WDW to turn over golf course operation to Arnold Palmer Group! - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
It's not surprising that the deal goes into effect before October 1 (September 25). Disney's fiscal year ends on September 30, so if they close an operation or make other changes that would result in a tax loss and/or make the numbers on the annual report look better, they have an incentive to get it done by then. September 25 is the anniversary of the closing of the clubs at Pleasure Island (give or take a day). Coincidence? I think not!
Overall, this seems like a very good move for Disney. Like their deal with Four Seasons, it allies Disney with another name that has great upscale cachet. In an economy where the middle class is getting smaller and the rich are getting richer... they have to follow the money.
Having Arnold Palmer's name (as designer) attached to WDW's signature golf course, the Palm, is almost enough reason to do the deal. It'll raise the profile of the annual pro tournament, and definitely sound good whenever they promote/market golf at WDW. That'll have value long after the 20-year contract expires.
__________________
Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
I read this yesterday as well and think it's a great move. I also agree with Dave that with Arnold's name attached, it will raise the attention of the tournament to include more high profile golfers. I don't know if many PP's follow the PGA, but usually not too many big name guys play in this tourney. I also noticed they changed the dates for it this year and it's back to October again (it was in November last year, and I'm pretty sure the few years prior as well). I'd love to go see Rory or Bubba playing on the Magnolia course! Sounds like a trip in the making.....
__________________
Tanya
Every click helps feed .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. Give a quick click every day and help animals in shelters! www.theanimalrescuesite.com
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Sounds like a very good investment deal. Hopefully they will not increase the greens fee's, or at least not too much
Based on the report in the Orlando Sentinel, part of Disney's problem has been the heavily-saturated market for golf courses in the area. I think the goal here is not to raise prices (at least not in the short term), but to make the Disney courses more attractive/competitive - a better value for the same or similar money ("I played an Arnold Palmer course" sounds a lot better than "I played a Disney course.")
__________________
Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
A truly smart business move. As Dave points out, it will differentiate Disney's courses from the dozens (hundreds?) in Central Florida, make them a desirable destination for folks who might otherwise not consider a WDW vacation, and relieve the company of the complexities of golf course management. It also fits with the other upscale projects that have been built or are coming up on Disney property. And it's a great way to fill hotel rooms and high-end eateries. A Palmer course! I see only plusses here!
Someone asked about DVC and Annual Pass discounts over at the Disney Parks Blog. The Disney publicist replied that those discounts would continue.
That's good news! Having SSR as a home resort with access to the Lake Buena Vista course was a plus for us. We were planning to possibly play a round this October....
Quote:
Originally Posted by disney_duke
I read this yesterday as well and think it's a great move. I also agree with Dave that with Arnold's name attached, it will raise the attention of the tournament to include more high profile golfers. I don't know if many PP's follow the PGA, but usually not too many big name guys play in this tourney. I also noticed they changed the dates for it this year and it's back to October again (it was in November last year, and I'm pretty sure the few years prior as well). I'd love to go see Rory or Bubba playing on the Magnolia course! Sounds like a trip in the making.....
We were there back in 2004 I think during the Funai Classic and Vijay Singh and Tiger both were playing. I remember because I kept teasing my DH about 'BJ'...
Davis Love III, Ricky Fowler and Rory Sabbatini all played last year's Children's.
We are down there this year during the tournament and it will be cool to see who is there.....
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
]
![[SIGPIC]](signaturepics/sigpic18031_16.gif)
Linear Mode
