Two’s company, Three’s a crowd…let’s make it four! PTR - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Glad that the Safari Spectacular dates worked out for you! Can't wait to hear what you think...we are going to the later one.
Your FP+ plans look wonderful as well!
We're looking forward to it! I'll be sure to report back!
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We are booked for the Safari Spectacular on September 22nd. So I can't wait to hear what you think of it. I'm hoping there will be some fun and rare characters out to meet. And hopefully it's not too crowded!
Yes! For all of the above! I'm waiting to hear reports from the folks who attend the first one on the 6th. Hoping it's a fun night!
We always enjoy watching the nighttime shows, but just hate the crowds that come with it, so we try to come up with ways to creatively avoid the crowds.
Illuminations – We’ve got dinner reservations at both La Hacienda and Rose and Crown. Last year it worked out wonderfully, watching Illuminations from a middle table at La Hacienda and from a patio table at Rose and Crown. Hoping to do the same or similar this year.
Wishes – We’re planning an evening at Top of the World Lounge to see Wishes. Wonderful view, relaxing atmosphere, sipping a glass of wine…sure beats standing shoulder to shoulder in the throngs of Main Street.
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular – At first I was adamant about not paying the outrageous prices for the dessert party, but I’d seen reviews and started to sway a bit. In addition to desserts it includes cocktails and some savory items. Plus the best view ever of the projection and fireworks. But still the cost…what to do, what to do… In the end I decided to use some of my mad money and spring for the party for all four of us! I had to cancel our ADR for Mama Melrose’s because of the time conflict, but we wouldn’t want to eat a full dinner anyway. I think we’ll just have some snacks around dinner time and that will tide us over until the party.
Jungle Book or Rivers of Light – who knows?? As I said, we’ll just wait and see on this one.
Some nice plans and good one with the Star Wars package!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I've had luck with Illuminations. The last time I watched it, I'd just stepped out from Via Napoli and found a great front row viewing spot.
With Wishes, last time I saw it from the dessert party viewing location, which was great. But with the price increase, for the 5 of us, it'll break the bank. I've enjoyed watching Wishes from other locations around the park, so next year I think it's what I'll be doing.
Fireworks at DHS, I haven't done. If they're still around next year I'll have to brave the crowds, as I'm not willing to go bankrupt with the dessert party.
If RoL is finally rolled out next year, I'll probably go with a dining package. We'll see...
Nice plans for the night-time shows! As for Rivers of Light or whatever they have playing, goodness only knows! I am beginning to wonder if those of us going anytime in September after the first few days will ever find out what's going on...
Great plans for crowd avoidance for the nighttime shows. The Top of the World Lounge is such a serene spot (usually) to watch Wishes. Can't wait to hear your review of the dessert party.
Sounds like some wonderful plans! The crowds for fireworks are crazy...and people holding up children on their shoulders do not consider what they are doing to the ones behind. Worse than that are those holding up their iPads to videotape it. We may use the Top of the World Lounge for Wishes our first night if our room at BL doesn't offer a good fireworks view. Thanks for the reminder!
I've had luck with Illuminations. The last time I watched it, I'd just stepped out from Via Napoli and found a great front row viewing spot.
Wow! Awesome luck with that!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
With Wishes, last time I saw it from the dessert party viewing location, which was great. But with the price increase, for the 5 of us, it'll break the bank. I've enjoyed watching Wishes from other locations around the park, so next year I think it's what I'll be doing.
We did the dessert party a few years ago as well. Not sure I would do it again with the cost.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
Fireworks at DHS, I haven't done. If they're still around next year I'll have to brave the crowds, as I'm not willing to go bankrupt with the dessert party.
I know. For a family you really have to look at what else you could be using that money for.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
If RoL is finally rolled out next year, I'll probably go with a dining package. We'll see...
Nice plans for the night-time shows! As for Rivers of Light or whatever they have playing, goodness only knows! I am beginning to wonder if those of us going anytime in September after the first few days will ever find out what's going on...
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It ends just days before we arrive. 
Great work on all your FP+ selections. 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Sounds like a fun event. Looks like you did well with your FP+ ressies!
Just being in AK after dark will be a neat experience as we've never done that before!
In the end I decided to use some of my mad money and spring for the party for all four of us! 
I had to cancel our ADR for Mama Melrose’s because of the time conflict, but we wouldn’t want to eat a full dinner anyway. I think we’ll just have some snacks around dinner time and that will tide us over until the party. 
PassPorter Guide Author
I am beginning to wonder if those of us going anytime in September after the first few days will ever find out what's going on...
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