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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Does anyone know if there is a site that lists the conventions that are going to be held at the Boardwalk Resort. Planning my trip and don't want to be among a zillion conventioneers.
I'm not sure if there's one for the BoardWalk. I know someone maintains (or maintained) an unofficial listing for Coronado Springs.
Welcome Paulette!
Due top the way Disney has designed convention facilities for all resorts but the Contemporary (which was built in a different time), guests and convention activities are well separated. The convention facilities are separate buildings, and many don't even have an indoor public hallway that connects to it (the BoardWalk is one of those). Convention Center entrances are a fair distance from the rest of the hotel. Disney works carefully to keep convention activities separated from regular guests. For example, convention organizers must provide private transportation for their attendees who are going from hotel-to-park or hotel-to-hotel for convention activities - they aren't allowed to use Disney transportation.
The hotel itself can only hold so many guests, so it doesn't matter a whole lot if they're attending a conference or visiting the parks. Disney doesn't exactly attract a Vegas-style clientele.
The basic fact of life is, Disney is going to try to fill every convention center with business, 365 days a year if they can manage it, and sometimes events are booked on relatively short notice. You could make a room reservation 6 months out based on the convention schedule, and still find events taking place when you get there. The only places I've found significant mixing between convention and hotel guests is at the Swan/Dolphin, and the Contemporary, which have huge ballrooms. There's also a bit at Coronado Springs, mostly in the restaurants, not the lobby. Few guests complain about conventions affecting their room stay. There are other groups (youth athletics programs a prime example) who generate far more comment.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
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There are other groups (youth athletics programs a prime example) who generate far more comment.
Our last trip included Cheerleaders or some such at ASMo the last weekend we were there and believe me, they took over the pool, buses and most were very rude! (When I got up to go to bathroom and returned, my chair was gone and all my belongings dumped in a puddle of water - and that's WITH an adult chaperone!) Definately not what we expected. I'd put up with Conventioneers anytime over that!
I was at Cape May buffet last week. The conventioneers at Beach Club or Yacht Club, where Crew Club lounge is at, were milling in a throng in the lobby and bar. They were polite and would move out of people's way. If you must avoid large groups then call the hotel with your concern. It was late at night when I was overrun with conventioneers but earlier in the day there were few around.
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Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
Thanks everyone. I have tried to stay at a different WDW hotel each trip and Boardwalk is the next pick. However, after a jammed time with conventioneers at the Contemporary, I was hoping not to have to deal with that at the Boardwalk. This is the last one on my list. Oops have to add the new Budget one!
Last edited by Paulette0107; 05-20-2012 at 09:57 AM..
We've stayed at BWI twice and BWVs twice. Never noticed any conventioneers during those trips and I don't doubt that there was something going on during at least two of those trips. As Dave mentioned, their facilities are set off from the resort rooms and lobby, making it easy to miss the people there for a convention. (We have noticed them during stays at CSR, but were never distracted by them at all).
I dont think there has ever been a time Ive stayed at Disney when there hasnt been a convention going on! But honestly I never noticed any different. The only time that I did notice more people was in the lobby in the morning, but nothing to the point of I couldnt walk thru! I wouldnt worry about the crowds for conventioneers, have a great time!
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Kim
"I am a runner because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far. I am a runner because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not."-- John Bingham
I was there for a meeting a couple months ago and Grainger basically took over CSR. They had a couple of huge tents set up over a couple of the Live Oaks.
When are you going? Gartner has a HUGE convention at the Swan/Dolphin, Yacht/Beach & Boardwalk in late October. DH will be attending (& I get to tag along!), but the conventioneers will also be staying at AKL (where he is booked), CSR, and some of the other resorts.
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First trip DW--Nov. 1975; Senior Class Trip DW--Oct. 1979; First trip w/kids--Oct. 1995; Halloween at DW--Oct. 2002; Spring Break at DW--April 2004; Christmas/Pop Warner Nationals-POR--Dec. 2005;Cruisin'--April 2008; Mom/Son trip-POP--March 2010;Taggin' along w/DD on DH's conference-BWI--Oct. 2011; 50th birthday with the Gartner Geeks--Adults only!--BWI--Oct. 2012; The Trip That Almost Wasn't--BWI--Oct. 2013; We climbed The Summit (National Cheer Competition)--ASMovies--May 2014
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A long time ago, I read about an event at Disney Hollywood where the cast members actual put on a performance of singing. It is not ever listed. Does anyone know what it is called and when it might be?