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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Hi
Well I decieded not to wait for AP rates or codes, wanted to get those ressies made for Thanksgiving.
I had to call Disney 3 times to get it done
First it takes several computer options to find a human voice and the frist two I talked to didn't have that Disney knowledge or spirit. the First one I talked to knew less than I did already I hung up quickly when I found that out.
The 3rd cast memeber was friendly and got the room ressies made fairly easily. He had some trouble with a couple questions, but by the most part did ok.
So I am all set, now let's hope codes or AP come out soon to help with the cost.
Boy was I disappointed. Two years ago when I called I got a great cast member first thing on the phone. Not only did she recommend accomadations but great places to eat and what they had to offer there. She was amazing and we talked for quite a while. I made ressies, ordered passes and made Thanksgiving all at one time, plus I went away with other PS I wanted to make at the 90 day mark and a very excited feeling.
I miss that part of disney. I know I know computers save them money, less cast members, but I miss that personal touch. It is so hard to find a CM that can help you anymore.
My last few calls have been great, but I had a very rude CM when I called to change the number on our Illuminations cruise last year. She was not at all helpful, short tempered and didn't answer any of my questions. I thought maybe she was having a bad day.
I know what you mean. Our last trip was in 2002 and before that it had been ten years. There was a noticeable difference. I haven't really encountered rude CMs, but there just doesn't seem to be the level of knowledge and helpfulness that there was in the past. I wonder if they've had cutbacks in training programs and the like, or if it's just more difficult to get good CMs. I've had a couple this time around that were great, very helpful and friendly, and two or three where DH or I have hung up and just said, "not very Disney-like". It's too bad.
I have also noticed the decline in CM friendliness the last few times I have talking to people on the phone. It really makes me sad because the amazing customer service you get from Disney has always been what made everything so wonderful. I hope Disney is just going through a slight rut and this is not something that is going to be permanent!
Yes, I absolutely loathe having to press numbers, listen to more menus, press more numbers, etc. Even worse are the companies that don't even have a live person as an option
Glad you've got your reservations done Marylee! I luckily haven't experienced too many unfriendly CMs on the phone, but I agree is does take the magic out of it
I, too, have found the call center CM's a lot less "magical." I don't know if it's because they get less training in customer service or what, but I've been disappointed in the past when I've called.
When I called for PS's Saturday morning, the CM that I spoke to was very friendly and knowledgeable. Said he had been working at WDW for 14+ years and that he loved being able to help people. He went on and on about all the restaurants and told me he was trying to think of ways he could make my birthday more special my own DH doesn't do THAT!!! ) I felt bad knowing I was holding up the line for more people calling in to make their PS arrangements, but it was nice to have a CM that loved his job as much as he did and was willing to share all of his knowledge about everything Disney with me!!!
I am glad it is not just me! I have had several really bad experiences with CM's while planning our December trip. Ive never had this happen before and was really disappointed. Even though we have been many times in the past, this trip is WAY more special because of the reasons for it. I am wanting to do stuff we havent done and trying to get help has been like pulling teeth. At one point, when I cancelled a reservation because my FIL was able to get a military discount (84.00 a night at POFQ!!!! at CHRISTMAS!!!), the CM pretty much chewed me out when I told him why I was canceling!
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I hung up quickly when I found that out.
now let's hope codes or AP come out soon to help with the cost.
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