Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
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01-18-2004, 09:02 AM
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#1
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: connecticut
Posts: 547
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Discovery Cove
Have you swam with the dolphins at Discovery Cove. It is something we would love to do? How was the experience? Also did you stay at their accommodations right on site? I believe they offer a package deal.
Thanks
MaryJane
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01-18-2004, 11:16 AM
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#2
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PassPorter Message Board Manager
 PassPorter Guide Author
Community Rank: Legend VIP 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285
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Re: Discovery Cove
We swam with the dolphins at Discovery Cove in December 2000 - it was a day where the temperatures only just got into the 50's and while it was fine in the water, it was so cold when we got out! I would say you need to be a good swimmer to do this. We were expected to go out with the dolphins and tread water for a few minutes before they brought you back - and it's very deep water. That is worth knowing before deciding if it's for you.  |
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01-18-2004, 11:58 AM
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#3
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: WI
Posts: 17,126
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Re: Discovery Cove
We did this in Aug 2002 and had a blast! There a lady in our group who wasn't a good swimmer, so she got to stay in waist deep water while they brought the dolphin to here for her turn. We loved the snorkeling! I'd highly recommend this if you can swing it! Here's a link to our pics from our visit:
http://hometown.aol.com/oneyodafan/DicoveryCove.htm
Roxie was our dolphin. It was awesome to be in the water with her and giving her commands! I love marine life, so this was a dream of mine to do and DH gave it to me for our anniversary. DH and I would do this again in a heartbeat. If it was the two of us, we'd probably not do the dolphin swim again as the time isn't all that long in the water with them, but the snorkeling is well worth it. I'd like to take DD for the dolphin experience when she gets old enough! We were at WDW, so we just drove over. Your ticket into DC gets you a day at Sea World. |
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01-18-2004, 12:12 PM
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#4
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PassPorter Message Board Manager
PassPorter Guide Author
Community Rank: Legend VIP
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285
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Re: Discovery Cove
[ QUOTE ]
We did this in Aug 2002 and had a blast! There a lady in our group who wasn't a good swimmer, so she got to stay in waist deep water while they brought the dolphin to here for her turn.
[/ QUOTE ]
That is so good to hear. Maybe they've learnt since we were there, as that wasn't an option when we went in December 2000. I told them I wasn't happy about treading water (I wasn't a very confident swimmer then) and they told me that was my only option, otherwise I wouldn't see the dolphin. I'm really pleased they seem to have changed their attitude on that.
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01-18-2004, 12:40 PM
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#5
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Community Rank: Trekker 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Annapolis, MD
Posts: 1,200
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Re: Discovery Cove
We sell the tickets at a discount at AAA. They do sell out though, in advance. I had a member in the other day who wanted to go on a particular day this February and the person from Discovery Cove said it was already sold out. -Steph
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01-28-2004, 05:03 PM
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#6
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Community Rank: Traveler 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Crestwood, New York
Posts: 239
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Re: Discovery Cove
How old do you have to be to swim with the dolphins?
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*
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01-28-2004, 06:42 PM
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#7
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: York, PA , USA
Posts: 2,022
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Re: Discovery Cove
When we were there, it was 6 years old - I think.
I remember DS missing it by 2 months, and us trying to talk them into it, but they wouldn't let him slide... Younger kids can still do all of the snorkeling (which he loved!), but just not the dolphin encounter.
Also, we had "life vests" (in quotes, because they wouldn't really hold you up too much, just a little) when we were there in Oct. 2000. Although, we didn't need them - the dolphin came to us.
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01-28-2004, 07:51 PM
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#8
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Community Rank: Traveler
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Crestwood, New York
Posts: 239
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Re: Discovery Cove
Yeah, I guess you would have to be at least 6. My babysitter just told me when her family went down, her Mom was injured by one of the dolphins. She was "nosed" in the cheek.  She didn't break any facial bones but was bruised pretty badly. I would really like to try it when my children are older. Everyone says it is an amazing experience. |
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