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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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.
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.
Well, it isn't Disney mail, but it is just as good. We got Merlin's permit to enter the Bahamas. We do need to have him checked out and certified (for all his vaccinations and shots) 48 hours prior to our arrival in the Bahamas. No problem. We have to take Tigger to the vet for his vacation the day before we leave, so we can just get Merlin checked then. all his shots and vaccinations are well within the Bahamian consulate's requirements, so we don't need to worry about getting any updates/boosters for him right before we leave.
My parents and B left for Orlando today. No, they aren't getting a really early start on the trip, LOL. Dad is president of the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association and their biannual convention is this week in Orlando. B has been a bit of a handful lately and his mom decided that she would be okay with him going away with Dandem and Papa for a week. LOL He's excited about this "Big Trip," but he is more excited about going on the "Big Ship."
B came over Friday and helped me fill our Flight attendant goody bags. We put a princess pen, a bookmark, a Disney card game, a kaleidoscope, and a few pieces of candy into the bags. He had fun helping me stuff the bags, and we watched the Disney Cruise Line video while we worked. The bookmarks are just simple card stock with a Mickey head hole punch in them and a couple of Disney character stickers. B had a blast doing the hole punching and then only wanted to put Ariel stickers on the bookmarks he decorated. LOL This week Ariel is his favorite princess. Next week, he will be back to Cinderella as his favorite. LOL
I measured our luggage last night and it looks like we will have three pieces that can count as carry-on, then we can each have a "personal" carry-on. So, we MIGHT be able to get by without having to check anything. Keep the fingers crossed please.
I also picked up a couple of patterns yesterday so that I can make a pirate shirt for Ramoan and Grace and a vest for me. I will pick up the material this week. I waited on the material because I wanted to see what Mom might have. (She has always had a warehouse full of material to choose from, but in the last year or so she has begun to weed out her fabric collection.) I am also going to pick up some material to make pirate bandanas and some black yarn and some beads to do pirate braids. Mom does have the material to make a Fish Extender, so I just need to pick up a dowel and some ribbon (maybe) for that one.
Things are coming together. We are going to work on laundry today and pull out our vacation wear. It is slowly but surely coming together and I feel less stressed at the moment. It is less than 30 days now.
Oh! I had intended to make a countdown calendar for B, but that never materialized. Oh well, I guess I can't do everything. LOL
Wow, Pamela! Your trip is truly right around the corner!! You are going to have such a BLAST on the Disney cruise!!!!!!!!!! And also at Disney of course. I am so excited for you all; and very much so looking forward to your trip report....
Glad I was able to catch this PTR before y'all left on y'all's trip!!
Can I just say WOW what a group y'all started out with! Including Merlin. Sounds like he is doing a great job so far as a service dog. Awesome that his paperwork is going through! And WTG on the upgrade!
How unfortunate and disheartening for Grace about her dad and Karen. Steph and I can so relate to that dynamic!
And too bad Amanda won't be able to join but what an awesome reason to not. Congratulations on the addition to the family!!
The autograph books look great! And can't wait to see what your fish extender is gonna look like.
Your ADR's at WDW look soooo yummy! Haven't ever been to Mickey's BBQ either but I am still interested in hearing about what they do for Thanksgiving.
If your still deciding on the Lunch with an Animal Specialist I say go for it!! I was lucky enough to do this during its trial run week and it was very interesting and the food was great! Very personal and lots of questions can be asked. I enjoyed it tremendously.
And last but definitely no where near least, CONGRATULATIONS on nearing the end of your BS!! You still have me beat by about 8 years. It took me 11 for nearly the same reasons. It certainly feels awesome and what a way to celebrate!!
Doing the happy dance here! We got our DCL booklets in the mail this week.
We decided not to do the Dining with the Animal Care Specialist meal because we chose to book a Behind the Seeds Tour at Epcot instead. Ramoan and Grace have been growing some fresh herbs and tomatoes hydroponically for the last couple of months. (My house has a wonderful smell of fresh cilantro as you walk int he door.) So we decided that a closer look at Disney Hydroponic Gardens would be an awesome opportunity. Most recently, Grace has begun some watermelon plants and they are talking about trying to make the melons grow into a cube shape. Where are they getting the idea for how to do this? From old pics of the Living With The Land ride of course! LOL They plan to apply some of the same principles that Disney uses to grow Mickey shaped pumpkins to the watermelons. (Who says you can't learn anything useful from Disney?)
I have a friend from my early years in college (when I was at Baylor just out of high school) that now works for the Mouse in Orlando. I am trying to see if we can get together with her (and her family hopefully) while we are there.
Now, I am just waiting for the WDW mail to get here. I am also trying to resist the urge to change one of our ressies.