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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Hi all!
I have been to WDW many times in the past ten years and feel pretty confident in my planning abilities for Florida. However, I have not been to DL in 13 years and the last time was a bust. The kids were little, my in laws were with us, and there was a dreadful April heat wave. Yikes! Time for a redo.
I am planning to bring my kids this July for 3 days. My DS will be turning 14 while we are there, so I am hoping to plan a little something special for him. This is where I need your help! I know nothing about the restaurants and need to figure out what to do as far as reservations. At WDW, we usually have a ressie for one sit down meal a day. What are the favorite dining spots?
Second question: I have booked the Camelot Inn for 3 nights. Anybody stayed there? Good? Bad? It seemed to have decent reviews and is clost to the parks sooo...
We will be there in mid-July, touring Monday-Thursday (haven't decided on park day Monday or Thursday). Thoughts on crowds and weather?
Finally, I am planning to get the 3 day base tickets. How do you think I should allot the days? 2 in DL, 1 in CA, or the other way. So many decisions!
Looking forward to hearing all of your thoughts and advice!
Rosanna
Haven't been since 2009 but I don't remember park hopper tickets being much more expensive than one park per day. I think DL really lends itself to going from one park to the other. It is a 5 minute walk at best.
We were there last summer and I agree that if you can swing it, get the park hopper tickets. It is so nice to be able to bounce back and forth. Especially with Cars Land and the evening lighting ceremony of the neon. Also it is a great way to get out of the crowds. As far as places to eat, we did TS at Blue Bayou one night and it was wonderful. The atmosphere is truly one of a kind. We also did the World of Color dining package and ate at Wine Country. Dinner was good, but, not spectacular. However, it was well worth it to get guaranteed spots to watch World of Color and not have to worry about the FastPasses running out. Ray Brennan's in downtown was another great meal. With the fact that you are staying off property, I assume that you got the ART transportation. If so, it is easy to use and there are a lot of the chain restaurants on the bus route. If you are like us, we are in a small town that doesn't have all the chains, so, it is a nice change to be able to partake of them.
Have fun with your planning and the vacation.
__________________
Waiting for our next adventure after enjoying our Alaska cruise. Jenn
If you are breakfast people and think that your son won't feel like "But, Mom, I'm all grown up now!" Breakfast with Minnie in Disneyland at the Plaza Inn is a GREAT way to start the day! Get an early ressie time and beat the crowds into the park.
Haven't been since 2009 but I don't remember park hopper tickets being much more expensive than one park per day. I think DL really lends itself to going from one park to the other. It is a 5 minute walk at best.
I think I can get the hoppers for about $60 more for the whole trip, so I will definitely give it some thought. Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by manticorjenn
We were there last summer and I agree that if you can swing it, get the park hopper tickets. It is so nice to be able to bounce back and forth. Especially with Cars Land and the evening lighting ceremony of the neon. Also it is a great way to get out of the crowds. As far as places to eat, we did TS at Blue Bayou one night and it was wonderful. The atmosphere is truly one of a kind. We also did the World of Color dining package and ate at Wine Country. Dinner was good, but, not spectacular. However, it was well worth it to get guaranteed spots to watch World of Color and not have to worry about the FastPasses running out. Ray Brennan's in downtown was another great meal. With the fact that you are staying off property, I assume that you got the ART transportation. If so, it is easy to use and there are a lot of the chain restaurants on the bus route. If you are like us, we are in a small town that doesn't have all the chains, so, it is a nice change to be able to partake of them.
Have fun with your planning and the vacation.
We are supposed to be right outside the gate, so I am hoping within easy walking distance. Thanks for the tip on the restaurants. I am hoping to at least have somewhere close for breakfast. (Note to self: Check to see if hotel offers free breakfast)...Lol!
Quote:
Originally Posted by LizCatMom
If you are breakfast people and think that your son won't feel like "But, Mom, I'm all grown up now!" Breakfast with Minnie in Disneyland at the Plaza Inn is a GREAT way to start the day! Get an early ressie time and beat the crowds into the park.
Actually, whether he is too big for the characters or not, he is in love with breakfast and usually looks forward to the one breakfast buffet we do during spring break at WDW. This is a perfect idea for his birthday...breakfast and beating the crowds. Maybe I will make him wear a party hat. Do they do the birthday buttons at DL like they do at WDW?
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
How great!
We really enjoyed the Carthay Circle and Steakhouse 55 when we were there in December.
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. The kids were little, my in laws were with us, and there was a dreadful April heat wave. Yikes! Time for a redo
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Waiting for our next adventure after enjoying our Alaska cruise. 
Jenn
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