Celebrating as One Big Happy Family: 5/10/14 - 5/18/14 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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Well, tomorrow's the big day! Our trip is finally here! Last night I treated myself to a mani/pedi, and tonight I'll treat Hope to one at home. After I get her all dolled up, I'll finish up some light packing while Chad cuts the grass one last time, and then we're off to bed for our very last sleep 'til Disney.
We'll be flying out of Baltimore at 9:45am tomorrow morning. We booked our tickets through Southwest, however, we are apparently now flying out via AirTran. Because of that, we had the option of selecting our seats prior to check-in or having them assigned when we check-in at the airport. Of course, if you choose to select your seats prior to airport arrival, you must pay a fee for that luxury, which I originally didn't want to do. My plan was to just let the agent assign our seats to us, as long as we were together. Well, that's the big thing, there's no guarantee that we'll all be seated together if we wait until we get to the airport. If it were just Chad and I, I wouldn't care. I've flown by myself before, and I don't need to spend the exra $10 per seat fee just so we can sit next to each other.
The issue I have is with not being able to sit next to Hope. If there are no seats together when we check-in, they can't very well ask someone to move for me, when they've clearly paid to select their seats ahead of time. We'd be stuck sitting apart, and after some searching online, I found out that it does happen. Airlines have been charging for every little thing for several years now. I'm okay with not getting a full meal, or a blanket, but to now put a price tag on my peace-of-mind...that's a bit much. So they got me, they got my $30 extra dollars, as well as my brother's and my parent's, and after looking at the seating chart this morning, I'm glad I made the decision to pre-pick our seats because there's only one availble seat left on the plane. Who knows where we all would have been sitting.
I guess I could write a complaint letter, but what good would that really do? The airline CEOs could care less about what the little people want, and as long as people continue to pay to pick their seats, they're going to keep charging for it. Off my soap box now. I've also been keeping an eye on the weather down in Disney, and it looks like it's going to be HOT! Guess those pool breaks will really come in handy, so it's a good thing we'll be breaking at the best pool on Disney property.
So, I guess this is it until we get back. I'm off to finish up some work at the office, and then I'll be heading out on our vacation to Celebrate as One Big Happy Family!
Unless things have changed THAT much - they would have asked someone to switch seats so Hope would sit with one of you. However i am right there with you as far as the airlines nickle and diming everyone. Only bevs given out free now on most airlines, not even pretzels anymore...of course you can "purchase" snacks.... and then there is the newer "carry-on" fee. All this on top of the much higher airfare itself. So I'll join you on that soap box!!
Anyway - I hope you have a wonderful trip -- excited to see BC pictures... it's one of my favorite resorts, even though I've never stayed there personally - only visited relatives who did.
__________________
~ Jenn **Disney is REAL LIFE Magic, so much more than optical illusions **
That is just crazy to pay to pick your seats. I have never flown with AirTran before and you are right if it was just you and Chad not big deal but one of you need to be next to Hope.
I hope you have a safe flight and a wonderful time in Disney
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We flew Airtran in 2009 and they charged for pre-assigned seats back then too. I think I'm glad we've started to drive now.
Have a wonderful time!!!! Hope I get some live texts while you're there!
Well I know Melissa arrived! Her SiL bought her a drink for all her hard work in planning the trip. (I'll try to post a pic when I can.)
And today I'm sure the ladies had a lovely tea for Mother's Day!
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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.
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Our trip is finally here! Last night I treated myself to a mani/pedi, and tonight I'll treat Hope to one at home. 
After I get her all dolled up, I'll finish up some light packing while Chad cuts the grass one last time, and then we're off to bed for our very last sleep 'til Disney. 
which I originally didn't want to do. My plan was to just let the agent assign our seats to us, as long as we were together. Well, that's the big thing, there's no guarantee that we'll all be seated together if we wait until we get to the airport. 
If it were just Chad and I, I wouldn't care. I've flown by myself before, and I don't need to spend the exra $10 per seat fee just so we can sit next to each other. 
Airlines have been charging for every little thing for several years now. I'm okay with not getting a full meal, or a blanket, but to now put a price tag on my peace-of-mind...that's a bit much. 
So they got me, they got my $30 extra dollars, as well as my brother's and my parent's, and after looking at the seating chart this morning, I'm glad I made the decision to pre-pick our seats because there's only one availble seat left on the plane. Who knows where we all would have been sitting. 
I've also been keeping an eye on the weather down in Disney, and it looks like it's going to be HOT! 
Guess those pool breaks will really come in handy, so it's a good thing we'll be breaking at the best pool on Disney property. 
~ Jenn 
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
Hope to see you on Wednesday! 
PassPorter Guide Author
for the update, Kelly!
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