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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 have just returned from our trip to Aulani where I stayed with my DM. It was truly a beautiful resort and we had a delightful time just the two of us!
I thought I had over prepared by reading EVERYTHING I could online about the resort. (I had been to Hawaii previously so I knew a little about where I wanted to tour). However the one thing I couldn't find a lot of info for was for the taxi fees. Coming from Australia, I did not want to drive as I wasn't confident about the traffic or wrong side of the road scenario and I was well aware that public transport to Ko Olina was not a huge option...
So here are the taxi fares to/from Aulani. Disney uses "Charlies Taxis" and they offer a discount or flat rate fares but we found that if we asked another taxi company 2/3 times they matched the same rate back to Aulani.
Airport to Aulani (not Charlies Taxis) - $100
Aulani to Walmart - $20
Aulani to Safeway - $10 (although it's walking distance to Walmart).
Aulani to Outlet Shopping mall - $35
Aulani to Pearl Harbor - $55
Aulani to airport with suitcases - $50 + $5.10 per case
Ala Moana shopping mall to Aulani (not Charlies) - $110 (in traffic at 4.30pm)
(FYI - non DVC members pay $35 per night to self park at Aulani)
We also used the Hali Hali shuttle (run by E Noa) organised by Disney tour desk and that cost $35 return to Waikiki. (A much cheaper option to get to Ala Moana).
We also travelled by public bus from Pearl Harbor to Waikiki (the Pearl Harbor boat dock had been damaged the day prior to our visit so we did not spend as long there as planned). This cost $2.50 per person one way and we got the VERY expensive taxi home as we were weighed down with parcels and absolutely exhausted from our early start and long day...the taxi treat did not happen again!
I'm not sure if Waikiki changed a lot in the 8 years since my last visit but it seemed more "walking friendly"...not so many hawkers, not as much construction on sidewalks, less tackiness and many more vibrant shops and restaurants...maybe, just maybe, it was because I left the family at home and I could actually enjoy my surroundings not just keep an eye on where my kids were!
Most of what I would have to say about Aulani has already been said but the one thing I feel we wasted $$ on was the refillable mugs. If you are not a soda drinker they are a complete waste of money. We expected hot chocolate and milk to be options but sadly we purchased before checking the drink station! Around the pool area they have multiple iced water stations with a large supply of disposable cups for you to help yourself. Since we usually only drink water this would have been perfect without having to carry around our mugs. This was only a very minor issue and otherwise we had no complaints and "a million" great experiences to remember our time there.
Must go back with the family! I feel majorly guilty that I had such a wonderful time and they were back in school/work whilst I was in the lazy river or hot tub.
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So glad you had a good time. It is interesting how expensive the taxis are. We decided to invite our 28 year old son to go with us as we don't like to drive in such bad traffic either. We were able to get a two bedroom so that we would each have our own rooms. He drives traffic pretty much every day and it doesn't bother him. We will be going on Sept. 14! Good to know about the water near the pools as we normally just drink water also.
Thanks for sharing the information on taxis - I know most people who've been to Aulani on the boards have rented cars, so that's something I haven't seen before and I know it will be very useful for anyone not planning on renting a car.
Off site -1990, Carribean- 1997 Honeymoon,
all star movies- 2001,2002, All star sports/BCV 2004
BWV- 2005 Steven's 6th Birthday\DVC Member since 2003-BCV 2005 SSR\POLY,BWV,SSR,VWL,DCL,AND BCV-2007\ BWV & Cabins-2008\ Disneyland 2009\ Disneyland & Disneyworld- 2010 wdw. universal.vero beachand disney dream aug 2011. wdw 15yr anny june/july 2012
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If you think that's bad, try San Francisco. I saw places that were $75/night. Makes Aulani look downright cheap!
I must admit I had sticker shock when I looked at some of the hotels in San Francisco - $50 - $60 wasn't unusual. We're staying at a hotel near the airport with free parking now!
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