without him knowing - and have them right on it - "I'm going to be a Miller!" (or whatever your last name is) or "I'm going to have a forever home" And see if one of the characters or the waiter would give it to him.
The Ohana idea is great.
One of you could pick up a "What are you celebrating" button without him knowing - and have them right on it - "I'm going to be a Miller!" (or whatever your last name is) or "I'm going to have a forever home" And see if one of the characters or the waiter would give it to him.
Congratulations!
That is brilliant, I love it!! Good thinking Teresa.
I also love Dave's Ohana idea. Since Ohana does mean family, I think this is a very appropriate way to go.
Congratulations on the adoption and welcome to the boards!
Congrats! We celebrated the adoption of our 2 DDs last march at Disney! We made the whole trip into a celebration - we wore the buttons, created t-shirts and mentioned it as much as possible.
I love the Ohana idea - I think if that would work for your family it would be fantastic! If you go that route mention it when you make your ressie.
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Welcome to the boards and most of all congratulations!! This weekend we are celebrating the fourth anniversary of the adoption of our older daughter. Last year, when we adopted our second daughter, we decided to stop at HK Disneyland for two nights as we were flying through Hong Kong anyway. Although we only walked around the park for one day, it turned out to be quite magical. It was the first moments after a busy two-week stay in China that we were alone as a family. DD#2 was 2 1/2 at the time and loved It's a Small World, but what was really important and wonderful were the moments together. When we adopted DD#1, she was dressed in a Pooh outfit when we met her the first time. For DD#2, she loved the small Mickey and Minnie dolls we brought with us. A nice bonus -- in the Disney Hollywood Hotel in HK, we were able to watch Playhouse Disney in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, making the trip even more magical in a Disney sort of way.
Whatever you decide to do, just know that the special feelings in your heart will make it magical for your forever family. Once again, congratulations and what a nice way to celebrate this holiday season.
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Contemporary/Red Boat 1993; Dixie Landings 1994, POR 6/2007; CSR 8/1998, 6/2005, 2/2011; 8/2012; DCL (Wonder)/Boardwalk 2000; AKL 1/2003, 6/2003, 6/2004, 4/2006, 6/2009; DL 7/2007, 7/2010; 8/2011; CBR 4/2008; Polynesian 12/11; Hollywood Hotel (Hong Kong Disneyland) 8/2008
I think the Ohana surprise as mentioned above would be great! Maybe during your stay there, your family could get together with a few characters and have an informal "naming" ceremony. What you guys are doing is wonderful!!
BTW, welcome to the boards .
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Hudson River view from promenade at Liberty State Park in NJ - Disney Magic in Hudson River, passing the new One World Trade Center
to the Boards!!!
because of such a great thing you are doing and such great suggestions from these wonderful PassPorters! 
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