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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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In an attempt to save money this year, I have decided to forgo my beloved BC, and stay at a moderate. I booked at CSR, but have been struggling with two things--the extreme size of the resort (I don't want to walk a mile for coffee in my refillable mug) and also my fear that the resort will feel secluded. The BC is just a quick walk to Epcot, DS, or the Boardwalk.
This morning I changed my ressie to POFQ because it is smaller, and because I think it will feel less secluded (due to the boat to DD).
Please tell me I did the right thing. I am not in love with the "theming" of the resort (Jazz or Marti Gras), but I do like beautiful grounds.
Both are fabulous resorts, but CSR is very, very big. We stayed in the building next to where you check in, so it was am easy walk to the Pepper Market (best food court at WDW immho). But the pool was a good hike. Nothing at POFQ is more than a 5 minute walk, and the boat ride to DTD and the beignets are great. CSR doesn't feel secluded at all. If a quick stroll for your morning shot of coffee is important, go with POFQ. CSR is a Moderate that feels like a Deluxe; it's that nice. The theming at POFQ is actually quite nice. Walking along the river at sunset or early in the morning is fabulous
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I'd pick CSR everytime. It's actually not that long of a walk around the Lake if you need to, and the bus system is awesome. I prefer it to the boats - especially since they take forever to get there, as do the buses that also go to those parks.
CSR is such a relaxing place to return to after the hustle and bustle of the park. It really allows you to slow down and feel like a vacation.
Both are fabulous resorts, but CSR is very, very big. We stayed in the building next to where you check in, so it was am easy walk to the Pepper Market (best food court at WDW immho). But the pool was a good hike. Nothing at POFQ is more than a 5 minute walk, and the boat ride to DTD and the beignets are great. CSR doesn't feel secluded at all. If a quick stroll for your morning shot of coffee is important, go with POFQ. CSR is a Moderate that feels like a Deluxe; it's that nice. The theming at POFQ is actually quite nice. Walking along the river at sunset or early in the morning is fabulous
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonichelle
I'd pick CSR everytime. It's actually not that long of a walk around the Lake if you need to, and the bus system is awesome. I prefer it to the boats - especially since they take forever to get there, as do the buses that also go to those parks.
CSR is such a relaxing place to return to after the hustle and bustle of the park. It really allows you to slow down and feel like a vacation.
I agree with both of these posts. CSR is my favorite resort and you can make coffee in your room at the moderates.
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My vote is for POFQ! We love love love that place!! Absolutely charming, everything is handy, we enjoy the ferry to DTD and relaxing at Scat Cats in the evening listening to Elliott play all his instruments and sing along with the tunes. Love it!
Stayed at POFQ last year for the first time and loved it. The size is small and makes everything close. Loved the boat to DTD also. I don't think you will be disappointed
I don't think you can go wrong either way! CSR and POFQ are my two favorite resorts on property (even over the deluxes!). I think I slightly prefer CSR because I do actually like that it's bigger...I like the lake in the middle and think it's very calming, but POFQ is amazing too and well the boat to DTD is fantastic! Have a wonderful trip!
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I'd recommend CSR in a heartbeat! Besides having a great main pool area, CSR also offers many deluxe amenities at a mod price.
CSR has queen beds and the rooms have been recently renovated and are gorgeous. The rooms also have a sliding wooden door separating the sink area from the room instead of a privacy curtain like the other mods (can be good for little ones napping in a pack n play).
Amenities include a fitness center, spa, free wi-fi, tanning beds, a sauna, salon, full menu room service and a night club.
The resort offers the same toiletries as the deluxes (except GF). CSR has separate shampoo and conditioner instead of the shampoo/conditioner combo at the other mods and values (a small thing, I know, but it means I don't have to pack shampoo and conditioner).
CSR has the largest hot tub of the mods and one of the longest pool slides on Disney property. The pool, slide and playground area is great and all located in one area at the main pool.
Bus service is terrific and is not shared with another resort.
Having stayed at both, and reading your interest in a short walk for coffee , I think you will be happy with POFQ.
Remembering back to my first stay at the FQ, I was totally impressed with the resort. We were only there for 3 nights, and only 2 park days, and enjoyed every moment while at the resort. The short walks to everything (food, pool, parking lot, etc) and the intimate surroundings of the gardens and quiet areas make it such a great resort. Just the simple fact that you can run down to the food court for a quick ___ (fill in the blank, anything!) and be back in your room in 5 minutes or less is a huge benefit to me when travelling with the kids. We enjoyed the boat ride to DTD, and just knowing that we can enjoy the amenities next door at Riverside was great too, even if we didn't go there. It's nice to know we can. I've stayed there once again since that trip, and coming up again for the January marathon as well. It's a great resort!
Our stay at CSR was for only 2 nights, sans kids, and we did enjoy that stay as well. We were lucky in receiving our request for a Cabana room. We were in building 9B, it just doesn't get closer than that! While it was a little jaunt to main pool, it's certainly nothing to complain about. My brother, however, was in Casita building number 3 and it was a very long walk for him and kids to the main pool. His walk to the food court was not bad though. It's a beautiful resort, I love the theme they have going on there too! The lake is so very pretty at sunrise/set, and the large hot tub is really nice. The rooms were OK. The wooden bathroom privacy door is nice, but at the end of the day, a curtain works just as well. And now that POFQ is renovating for all rooms to have queen beds too, that's not a big deal anymore for CSR.
Basically at CSR, what will make or break your vacation is room location. At POFQ, that's not a concern. At all. So if that's one of the most important things to you - proximity of your room to all the amenities - then POFQ is for you! At CSR, you can only make your request and hope for the best. As far as feeling isolated, we didn't really feel that at CSR since the car/bus rides to the parks were all rather close, but POFQ does have that connection to POR and DTD which gives it that ever so slight edge to feeling more in the "loop."
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I think you did the right thing. We stayed at CSR and although I love the theming and the resort was over the top, it felt like we were going on a trip just to visit the main area and the pool! One or the other, I could understand, but both - that was a little frustrating. I felt like I needed my car to go to eat!
I am not crazy about the theming of POFQ, but the Alligator Bayou at POR was right up my alley. When we stayed at POR we were centrally located near the food and the pool and the ride to DD really made you feel like you had Deluxe priveleges. Make sure you visit the POR for swimming and food - Then you will feel like you've stayed at both!
My trip is just me and DD19. We are not really planning on pool time (maybe a visit, but not a serious part of the trip). I was just really worried about all of the (potential) walking at CSR on top of all of the park walking. Truth be told the CSR theming looks more interesting me me, and the rooms look nicer (marginally). It is Disney--I'd like to believe I can't go wrong!
We have stayed at CSR and loved it. This go 'round we are going to be staying at POR. I am hoping that everything you all are saying about POFW applies to POR too!!!!!
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We have stayed at both and each have their advantages but I prefer CSR. I actually prefer CSR over a some of the Deluxe resorts. CSR is beautiful and while it is big nothing seems like a far walk by the way its laid out. We have always stayed on the opposite side of the lake from the pool and its a short walk. The staff has always been friendly and helpful at CSR. The bus system is about the best we have ever encountered at any resort. The only negative is that I don't care for either of the resturants at CSR.
POFQ is a much smaller resort. The positive are the food court in pretty good with a larger selection and they also have the boat to DTD. The negatives is POFQ has had the worst housekeeping and staff we have ever had a WDW. Also there is not a TS resturant on site at FQ.
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