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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 hate to say it but it seems to me that the accessibility awareness that Disney is famous for is not what it was. Both of the new Pandora rides are not truly accessible. For the boat ride you have to be able to step down into the boat, and for the Banshee ride you have to transfer to a wheelchair to get to the ride vehicle and then you need to be able to stand and mount the Banshee. This is based on the info on the WDW website. I've not heard from anyone with mobility handicaps trying these rides. In addition, I hear the Banshee ride vehicle is problematic for larger individuals. It wouldn't be fair for all the rides to be "dumbed down" to fit everyone's needs, but I was hoping that at least the boat ride would have a way for wheelchairs to roll on or at least a way to really transfer from a wheelchair directly onto a seat.
For the boat ride you have to be able to step down into the boat, and for the Banshee ride you have to transfer to a wheelchair to get to the ride vehicle and then you need to be able to stand and mount the Banshee. This is based on the info on the WDW website. I've not heard from anyone with mobility handicaps trying these rides. In addition, I hear the Banshee ride vehicle is problematic for larger individuals.
I'm a Powerchair user and attended the Pandora preview this last Monday. Both rides do require transferring. I did not ride the Banshee ride because of back issues, but the boat has quite a step down, though you can take your chair right up to the boat. I enjoyed the ride, but dreaded getting back up out of the boat most of the way. oddly getting out was easier for me than getting in. That being said I was with others, and they did help steady me.
I always though Disney did a decent job making rides accessible for those with physical disabilities. But...today I was so disappointed in Disney I wanted to cry. My favorite ride in MK is The Haunted Mansion. I have been able to use my scooter to go through the queue and then they stop the ride so I can walk on. Today I was told I couldn't take my scooter in. I would have to walk or use a wheelchair.
As a mobility disabled individual, I would suggest you try again. Many times the current CM doesn't have the inclination to do what others will gladly do for you. Maybe try again later in the day?
I've had one CM refuse to let my dad and I take our powerchairs on the Friendships - calling them ECVs (there is no "C" in my need to use it) and others let us on, no problem.
We have found Disney is great for the majority of people, but when it comes to special circumstances, they are not as accommodating anymore. My son has an unusual disability and disney at one time handled it wonderfully. Now, not so much. They have a one size fits all accommodations. I'm am sorry to hear this happened to you. But, if people keep on telling guest relations the issues that we run into maybe they will come up with something better.
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There has to be a solution to this and the Disney folk are the most creative anywhere.
I have used a scooter now for 15 years and it becomes more essential every day.
And I've enjoyed WDW solo.
This breaks my heart, but ultimately Disney is a business and liability is always a concern.
We have to be persistent and vocal so they understand both our numbers and how those numbers translate into dollars.
You would think with what I have seen lots more people seem to be using some sort of assistance to get around the parks that Disney would be making it easier for these guests needing assistance to get on and off of rides not harder. It don't make sense. I don't use assistance but I understand how someone who does would be really mad if they would be denied the use of a ride or it made really difficult for them to ride the ride.
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