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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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11-10-2003, 02:32 PM
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#1
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 2,172
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New York City
We are thinking of going up for a first visit to NYC sometime during the Christmas break from school. We'd probably drive to save some money, and possible stay in NJ at a hotel near a PATH station or similar public transportation that would take us into the city. If we go the first few days in January, some hotel rates appear to be much cheaper.
Okay, all you folks up there, is this an okay idea or should we just cough up the big bucks and stay in the city. We're trying to save some $$ for our Disney trip in the end of January but this is the only thing DW wants for Christmas, to see the Big Apple all decorated up for the holidays, and I'd like to oblige her if I can.
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11-10-2003, 05:32 PM
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#2
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,365
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Re: New York City
Hey! As a first time visitor to NYC last year we ended up staying at the Times Square Hilton and I was so glad we spent the extra money. Well worth it to be in the middle of the action - we could walk to many destinations, the New Amsterdam Theatre is basically next door (we saw The Lion King) and we were right on a subway stop. We actually took Amtrak up from Fredericksburg, VA and it was so easy! I was very nervous about the logistics but it worked out great. I'd say try to find a great deal on a city hotel if you can - just will enhace your visit (like staying onsite at Disney!).  |
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11-10-2003, 05:44 PM
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#3
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 8,250
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Re: New York City
Having lived in NYC and been back to visit, I would say that if you can swing it, stay in the city. If you don't have to go on a weekend, sometimes you can get a great rate mid week. Nothing beats looking out your window at night and seeing all the lights and all the people. Good luck with whatever you decide.
KathyL
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11-10-2003, 06:42 PM
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#4
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Community Rank: Traveler 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Bay Shore , Long Island
Posts: 347
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Re: New York City
I would say splurge if you can too! I only live 40 minutes away and I just started going into the city last year (I'm in my thirties.) I know I'm really sad! And I have still not visited the Statue of Liberty or attended a broadway play.
P.S. I use to live in VA! Beautiful state!
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11-10-2003, 08:08 PM
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#5
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Community Rank: Trekker 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 1,852
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Re: New York City
When it comes to the city I'm a snob. Bridge and tunnel it? NEVER! The week between Christmas and New Year's Eve is a great time to visit New York City. Your wife will love walking down 5th Ave (shopping with a capital S)  |
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11-10-2003, 08:48 PM
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#6
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: New York City
Posts: 2,471
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Re: New York City
Use a priceline.com place to find a hotel in NYC. Sandy aka Tikibird can give you a tip on saving $$$ on hotels in NYC. Send me a PM if you have any specific questions about doing something in NYC.
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11-11-2003, 09:54 AM
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#7
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Florida Big Bend
Posts: 17,133
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New York City
[ QUOTE ]
Use a priceline.com place to find a hotel in NYC. Sandy aka Tikibird can give you a tip on saving $$$ on hotels in NYC. Send me a PM if you have any specific questions about doing something in NYC.
[/ QUOTE ]
You DEFINITELY want to go this route. It's the best way to stay in a swank hotel for peanuts. Used to do it ALL the time. Gonna try for tickets to The Producers now that Lane and Broderick are back for a swan song?
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11-12-2003, 09:02 AM
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#8
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 23,859
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Re: New York City
Oh my gosh!!!!!!! L2L! You can get GREAT deals around the holidays in NYC!! Check Expedia! We stayed at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square for 99 bucks!
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11-12-2003, 04:01 PM
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#9
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 2,172
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Re: New York City
Thanks for all the input you guys. I'll see what I can dig up in the city.  |
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11-12-2003, 05:10 PM
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#10
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Florida Big Bend
Posts: 17,133
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Re: New York City
Have you put an itinerary together yet?
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11-13-2003, 08:34 AM
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#11
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 2,172
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Re: New York City
So far the only thing we have lined up are tickets to the Christmas Spectacular at the Radio City Music Hall. My wife wants to window shop and the kids have GOT to see FAO Schwarz. It's a first time trip for just a couple of days but we're not trying to cram everything in because we know we'll be back.
Anyone have any suggestions?
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11-13-2003, 08:49 AM
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#12
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,365
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Re: New York City
[ QUOTE ]
Anyone have any suggestions?
[/ QUOTE ]
Skating at Rockefellar Center, the Met, and a visit to the top of the Empire State Buliding would be great family things to do!  |
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11-16-2003, 06:36 AM
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#13
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Community Rank: Trekker
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 1,959
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Re: New York City
Doubletree Suites in Times Square (Palace Theater where Aida is right next door)
is offering deep cut discounts around the holidays.
We got a room for 165.00 (usually 250.00 or more) for a king with a mini kitchen set up.
Great price and location! We live on Long Island and are taking the kids to get the holiday spirit flowing!
Happy planning!
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11-16-2003, 07:45 AM
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#14
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA , USA
Posts: 5,943
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Re: New York City
Have used Priceline sucessfully three times in NYC now. Never paid more than $75/night for nice rooms in Manhattan that included mini-kitchens!
We go to NYC mainly for the musuems. They are just incredible! In addition, we found Ellis Island to be the one thing that all four of us felt was the best experience we had in NYC. Just seeing where the immigrants came into the country, as well as learn more about their stories was incredibly moving for all of us.
(Oh, of course, and then there is that THREE story Disney Store - can't miss that! )
Can't wait to hear about your stay in the Big Apple! |
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11-26-2003, 01:30 PM
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#15
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Community Rank: Navigator 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Davidsonville, MD
Posts: 6,563
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Re: New York City
We (2 DD's, 11 & 12 and myself) were just there on Saturday for the day. A friend organized a trip that included the bus ride (with bathroom and videos.) We left at 8:00 am on Saturday morning (from just north of Annapolis, Maryland) and arrived around noon. Even though it was the week before Thanksgiving, it was packed. Macy's is all decorated and the streets were full of shoppers.
Our bus driver let us out at either Macy's or FAO Schwarz, depending on what you wanted to do. We opted for toys and it was wall to wall people. We then walked up 5th Avenue and saw Trump Tower (photo op with the doorman to pretend we lived there). Then we hit the Disney store (but didn't buy a thing - we were in WDW in October and spent too much on souveniers). We then headed up to Rockefellar Center to see the ice skating. The tree was up, but had scaffolding on it to get it ready. We ate lunch at the food court in Rockefellar Center, which worked out great for a quick lunch, because we needed to be at the NBC Studio Tour by 2:20, and time was going by very quickly. I had ordered tickets online to the NBC Studio Tour, which the girls loved. We saw the set for Saturday Night Live (they were off that weekend for the Holiday) and Dateline and the NBC Evening News sets. I think they run about $15 to $17 per person. We shopped at the NBC Store too for shirts and mugs of our favorite shows.
We then went over to Radio City Music Hall and got in line to go inside. Lots of lines in NYC!
We left out of NYC at about 6:30 pm. but it was packed with people and there was a lot of traffic and gridlock.
This was our first time in NYC and we have decided that next time we want to stay in the city. There is so much to see early in the am and at night it is all lit up and so pretty. And there is so much shopping to be done!
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