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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 know, but our son started pre school today. I took my camera, and wanted a photo outside of the school, and my hubby said I was NUTS
And then, when we had dropped Eli off to his classroom, and were driving away, I blubbered like a baby, which I promised myself I would not do. My husband laughed at me. I tried to explain to him, because he was asking "What are you crying about", that it felt for the first time like Eli and I are split. He now has his own agenda that does not include me anymore, and it was difficult for me to let go. You see, he has never been in day care, babysitter, etc. He is with us 24/7. So I guess it will just take some adjustment.
Anyways, when the day was over, my son would not share anything that they had done, and I felt left out in the cold In fact, the little girl that walked out before him, had these really cute cut out people with drawn on faces. I was so excited to see Eli's, but he didn't have any when he came out. Hum.?
On a positive note, I am a member of the Scholastic book club HAHA! Never thought that I would be so happy to recieve one of those little paper book orders, that they used to send home with me in school. But I do vow, that I will always order at least one book, because I remember what a bummer it is when the other kids in your class get their orders in, and you don't get anything.
Now, to notify the teacher that Eli will be missing for almost 2 weeks to go to WDW, and really soon after the start of school. Hope she is understanding.
I totally understand you. My youngest is starting SK on Thursday. I will be there when he gets on the school bus, with my camera and probably cry on my way to work
I did the same thing with my oldest. I have a picture of him standing outside the house with his school bag and one of him getting on the bus. I'm doing the same thing with the youngest.
Aw, I can relate. Today was DD's first day of pre-school. DH and I both went and I was snapping pictures like a crazy-lady. She had a good time and I think it'll be good for both of us. (oh, and we're also taking her out for a week to go to Disney)
I can totally relate to the "felling split" part. My DS starts kindergarten tomorrow and I'm having a tough time with it. I was fine when DD went (now 2nd gr.) but it's differnt with DS; he is autistic and I've been involved in his daily therapies for the past 3 1/2 years. I have to put him on a bus in the morning and have faith that his teachers and support staff can have patience with him. Once he gets settled in I have to figure out a way to tell the teachers he'll miss 4 days for our Nov. WDW trip..
Funny, you never know what your missing, until it's gone. Just a funny for instance.....When my hubby gets out of the car, he always tells my son, "lets see who can get to the door first." Then Eli always yells "Me!" and takes off running to the door. Well, earlier we went to the store ( which was again, ultra weird without our son), and when we got home and Eli was still at school, my hubby said "Let's see who can make it to the door first." I imagined what my son would say and do, because the scenario is always the same. Anyway, my hubby was kinda mocking my pain, because he did not understand it. So, when our kiddo got home, we took him to Gatti's (Like Chuck E Cheese) for a treat. When we got home, the whole thing played out like it has so many times before. Anyways, when my son was not with us earlier in the day, I knew in my head what was supposed to happen, if that makes sense. So, anyways, I got him for thonight, and that super lucky teacher gets my amazing kid again tomorrow. I know that soon it will be the norm to drop him off, but I think it will take a while. Next year will be full days, and I have no idea how I will adjust!
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Kelly, I can promise you it gets easier. My Samantha was with me 24/7 from the time she was 1.5 until she started Kind. at 4 (turned 5 yr. old a week later). It was kind of odd to send her off to all day school. I was nanny and had to hire another lady to get my kid to and from school!!
It will get easier and then you will realize all the things that you can get done when your little one is socializing in school...I was the same way and what made it worse was that my youngest had terrible separation anxiety. So bad that the school asked me to let my oldest bring her becuase they used to have to pry her out of my arms...and then she would come home and tell me what a great day she had and it would all start again the next day...
It was terrible becuase I felt like a terrible mother for leaving her there...I was sick all day at work until she would call me to say "hi mom I'm home".
Hope it gets easier and I am sure that he is going to have a great time...
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It's one of those 'milestones' in life and many guys just don't get it.
It is good your DH was available to help cheer you up. He must have know this would affect you. The first day of school is stressful for everyone, but it all settles down to be a routine. Many, if not most, people here are parents and can relate to what you are going through. At that age, missing some school time should not be a big deal.
Just a hint for finding out what happened at school - find out what the schedule is and ask specific questions. Little ones usually just can't answer "what did you do today?" but will respond to "today you had PE, what did you play?" or "what center did you choose at center time" or "what book did your teacher read today?" or "who did you sit by for snack today?"
-former Kdgn. teacher
I understand exactly what you mean, today we are bringing ds in for an orientation to his preschool. DW is handling this better then I am...I just don't want to let go of my little buddy I guess...
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Make sure you talk with Eli's teachers about his days, if he won't talk to you about them. It's a big step, and we mom's understand just where you are coming from. Don't let your husband's reaction to your emotions get you down.
I am so feeling your pain. My youngest and only boy started kindergarten and it has just been a little painful. He is very excited though, so for that I am grateful.
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My husband laughed at me.
I tried to explain to him, because he was asking "What are you crying about", that it felt for the first time like Eli and I are split. He now has his own agenda that does not include me anymore, and it was difficult for me to let go. You see, he has never been in day care, babysitter, etc. He is with us 24/7. So I guess it will just take some adjustment.
In fact, the little girl that walked out before him, had these really cute cut out people with drawn on faces. I was so excited to see Eli's, but he didn't have any when he came out. Hum.?
Kelly
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Our last WDW trip as a family 
, because he did not understand it. So, when our kiddo got home, we took him to Gatti's (Like Chuck E Cheese) for a treat. When we got home, the whole thing played out like it has so many times before. Anyways, when my son was not with us earlier in the day, I knew in my head what was supposed to happen, if that makes sense. So, anyways, I got him for thonight, and that super lucky teacher gets my amazing kid again tomorrow. I know that soon it will be the norm to drop him off, but I think it will take a while. Next year will be full days, and I have no idea how I will adjust!
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