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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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By way of an introduction I am Randy. I am a lifelong person with a disability (wheelchair user since 1985) with Refractory Ricketts (Genetic, degenerative bone disease). My joints are all effected but my legs are worse with my legs being severely deformed. I can stand and pivot to transfer but can't stand for long periods or walk.
I am VERY lucky to lead a productive life (27+ years in Law Enforcement as a E911 Communications Officer) I've been married for 20 years and have two great kids.
I have always been active in the disability community and when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed back in 1990 I was picked to be one of 150 people across the country to receive Federal training (through the USDOJ, EEOC and DREDF) on ADA Compliance.
Since that training I have spent the last 20 years working with businesses, cities, governments and people with disabilities to help educate, implement and enforce the ADA. I am considered an expert witness on the ADA, Access and Disability Policy and regularly am called to help with ADA and Disability related cases across the country.
If I can be a resource to this group (I AM A DISNEY JUNKIE !! LOL) or the members, please don't hesitate to msg, email or call me.
Now my question.....My family and I will be at WDW for Christmas this year (Dec 20 - 27) and we know the crowds will be HUGE. We have an early morning ADR on our first full day (Dec 21) in MK so the guest Relations Office will not likely be open. Is there a way to go to Guest Relations on our arrival day (Dec 20) to just get my card and leave without using one of our ticket days to avoid trying to fight back through the crowds after breakfast on Monday ? Is there a way to get the card through our resort ?
Sorry for what are probably silly questions. We have always stayed offsite so the whole EMH, early ADR, Resort desk things are all new to us.
We are very excited, as you might imagine, and I look forward to getting to know everyone here at passporters...I am on several other boards (WDW & Intercot) so may know some of you already.
Thanks for the help !
RGW
__________________
27 years in Law Enforcement (E911 Comm Officer) - serve 22 Towns and 56 Agencies (over 900 Sq miles)
Wheelchair user - Federally Trained Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Consultant.
Expert Witness on ADA, Access and Disability Policy.
Sing Bass in a Barbershop Quartet - I've got a Great Family of Disney Junkies !
DVC Members since 12/31/09 !! BLT
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
If I can be a resource to this group (I AM A DISNEY JUNKIE !! LOL) or the members, please don't hesitate to msg, email or call me.
Now my question.....My family and I will be at WDW for Christmas this year (Dec 20 - 27) and we know the crowds will be HUGE. We have an early morning ADR on our first full day (Dec 21) in MK so the guest Relations Office will not likely be open. Is there a way to go to Guest Relations on our arrival day (Dec 20) to just get my card and leave without using one of our ticket days to avoid trying to fight back through the crowds after breakfast on Monday ? Is there a way to get the card through our resort ?
Sorry for what are probably silly questions. We have always stayed offsite so the whole EMH, early ADR, Resort desk things are all new to us.
We are very excited, as you might imagine, and I look forward to getting to know everyone here at passporters...I am on several other boards (WDW & Intercot) so may know some of you already.
Thanks for the help !
RGW
Hello there, Randy, and welcome to the group.
The first thing I wanted to say is the best way to be a resource here is to check in with the posted questions and answer in the threads. That way, others can see the conversation (especially some of our shy readers) AND your comments will be archived for other people to look up years later. You sound like you would have some great advice to offer.
I like to suggest calling ahead to your resort or the general Disney info number just to be certain that you have the most up-to-date info. (407-939-6244)
Guest Relations are inside all four parks, and they also have Guest Services at all the resorts. In justa bout any case i can think of, you would need to use a park pass to go inside the parks for guest relations. You would not need it to speak to guest services at the resort. I put in a call to Disney, and the person I spoke to said the following:
You can't get a Guest Assistance Card (GAC) at the resorts. You must go inside to Guest Relations BUT if you are in a wheelchair, you don't really need a GAC to use the modifications that you need for wheelcair accessibility. Some people suggest getting the GAC even if you are in a wheelchair but, if you decide to do that, you don't have to do it first thing.
Also, on the morning of your dining reservation, if you bring your reservation number, they will allow you into the parks whenever you get there. Now, there is a great way to beat the crowds!
Welcome to Passporters!
I agree with Sandy, I would call them & get the info you need.
I believe if you go into the park with a the early ADR you will probably find Guest relations open.. You can also stop in after your meal, as they are right on Main street..
Have a magical trip..
Actually if I remember correctly I believe Epcot has a Guest Relations window that is actually outside of the main gates. It is where everyone is told to go to check in for the tours, even though they have now installed a tour garden there. I believe it is on the right hand side of the ticket windows on the opposite side of security. If you are coming in via the buses, you will pass it on your right as you are making your way towards the entrance. It's near the package pickup location.
27 years in Law Enforcement (E911 Comm Officer) - serve 22 Towns and 56 Agencies (over 900 Sq miles)
Wheelchair user - Federally Trained Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Consultant.
Expert Witness on ADA, Access and Disability Policy.
Sing Bass in a Barbershop Quartet - I've got a Great Family of Disney Junkies !
DVC Members since 12/31/09 !! BLT
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.
I also wanted to say welcome and to let you know that my DH is in a wheelchair as well. He has no movement on his left side but can also stand and pivot. We have never used a GAC . The CM's have always been very helpful getting us through the lines.
I got a GAC on our last trip and to be honest I think I may have only used it once. I guess I just figured it was better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
__________________
27 years in Law Enforcement (E911 Comm Officer) - serve 22 Towns and 56 Agencies (over 900 Sq miles)
Wheelchair user - Federally Trained Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Consultant.
Expert Witness on ADA, Access and Disability Policy.
Sing Bass in a Barbershop Quartet - I've got a Great Family of Disney Junkies !
DVC Members since 12/31/09 !! BLT
WOW! This shows how my memory is going! For some reason, I thought I remembered a guest services right inside the gate and to the left at Epcot. The same with Hollywood Studios. Maybe, though, that was not guest services I was visiting because I had some questions about an article, not about a GAC.
I also have a lousy sense of direction, so that does not help.
Thanks, everyone, for getting the RIGHT info out there! That is one of the things that is great on these boards!
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Looks like you've gotten a lot of great feedback...just would like to say to the boards!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick
WOW! This shows how my memory is going! For some reason, I thought I remembered a guest services right inside the gate and to the left at Epcot. The same with Hollywood Studios. Maybe, though, that was not guest services I was visiting because I had some questions about an article, not about a GAC.
You're not losing it, Sandra! Both parks have a guest services just inside the gates. Both are off to the left after entering the parks - Epcot's is a little farther in...just past the shop & restrooms.
You're not losing it, Sandra! Both parks have a guest services just inside the gates. Both are off to the left after entering the parks - Epcot's is a little farther in...just past the shop & restrooms.
That is what I remember, but it seems that people are also getting GACs outside the parks.
Are there also guest services outside the parks, too?
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