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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I've been following this news with interest (I think it's pretty cool and can't wait to try the Magic Bands!) and I don't think the RFID wristband will be required. Staggs said as much in the PR, that this won't appeal to everyone. In fact, I think I read that only some people will get the band for free -- MYW and AP holders, I *think*?? -- and everyone else will pay for one if they want one.
Don't quote me, but that's what I remember reading...someone else might remember the details better, though..
I've been following this news with interest (I think it's pretty cool and can't wait to try the Magic Bands!) and I don't think the RFID wristband will be required. Staggs said as much in the PR, that this won't appeal to everyone. In fact, I think I read that only some people will get the band for free -- MYW and AP holders, I *think*?? -- and everyone else will pay for one if they want one.
Don't quote me, but that's what I remember reading...someone else might remember the details better, though..
From what I've read, it sounds like the basic band will be included but if you wanted a themed band (ie, Princess) then that costs extra.
I much prefer a card than a band, but I'll hold my judgement til the technology goes live and experiences are shared.
As far as I understand the basic band will be included but if you'd like to purchase additional "bedazzlements" for your bracelet you can. There will be charms, etc available for them.
There will also be some element of selection in the information you want included in your band, so if you're uncomfortable with Cast Members addressing your children by name, you can choose to have that feature disabled.
I think it sounds like a cool idea, handier than pulling out a park ticket, and nice immersion-- though I doubt many castmembers would try to pronounce my name! XD
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Best Disney moment: Stitch proposed to me, recognized me years later, and tried to end a Meet & Greet by waving bye to the line & leading me away!
Interesting idea, but a lot of slippery slope potential. I wouldn't want to put my credit card info on it, and how much info do you put on your children's? Sadly, anything today can be hacked or skimmmed
I wouldn't want to put my credit card info on it, and how much info do you put on your children's?
You won't "put information on it." It's just a link back to your Disney reservation information, and that's quite secure. (Or, at least as secure as your Keys to the World card.)
From the USA Today article: "Ensuring the security of our guest's information is obviously very important to us and no one is more focused on this than we are," Staggs writes on Disney's blog. "Everything is opt in and guests will have the opportunity to choose what information they share with us. Guests should also know that the band does not store personal information."
Just like wearing a birthday button with a kid's name on it, the band will allow a character to know your child's first name and what they're celebrating (if YOU decide to have that information linked to their band.)
My understanding is that the Magic+ band is free for resort guests. Non-resort guests can purchase a basic band. And anyone can "blingify" their band with other Disney offerings if they desire.
According to the folks at Disney, right now this will only be available to people staying at the resorts - not day guests or AP holders. Which is disappointing for those AP holders who would like to try it out. Hopefully after some more testing they will be able to expand the program.
I'm worried about the irritation it will cause to my skin. Personally, I don't want to wear one all day, particularly if its hot and I sweat. Sweat + rubber wristband = gross and skin irritation.
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Originally Posted by dolphin041599
I'm worried about the irritation it will cause to my skin. Personally, I don't want to wear one all day, particularly if its hot and I sweat. Sweat + rubber wristband = gross and skin irritation.
It's likely you may be able to opt for a RFID card instead of the band if you want. The other alternative is to not wear it on your arm, but perhaps on a lanyard or in a pocket.
It's likely you may be able to opt for a RFID card instead of the band if you want. The other alternative is to not wear it on your arm, but perhaps on a lanyard or in a pocket.
I don't want to share any of my info. I suspect I will look into something that will block the RFID so we can't be tracked through the park.
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