Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
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11-07-2003, 01:37 PM
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#1
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Club President
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Concierge Level: 10
Posts: 14,552
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Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
My two nieces -- Megan (3) and Natalie (2) -- are making their first trip to Disney for MouseFest. (My sister, brother-in-law, and mother are coming along.) The girls have been prepped for this since their birth, of course, but I still feel inclined to do some other cool stuff for them. They're pretty young, so anything to sophisticated would be lost on them. Does anyone have any good ideas for me?  |
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11-07-2003, 02:08 PM
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#2
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Edmonton, KY
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 17,823
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
Those girls are going to have a blast down there Jennifer! How can you really make the most magical place more magical?! How about arranging for their favorite character stuffed animal to be in their room and some little goodies? They may be too young for this, but there are a couple of really nice coloring books down at the World. My kids have been coloring since they were toddlers, and they love the disney characters! Oh, there are some cute character crayons down there too.
Have fun at Mousefest!!! Sounds like it's going to be a real blast!
Wendy
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11-07-2003, 02:27 PM
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#3
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Oak Park, IL
Posts: 535
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
You're asking us? Cool! Some Disney ideas:
How about the pony rides at Fort Wilderness? Girls love ponies--that might be pretty neat to do.
Cinderella's Breakfast--eating in the castle made a huge impression on me when I was small.
One word: Plastics..err..Balloons! As a child, I loved those, especially being able to hold one "like a big girl"
Mouse ears with my name on them. Again, there are photos of me asleep in my stroller at Disney (age 3) with my mouse ears, Mickey doll and balloon. Tres Disney magic!
Riding in the front of the monorail (get the cutest kid to ask the CM--that was our family's angle. No CM can resist the cute kid!). Plus, getting the monorail license is great!
Hoop De Do Revue--being able to scratch as loud as I wanted to on the washboard was great, especially since I was a "bang the pots" kinda kid.
Haircuts at MK. Glitter + girls = magic.
How about starting a "vacation doll", like a Flat Stanley? You could create a vacation Mickey or something like that, and everywhere the girls take pictures, they could pose with their doll. You would then only take the doll out to play with on vacations--it might make for some neat memories in other vacation spots (Mickey visits New York, Mickey goes to Paris, etc.)
That's just a few things, and I know others out there have even better ideas! Hope the nieces have fun--it's good to see that as an aunt, you're "raising them right"! |
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11-07-2003, 02:45 PM
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#4
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Poinciana, Florida
Posts: 9,422
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
Jennifer, I remember our first trip to WDW as a family unit in 1995. My kids were then 2 & 3 also. To this day I remember the Mickey mylar ballons being one of the biggest things to them. Especially in the room when the AC came one and the ballons start to float around in the current. We got the biggest kick out of watching the kids. That and buying them the first Disney plush they want. My daughter had Pongo for years.
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11-07-2003, 02:59 PM
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#5
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Seward, NE
Posts: 2,025
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
We did the haircut thing for DD and she got a kick out of it, and the next time she got her hair cut she wanted to know if Bobbie was going to do it! I think character breakfasts rock. We loved CMC as they took a LOT of time with DD. Also, being in Toon Town first thing in the morning, gave us plenty of time to play and interact with Goofy and Pluto as hardly anyone was back there. We also got right into the rest of the characters and there was no rush at all! DD, 3 (now), also can't wait to go back on Pooh, Dumbo and Aladdin!
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11-07-2003, 11:36 PM
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#6
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Orlando, Fl
Posts: 5,517
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
My son is 2.5 and we went to Disney in May right after he turned 2. His two favorite activities hands down were the pony ride at Ft. Wilderness and playing in the water fountains at DTD and Epcot. It's not hard to please a toddler at WDW...there's magic everywhere!
Kelly
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11-07-2003, 11:53 PM
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#7
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Mrs. Jack Sparrow
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Aboard the Black Pearl
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 21,228
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
<font color="blue">If it were Me, I'd have Pal Mickey waiting for both of them. But I just adore him. OH and may be a tea Party. I loved that.  </font> |
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11-08-2003, 12:08 AM
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#8
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Faith, Trust, Pixie Dust
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Sasquatch Territory, Pacific Northwest
Concierge Level: 8
Posts: 17,166
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
Jenn, just remember with little girls you just need these ingredients:
<font color="pink">PINK</font>
SPARKLEY
<font color="pink">PINK</font>
SHINY
<font color="pink">PINK</font>
FEATHERY
<font color="pink">PINK</font>
FLUFFY...and oh yeah, did I mention...
<font color="pink">PINK</font>?!?!?!
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11-08-2003, 06:34 AM
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#9
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Connecticut
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 16,825
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
Jennifer, my niece Abby (age 3) is joining us for the WDW portion of MouseFest as well. By far, the biggest thing she is looking forward to is breakfast with Cinderella. Let me tell you Uncle Shawn and Auntie Sara were big heroes for securing that PS!  The other thing I think she mght really get a kick out of is "waking Tinkerbell". I'm going to try to see if we can go to Tinkerbell's Treasures first thing one morning so she can do this.
Her big brother Nick (age 11) and big sister Madeline (age 8) are coming as well but all they care about is Space Mountain and Mission Space.  |
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11-08-2003, 09:10 AM
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#10
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Community Rank: Adventurer
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Roanoke, Va
Posts: 728
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
Jennifer
What about a personal meet and greet with their favorite character?
Also the storytelling experience at Epcot?
OH what about getting little princess outfit for each.
On Sale too! DisneyStore
Character luggage for each.
Have photos taken with Mickey Mouse.
The best for last <font color="red"> Disney Dollars</font>!!
Angela |
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11-08-2003, 01:07 PM
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#11
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Boston, MA USA
Posts: 2,535
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
DWs young nephews LOVED the Electric Water Parade. It was hysterical watching them. That and pretty any "run through" fountain" or chance to get wet Have a great trip! Sounds like it'll be a blast! |
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11-08-2003, 09:48 PM
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#12
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Community Rank: Adventurer
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Thurmont, MD USA
Posts: 893
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
Some things my dd's have enjoyed: their own little fanny packs. (The 3 yr old would definitely love this!) Inside the Fanny pack was a tiny flashlight (for scary rides)and a couple of other little things to keep their hands occupied. They also had sunglasses the the strings attached...they loved these! (You can buy Disney ones at Kmart, Walmart, etc.)
I also had a special treat for them every night. As we were leaving for the evening, I would sneak back in the room and place a little treat on their pillow. Most of the time it was little things like a Mickey toothbrush or Disney hairclips, but I also bought them princess panties, their favorite princess doll, etc.
Another treat would be a Guest of Honor badge for each of them. (They still do this, don't they?) The girls got a big kick out of the CM's referring to them by name.
karen |
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11-10-2003, 03:00 PM
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#13
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Seward, NE
Posts: 2,025
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
Where did you find a preschooler sized fanny pack?
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11-10-2003, 07:42 PM
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#14
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Community Rank: Adventurer
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Thurmont, MD USA
Posts: 893
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
I actually fell upon them at a Disney Outlet store several years ago....but, if you look around you can find plain ones at places like Walmart, KMart, Target...
If you can't find ones designed specifically for small tykes, then buy a small pack and cut and safety pin the waist straps so they are shorter...
karen |
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11-11-2003, 10:11 AM
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#15
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 2,066
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Re: Ways to Make More Magic for My Nieces
How about a fireworks cruise? Friends of mine returned from the World yesterday and it was all their 4 year old DS could talk about.
Or a Memory book of Characters. We did this with DS the first time we visited WDW. I would have the characters autograph one side of the page and then I pasted a photo of him on the opposite page w/the character. Just after seeing each character I would ask him what he thought and I also wrote his quotes in under the picture. Ten years later the book is still pretty funny.
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