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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 kids enjoy train rides, but we didn't do the train on our last trip. How long does it take round trip? Do the lines get long? Do you get any nice views and or scenery while on the train?
We have never experience much of a line at the train that I can remember. I think it takes 5-10 minutes for a round trip but I think there are four stops if I remember correctly. We usually take a ride on the train for a little rest break.
In recent years, I've never seen a line at any of the stops (there are 3 of them - Main Street, Frontierland, and Toontown/Fantasyland) and I think with stops, I'd say the whole loop is maybe 15 minutes or so. As for nice views, being the perimeter of the park, one side will be all trees and things so you can't see outside the park (except near Tomorrowland) and the other side will be things inside the park.
There are stops at Main Street Station, Frontierland Station (next to Splash Mountain), and the new Fantasyland Storybook Circus Station.
I think the round trip is something more like 20-25 minutes depending on the length of the stops.
It's a good way to get to the front of the Magic Kingdom when there's a parade going on, by the way, or to get to Frontierland, too.
The scenery varies; some is quite interesting and some is pretty bland. But there are views you cannot easily get otherwise. I actually think that this is an area that Disney could "plus up", though I have similar feelings about the PeopleMover, too.
I think your family would enjoy the train ride. It is relaxing and I think a nice way to rest your feet. Have your kids sit closer to the inside since that's where most of the things to view are located (on the right of the train looking forward). I, too, have not experienced a line, but if you've just missed a train, it will be a bit of a wait for the next one to come along. Even if there are a lot of people waiting, the train has a huge capacity, so not to worry.
We love to take it as a mid afternoon break. It is shady and breezy making it a nice relaxing way to travel and relax. I would guess more like 20-25 min. as well for a complete loop.
Have your kids sit closer to the inside since that's where most of the things to view are located (on the right of the train looking forward).
The right side of the train remains open and it is announced that kids have to be on the outside/left hand side of the train. If your kids are older (teenagers) it most likely won't come into affect but if they're younger, Disney will make a parent sit on the right hand side of the train.
I love the train and I think it is worthwhile doing with a certain mindset. It is the antithesis of a thrill ride. I find it, calm, relaxing, quiet and -as other have said, a great break and a chance to recharge. I know my family would gain a great deal more energy because of the slow, easy going nature of the train....but alas...I don't think we have ever done the full trip just for fun. Again it is the best way to get around during the parades.....if it is still running. Sometimes does it not stop running before the night time parade?
We use the RR for transportation, so we don't have to walk all the way across the park when tired. I would agree that a full circuit is closer to 20-25 minutes. Lots of parents find it soothing and restful with tired kids (Tomorrowland Transit Authority - People Mover is also excellent for this). Everybody should ride it around at least one time; we have often taken it as our first or last ride of the day.
Thanks for all the great tips!! My kids will be 9 (almost 10), 7, and 5 when we go in November. I will have to make a point of riding it this time. Anytime we go to any local zoos or parks, the train is always a must-do for them, so I'm not sure why we didn't make a point of doing it last time.
Does it operate after the night time parade and before the fireworks? That would be a great way to bypass main st. But I'm guessing it probably does not or everyone would be doing it.
We never had waits at any of the stops either, believe it or not it is one my 16yrolds favorite things to do, it is an easy way to get around the park as well, easier on the feet, and its relaxing, definetly worth it!
It does not operate during the fireworks. I'm not sure how far in advance and how long after it stays still. Some of the fireworks launch areas are near certain areas of the track, I believe, so it is a safety issue.
They do shut down the trains for the fireworks, but not for parades (it's a great way to bypass Main St. at parade time). The last train before the fireworks leaves Main St. Station about a half-hour before the show. It's pretty similar for the other stations - figure to get to whatever station you're headed for at least a half-hour before the fireworks.
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