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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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What an awesome day with Ohana for breakfast and an Animal Kingdom fun for the day. I especially love all your pictures of Lily. According to the primate manager Laurie arranged for us to visit with, Kashata is the one who keeps order among the gorillas, even the males answer to her. So I'm thinking Lily will grow into a strong female. You also got pictures of Stefanie giraffe!
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A full day so far!! I agree with you about the family style character meals. I'm always afraid I'm going to miss characters while going to get food. Such a fun day AK. Love all the pictures of Lily, she is so cute!!
Wow, what amazing pictures of your day at AK! From Lily, to the Nemo show! Just outstanding!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Fantastic photos!! I could watch Lily and her family all day (Mom is "Kashata"). She's the sweetest thing ever, and so inventive in her play. I just love the shots of her climbing the tree. She's gotten so strong, you'd never know she had great difficulty grasping things when she was younger. ALL your photos are wonderful. The family shots, safari shots too. I had the bread at 'Ohana for the first time on my recent trip and it won't be my last! And you top off the day with Sanaa? A perfect day at Disney.
Thanks Laurie - knew you would know her name!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Great day! I laughed imagining the faces of your raft-mates as you put on a poncho!
Can't believe our luck in finding such a perfect parade spot - shade and drinks?! Perfect!!
Thanks!! It is a GREAT spot!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop
I see that all too often. Once one life partner is gone - the other goes quickly. Kind of like they just don't want to go one without the other one. I hope she is ok.
She is doing as well as can be expected - there is some dementia, so we are hoping that might be beneficial right now? Only time will tell.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
What an awesome day with Ohana for breakfast and an Animal Kingdom fun for the day. I especially love all your pictures of Lily. According to the primate manager Laurie arranged for us to visit with, Kashata is the one who keeps order among the gorillas, even the males answer to her. So I'm thinking Lily will grow into a strong female. You also got pictures of Stefanie giraffe!
Thanks!! I am sooooooooo excited that I did get pics of Stephanie the Giraffe!!! Glad you were able to confirm that for me!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
A full day so far!! I agree with you about the family style character meals. I'm always afraid I'm going to miss characters while going to get food. Such a fun day AK. Love all the pictures of Lily, she is so cute!!
Thanks!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I'm all caught up again - what an amazing time you've been having at the parks, despite the weather at the Halloween Party.
Thanks!!
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
After a fantastic day at Animal Kingdom, it was time to head over to Animal Kingdom Lodge for our ADR at Sanaa…….one of our new favorite places!!
After we checked in, we went out to look at the savannah. Ahhh……….I can’t wait to stay here next summer with this view every day………I just might not leave the balcony!
We were soon seated at our table……kinda bummed that we didn’t get a window seat this time, however, our table was still lovely – and you can’t beat the atmosphere and food here!!! We had the same server we had last year (and of course, his name is completely escaping me right now……and this is where I started getting super lousy with my notes!) and he seemed to remember us and helped us once again choose some wonderful food!
We started with the bread assortment with several different accompaniments: Mango Chutney, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus, Tamarind Chutney, and sorry – can’t remember the other ones.
For dinner, Scott had the New York Strip:
Emily & I shared the combo of Shrimp with Green Curry Sauce, Butter Chicken and Basmati Rice.
For beverages, I had the Malawi Mango Margarita, Emily had a Shirley Temple, and Scott had a Safari Amber beer.
We actually skipped dessert this time………we were just too stuffed!!!
After an incredible, relaxing meal, we headed back to the resort to just sit and relax for awhile.
Well, relaxing for me is just not so easy – so I took some laundry, my I-pad, and a Bud Lime-A-rita to the laundry room to get some laundry done (I hate bringing home dirty clothes!).
Scott and Emily took a nap – then when I returned with the clean laundry, we headed out to Magic Kingdom…………yes, it was late………but Magic Kingdom was open very very late tonight……..3 am!!! Emily was so excited to be heading there at this hour – it was around 10pm! She wanted to stay all night…….yeah – um, no! Not happening!
When we entered the park, the parade was just ending, so we watched the end of it from the train station.
We were all ready for some dessert now – so we headed over to Adventureland and grabbed a Pineapple Dole Whip!! YUM!!!
Then we took a ride on the Jungle Cruise! Very neat at night…..however, not for photos!
Then we went into the Enchanted Tiki Room – we hadn’t been in there since the renovation.
Of course, can’t walk past Pirates of the Caribbean without taking a cruise!
Okay, so now Scott & I were both really tired……..Emily was too, although she kept saying she wasn’t!!! She was so determined to make it to 3am…….it was after midnight and I knew that we had a busy day the next day. So we stopped for a few night time photopass photos:
Then said good night to Magic Kingdom and headed to the bus back to SSR (we had opted to take the bus tonight……..as we had a few drinks before leaving the room earlier – and we knew we would be tired!!) – lucky for us, the first stop at SSR was ours and it was a short walk to our building!!
Up Next: A Royal breakfast!
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
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The perfect AK day, followed by a great dinner and the MK at midnight - no wonder you were tired! Your photos are all top notch.
Thanks! Definitely NOT top notch like yours!!! Can't wait to start playing around with Photoshop.......but I would have to load it onto my computer first
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
We were able to sleep in a bit today – after our late night out – and we had later breakfast ADR at Epcot.
Of course, after entering Epcot – we had to stop for a few photopass photos…….Emily was sporting some pretty spiffy glasses and a new Mickey shirt!
Then we took a few along the way!
We checked in at Akershus and soon they were calling the “Royal Fredsbo Family” and we were meeting Miss Belle in her beautiful ball gown:
This is another one of our favorite breakfasts – I just LOVE the potatoes here!!!! And of course the company is just grand!
First was Aurora:
Then Cinderella:
Ariel:
And Snow White:
After full bellies and new memories, we headed over to The Seas to find Nemo!
Emily found Nemo!
Then we were ready to get our imagination going and rode Figment – this is one of Emily’s favorite rides here – she just loves that little purple guy (again, another trouble maker…..sensing a trend here!).
After Figment, we headed next door to Captain EO. We had seen this last year, but this spring Emily’s dance company had done a dance to a mix of Michael Jackson songs so I think she appreciated Captain EO a bit more this time around!
After Captain EO we started making our way to World Showcase, as Scott had not had his fish & chips yet………..he absolutely loves these – but of course none of us were too hungry – so we got one order and each shared it! Got the craving out of the way without over stuffing ourselves! Of course, the birds here are always trying to get you to feed them!!! We of course, DO NOT…..and honestly I get so irritated when I see others doing so – as I know how bad this is for them.
After a quick snack, we went into England to find Pooh & Tigger……we wanted to see the new set up with Christopher’s room – it was really cute! And Tigger was just full of energy as usual!!!
Scott and Tigger had a bouncing contest!!!
We started heading back towards Future World area, but Emily wanted to stop in Canada and have a new bracelet made…………she also made one for her friend back home.
We wanted to take advantage of the Disney Visa Character meet and greet, so we headed there as it was almost time for that to open. Not only did we get our free 5x7 print, but all the photos were added to our Photopass+.
We were soon meeting Mickey, Minnie & Goofy together!!! It was a fantastic meet…….not rushed…….only us in the room with them!!! They were so much fun!!!
Scott tried to steal Minnie away from Mickey………Mickey was not too happy!
Next we rode Spaceship Earth………we tried so hard to find our pictures after, but they were no where to be found.
It was time for us to head back to the resort to rest a bit and get ready for the party!! We did a little last minute shopping at Artist Palette – I bought a new DVC Member fleece – sorry forgot to take a photo.
Up Next: A MNSSHP re-do!!!
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
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First off let me say I'm very sorry for your loss.
Your updates are coming fast and furious now. Barely able to keep up, I guess you want to get this TR out of the way before the next trip.
Nice AK day and great shot at the Lodge too.
Isn't crazy to have a park open until 3am? Honestly who stays that late?
So far sounds like a wonderful morning in Epcot. I've never done the Visa photo ops. I wanted to on my last trip but it just never worked out so now I HAVE to on my next trip.
What an awesome day with Ohana for breakfast and an Animal Kingdom fun for the day. I especially love all your pictures of Lily. According to the primate manager Laurie arranged for us to visit with, Kashata is the one who keeps order among the gorillas, even the males answer to her. So I'm thinking Lily will grow into a strong female. You also got pictures of Stefanie giraffe!
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Dinner at Sanaa looked delicious! Plus, a fun night at MK to end the day. I the breakfast at Akershus is one of my favorite too. Looks like another day of fun at Epcot!!
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I think Sanaa might be on the short list for next year - although we'll only have a couple days between Hilton Head and our cruise. So many restaurants, so little time (and money)!
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So I'm thinking Lily will grow into a strong female. You also got pictures of Stefanie giraffe! 
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From Lily, to the Nemo show! Just outstanding! 
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