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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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I wrote about my Kennywood park adventure in a mini trip report in June. We had a great time & we visited there again this past Thursday.
The purpose of this visit was to watch Jamie march in the Fall Fantasy parade & it was totally awesome!! The cast:
Me, Ann, 45YO.. rides very little at Kennywood.. I love the whip tho & was disapointed I didn't ride it in June.
Dh, Jim, 38YO.. goes to Kennywood basically to EAT!! He loves all the varieties of foods there & his mission is to try a little of everything EVERY visit.
DS#2, Brendan, almost 13YO loves to ride all of the thrill rides at Kennywood
DD, Shelby..9YO social butterfly of Kennywood.. visits with all of her friends
And STARRING....
DS#1, Jamie, 14YO... marching in his first ever parade with his High School band!
Kennywood has an evening hours special price during Fall Fantasy .. It costs only $16 to ride the entire evening when entering after 5pm.. The Sunday before the parade I found a $5 off everyone in your party coupon in the paper for the special evening rates so our tickets for Jim,Brendan, Shelby & I were only $11 ( Jamie got in free with the band)
Jamie had to be at the High School at 4pm. where they had a quick run-through of the parade and then a bus took them down to Kennywood to ride. Kennywood is just over the hill from the High School ( you can see it from the football field)
Since we couldn't get into the park until after 5 & the HS & Kennywood are on the north side of WEst MIfflin & I live on the South side, I didn't want to drive all the way home so I decided to visit with my Aunt Dona who lives by the High School. She was going to come to the parade with us but the temperature was 90+ degrees & we all felt it unsafe for her especially as she has a heart condition.
I spoke to my Aunt Sue who was going to also try to come watch Jamie!
We had a nice visit with Aunt Dona & then left her house around 4:50 & got to Kennywood a little after 5pm.. It was so hot that I suggested we ride Raging Rapids first as a way to cool off & since it was so hot I thought we would dry fairly quickly as well.. ( Boy was I wrong!!)
It's starting to lightning here so I'm going to sign off the computer for the evening.. will post more tomorrow!
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Great start, Ann! Why is the park named Kennywood? I keep thinking Kenny Rogers must own the park because of Dolly Parton with her Dollywood, but I also know I am SOOO wrong! Can't wait to hear more about the park, the parade and Jamie!
Great start, Ann! Why is the park named Kennywood? I keep thinking Kenny Rogers must own the park because of Dolly Parton with her Dollywood, but I also know I am SOOO wrong! Can't wait to hear more about the park, the parade and Jamie!
Nope, not Kenny Rogers! I had always thought that a man with the last name Kenny first owned the park but Brendan asked me the same question last week & I did some research & the LAND was owned by the Kenny family & they lived in a house on the park grounds for years. In actuality, the park has been owned by the Henninger family since 1906.
I also found a little Disney funny while doing my research... After the Steelers won Super Bowl XL, Mike Logan of the Steelers ( who lived in neighboring McKeesport) did a commercial for Kennywood as a spoof of the "I'm going to Disney World" famous ad. Mikes commercial said "Forget Disney World, I want them to open up Kennywood!"
Now on to our day...
As we were driving down Hoffman blvd, I could see that the Parking lot was very full..UGH not a good sign.. Kennywood has 3 parking lot levels.. 2 paid parking areas & 1 free parking area.. The free parking area is located on a hill. We always opt for the paid parking as I do not relish the idea of riding the ski lift down to the park (I'm petrified of heights)
there is an escalator built into the hill but I'm also lazy & don't want to walk so I always opt for the paid parking.. We did get a pretty decent spot.
Now, one of the first things you see when you enter Kennywood is Phantom's Revenge roller coaster & also the Kennywood yellow arrow sign which has become an icon for the park.
These yellow arrows are all over the city & used to actually be used as direction markers on how to get to Kennywood.. The yellow signs became so popular that it is now the logo for Kennywood. Years ago, it was a trademark only of Kennywood & no one was allowed any type merchandise with that logo on it.. Even the workers. A few years ago they finally did a big marketing blitz decicated to the yellow arrows & sold any type merchandise available with the logo on it..
As I mentioned, our original plan was to ride Raging Rapids first thing to cool off & also give us time to dry off for the evening. Jim doesn't really like water rides so he opted to stay off & take pictures. The line was fairly long but I assured Brendan & Shelby that it would go fast & be worth it to cool off..
Now Ragin Rapids is very similar to Kali River rapids in WDW with one exception.. It's meaner & EVERYONE on the boat gets wet!! There is a little bridge over the ride where people can watch & take pictures complete with water guns to shoot at the boat riders ( as if we don't get wet enough ON the ride )
It didn't take long for us to board our boat & we were off.. Raging Rapids has lots of waterfalls that lull you into thinking "this isn't too bad" when you go under one.. if you are on that side of the boat you will get splashed. Then you start your descent down the rapids
Brendan waving !
there are waves & waterfalls throught most of the ride & in addition to the real life people shooting water guns at you there are animatronic's shooting water as well..
Then as you are going deeper & deeper down the hill, there is a HUGE wave of water that literally encompasses the entire boat.. 3/4 of the boat gets the brunt of the water & this time it was Brendan & I... I looked up & saw nothing but water & then :oof:: I was drenched.. not wet!! DRENCHED!! My hair was in front of my face wet!! Jim got a pic right after this.. I am shreaking in horror..
We got off this monster & I was literally wringing my shorts & top out from the water...
I had to get a photo of this cool water fountain on the way off Raging Rapids
Raging Rapids is right next to the Gold Rusher & that day was going to be the last day of operation for the ride. The Gold Rusher has been in operation since the early 1980's but I had never ridden it & decided since it was going to stop operation that day, I HAD to ride it. The premise is you are on a runaway mine car in the dark.. .. Shelby, who had ridden it in June with her friends & HATED it, kept telling me "Mom, there's spiders & bat's don't ride!!" But I had to for prosperity. I have rarely seen a line for the Gold Rusher in all the years I've been coming to K'wood but there was a HUGE line today. I guess everyone had the same idea as I did.. ride it one last time! I stood there waiting to ride, dripping & making small puddles everywhere I stopped. I was really regretting riding Raging Rapids.
Gold Rusher really was kind of a stupid ride & I can see why it's closing.. lots of animatronics ( not good ones either, very cheesy & cheap) with scenes/people jumping at you.. I decided to play it up for Shelby & just scream throught the ride.. Of course, every time I screamed, she screamed. Jim & Brendan were sitting in front of us just laughing..Well, the screams turned real when we entered a pitch black dark area & 'spiders' came down & walked across your hands & face.. UGH!! I let out a blood curling scream which only made Jim & Brendan laugh HARDER!! I decided maybe this ride was a little scary & kept my eyes closed in the bat room.. I could feel them flying around me & caught a small glimpse of them but kept my eyes closed for the most part.
We got off the gold rusher & Jim & Brendan wanted to ride the Thunderbolt.. They went to get in line & Shelby & I went to find a bench to sit & try to dry off. About 1 minute later, the skies opened up & it started pouring rain! I mean huge drops, then thunder & large bolts of lightning.. Jim & Brendan joined us & we all ran for cover but stll got even MORE wet . I looked over & saw that the Pit Fall was stuck!! This is a 251' free fall drop style ride.. It was stuck mid drop!! They did eventually get it slowly down & an announcement was made that all rides were suspending operation.
As we were standing in a store front for cover from the rain, we see Jamie, his girlfriend & a bunch of their friends running towards us. As fast as the rain came, it stopped. One nice thing the rain did was lower the humidity a lot. Jamie & his friends took off to ride some more
By this time Jim was clammoring for food.. he HAD to have potato patch fries NOW! Unfortunately with the rides being shut down all of the food places were packed!! We saw the line for the hot sausage was short & that is one of my fave foods at K'wood, I jumped in line & got myself a sandwich. The line for themian potato patch fries concession was HUGE so we walked into Lost Kennywood as they have a smaller potato patch stand there.. It too was a long line but not as crazy long as the potato patch so Jim got in line while I devoured my hot sausage. When the kids were little & K'wood had a general admission price ($3) Jim & I used to go to K'wood in the evening just to eat a hot sausage sandwich & walk around.
They finally opened up the rides after being shut down for almost an hour. Brendan & Shelby went on the Wave Swinger. While I watched the operators start The Swing shot.. It looked scary to me & I knew I'd never ride that!! Bren & Shelby went there next..
It was now 7:15pm & I wanted to find a spot to watch the parade which started at 8pm. My Aunt Sue had mentioned by Noah's Ark so I headed that way. Obviously, it was a good spot as several other band parents had already staked out a spot. I found a bench & parked my butt there & visited with the other band parents.
Brendan & Shelby got antsy so we sent them off to ride the turtle. The line for the main potato patch had gone down considerably so after they rode, Jim also sent Brendan off for another order of fries with cheese ( & vinegar & ketchup) I opted for a fruit parfait.
Well, around 7:55 I could feel the excitement in the air & could only imagine what
Jamie was feeling at that moment.. I thought of how excited he must be & started to cry!! Jim looked at me & I said "If I'm a basket case in Kennywood, what am I going to be like in Disney world??"
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first up was the Starlets... (cheerleader/dancers)
then the silks.. ( In my HS days, they were called flag girls)..
Jamie's girlfriend, Lindsay is a silk & she was stopped right in front of us so of course, I was snapping away. Later on her Mom told her & Jamie that she only was able to take one photo from her vantage point to which Jamie replied "Don't worry, My Mom took SEVERAL!"
We called this one.. NINJA LINDSAY.. looks like she is preparing to spear someone!!
then the band...
& finally JAMIE!!!!.. He is the A in T-I-T-A-N-S...
Brendan (also a tuba player) commented that Jamie was tuba synching.. he just knew he didn't have his mouthpiece.. It was true! Jamie told us after the parade that he lost his mouthpiece at the school during run through so his fellow tuba player told him how to fake it.. He also lost a valve during the parade as well ( hopefully it was just freshman jitters)
I was still soooo proud of him & he looked so grown up!!!
more floats..
'ad' for Phantom Fright nights.. a haunted kennywood that happens all of October
& finally.. Santa himself!! I can still remember this same version of the float when I was little so K'wood hasn't changed their Santa 'theme' at all
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oof:: I was drenched.. not wet!! DRENCHED!!
My hair was in front of my face wet!! Jim got a pic right after this.. I am shreaking in horror.. 
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