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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Children of any age are welcome to visit the lounge and viewing deck.
But bear in mind the lounge is a bar. Cast Members will certainly take steps to keep guests from getting too unruly. But parents will have to decide for themselves if they think the environment is appropriate for their family. On any given day there is certain to be some gray area where the adults (and perhaps even CMs) think they are acting appropriately while parents are not thrilled with their fellow patrons.
This is one of the things I have been looking forward to the most during our first stay at BLT. I'm sort of relieved to hear the TOTWL is not usually packed. Did any of you have children with you and if so, would you be uncomfortable bringing them up there? Ours are 3 & 7 and we will have friends with us that will watch them at least one night so we can have an "adult" evening but I was looking forward to heading up there more than once.
okay to see the fireworks it helps to be tall enough to see over the wall. it is fairly tall - between 3' and 4' - might be taller.
your 7 year old will probably enjoy it. but the 3 year old - well unless one of you is willing to hold the child so he can see - he might be disappointed.
my first visit there were several kids - but when the fireworks started and some of them could only see the higher ones - well some start to cry. this was not do to fear or noise - because the fireworks were going like 5 minutes before this started.
which brings to mind another problem for kids - kids ears are more sensitive than an adults. they heard better. and fireworks can hurt.
so make sure your kids ears won't hurt.
since then there have been a couple of kids on each visit - but none that little - so no more crying. (okay some of us adults might be crying - but happiness - not disappointment)
remember you can not put your child on the wall. the security guards have a problem with this.
We haven't stayed at BLT yet, but I think I would want my kids to go to see the fireworks and that's all. I wish they would let DVC members who where staying on property go.
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We haven't stayed at BLT yet, but I think I would want my kids to go to see the fireworks and that's all. I wish they would let DVC members who where staying on property go.
too many members would do this - and then BLT members staying at BLT could not use it. just look at it like SLB - you can't use it unless you are staying at BCV.
just stay at BLT - then you can go with your kids.
I really enjoyed the Observation Deck. We arrived about 15 minutes prior to Wishes - grabbed a drink - and waited outside for the fun to begin! The deck was not busy at all - neither was the lounge. The cms were talking with us about the lack of interest in using the lounge -- even for Wishes. They have been pushing for all BLT guests to be allowed access. I'm sure they are - the bartender/servers depend on tips!
I'm quite excited about checking out the TOTW lounge when we make our first trip as DVC members this July! DH will probably be happy when he hears that it hasn't been very crowded so far. 'Course things may be different in the middle of the summer, but still looking forward to it nevertheless.
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too many members would do this - and then BLT members staying at BLT could not use it. just look at it like SLB - you can't use it unless you are staying at BCV.
True! Didn't think about that. I was just thinking letting others in since they seem to be having a hard time getting people to go there. Maybe we'll go one day, but right now I have no desire to stay at BLT. Call me weird, I just prefer the others right now.
We went up one evening in Oct. My sister, who was not a registered BLT guest was allowed up with us (didn't check all ids, only 1). We brought our boys - 9, 12 and 14 up, too. It was probably 8 pm. It was not crowded, but there was another large group (maybe 2 families together) with a bunch of kids. We stayed and had a drink and looked around. I didn't feel it was too adult for the kids but I will say they were bored. The view was great, and I'd love to go back for a drink sometime without the kids (or bring their Nintendo DS' and let them play ).
We took our two kids up there - ages 11 & 8. We actually only stood on the observation deck and did not go into the lounge. There were definitely other kids on the observation deck. I wouldn't think twice about taking kids there.
Good idea about the smaller kids. We didn't have that issue as our kids could easily see. They actually do not let you even lean on the ledge as there is a rope there. At one point, people were leaning on it (not OVER it just on it) and a CM came by and had everyone move back. Safety first!!!
They actually do not let you even lean on the ledge as there is a rope there. At one point, people were leaning on it (not OVER it just on it) and a CM came by and had everyone move back. Safety first!!!
that is a change. we could lean over the ledge and use it for surport. (at my age need something....
The cms were talking with us about the lack of interest in using the lounge -- even for Wishes. They have been pushing for all BLT guests to be allowed access. I'm sure they are - the bartender/servers depend on tips!
all blt guests would be fine. what I heard was the CR guests being allowed too. Since CR is a big hotel that would be too many guests - my opinion.
part of the problem with tips is Disney. they don't allow the tip jar on the bar that you see at most lounges/bars.
The rope was up when I was there in December. Guess the idea of a 16 story fall is not something Disney wants us to do..
Quote:
Originally Posted by Holland
We took our two kids up there - ages 11 & 8. We actually only stood on the observation deck and did not go into the lounge. There were definitely other kids on the observation deck. I wouldn't think twice about taking kids there.
Good idea about the smaller kids. We didn't have that issue as our kids could easily see. They actually do not let you even lean on the ledge as there is a rope there. At one point, people were leaning on it (not OVER it just on it) and a CM came by and had everyone move back. Safety first!!!
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