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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.

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Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.

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There are other changes as well.

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We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
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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.

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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.

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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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Old 09-28-2014, 10:59 PM   #11
shazza
Community Rank: Globetrotter
 
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Florida & Maine
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nanajoyx2 View Post
OMG Sharon, I have never seen such magnificent pictures of the castle show and Hallowishes. Disney should purchase them from you. So sorry things did not go as planned, but you certainly are a good sport about the situation. Looking forward to the rest of this report.
You're too sweet - It was fun taking the photos.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22 View Post
Not the most spectacular of starts for your trip, but I love that you'd do it all over again! I was all prepared for some awesome photos of the Boo to You parade, but I'm sure since it's on the bucket list, we'll get some in the future. I have made those not so great or helpful choices while at WDW, and hate that poor Luke usually has to deal with my mistakes. But then mistakes are just part of life.
It was definitely a rocky start. But I learned a few things. You are right - mistakes happen, and you just have to move on. I will get that darned Boo to You parade sometime, although probably not this year.

Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep View Post
WOW!! Thank you for braving the crowds and the rain to get those amazing photos! I hope you weren't too exhausted by it all. It's a good thing you didn't push yourself any further for the soiree or second parade. I love the castle projection show and Hallowishes, but I feel like I'm seeing them both better through your lens than in person.
Thanks, Laurie. No, I wasn't too exhausted, but it was good I didn't stay longer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dlandmom2 View Post
Sharon, I LOVE those pictures! I don't think I could get such great shots if you froze time and gave me 5 minutes to set up for each shot! How in the world are you able to take such clear shots?!

Bummer that you weren't able to more thoroughly enjoy your first MNSSHP due to the weather...and that mass of humanity! I hope you're able to try another party if it's in your plans for next week! It really does seem a poor value when you can't enjoy most of what you paid for.

How was your stamina by the end of the night? I hope you were able to get some good rest!
Thanks. The secret to the projection shots is to use a very fast shutter speed to try and capture an individual scene, otherwise they run together. Fireworks is a lot of trial and error, and I use a special filter (a neutral density filter - it's like sunglasses for the camera, so the colors don't all wash out). I also use a tripod and shutter release. I'm still learning.

As for stamina? I'd say I am about 70%. Strong enough for a couple hours at a time, but no more. This should get better, as the Doctor said it will probably take 6 months to get rid of all the after effects. So, I was pretty happy with what I did see.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tdhc View Post
Wow...Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sticking it out to get some great pics. Hope your trip has better weather!
Thank you very much - we did have decent weather the past two days.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rhinohunter View Post
Beautiful pix of the castle projection show and the fireworks. Mine did not come out anything like that. I would like to learn how you set up to take your pix. Always so gorgeous even in the rain and crowds. Sorry I missed you on this trip. Perhaps on a later trip.
I made some comments above about the photos. I hope we can meet up, too.


Up Tomorrow: The Magic Behind the Steam Trains
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