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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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 are in WDW for 6 full days.
At first we were thinking to devote just 1 day for Uni Studios. NOw just found out they have 2 theme parks (Islands of Adventure too).
Should we devote one day to Uni Studios and try and do both their theme parks in that day, or devote two days and 4 days for each of the WDW parks (1 days each)?
Thanks!
(ps we are travelling with a nearly 3 year old - the trip's for his bday).
I think it depends if you want to do all the thrill rides or not. We're not roller coaster fans and we did most of what we wanted to in one day at Universal. We missed a couple of things and we were going to go back the next morning just to see those, but DH wasn't feeling well and we never ended up making it back there. If you're not interested in the coasters and it's a quiet time of year you're going, you could probably do it in a day and a half. Otherwise, definitely allow two days.
You might get them done in one day if you go commando style. If you want to enjoy the surroundings then I would plan on 2 days.
Universal has several ticket options that might help you decide. If you purchase online you can get a 1 day/2 park ticket for $73.00. They also sell 2 day/2 park tickets at the gate, but they are over $100. Or for $85.99 you can get a 7 day ticket - but this has to be purchased online.
Also, keep in mind that daily parking at Universal is $11.00 if you drive - that might be another factor in deciding how many days you want to spend there, if you are not planning to stay on Universal property.
Happy planning I love to talk about Universal parks - they are a blast!
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I agree with Barry. I will always try to devote three days to the US/IOA parks when we go. It gives you the time to do the parks without feeling rushed from place to place.
Since it looks like you have a fairly short trip where you are trying to do WDW as well, then you probably will want to do two days at Universal.
If you are splitting with Disney I would say two. I went two days last year (even though I had the ticket deal for 5 days) and felt statisfied that I saw a good bit. Now in hind site I know that there was a lot I missed, but we enjoyed ourselves. However we were off site and the parking everyday starts to add up. Plus i would perfer to spend more time at Disney.
Last year my husband and I were in WDW in Sept and we originally plan two days for UNI and IOA but when we got there we walked on every ride and many of them mulitiple times. We started the day at IOA did all the rides( many multiples) with the exception of the water rides (wanted to save them for last) sat down to a leisurly lunch at circus mcgurcus and then walked over to universal. After all the walking we were used to at WDW we thought these parks were relatively smaller and close together. We did all the rides and attractions at universal and then walked back to do some repeat rides at IOA (hulk, spiderman) and then did the two water rides. We ended our day with dinner at a cuban restaurant at Citiwalk all in all I felt very satisfied with one day. The service and atmosphere are a bit of a let down after the magic of WDW and we prefer to spend most of our time there.
You will have to skip some shows and may have to bypass some of the thrill rides, but you can do both parks in one day of normal touring. You'll just have to make some decisions on what attractions are on your must-do list.
I'd recommend at least 2 full days of touring in order to see everything, esepcially since it's your first time visiting.
We have gone once and only once. Not until they had Harry Potter will be probably be interested in returning. We ARE roller coaster fanatics growing up in the Northeast corner of the country.
We did the two day pass and left before noon on the second day. We saw everything that appealed to us and rode Spiderman more times that I care to admit. The parks are really noisey which detracted from our desire to be there. If you do spend three days it must be during prime time and to see everything - including every show.
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If you're not interested in the coasters and it's a quiet time of year you're going, you could probably do it in a day and a half. Otherwise, definitely allow two days.
I love to talk about Universal parks - they are a blast!
Michelle - with my step sisters!
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