Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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01-25-2010, 11:50 PM
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#1
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PassPorter Guide
 Community Rank: Globetrotter 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,041
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Feature Article: Unlocking the Magic of the Florida Keys - Key West (Part 3 of 3)
Unlocking the Magic of the Florida Keys - Key West (Part 3 of 3)
by Maureen Austin
Our final and southernmost stop on this tour of the Florida Keys is the most well known section of this majestic series of islands. Key West has had many famous residents and a reputation for laid back lifestyles unlike any other resort town in the world. The focus in Key West tends to be either in-town on famous Duval Street and vicinity, or off shore - sailing, diving, and fishing. Beaches are few and far between, so let's take a moment to put that topic behind us.
Get a little history with your beach by taking in the sights and sands at Fort Zachary Taylor, encompassing 87 acres on the island's southwest corner.
If the locals go there, you know it’s good. Most Key West residents take seaside refuge at South Beach located at the far end of famous Duval Street.
Speaking of Duval Street, let’s talk all there is to offer on this main thoroughfare. Shops, restaurants, clubs are crammed into this festive and busy area. You’ll find an array of specialty shops located in the area, where you can pick up everything from Key Lime cookies to Key Lime bath products.
Key West, as most folks know, has a rich literary history. Writers have been drawn to the laid back atmosphere for years, even as far back as the early 1930’s. Ernest Hemingway’s home has been lovingly preserved here and you can also take in Sloppy Joe’s, one of his favorite hang outs. One of Key West’s other famous residents, Jimmy Buffet, introduced the world to the Margaritaville way of life - soak that in by visiting the original Margaritaville, located at 500 Duval St.
Mallory Square is near the northern end of Duvall Street - a trip to Key West just wouldn’t be complete without a photo op there. This place is well known for its spectacular viewing stage for that famous Key West sunset you’ll be talking about long after the vacation is over. You’ll find an eclectic mix of street performers as well. Kids of all ages will enjoy the Key West Aquarium, which is the oldest attraction here. Free guided tours are an excellent way to take in all the museum has to offer. Treasure hunters will appreciate a visit to the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum located on Greene Street.
If you prefer someone else to do the guiding as you tour the city, then you are indeed in luck. The Conch Tour Train is a tram that wends its way through the town's streets, or choose the Old Town Trolley, known for humorous hosts that provide a rich history as you make your way around. Air tours are also available at Key West Airport.
Divers and water explorers will want to head to Key West Marine Park. Swim-only zones in the waters here provide a serene and safe way to explore the majesty under the surface.
Fishing is big here and there are numerous opportunities to catch the big one by choosing from the many outstanding charter boat tours.
70 miles from Key West are a small string of islands known as the Dry Tortugas. If you love nature, you’ll find this side trip well worth the time it takes to get there. Fort Jefferson was built to protect the Gulf of Mexico; however it served as a prison in the Civil War. Now open to visitors, Fort Jefferson is a national monument run by the National Park Service. Camping is an option to extend your visit here.
The widest range of accommodations in the Keys is found in Key West, from the traditional conch style cottages to multi-million dollar resorts by national chains, as well as condominiums and family-run motor inns.
Most major cruise lines include a stop at Key West on Western Caribbean itineraries. Disney Cruise Line is no exception. If you are sailing with Mickey, you’ll surely want to take advantage of the numerous shore excursions available to you as you visit Key West. From kayaking, touring the waters on a glass bottom boat or snorkeling trips, water play abounds. If you’d rather stick to shore consider one of the many landlubber excursions - a walking tour or Pirate Soul and Shipwreck Historeum tour.
However you get here, whenever you get here, be sure to relax and take in the island way of life. Key West is like no other city in the world and it will surely provide you with memories to last long after you depart.
If you're looking for the the first two installments of this series, check out the May 3, 2006 and June 29, 2006 issues of PassPorter News.
View the full article and download a free formatted PDF of it here!
Added to PassPorter's Article Collection on 12-01-2009 06:26 PM
What do you think? Please add your own comments, experiences, or news related to this article in this thread! Reader feedback is welcomed and encouraged.
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