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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
Is it rude if you are at a theme park like MK and go early for the parade and fireworks show to get a good seat. Lets say an hour early...you find a park bench seat to relax, have a snack and enjoy the night. Is it rude if someone comes along with children or someone who tires easily without sitting to not give up your seat.
I am very torn on this being a younger person without children I try not to be bias, but at the same time I feel frustrated that I get there early to get a good seat, but always feel I need to give it up. Should it be first come first serve no matter what, or should I make sure to accommodate others around me even if I took the time to get there first?
I so do not want to be rude, but at the same time I would like to sit and relax too.
In a situation like this I don't think you are being rude. It says in many places to arrive early for good seats and that is what you are doing. I say keep your spot and enjoy the parade and don't worry about what others might be thinking.
I personally would not give up a seat for kids- that would be half of the people at the parks! I may consider it for a senior citizen. I know they have special wheelchair viewing areas...not sure if this is for people with other disabilities as well. I never really thought of this though as I don't arrive that early- I just squeeze in where I can. I don't think most people would be offended-??
What really bugs me though is when I do arrive somewhat early and then other people's kids try to come stand right up front at the last minute. I'm OK with kids getting a better view than me- I just think it is just very rude of the parents!
You got there early as it is recommended. I use a EVC when there and even knowing I can go to wheelchair seating I do not take for granted I will get it just because I showed up. If I want it I go early. If they were so tired and had trouble standing they should've gotten there early also. I know what you mean though my DH is the same way. Especially on the buses, he wants to sit as he is tired too but because my chair takes up 3 seats he will NOT sit in a seat if it is a full bus. I also stay in my chair as not to take up a 4th seat. Even at the parades and rides I am the only one who uses the privilges DH and DS's do not. Maybe the way to make it work for you is stay sitting then half way through excuse yourself to standing so someone else can sit. I hope this helps you.
I think that if you made a point to get there early to get a good seat you shouldn't have to give it up. If it would ease your conscience why don't you save an extra seat or two and then look for someone with a sleeping baby/cane, ect and give the extra to them.
I am glad you brought this up because I do have a pet pev I would like to mention. It makes me sad to see a bus full of people with women holding babies and young children standing trying to balance on the swaying bus and men sitting and not giving up their seats.
I absolutely think if you've gotten there early, like all everyone suggests if you want a good seat, then you should keep it for yourself. My DH is the one who can't sit at all if there's anyone around who he thinks should be sitting. I am always proud of him, but I never expect him to, especially if we've been there waiting. If you are going to take the time out of your day there to get a good seat to enjoy the parade, you should not have to give it up for anyone who waited until the last minute. That being said, if you did give your seat to someone who you thought needed it, there's nothing wrong with that either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by davishomeschool
I am glad you brought this up because I do have a pet pev I would like to mention. It makes me sad to see a bus full of people with women holding babies and young children standing trying to balance on the swaying bus and men sitting and not giving up their seats.
I stood on a crowded bus with my 3 year old last year LITERALLY sleeping standing up. I had one arm wrapped around him the best I could leaning over and the other wrapped around a pole while a woman and her college aged daughter said, "aw, how cute, look he's sleeping" and to me "hold on, we're almost there". If I was 20something and sitting with my mother, if I didn't give up my seat at that point, I think my mother would have slapped me. I didn't want to cause a scene...what I wanted to say was "yeah, real cute, now get the [heck] up!" Now I'll get off my soapbox
I am glad you brought this up because I do have a pet pev I would like to mention. It makes me sad to see a bus full of people with women holding babies and young children standing trying to balance on the swaying bus and men sitting and not giving up their seats.
Amen! My DH typically stands w/the strollers on the bus and leaves me w/the kids. I actually had a sweet senior lady get up and let me sit w/my babies last fall while everyone else just watched me stand there (and later watched the senior lady standing there...). It's very disheartening. I think buses are a different beast - you cannot get there an hour early and claim your seat. It is a matter of manners when you see a woman holding on to one of those poles for dear life while clinging to her babies to make sure they don't topple over, too. And what's more, I stand and hold one child, but when my DD5 needed a seat and there was one left (with someone's handbag in it), yes I expected her to move her knock-off Gucci so my child can have the seat!!
I am glad you brought this up because I do have a pet pev I would like to mention. It makes me sad to see a bus full of people with women holding babies and young children standing trying to balance on the swaying bus and men sitting and not giving up their seats.
I have the exact same pet peeve and, unlike a parade, on the bus you can't arrive early to select your seat..it's all by chance when you step on that bus..I remember one time when I was traveling on a bus back to our resort one night with a very sleepy 8 year old in my lap..I had a mother standing up beside me with her child of about four years of age standing beside her. I asked the Mom if her child would mind sitting in my daughter's lap..her daughter didn't blink an eye..she crawled up in my daughter's lap..and I had one child's head on one shoulder and the other child's head on my other shoulder..sleeping very soundly..two happy kids and two happy moms..it was really a very sweet moment!!
I come from a small family of 4. We are all adults now but often go to the parks together (my whole family lives in Kissimmee and my dad works for Disney). One thing I have come across a great deal is one or two people saving parade spots for large families. It is one thing to save a space while someone goes to get something to eat but there is no reason to save 5 spaces for 45 mins to a hour so your family can take one more ride on BTMRR. When I got to the park alone I need one spot for my (larger then average) butt but I can't find a spot in a prime location because John and Jane Doe are saving spots for the Doe Family reunion!
__________________
Robin Twitter name: @NKsDogwalker Find me on FB: robinkay6573@yahoo.com 38th Birthday with Mom, Dad and friends 2011 Next Trip: Cruise on Jewel of the Seas for Christmas 2012
One thing I have come across a great deal is one or two people saving parade spots for large families. It is one thing to save a space while someone goes to get something to eat but there is no reason to save 5 spaces for 45 mins to a hour so your family can take one more ride on BTMRR.
I agree entirely. Holding seats while someone gts food, gets drinks, takes kids or grandparents to the bathroom, goes to buy parade-related souvenirs (flags to wave, or whatnot) ... sure. Even if it's "My wife/husband/etc just took the kids over to pin-trade wiht that CM across the way, there", that's at least a brief enough, impulse-driven enough reason, I can and would just smile, wish the person a great day, and move on.
I think that if you made a point to get there early to get a good seat you shouldn't have to give it up. If it would ease your conscience why don't you save an extra seat or two and then look for someone with a sleeping baby/cane, ect and give the extra to them.
I am glad you brought this up because I do have a pet pev I would like to mention. It makes me sad to see a bus full of people with women holding babies and young children standing trying to balance on the swaying bus and men sitting and not giving up their seats.
I agree with you on all points! The people who arrive early for parades, should get to keep their seats. As someone who will NOT stake out an early seat, we know that means skipping the parade/best views if there is no space available. That's on me.
The buses, however, are a completely different story!! Kids, babies and moms should have seats before able-bodied adults. I also expected my kids to squish into as little space as possible to keep more seats open to others. It made me mad when parents allowed their kids to each have their own sea, when they could have shared the space and allowed others to sit.
Amen, I took my step son for his 6th birthday one year by myself, and I had thrown my back out on day one and really needed an EVC but I got a heat wrap and carried on limping for my sons sake, and not once EVER did anyone offer a seat for me to hold my son in my lap....instead I stood trying to hold his hand and myself up while my back spasmed over every bump. I took that opportunity to teach my son to always offer a lady his seat because it was polite. He sat on the edge of his seat tweaking his eyebrows at me every time he saw a lady get on the bus at the anticipation of giving his seat up because he so badly wanted to be a little gentleman. lol He brought up that story so many times for years after that. It shocked me that most of the men were older and never budged. My dad and grandpa would have stood even if the lady didn't accept the seat!!! Someone in another newsgroup argued that she would be offended if some man offered a seat or held a door for her as if she wasn't capable of doing it herself and that she taught her sons NOT to do those things. What a twit! I'm sure those are some real charmers she's got now.
First off, this was one of the best things I have read in a long time. Brought tears to my eyes. I am an emotional woman and love to see moms training up there children.
When it comes to me and buses and people who won't give up seats. I stand with my children (both of them) while DH has the stroller and backpack. I will have one arm wrapped around a pole and holding on to my 8 year DD and the other arm holding my DS (who will be 2 on our next trip). If the bus knocks me from side to side. I just hope and pray the person sitting with out a child doesn't get an elbow. Is it wrong of me to not care if I get knocked into some one or jab them with my elbow? Never on purpose, although at times I want to.
Another thing that bugs me about the buses. I hate when some one standing behind you leans against you because they couldn't support them selves. Here I am supporting my self, DD, and holding my DS and now supporting the person standing behind me. Or when some one keeps knocking you with there backpacks while your standing.
Well thank you. It used to tickle me to death when people would stop by our table in a restaurant and tell me how well behaved my boys were. It was a hard job...I had them from the time they were 3 and 4 till they were 8 and 9, and they were HORRIBLE when I met them! They didn't know colors, they didn't know how to use utensils, they went to bed on a blanket in front of the tv whenever they wanted!!! Their dad didn't have a CLUE! My parents said they had never seen such awful kids. I had to literally hold them down with them screaming bloody murder to make them go to bed...all while my husband worked in a show theater at night and didn't have to deal with it. Lets just say I will never do it again, but I DID manage to get it done, and from what I hear (they have been long gone due to the lousiest ex husband ever) people still talk about how they are some of the best behaved teenagers they have ever met. At least I made some sort of a difference in the 5 years they were mine.
I just wanted to comment...I too am tickled when I have strangers in restaurants come to the table just to let me know how enjoyable it was to eat with my 6-next week- DD. I just love it!
Also, how great about the boys!! Sometimes all it takes is one person to make a difference. Wtg!
People who can't stand for long periods have the same opportunity you do to stake out a seat early. I do not think you should feel obligated to give up your seat to those who come later.
People with children (or anyone else) who can't sit still for an hour beforehand can choose to watch the parade from the spots available when they arrive, or can choose not to watch the parade. I have seen just 1/3 of a parade in my past 5 visits, because I've had young children and didn't want to sit with them staking out a spot. It would never occur to me to arrive right before a parade and expect people who had been waiting to give us their spots.
I see parade viewing as an option, not a right. There will be people who for whatever reason can't stake out a spot, but it is not your responsibility to make accommodations for them.
If you want to give up your spot, then sure, it's a kind thing to do, but it's not the same as giving up a seat on a bus when it's usually just luck that you had a seat first, and when it doesn't "cost" you much enjoyment or convenience to stand for a few minutes.
About This Page: 
Give Up A Seat
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
I also stay in my chair as not to take up a 4th seat. Even at the parades and rides I am the only one who uses the privilges DH and DS's do not. Maybe the way to make it work for you is stay sitting then half way through excuse yourself to standing so someone else can sit. I hope this helps you. 
Angie
He brought up that story so many times for years after that. It shocked me that most of the men were older and never budged. My dad and grandpa would have stood even if the lady didn't accept the seat!!! Someone in another newsgroup argued that she would be offended if some man offered a seat or held a door for her as if she wasn't capable of doing it herself and that she taught her sons NOT to do those things. What a twit!
I'm sure those are some real charmers she's got now.
Tea Cups
"Sparky"(My first trip.)
Hybrid Mode
