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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Ever since I discovered WDW in 1995, I've preferred it over Disneyland. Don't get me wrong, I still LOVEDisneyland (the Disneyland of my childhood). Although, there is so much more to do in WDW. I grew up in Oregon and my dad was from San Fransisco, so I have been to California/Disneyland more times than I can count. My first trip to Disneyland was in 1978, and it was amazing. I now live in Virginia and am able to drive to WDW. We go at least once year, but this year my sister wants to celebrate her 50th birthday in Disneyland.
I haven't been to Disneyland since 2003?!
What's new?
Is it worth spending the extra money to stay at the Grand Californian?
How are the crowds in October?
Lets see, 03, what's changed, I think the biggest new thing is the Tower of Terror at DCA and at Disneyland POTC has changed as well as Tom Sawyer Island which now has a priate theme.
Its definately worth the extra $$$ to stay at the Grand. It is very Grand If you go the cash do it.
October is a good time to go. We just went over Halloween time, we had great weather, and of course a great time. Crowds arent to bad especially Monday - Thursdays. Keep in mind that Friday and Saturday no matter what time of year are the busiest days.
I think I'm starting to get excited about visiting California again. Maybe I'll add on a few days and rent a car and do some sightseeing other than Disneyland. I remember Knott's Berry Farm was always fun too.
I guess it's time to invest in a Disneyland Passporter.
Open up those Golden Gates....California here I come!
- Jungle Cruise had a major refurb with changes
- Finding Nemo subs opened
- Space Mountain was rebuilt
- Haunted Mansion received several upgrades
- Monsters, Inc
- the Snow White production has been eventually replaced with the princess faire
- Lincoln's been ousted for a Disneyland tribute/movie
- the princess meal is at ariel's grotto at dca, minnie & friends is at the plaza inn
- the disney gallery is no longer
probably a half dozen other things i can't think of at the moment
Whats New?: Well they refurbished Pirates, Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer's Island, the Nemo Subs, refurbished Space Mountain, Astro Blasters, replaced Mr. Lincoln temporarily with a 50th Anniversary show, the new ASIMO show in Innoventions, new things in Innoventions, Parade of Dreams, new fireworks show, Winnie the Pooh. In DCA Turtle Talk with Crush, Animation Academy, Toy Story Mania (not open yet), Bug's Land, Monsters Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue, new Brother Bear show, Block Party Bash, and High School Musical Pep Rally.
Is it worth it to stay at the Grand Californian?: NO!!!!! You can stay at the Paradise Pier and still go to the Grand Californian pool. The only difference is the theme and that it is right next to DCA. My personal favorite is Disneyland Hotel because it is not close to any parks and it has a wonderful pool!
Crowds In October: They are pretty good on weekdays, but on weekends there is of course the weekend crowd. There may also be more people at night because of Mickey's Halloween Treat. You should be pretty safe though.
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.
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And then there are the attractions that are not at WDW
~Alice In Wonderland
~Casey Jr. Train
~Storybook Land Boats
~Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin
~Gadget's Go Coaster
~All of Toon Town
~Matterhorn
~TOAD!!!
~California Screamin'
And the attractions that are the same, but different
~Space is actually better at DL
~Pirates is better at DL
~Buzz - the guns are better and you can email yourself the picture at the end
~Fantasmic is soooo much better here...even though you have to sit on the ground. You might even get sprayed by water
~Tower of Terror is a different experience
~Disneyland Railroad is better
Hope some of this helps.
__________________
~~~~~~~~~
Jennifer
I have been Boo'd! Thank you Sandra Bostwick.
Last edited by ilveeyore; 01-29-2008 at 04:12 PM..
Reason: cuz I thought of more
For a 50th birthday celebration, I highly recommend splurging a little to stay at the Grand Californian! Afterall, the big 5-0 is certainly something to celebrate and you don't want to regret not staying in style for this birthday. Just being so close to the parks is worth the extra bucks.
You've gotten a lot of great advice. October is an awesome time to go! I am with you - I grew up in So CA, but now I prefer WDW over DLR. We still go fairly often to DLR because it's way easier to get to, though. Have a magical time at GC!! And to your DSis!
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Saturday, October 9, 2014 - Kaitlyn and I before the Happy Haunted 5K at ESPN Wide World of Sports
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I would have to say to save your money. At the DL everything is SO close and everything is walking distance. If your on a budget then save your money, but if you can splurge, then go for it, just don't go into debt to stay there.
About This Page: 
First Visit to Disneyland Since 2003...
). Although, there is so much more to do in WDW. I grew up in Oregon and my dad was from San Fransisco, so I have been to California/Disneyland more times than I can count. My first trip to Disneyland was in 1978, and it was amazing. 
I now live in Virginia and am able to drive to WDW. We go at least once year, but this year my sister wants to celebrate her 50th birthday in Disneyland. 
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Pixie Dust
I have been Boo'd! Thank you Sandra Bostwick.
to your DSis!
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