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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Anybody had experience in booking BLT at the 7 month window? We have some points to use up by the end of August 2010 and although I am planning on getting in AKL, I would take BLT if it was an option. This ressie would also be in mid to late August when the crowds typically decline and points get me more.
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late-August is pretty slow overall so I think chances are good. Wouldn't count on necessarily getting the MK view or Standard view, but the Lake View may be available.
It could hinge on what size room you are looking for. Studios tend to book the quickest, followed by Two Bedroom villas. If you're looking for a One Bedroom I think your chances are very good.
We were able to get in there in early December, which is one of the busiest times of the year to visit, which really surprised me, so it's worth giving it a go. You never know your luck.
I think for late August you would have a good shot at it! We stayed at SSR and BLT late August / early Sept. and were very pleasantly surprised at the lack of crowds.
I tried the other day to get BLT at the 8 month mark (our home resort) for May and couldn't get it - it wasn't Memorial Day or Mother's Day either, but I am going to call back today and try again.
We were also able to get a Studio at BLT for December 27-31 - which is a VERY busy time. I already had reservations at our home resort (AKL) for that time and went on the waitlist at 7 months. Why not??? I figured our waitlist might come through at the 30 day mark but it actually came through at around the 6 month mark. I was shocked.
So, I'd say give it a try. You have nothing to lose!
We bought DVC at the end of June and were able to secure a MK view 2 bedroom for October. We went on a waitlist for a standard view studio for our first night and at 30 days our wish was granted!! Good luck, its always worth a try!
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Teresa
Sammy 5 years and Peyton 15 months - September 2013
I was able to get BLT at the 7 month window for the third week of March. I was floored...and only asked on a whim! We reserved a two bedroom lock-off with lake view.
What I usually do when I call at the 7 month window is say "What is available for these dates? I have always had a choice of most resorts, but was just wondering if BLT was booked as a rule that far in advance. Sounds like there will be availability. Now I just have to decide on firm dates before February. I am banking on FD again mid-August, then I would like to stay over at a DVC place for a few days .
I was actually going to start a thread on this very subject! We are going to try for late August too, (16-30) I hope we can get it! We are just going to try to get a studio, lake view because we love FL and the beautiful scenery. (Big difference from CA.! )
I got a little discouraged the other day because I saw a post where people were saying they couldn't get in and I panicked! LOL Hope all goes well!
(Barb, I see you are going to Vegas in Feb.!!! You're going to have a blast!!!!!! We LOVE Vegas! )
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Love being Goofy on Space Mountain!! LOL
Last edited by Nicole626Stitch; 09-23-2009 at 11:26 PM..
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We hope to have a great time in Las Vegas! We went 4 years ago in December and had a blast. Now the kids will be 18 & 19 when we go. They won't be old enough to gamble or anything but they are excited to be going, too. I have posted a thread on the Vacationing to other places thread, so any advice you can give will be much appreciated!
We love Disney in laste August ... we go almost every year. Crowds are down, this year the weather was terrific, too. Not too hot and not too humid. the worst year was in 2008 during TS FAY. What a washout, but still fun.
We hope to have a great time in Las Vegas! We went 4 years ago in December and had a blast. Now the kids will be 18 & 19 when we go. They won't be old enough to gamble or anything but they are excited to be going, too. I have posted a thread on the Vacationing to other places thread, so any advice you can give will be much appreciated!
We love Disney in laste August ... we go almost every year. Crowds are down, this year the weather was terrific, too. Not too hot and not too humid. the worst year was in 2008 during TS FAY. What a washout, but still fun.