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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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I've started to plan out a possible spring vacation, and since nothing is currently available for WDW...I started to look at DL.
There are 3 resorts around the DLR area, all seem okay, and offer shuttle service to the park.
It's been YEARS since I've been to DL and I've never been to DCA. But, realistically, how many days could you spend between the 2 parks?
I have family in the area too that I would like to see, so that would probably be a day or 2 out of the resort area.
I don't know, just spitballing ideas I guess. Everyone asks why I don't go somewhere new on vacation, but I love Disney because while it takes some planning once I'm there I don't have to think.
I would say it all really depends on what month of the year you want to visit. If you are going during a slower time, 3 days should be good as far as seeing everything . . . in busier times, 4-5 days would probably be good. Either way, if you are planning on visiting family and having that eat up a couple of days, you should probably be good with the rest being park days.
Me personally . . . I could spend a week there just going back and forth between the parks no matter what time of year I go, but that's just me.
As for the hotels, there are TONS to choose from. The three resorts on property that are all within walking distance, of course, but then there are 40+ more within a mile off property that are all either within just as close (or closer) walking distance or that offer the ART shuttle to the parks.
I know what you mean about the questions of why Disney is "it" for vacations! We hear it all the time too! I have been researching cruises and a possible trip to Hawaii for next year but I keep on coming back to Disney. I just can't help it!
I would say between three and four days, although having said that, I could easily spend a week there, as you can spend a day or two sightseeing in LA itself and, if you're OK to commute, there's lots to see in San Diego too. We spent two full days there on our first visit to California, although we did stay in San Diego.
Boy. I am sure glad someone included San Diego as points to see. HAHAHA. A week at DLR? Easy for us, even though we go every month, there are certain rides, attractions and shows that we MUST do each and every time, more if time permits. As to the thre Disney resorts providing shuttles to the park? Never heard of that and that is because on the worst of days, you are no more that a 15 minute walk from the plaza between the two parks, and that included walking through DTD. Hahaha. We stay at the Grand and if the weather permits, spend some relaxing times in one of the pools. There are, as pointed out above, tons of other motels and hotels within walking distance and those who are further out even have their own shuttles plus ART buses stop at nearly all local 'rest stops'.
There is plenty if sightseeing to be done in the area as well. Just down the street (about 7 miles) to the west is Knotts Berry Farm and Soak City. Further west and north is Los Angeles (about 27 miles), Hollywood (about 35 miles) and Universal Studios (about 33 miles). Then as I had also pointed out south of the DLR (about 95 miles) is San Diego which has the famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Balboa Park with all of the museums (Aero Space, Reuben H Fleet Museum, Museum of Man, Railroad Museum, Auto Museum and the Hall of Champions to name a few). Then there is Old Town, Sea Port Village, the U.S.S. Midway to name a few here as well. So, even if you were to spend just a few days at DLR there is plenty to see here in Southern California that a week would not be enough time.
We just spent 5 days there last month. That was probably about the most we would do. But it was great because it allowed us to spend time relaxing in the room, going to the spa, and sleeping in! We knew we had plenty of time and so didn't feel like we had to rush to see everything we wanted. We got to ride Star Tours 3 times and we rode Haunted Mansion (DH's favorite) so many times that I lost count!
We have stayed at the Grand Californian both times we've been there, and I don't know that we'll ever be able to tear ourselves away. We having the private entrance to DCA, which became an even better option this past trip with all the construction going on at the regular DCA entrance.
We spent five days last year and have next month's trip booked for six. Of course, some of next month's trip will be filled with D23 Expo but mostly my son will be participating in that. For us, we like to build in down time at the pool or just to relax and take in the surroundings. Also, it takes us a day or two to adjust to the time change so I factor in that also. As previous posters had said...there is tons to do outside of the resort, too.
Happy Planning!
danielle
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~Shoot for the moon, if you miss, you will land among the stars~
We spent five days last year and have next month's trip booked for six. Of course, some of next month's trip will be filled with D23 Expo but mostly my son will be participating in that. For us, we like to build in down time at the pool or just to relax and take in the surroundings. Also, it takes us a day or two to adjust to the time change so I factor in that also. As previous posters had said...there is tons to do outside of the resort, too.
Happy Planning!
danielle
Danielle, I'll be at the Expo too 08/19/11,
3 or 4 days is enough at DLR since it is way smaller than WDW. For us San Diegains we only need two days since the drive is 2 hours.
3 or 4 days is enough at DLR since it is way smaller than WDW. For us San Diegains we only need two days since the drive is 2 hours.
A two hour drive? What are you doing? Are you pushing your car? Hahaha. It only takes me about an hour and 10 to make it up there. Hahaha. Just had to joke with you on that one. Hahaha
A two hour drive? What are you doing? Are you pushing your car? Hahaha. It only takes me about an hour and 10 to make it up there. Hahaha. Just had to joke with you on that one. Hahaha
It only takes me to get from my house to San Diego and I am north of Disneyland.
Maybe he is in the hinterlands, lol.
Maybe we could meet there. Still working on getting Mom to go. She is getting the planning bug. She does not know about the hotel, yet.
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Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
A two hour drive? What are you doing? Are you pushing your car? Hahaha. It only takes me about an hour and 10 to make it up there. Hahaha. Just had to joke with you on that one. Hahaha
LOLZ!! I was thinking the same thing we are in SD too and I make it in an hour 10-15 mins also. Maybe I am just a speed demon
LOLZ!! I was thinking the same thing we are in SD too and I make it in an hour 10-15 mins also. Maybe I am just a speed demon
We go up once every month, leaving about 6:45 am and get to the Disney Grand, our usual hotel, between 7:45 and 8:00. Maybe as late as 8:10 but that is if I run into traffic in the HOV lane up past Mission Viejo.
you can definitely spend a week... but I would plan to do other things as well... a beach day... half day in hollywood, etc.... that's what we just did in Feb.
Because I have family out there we've made MANY trips out that way, and I've been to SeaWorld and San Diego Zoo...though, a long time ago and could certainly go back.
I'm thinking of March, mostly to avoid some of the heat and also the crowds that Spring Break in April would bring.
Sadly RCI doesn't trade into the DL resorts, but the options I have thus far are:
Dolphins Cove
Peacock Suites (only about a block away from DL)
Worldmark (alsovery close, but no avaailability beyond Feb @ this time)
If anyone has stayed in any of these resorts I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Also, if I was planning 3-4 days in the parks, would you recommend hoppers?
Because I have family out there we've made MANY trips out that way, and I've been to SeaWorld and San Diego Zoo...though, a long time ago and could certainly go back.
I'm thinking of March, mostly to avoid some of the heat and also the crowds that Spring Break in April would bring.
Sadly RCI doesn't trade into the DL resorts, but the options I have thus far are:
Dolphins Cove
Peacock Suites (only about a block away from DL)
Worldmark (alsovery close, but no avaailability beyond Feb @ this time)
If anyone has stayed in any of these resorts I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Also, if I was planning 3-4 days in the parks, would you recommend hoppers?
I loved the size of the suites at Peacock, but the service and ambiance left a lot to be desired. and they don't clean/tidy the room every day.
I would plan for the week, but play it by ear when you get there. Have some side trips in mind that you would like to take if you can pull yourself away from DLR.
Locals are an interesting lot ...my daughter has been one of them for about 14 years. I've always said I would never drive the freeways, but know all of you can zip around on them like no tomorrow.
DD lived in Long Beach for a number of years and during a week's visit I would make the 35 minute drive to DL 4 or 5 times a week on surface streets...2 left turns from her house and then a straight shot.
Alas, she recently moved to Sherman Oaks! So...after lots of encouragement from DD I finally (at age 63) drove the freeways on my latest visit a few weeks ago. I thought I did pretty good by making that trip in an hour and 10 minutes.
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having the private entrance to DCA, which became an even better option this past trip with all the construction going on at the regular DCA entrance.
At Disney World I can visit Japan. Please check-out my web site for wheelchair travel, 
we are in SD too and I make it in an hour 10-15 mins also. Maybe I am just a speed demon 
! So...after lots of encouragement from DD I finally (at age 63) drove the freeways on my latest visit a few weeks ago. I thought I did pretty good by making that trip in an hour and 10 minutes.
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