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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I can't wait to hear all about the Art of Animation Resort, especially because we just added an extra day at the beginning of our next trip to stay there in the Little Mermaid Section! We're so excited and your pictures are making me even more excited .
AOA looks nice, love the green leaf chairs.. too cute.
Sad the rest of the family had to go home, especially for Isaiah. I know he has a few more years to go til his special trip time with you. I hope the time goes by quickly for him. Nice that Eric was able to come up for a visit... and the 2 Guys in Grass skirts... priceless.
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Aug,1978- LBV;Apr,1987-Disneyland;March,1993-offsite;Jan,1997-offsite;Aug,1999- CBR;Sept,2000- ASMo;Aug,2001- ASSP;Aug,2002- ASMU/AKL;Jan & July 2003-POR;June,December 2004- PC;January 2005- ASMU; Aug 2005-PC;Dec 2005-AKL;Jan 2006-CBR ; July/Aug-Saratoga springs; Dec. PC;April 2007- Disneyland;Aug 2007-Disneyland & So Cal;Dec 2007-POFQ; Aug2008-POFQ & Nov 2008 PC,Y&B May 2009 ASmu, June 2009 PC ; Nov 2009 WL & POFQ;Jan 2010 BW & WL; June 2010 POFQ ; Aug 2010 Poly ;Oct 2010 WL; Jan 2011 PC
What a great day! I hope today proves just as good.
Crab and shrimp AND bacon?! Oh, my!
AoA looks like a lot of fun. I may have to visit. I still haven't even been to Pop.
And I know just how Isi felt. I hate leaving WDW, too.
I had my mind made up to get a burger, until our server pointed out that shrimp dish! It's not on the regular menu, rather part of the seasonal menu. I'm glad I changed my mind!
Quote:
Originally Posted by sc507
Poor Isaiah! My Alex cried when we left yesterday, but he had no chance of staying! It was definitely hot and disgusting yesterday - glad you cooled of on Kali and at the pool.
I think there will be more tears tomorrow. Especially because the family trip next year will be a cruise. Knowing they won't be back at the parks for 2 years will be hard (and I know it made it harder for Isaiah to leave).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jillybean
What a fantabulous days with you and the guys! Poor Isi - - I feel the same way when Maddie gets upset so I know how hard it is! I'm sure that one-on-one time with his parents and grandparents and presents, of course, will help make him feel better!
Jill
Isaiah seems fine when we talk to him, especially because every time we do, we have something else for him!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Art of Animation looks stunning - I hope you have lots more photos of it to share with us?
The update is posted late this morning because I went out earlier and got pictures of the entire resort!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata
Ok, you've sealed it just with the few pix you posted... we're staying at AoA on the next trip... wow! It looks really cool! I've heard they have Indian food at the food court - can you verify that for me, by chance? Maybe take a picture of the menu? I sure would love to know what they've got, if anything!
Can't wait to read more! Poor Isi, but as you said, he'll get lots of attention while you're all away, and he'll love the gifts!
We're eating at the food court tonight (which, I'm happy to report, accepts the Tables in Wonderland card, making it a great deal). Last night I got the boys a pizza. Noah liked it. Daniel didn't like it as much (and the kid lives on pizza - whenever he has money, he always asks if he can order Papa John's with it ). I tasted a piece. It was as I expected. I didn't get anything last night because our fridge was still stuffed with sandwiches, but tonight, I'll definitely get something. I'll take pics and give a review of whatever I end up getting (which, I can assure you, will not be pizza ).
Quote:
Originally Posted by disney_duke
Yay! I'm so glad the boys like AoA. I was worried they'd miss the little things from their fave - Poly. But I guess AoA will do in the short term. Cool!
8 counter service credits? Wow. This is why I tend to avoid the DDP. It's waaay too much food and I'd never get my money's worth! :
The boys have a new favorite now! Daniel keeps asking if they can stay here on the next family trip. I don't know how to make a 10-year-old understand the concept of DVC vs. non-DVC, and the money we'd have to spend.
And the DDP is a lot of food. Even for my family of big eaters. They did pretty well, though. I was the one not pulling my weight. I only used 1 of my 5 counter service meals. But with our extra days, and the fridge in our room, there won't be too much going to waste.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfy6688
Awesome pics! I love the murphy bed too. Does AOA have to share buses with other resorts?
Tell him HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! (And don't forget to have a dole whip for me tomorrow for mine )
No, AOA doesn't share with other resorts. And like Pop, it only has one bus stop for the entire resort. We're going to MK today, so I'll have that dole whip!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cajunlace
Just getting our electricity and internet back from Hurricane Issac. So I am trying to do some serious catch-up on Passporter. I hope (well I know) that you are having much better weather than us. We were the bullseye of the storm. The eye of the storm went right through us.
Enjoy it.
Eric celebrates his birthday with my DD, Kaylie she is 8 today!
Glad you are getting back to normal after Isaac. It's been stinking hot and humid without a drop of rain since a 10-minute shower on Wednesday.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OneLittleSpark
I can't get over how much Noah has grown from last year! He is looking more like a man than a kid now.
Glad you're having fun so far. I love seeing the pics of AoA.
Noah is very tall and mature looking, but he's all kid! It took no convincing at all to get him to do the Pirates League! It's funny how people react when he tells them he's only 12!
Quote:
Originally Posted by disneyfreeeak
I can't wait to hear all about the Art of Animation Resort, especially because we just added an extra day at the beginning of our next trip to stay there in the Little Mermaid Section! We're so excited and your pictures are making me even more excited .
I couldn't get into the Little Mermaid section yet, but I managed some pictures over the fence.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
AoA looks pretty cool! Love the gift basket! Did you save some chocolate for your mom, or just Isaiah?
Isaiah is getting it (well, what we haven't eaten). DM won't mind - she spoils him more than anyone!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Yesterday was a lot of fun, but I was slacking again with the picture taking. I will have Photopass and ride photos, though. We went to DHS and had a lot of fun. The lines were a little worse than predicted because RNRC was down for the entire morning. We were able to ride everything in the park that we wanted, including TSMM.
Our lunch at Sci-Fi was fun as always. We all got burgers, so I was able to satisfy my burger craving. And here's where I got one of my few photos for the day.
We left the park around 5:30 and spent the rest of the evening at AOA. We had dinner at Landscape of Flavors. I got the boys a pizza and I had one of the sandwiches in our fridge.
Today is our last park day (unless the boys have a burst of energy tomorrow and get moving quickly). We're spending the day at MK today, hopefully meeting up with Kelly and her family. I want to try the food at LOF, so we'll return to have dinner, but tonight's EMH at the MK, so we might head back after dinner to spend a last few hours in the park.
And because I don't have many photos to post of our day yesterday, I'll share some of our resort.
We're in the Lion King section...
Then there's the Finding Nemo section (where the Big Blue Pool is)
And the Cars section, which reminded me of Cars Land at DCA.
AOA is very cute and I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again (though I doubt my next stay will be any time soon).
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Thanks for taking the time while on vacation to keep us up-to-date. The pictures of AoA are fabulous. We're staying at PoP in October and will have to venture over. Have a wonderful time at MK and enjoy your meeting with Kelly and family.
AoA looks like fun! I'll have to do a drive-by in a bus sometime.
A cruise instead of the parks next year? I'm sure you'll all have a blast, but no matter how much I enjoy DCL I'm always thinking of the park time I'm missing!
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Thanks for the pics of AoA! It looks fantastic.
In my opinion, Sci-Fi has the BEST burgers at WDW. My family always makes sure I make an ADR at this restaurant!
Can't wait to see the rest of your pictures!!
I had a few busy days and so did you, so I've had a bit of catching up to do. Poor Isaiah! Glad you all are buying him some gifts. AoA looks fabulous! I the family photo with Goofy at CM!