Down the Rabbit Hole--Moving to Orlando Complete 7/28 - Page 8 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
OMG Thats a non publicized bunch of &**^*^* about Orleans Parish teachers being laid off....I had no idea!! I work in the schools so I feel for you! I think Disney Central Casting is a marvelous idea and if you don't mind I want to tag along on this journey!!
You have gotten so much done and are quite a busy gal! I also love the idea you have for your room. I am partial to the oranges and reds as well and great deal on the mattress
Don't even laugh! But today's work experience was somewhat worse than yesterday. I stayed up too late last night, and then dragged my tired butt the mile and a quarter to work. When I arrived . . . one of the fill in girls from another local property was already there setting up and working. One of the supervisors had arranged for her to cover my shift so I could get things done--problem? They forgot to tell me--or change the printed schedule. SO I had gotten out of bed and gone to work for no reason.
Yuck! After I finished screaming and telling my boss that I wasn't going to come in and work the PM shift--consider me called in sick--I reconsidered. There is a couple from Houston that comes to visit me every six months or so. They had sent me a text earlier in the week that they were coming and that they'd see me on Saturday. I didn't want to miss them!
On my way out I ran into the front desk manager--who is a really nice guy. He asked me if I was really leaving. I told him I was, and he offered me a position at the front desk, if the only reason I was going was because of my department. He would really prefer not to lose me, I'm apparently a great asset to the hotel. Well sadly, this was too little too late, but it really touched me that he thinks so much of me. I cried in the elevator!
I did go in and work my PM shift and spent some time with some of my favorite regulars--who stayed all the way until last call. They told me to let them know when I get settled in Orlando and they'll come visit me there. I have some amazing guests. I've already had some tearful good byes and hugs from other regulars. Most of these folks I've been waiting on for 6 and a half years and we've gotten a little attached to one another. I know their families, their work associates and everything about them. I've been through weddings, retirement parties and lots of other changes for all of them.
Today made me realize how wonderful the last few years have been for me, in spite of all the frustrations. My customer base is wonderful and I'm going to miss each and every one of my regular guests. I'll especially miss some of the ones I won't get a chance to say good bye to. I hope I have the opportunity to build the same kind of relationships in Orlando.
I thought I'd share tonight's drink recipe with you. The folks who came in tonight don't order drinks from me. They just say "make me something new." SO here's something new:
Oh wow, you do have some wonderful customers and that doesn't surprise me Heather because you're a wonderful person and so easy to get on with. I'm sure you'll end up with a similar customer base soon enough in Orlando.
What a pain that they didn't tell you about your shift change! It's so great, though, that your customers (and co-workers) are taking the time to let you know you'll be missed. When I retired it made me realize that so many of the people I'd considered acquaintances had really become friends. Like you, I'd gotten to know their families, histories. I'm not surprised at all that the front desk manager wanted to keep you! I know you'll soon be indispensible at your new job as well.
Oh Heather, so your day didn't start out so well but glad you got to spend some time with some of your favorite guests before your last day. Hope your last few days at work goes smoothly.
Sounds like a great evening (after the frustration of coming in earlier than needed). We all deserve a reminder of how much we're appreciated now and again.
The drink sounds yummy! I could go for one right now.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Heather, you should somehow work in your fan-base into your new job interviews. You've got ready-made customers right there. And your drink sounds heavenly. Sort of like an Almond Joy only with hazelnut.
I'm sorry your day didn't start off too great. That's really neat that you have such a great repertoire with your customers!! I'm sure that you'll have that too in Orlando!
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I'm sure you'll end up with a similar customer base soon enough in Orlando. 
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