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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I'm thinking about taking my DD to Chicago for 1 possibly 2 nights this summer. Our main purpose is to go shopping and see a show. My plan is to take the train there from Grand Rapids, so we will not have our own transportation. I'm looking for suggestions on hotels that are in a good location and reasonably priced. Even though I only live a few hours away, I've never been to Chicago, so I need help! Thanks!
We stayed at the River North Best Western once, and I still get email promotions from them. It was in a good spot for walking to what we wanted, or hopping on the El. There are other hotels I've stayed at that were better locations ( like right on Michigan Ave) but a lot more expensive.
You will love Chicago!! It's my hometown and although I moved away 21 years ago, I still miss it.
Here's another question..... What area is better, North Michigan Ave - Water Tower -Gold Coast Area or The Magnificent Mile - Streeterville Area? I'm looking on Hotwire and there are some good prices in these areas.
Are there any opinions on using Hotwire or Priceline?
We love the Hyatt on Wacker Drive, just east of Michigan Ave. It's a great location and has some wonderful views. It also is typically a Priceline hotel (I would have to research to see what area and the number of stars you would need to request for it to pop-up).
Here's another question..... What area is better, North Michigan Ave - Water Tower -Gold Coast Area or The Magnificent Mile - Streeterville Area? I'm looking on Hotwire and there are some good prices in these areas.
Are there any opinions on using Hotwire or Priceline?
We live in the suburbs and ALWAYS use Hotwire for a room downtown. Look in the Streeterville or North Michigan Ave area, anything 3 to 3.5 star or above, and you will have a great hotel in a good area. My DH just stayed downtown last month on a Saturday for a Bachelor party and Hotwired the Hyatt for $65. My brother got the Drake for $60 one Feb.
If you have any other questions, just let me know.
__________________
Michele
I'm living the dream 20 minutes from Disney! Next trip...tomorrow. Follow me on instagram at ShirtsByShell
We've stayed at the Swisshotel a couple of times and have gotten some nice packages. There's also a place called The James Hotel. It's got a bit of a "green" approach to it but we really enjoyed it. The location is right off Michigan so you can walk to the shops there and catch the bus which is one of our main sources of transportation when we go. We walked up to Water Tower and the Hancock Tower without any problems. Chicago is great, have fun!
The Palmer House is across the street from a theater and within walking distance to the Sears Tower. It is also a very short cab ride from the train station.
Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll look into them, but right now I'm thinking I'll go with Hotwire since I can get the best price with them for a 4 star hotel in the area's I'm looking at.
We take the train occasionally from Michigan to Chicago. Its a nice trip. We stay at the Omni. Its centrally located on Michigan Ave and a very nice place to stay with reasonable prices.
Here's another question..... What area is better, North Michigan Ave - Water Tower -Gold Coast Area or The Magnificent Mile - Streeterville Area? I'm looking on Hotwire and there are some good prices in these areas.
Are there any opinions on using Hotwire or Priceline?
I have an opinion! I am terrified to use them! A few years ago, my sister and her family traveled somewhere for vacation (I don't remember where). It was a holiday weekend, and they had made their reservations weeks in advance through the hotel's website.
Another family was at the front desk at the same time they were checking in: that family had used one of the on-line bargain sites and the room they signed up for and paid for was not available. (I recall that they were given a room with a king and they needed a room with 2 fulls/queens). They started complaining, the manager came out and said firmly but kindly: "I'm sorry. I can't help you. Your problem is with ______ (bargain site) and not with us. THEY are the ones who made your reservation, and THEY are the ones who you need to talk to. We're full. YOUR room is the one with the king bed. There are NO 2-bed rooms available." Of course, they then got royally ticked when DSis and her family where given one of those "Unavailable" rooms.
So - I'm always tempted to use those sites, but I'm too afraid it won't be good afterward. I have been known to call the hotel directly (THE one I want, not the 1-800 number) and tell them I've got this offer from the on-line place, can they honor it?
So - I'm always tempted to use those sites, but I'm too afraid it won't be good afterward. I have been known to call the hotel directly (THE one I want, not the 1-800 number) and tell them I've got this offer from the on-line place, can they honor it?
Hotwire now lists some hotels with bed options. My DH uses it to make reservations for his guy trips. They don't like to snuggle. I always try and call the hotel ahead of time (as we want the king beds). Sometimes they are nice about it and sometimes, like this past weekend trip to the westin in indy, they wouldnt take my request over the phone but helped me at check in. it depends on how busy they are.
__________________
Michele
I'm living the dream 20 minutes from Disney! Next trip...tomorrow. Follow me on instagram at ShirtsByShell
I went with Hotwire, so hopefully it turns out OK for us. We got the Hilton Suites - Magnificent Mile (right across the street from the Hancock Building) for $95 for the night. I couldn't find anything else to touch that price. The bed situation will not matter to us since it's just DD and I. We can share a King bed with plenty of room to spare. Plus with it being a suite hotel I could always make her sleep on the sofa bed . I'll let you know how it goes.
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I went with Hotwire, so hopefully it turns out OK for us. We got the Hilton Suites - Magnificent Mile (right across the street from the Hancock Building) for $95 for the night. I couldn't find anything else to touch that price. The bed situation will not matter to us since it's just DD and I. We can share a King bed with plenty of room to spare. Plus with it being a suite hotel I could always make her sleep on the sofa bed . I'll let you know how it goes.
Great deal! Have a good time!!!
__________________
Michele
I'm living the dream 20 minutes from Disney! Next trip...tomorrow. Follow me on instagram at ShirtsByShell
I'm happy to report that our Hotwire deal at the Hilton Suites was a fantastic room!! The room was huge, very clean and the location was perfect for us. I'm not sure I'd use Hotwire if I was taking a family vacation were location and room type were super important, but for one or two nights this was a deal that couldn't be beat. We loved Chicago and had a fantastic time!
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