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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Planning my next Disney adventure and was considering trying Universal as well? How does it compare? Is it a one day trip or should you allot more time?
Planning my next Disney adventure and was considering trying Universal as well? How does it compare? Is it a one day trip or should you allot more time?
Hm, I don't know alot about Universal because every time I go to Disney I never have enough time to do all my Disney things! I'll vet you will get lots of answers soon, though. Hope you have fun, whatever you decide to do!
Depends on when you go. For the most part, you can do most of the attractions at both parks in one full day. However, I would suggest at least 2 days there to give yourself some time to see all the shows and attractions, and do a little exploring in the parks, because they are really well themed and full of cool things to see and do. If you stay at one of their on-site resorts, your room key can be used as an express pass (like FP) or else, you'll have to purchase an express ticket at the parks to use this perk. If you're able to, I would suggest to stay on site for a weekend and enjoy!
I am planning a trip to Disney World for my honeymoon 05/03-05/10 and I just bought the vip tickets for 05/04/09 which allows us to move to the front of the line. The tickets were about 50 dollars per person more than the regular price ticket. My future husband has never been to Universal or Disney so we are planning a great trip. Or I should say I am planning a wonderful trip.
For those who've never been, should plan a trip to Universal, and make sure you do your homework before you go and just keep thinking that it's not Disney but you'll still have a fun time there anyways, because I said so
We have always wanted to try Universal, but we find it impossible to pull ourselves away from Disney on our Disney trips. My mom wanted the whole family to do a 4 night cruise on the Wonder this November, so DH and I decided to take our boys and spend a couple of days at Universal afterwards. It gives us a solid week of vacation - perfect timing!!
Let me summarize our experiences with Universal Orlando - AWESOME! I was a die hard Disney fan with reservations about going over to Universal, but after our first trip, I was hooked! I love it. The parks are beautiful and clean, particularly IOA, and the thrill rides there can't be beat. Must dos: Men in Black, the Mummy, Shrek 4D, Jaws, Disaster at US; Hulk, Spiderman, Dueling Dragons, Jurassic Park, Cat in the Hat at IOA. IOA has terrific theming that rivals any Disney park. I've always found the Team Members at Universal to be very friendly. Universal has some of the best shows too, particularly Terminator 3D and the Horror Make Up Show. The only area where Universal falls short is the dining. We just eat counter service and don't plan a lot of sit down dinners while we are there.
I've heard a lot of people say they have done both parks in one day, but I honestly think you need at least 2 days. If you're like us, you will want to ride your favorites over and over, and you can't do that in one day!
The Universal resorts are on par with Disney deluxe resorts. You can easily walk to both parks from any of their 3 onsite resorts. All 3 have outstanding pools and amenities. But the best perk: all Universal onsite hotel guests get "front of the line" access at the theme parks - just show your room key to the attendant at the ride entrance and you are allowed in the "Express Pass" line - which is similar to a FastPass line. However, Universal charges for their Express Pass which shortens the wait in the Express Pass line considerably. We pretty much walk straight onto most attractions over and over.
A Universal vacation is much more relaxing than a trip to WDW - don't get me wrong--I still love Disney, but Universal is da bomb in our book!
The only area where Universal falls short is the dining. We just eat counter service and don't plan a lot of sit down dinners while we are there.
You should give Mythos a shot. They're open a short time during the day, but yet you can still walk right up and within about 10 minutes be sitting at a table. As far as counter service goes, I suggest Cafe 4 or Thunder Falls Terrace for IOA, and Monsters Cafe or Cafe La Bamba for USF. Also, don't forget to pick up some Moose Juice or Goose Juice at Seuss Landing in IOA, or a milkshake at Schwab's Pharmacy in USF
We've allowed two days for Universal in the past - I wouldn't think one day would be quite enough for a first time visit. : It's very different to Disney, but has a lot to offer visitors.
I have been to univeral and IOA Florida and universal Hollywood. I love universal... I prefer the rides at universal there bigger and more like thrill rides.
as long as you bare in mind that its not disney.
its not as cutsey (which i love) but I personally love the contrast as i love bigger rides
for me its important to to both as i feel they really compliment each other.
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Clare Loves Stitch
"sometimes the right path is not the easiest one"
Grandmother Willow - Pocahontas
Proud DVC owner at BWV from March 2011
US has very cool rides. You can do both parks in 1 long commando, but if you really want to enjoy them give it 2 days. Portofino is at least equal to the best of the WDW Deluxes. The parks are well themed, very clean and deefinitely worth doing. Spiderman, Dueling Dragons and The Hulk Coaster are the best rides in Orlando imho. And you can't beat the front of the line privilege you get when staying on site
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: It's very different to Disney, but has a lot to offer visitors.
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