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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Hello,
My family is going to be at Universal Studios next week for Spring Break. My kids are DS (8) and DD(11). My DH is very laid back and goes with the flow. I on the other hand am not like that!! I usually research my destination for months before leaving but we had to put this trip together quickly because my daughter broke her ankle which forced us to give up our ski plans! Anyway, I have been to WDW over 30 times so I know that area like the back of my hand but I know NOTHING about US/IOA! Here are a few questions...
We were not able to get a reservation at one of the on site resorts so we are staying at a Marriott not far away. Would it be worth the money to buy the Express Plus?
Since my daughter is on crutches, we are going to rent her a wheelchair for the parks. Otherwise her arms would be the next thing to go!! Are the parks pretty wheel chair friendly? Do you wait in the normal lines for rides when in a chair?
Are the two parks connected?
Can we get through all of the parks in 3 days? We are not Harry Potter fans (I know- I think we are the only ones!!!) so we won't have to spend time waiting in lines for much in that area.
I think that is it but any other hints and tidbits anyone can give would be appreciated! I feel like a fish out of water!!!
As far as Universal Express, it depends on how crowded the parks are. If the parks are very crowded, then it is worth it. For what you'd pay for 4 people for 3 days, it might make more sense to stay at a Universal hotel and get Front of the Line privileges.
Rent a scooter instead of a wheelchair. The rides are handicapped friendly
The parks are connected but it's a good walk between
IOA is more thrill rides than US, but both are great parks. 3 days will be fime to see both
Welcome to the boards! I would say 3 days is plenty to see the 2 parks. You will most likely get alot done in 2 days, while the 3rd gives you time to go back and do your favs. You can walk to and from each park, there is the Citywalk in between them. Think of it like you are walking through a stretch of DTD or so to get to the other park. Good luck!
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
Welcome to the boards!! I love Universal Studios! I would think they would have wheelchair access to all rides. I don't think Universal and Disney are similar. Universal has it's own flair. I love how all the rides are really themed after the movies. Mel's Drive In has great food and cool atmosphere. Twister is an amazing ride as is the mummy ride!!! Hope you have a good time!
Universal is extremely wheelchair friendly. I spent my US/IOA vacation in December in a rented wheelchair and it was a great experience (considering I was unable to walk).
If you are arriving by car and parking in the parkade, tell the person directing you to a parking space that you are going to need to rent a wheelchair because your DD is on crutches. They will direct you to a parking space closer to the entrance. There are courtesy chairs available near the elevators that you can use to take her to the wheelchair rental counter. It cost $12 to rent the chair for the day. You can't take the chair on the moving sidewalk from the rental place to the parks, but there's a walkway so it's no real biggie.
There is no separate entrance for wheelchairs, all the lines are wheelchair friendly. You will be directed to the wheelchair friendly area for boarding the rides and for exit. I am assuming that your DD will be able to walk or hop a short distance to board the rides. Remember to use the brakes when you have to park on a ramp while waiting in line, it makes it easier on the pusher! (Then remember to take off the brake when you start to move - trust me, I forgot more than once. ) There are elevators for exit from Harry Potter, and for entrance/exit to Men In Black (probably others but those are the ones I remember), but you will be directed where they are after you are in line or get off the ride.
You may be able to ask the hotel if they have courtesy wheelchairs available for guests to use for the duration of your stay. Some do, some don't. But if it saves $12 a day, it doesn't hurt to ask!
we have never been to universal either but plan to go this summer
I am thinking about the 4 day pass without their version of the hopper etc...
for the difference in a 3 day pass and a 4 day pass we can have 2 days at
each park, even if it means we leave the park when we are done on the second day in each park.
I also think we would enjoy some of the restaurants in the citywalk area .
Let me know how your trip goes and any suggestions you learn.
I am lost planning strategy at a new theme park, I feel I have disney figured out so now I am starting over...
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
) There are elevators for exit from Harry Potter, and for entrance/exit to Men In Black (probably others but those are the ones I remember), but you will be directed where they are after you are in line or get off the ride.
Hybrid Mode
