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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 Guide Author PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Navigator
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How does Biergarten work?
I have ressies next week for dinner at Biergarten. The descriptions say "family style" but just how does this work? I understand everyone's seated together at long tables...so do you tell them which foods you want, or is everything brought to your table, or what?
When we were there this past December we were seated at a table for 8. There were 2 of us. The server comes and asks for your drink order. The rest is buffet.
I love the band at Biergarten, but not so much the food. I'm not a fan of German cuisine. They seat you at tables of eight, so you will be sharing the table with others, which can either be lots of fun, or very uncomfortable depending on the "others". Once we sat with three other couples which was fine. But the first time we went for dinner we were seated with six women who had already had enough adult beverage. The flirted with my husband a lot and giggled and made our meal unpleasant.
The server brings your beverage order and clears your dirty plates, but you need to go up to the buffet and get your own food. Even though I don't like sausage or German cuisine, I was able to find chicken and potatoes and a few desserts to satisfy my hunger. ***Tip: choose your desserts from the far end of the serving plate. That way it is less likely that children have been handling, poking, tasting them.
We love Biergarten and eat there almost every trip - most recently this past Saturday! The food is a buffet where you help yourself; drinks are brought by servers. If you are with someone who has any mobility issues, you might ask to be sat at a table on the highest level (it's on the same level as the buffet). The other levels require walking up and down a few steps. I hope you enjoy it!
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MNSSHP 2015: DH (Bane), Me (Batgirl), Genie, and our friends
I would mention walking difficulties when you check in at the hostess desk. (Maybe they can seat you at the end of a table so you can get up to the buffet more easily.)
PassPorter Guide Author PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Navigator
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Wow, this is all great info, thanks! So it's a regular buffet; the family style is just how you sit. I understand now.
Believe me, if there's a buffet, my mom will manage to get there!
Seriously, though, her major problem has been with some blood problems (had regular transfusions for a while); while that's improved a great deal, she just has diminished energy levels. So I'm hoping that her using the scooter around the park will mean she'll still have the energy to make the buffet--I'll be sure to mention that when we check in; thanks for that tip!
She is the most social person imaginable, and she will totally enjoy sitting with strangers. When she flies to visit me, she spends the whole 75-minute drive to my house telling me all about the people she sat next to on the plane!
Stepdad has some hip problems, so can do some walking. If he's in pain, I feel sure mom will know what he likes, so I can fill his plate for him.
My sister ate there awhile back and loved it. The menu I saw online had enough things I'll eat that I think we'll enjoy it.
I love the band at Biergarten, but not so much the food. I'm not a fan of German cuisine. They seat you at tables of eight, so you will be sharing the table with others, which can either be lots of fun, or very uncomfortable depending on the "others". Once we sat with three other couples which was fine. But the first time we went for dinner we were seated with six women who had already had enough adult beverage. The flirted with my husband a lot and giggled and made our meal unpleasant.
The server brings your beverage order and clears your dirty plates, but you need to go up to the buffet and get your own food. Even though I don't like sausage or German cuisine, I was able to find chicken and potatoes and a few desserts to satisfy my hunger. ***Tip: choose your desserts from the far end of the serving plate. That way it is less likely that children have been handling, poking, tasting them.
Oh my gosh, if someone flirted with my husband I would have laughed my butt off and teased him about it forever. LOL But we have a high tolerance for tomfoolery. We love Biergarten and have no issue sitting with others. We all like the food too. But my family is from Europe and so being in groups with everyone having different conversations is what I grew up with. It is only awkward if you make it so, IMO.
It is a Buffet Style meal where your server will only serve drinks to you at the table. The Oom Pah Band Show is great, but the food could be better. There are some sausage that are really good, but others are not in my opinion. Also it can get a little cramped and is loud so take that in consideration.
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