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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 two recent disney trips (WDW in November, DLR this past month) I've taken my tripod and gone out for teh evening to do longer exposure photos (like the one in my siggy). I don't do a lot of nighttime shots as nighttime in Alaska = cold and I'd rather stay warm than get those types of photos...
Each time I've ended up turning around from taking a shot to find a line of people waving their photopass cards at me. It's quite comical and humbling at the same time. But this last time people were actually getting ticked off that I wasn't a photopass photog and one guy actually screamed in my face that I shouldn't bring my equipment to the park if I'm not working (um, sir, I don't work for the Mouse! Never have!).
I ended up on my last night at DLR taking pictures for about 30 families with their camera because there wasn't a photopass photog in front of the partners statue not that I mind, it's what I do to make extra money here at home.
I just thought it was really funny that people just assumed I was because I had a tripod.
Having seen your photos, I'm not surprised that's what they thought. However, it's a shame that Disney don't have Photopass photographers out to give people what they want.
Sometimes, I wear a photographers vest while in the parks, I have an off white and a black one. When I wear the vests, I have my Passporter lanyard on. Many people till mistake me for PhotoPass photog and they do get rather ugly and mean when they find out you aren't!!!
Sometimes, I wear a photographers vest while in the parks, I have an off white and a black one. When I wear the vests, I have my Passporter lanyard on. Many people till mistake me for PhotoPass photog and they do get rather ugly and mean when they find out you aren't!!!
yeah I had my lowepro bag on, but I had mickey ears on my head and a Disney sweatshirt on, I didn't look professional at all! I promise! LOL
Toni....that is an awesome picture!! I have a blue vest that I used to wear quite often (it was from Baxter Elementary where DS went to school). If I wore it to Walmart, I would get asked all kinds of questions about where to find stuff....Uh, sorry, don't know, don't work here. So I get what you mean. Luckily no one ever got ugly!
Maybe you need a shirt with "Not a Photopass Photographer" on the back!!
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Jennifer / Eeyore is my favorite!! OMG - He's sooooo grown up!!!! And an EAGLE SCOUT!! I can still remember my cute little Tiger Cub! 2016 Reading Goal - 75 books
,I ended up on my last night at DLR taking pictures for about 30 families with their camera because there wasn't a photopass photog in front of the partners statue not that I mind, it's what I do to make extra money here at home.
I just want to say "thank you" for taking your time to take pictures for other people. We were at WDW after Thanksgiving and I can count on one hand the number of Photopass Photogs we saw. Last year, same time, same number of days I got over 100 pics. This year, it was more like 30 -- including bonus shots.
And the only person who agreed to take a family pic for us was PP'r Amanda at the Illuminations dessert party. I was amazed at the number of people who said "no" when we asked them. Not just at Disney, but at ICE, and Kennedy... You'd think we were asking them to donate blood on the spot.
One time I was at Target in a red t-shirt and tan shorts and people kept asking me where things were! I didn't realize why until later! Lol
People can be quite rude at Disney. My daughter is a CM right now and has been yelled at for not speaking Spanish because she "looks like" she should! A lot of her stories surprise me because I cannot fathom ever being so rude to someone.
How nice of you to take the pictures, though! I hope everyone appreciated it!
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Dec 2005 (POR) - our first WDW trip and our first WDW holiday / Dec 2006 (CSR) - our second WDW holiday / Aug 2007 (POLY!!!!) - Happy Early 40th Birthday to Me and our first DELUXE stay / Dec 2008 - Christmas at "Home" (POP) / Aug 2009 - Summer in the South (POFQ) / Aug 2010 - POP! and Caitie starts her internship at WDW/ Oct 2010 - Laura & I "POP" in to visit Caitie/ Feb 2011 - Feb Fam Vacation to visit Caitie / May 2011 - Going to the Boardwalk to pick up Caitie (BW)
People say no??? While nobody has ever mistaken me for a PhotoPass photographer (even when using a tripod), I get asked to take photos quite often, and will offer to take a photo when it's clear everyone belongs in that "big group shot." I'd never say no. I guess my gear looks good enough that folks assume I'm serious about the art, but not good enough to be thought of as a pro (if only they knew how many of my shots have been published ).
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
People say no??? While nobody has ever mistaken me for a PhotoPass photographer (even when using a tripod), I get asked to take photos quite often, and will offer to take a photo when it's clear everyone belongs in that "big group shot." I'd never say no. I guess my gear looks good enough that folks assume I'm serious about the art, but not good enough to be thought of as a pro (if only they knew how many of my shots have been published ).
I offer to take photos when I notice that there's one in the group having to take teh shot... or if it's a couple... most size me up before telling me yes (once they see the gear I guess that's all they need to know I am not going to run off with theirs :laugh:
I normally only allow Disney staff to take photos with mine. there's just too much $$ invested in my gear to keep my paranoia home lol
Yes, they do. Our favorite was the family that said no and walked away after DH had taken photos of them.
People were decidedly more rude this Dec. than our trips in the past. DH calls it the "Universal effect."
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not that I mind, it's what I do to make extra money here at home. 
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Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
However, it's a shame that Disney don't have Photopass photographers out to give people what they want.
So I get what you mean. Luckily no one ever got ugly!
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