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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We leave in 38 days for Kidani also so I will be interested to read the responses too. I am specifically interested in a good room location for a 1br standard view. We are a family of 5-2 teenagers and a just turned 4yo with autism. We chose Kidani for the pool for Zoey and the extra bathroom. We will have a car but don't take it to the parks so we don't want a tremendous walk...i tend to forget things in the room in my old age We are celebrating our 20th anniversary and Zoey's 4th birthday this trip. She was born on our anniversary 4 years ago on 8/15 so it's sort of a big deal!
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Last edited by mamapajama; 07-09-2012 at 09:54 AM..
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Not sure how old the OP's children are, but the family pool party is a Hoot! There is music and dancing, trivia contests, scavenger hunts, water balloon target toss and prizes! The lifeguards toss little plastic duckies into the kiddie pool areas - so cute! This usually happens around 1-3 ish in the afternoon - definitely check your list of activities sheet when you check in! - While the kids are running around, make sure you get a drink at Maji - the pool bar! Awesome frozen drinks (virgin varieties as well)! The kids also enjoyed ordering lunch pool side - it arrives in an enclosed Giant Bento Box. - A day devoted just to the pool is completely worth it! I'm going to dig up some pictures and post!
We have loved our stays at Kidani! It's beautiful and the theming is fantastic. It's much quieter than the main lodge.
Definitely take the kids to Samawati Springs Pool and Community Hall. The pool area is gorgeous and there are two hot tubs At Community Hall the kids played games and made different crafts. Also talk to the cast members at the Savannah. They are full of knowledge about the animals and their country where they're from. We enjoy Boma for dinner and breakfast. Jiko was also a memorable experience-excellent service and food. I really don't think the transportation there is all that bad because the only stop that you'll have to make is at the Main lodge on the way to the parks. Have fun there!!
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Disney Trips: BLT & Poly Bungalow 2016, VGF 2015, Fantasy 2015, Saratoga Springs Resort 2014, Grand Villa at VGF 2013, Fantasy 2013, BWV and Kidani Village 2011, BWV and Kidani Village 2010, BWV and Saratoga Springs Resort 2008,Beach Club Villas 2008,Villas at Wilderness Lodge 2006, BWV 2006, BCV 2005, HHI 2004,Polynesian 2003,Grand Floridian 2000/concierge, Honeymoon at Polynesian 1994,Polynesian 1980,Polynesian 1978
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Sue
We were gifted points two years ago by a family friend and only had enough for one night but we absolutely LOVED AKL!!! We did have a Savannah view and my kids could have stayed on the balcony for hours watching the animals. We had giraffes outside our room and they are just magnificent.
In the lobby the night we were there they had two people playing traditional African music. If I remember correctly all of the kids got their own drums to play, the kids had a blast with that. I honestly don't know if that's a nightly thing or if it's random or if they do something different every night. Again, we were only there for the one night and it was all we could do to explore the resort and enjoy our room.
Have a wonderful time!!!
This is the kids in playing music in the lobby:
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Me ~ Christina; DH ~ '92; DD ~ '99; DS ~ '06
My reasons for breathing!!! MGM Studios October 2007
Thanks Cheryl, that is high praise coming from you!
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Originally Posted by kazanimo
awesome pics! although my kids are older 17, 14 and 13 they would have a blast! It looks very peaceful and relaxing....
Our kids are about the same age, (18, 14, 12). There is storyteller (one of the CM's from Africa) over by the fire-pit at Jambo around 7pm I think - not just for kids - really enjoyable. I forgot to mention Sanaa, it is a beautiful restaurant - even if you don't eat there, go take a look around!
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We are celebrating our 20th anniversary and Zoey's 4th birthday this trip. She was born on our anniversary 4 years ago on 8/15 so it's sort of a big deal!
PassPorter Guide Author
It's beautiful and the theming is fantastic. It's much quieter than the main lodge.
At Community Hall the kids played games and made different crafts. Also talk to the cast members at the Savannah. They are full of knowledge about the animals and their country where they're from. We enjoy Boma for dinner and breakfast. Jiko was also a memorable experience-excellent service and food. I really don't think the transportation there is all that bad because the only stop that you'll have to make is at the Main lodge on the way to the parks. Have fun there!!
MGM Studios October 2007
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