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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 was away and missed most of your TR, so I've been catching up in the past 2 days since I've been home.
Glad the flights went well. Nice visit to Sea World! Great that you got so many pennies! Love all the photos of Abby with the characters. Glad you got plenty of rides on IASW this time. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on OOP vs. DDP.
Whew! I'm sure I've forgotten some of the comments I meant to make, but that's a quick run down.
Oh, one more thing.....You mentioned locking your luggage. That could be one of the reasons it was flagged for a search.
I hope you've had an enjoyable 2 days catching up - I hope I didn't get too boring for you. And thanks for all the comments - and I'm sure somewhere along the lines you'll remember what you wanted to say. For the most part, we really did have a good time. We had fun looking for the pennies, Abby enjoyed the characters, plus all the time on IASW. As for my luggage, all of my suitcases were locked - all with those TSA locks, which apparantely they can open without destroying them. I just don't know what in my suitcase would have needed searching - it was basically all clothes and just a few HBA's. My mother's on the other hand going down had laundry detergent, dish soap, extension cords, plug strips, and all sorts of "funny" looking things but that was only searched coming home. Who knows. Maybe it was just purely random and it was just coincidence that mine was searched twice. Whatever the reason, I'm not losing sleep. It is what it is - and it's the way of the world now. If you don't ever want your luggage searched, there's only 2 other alternatives - stay home or drive. Me, I'd rather go on vacation, even fly again to get there
That is one of my favorite rides in all of Epcot. I always look for the hidden Mickey, but I never see anything more than something that MIGHT be considered ears...it's not obvious.
I get so busy looking at all the obvious things I forget all about the Hidden Mickeys that I keep telling Abby we should look for
Darlene, it sounds like over all the trip was a good one. I understand about starting out rocky and folks being on the grumpy side. I was telling DH last night about Abby checking off her bucket list and he started laughing then said "what's a bucket list". I thought this was so funny. When I explained it to him he started laughing. He said he could totally see his DD doing the same thing. She just turned 11 on Wednesday. I'm glad you are back safe and sound and maybe next time it will all go as planned. The main thing is that Abby had a wonderful time and she looked so happy in the pictures you took. Thanks for the TR. I can't wait til I will be writing one myself.
....only b/c your TR is almost over. It has been so fun to read. I'm glad everything went pretty smooth at the airport and returning the rental car (I'm always paranoid about getting rental cars back on time too). I liked the porter you got he first time, and that he was irked that the Skycaps were talking instead of doing their jobs. LOL That picture of Abby at the airport with the luggage is priceless. I had to smile too. I'm really looking forward to what you have to say about not doing the dining plan. I know that you had one day not even on property, so perhaps that worked out for you, but every year I debate...should we get the DDP or not. The past two years it has been free, so that is a no brainer, for us, but now that my youngest is 10 and is so picky and eats like a bird, we have debated it. We love the DDP b/c it is all paid for and we like that we can get a dessert if we want, but often we are too full to do so, so maybe one day we will try it w/o. Anyway, can't wait to read your take on it. Thanks for an enjoyable TR!
I'm glad things went smoothly at the airport and on your flight home. I always dread going through security at Orlando. I am normally a very easy going, laid back individual, but I have gotten so upset at the chaotic way they herd people through security at the airport in Orlando, that I wrote the TSA a letter after our trip in May 2010. I know it probably won't change things but it made me feel better.
Look forward to hearing your closing observations!
Darlene, it sounds like over all the trip was a good one. I understand about starting out rocky and folks being on the grumpy side. I was telling DH last night about Abby checking off her bucket list and he started laughing then said "what's a bucket list". I thought this was so funny. When I explained it to him he started laughing. He said he could totally see his DD doing the same thing. She just turned 11 on Wednesday. I'm glad you are back safe and sound and maybe next time it will all go as planned. The main thing is that Abby had a wonderful time and she looked so happy in the pictures you took. Thanks for the TR. I can't wait til I will be writing one myself.
Thank you. Yeah, overall our trip was a good one. It just didn't seem so at the time or when we first came home. Writing the TR has put a slightly different perspective on it. And for mainly as you said - writing it I realized what a great time Abby had and that's all that matters to me, that she have a good time. As for future trips going as planned, I doubt it . Nothing ever goes as planned. That I can live with, it's the grumpiness that I hate - but hopefully we can avoid that next time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by saibot0001
....only b/c your TR is almost over. It has been so fun to read. I'm glad everything went pretty smooth at the airport and returning the rental car (I'm always paranoid about getting rental cars back on time too). I liked the porter you got he first time, and that he was irked that the Skycaps were talking instead of doing their jobs. LOL That picture of Abby at the airport with the luggage is priceless. I had to smile too. I'm really looking forward to what you have to say about not doing the dining plan. I know that you had one day not even on property, so perhaps that worked out for you, but every year I debate...should we get the DDP or not. The past two years it has been free, so that is a no brainer, for us, but now that my youngest is 10 and is so picky and eats like a bird, we have debated it. We love the DDP b/c it is all paid for and we like that we can get a dessert if we want, but often we are too full to do so, so maybe one day we will try it w/o. Anyway, can't wait to read your take on it. Thanks for an enjoyable TR!
I'm so glad you've read my TR and enjoyed it. I still laugh about the porter - it's not often you have one employee "bad-mouthing" another one but he did it in such a way it was funny. I love the picture of Abby - and I might just submit it (if there's still time). The DDP plan is great but I'm not going to give anything away - you'll have to come back tomorrow to see what I have to say about that versus OOP. And thanks again for reading along. I'm glad you enjoyed it,
Quote:
Originally Posted by WeLuvTheWorld
I'm glad things went smoothly at the airport and on your flight home. I always dread going through security at Orlando. I am normally a very easy going, laid back individual, but I have gotten so upset at the chaotic way they herd people through security at the airport in Orlando, that I wrote the TSA a letter after our trip in May 2010. I know it probably won't change things but it made me feel better.
Look forward to hearing your closing observations!
Thanks. I don't blame you for dreading security but I don't know if it was the day (Wednesday/middle of the week) or the time (noon time/middle of the day) we went because even the regular lines weren't bad at all. I'd say maybe 3 or 4 people in each, if that. And I actually found our small local airport (TF Green) way more chaotic than Orlando - go figure. I don't know what the airport was like when you went but even if it didn't change anything, I'm glad writing the letter made you feel better.
I'll post more tomorrow sometime so you'll have to check back then for the finish to my TR.
I absolutely LOVE that picture of Abby at the airport. It just made me smile.
I completely understand the feeling when you get home like the trip didn't really happen, it was all a dream. I felt that way and we did a 17 hour drive home!!!! I swore when we left, although I loved our trip, I wouldn't be planning to go back for a while. That lasted about a week and now I am obsessed again. I'm sure in time this trip will bring only fond memories and the bumps can be used for lessons learned for future trips.
I absolutely LOVE that picture of Abby at the airport. It just made me smile.
I completely understand the feeling when you get home like the trip didn't really happen, it was all a dream. I felt that way and we did a 17 hour drive home!!!! I swore when we left, although I loved our trip, I wouldn't be planning to go back for a while. That lasted about a week and now I am obsessed again. I'm sure in time this trip will bring only fond memories and the bumps can be used for lessons learned for future trips.
Thanks Phoebe. That "dream" feeling thankfully didn't last for long. I think unpacking the next day is what made it all to real . That and writing this TR. And we're the same way - and I actually don't even think my "no more trips to Disney" even lasted a week. We were home on a Wednesday. I think by that Saturday night we were talking "the next time we go." Our bumps are most definitely lessons for future trips and yes, the trip is bringing fond memories already(a high five from a tumble monkey CHECK and "man, I gotta get me one of these" )
It's taken some time but I've finally caught up! At least I caught up before you posted your summaries! Although it seems there were ups and downs (but aren't there always?), sounds like a lot of fun was had! I have to tell you, Abby has her "princess hands" pose down pat! Love it!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
I'm happy everything went smoothly on the journey home! I'm sorry that you didn't feel like you had the vacation you wanted. The same thing happened to me after our June 2009 trip. I can't really explain why, but I just didn't feel like it was the vacation I had envisioned for us. Needless to say, my "cure" was to plan a trip for 2010.
I am looking forward to your summary, particularly about the food cost w/o DDP. I always think I'm going to do that on our trips, then I never manage to keep good track of my receipts (even with my Passporter), mainly because DH will go off and buy stuff and throw away the receipts before I can even see them!
Edited to add: I think the Photopass picture of the 3 of you with Donald in AK with everyone (including Donald) wearing a hat is adorable!
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I thought this was so funny. When I explained it to him he started laughing. He said he could totally see his DD doing the same thing. She just turned 11 on Wednesday. I'm glad you are back safe and sound and maybe next time it will all go as planned. The main thing is that Abby had a wonderful time and she looked so happy in the pictures you took. Thanks for the TR. I can't wait til I will be writing one myself.
....only b/c your TR is almost over. It has been so fun to read. I'm glad everything went pretty smooth at the airport and returning the rental car (I'm always paranoid about getting rental cars back on time too). I liked the porter you got he first time, and that he was irked that the Skycaps were talking instead of doing their jobs. LOL That picture of Abby at the airport with the luggage is priceless. I had to smile too. I'm really looking forward to what you have to say about not doing the dining plan. I know that you had one day not even on property, so perhaps that worked out for you, but every year I debate...should we get the DDP or not. The past two years it has been free, so that is a no brainer, for us, but now that my youngest is 10 and is so picky and eats like a bird, we have debated it. We love the DDP b/c it is all paid for and we like that we can get a dessert if we want, but often we are too full to do so, so maybe one day we will try it w/o. Anyway, can't wait to read your take on it. Thanks for an enjoyable TR!
. Nothing ever goes as planned. That I can live with, it's the grumpiness that I hate - but hopefully we can avoid that next time. 
)
but I've finally caught up! At least I caught up before you posted your summaries! Although it seems there were ups and downs (but aren't there always?), sounds like a lot of fun was had! I have to tell you, Abby has her "princess hands" pose down pat! Love it!
PassPorter Guide Author
Great finish to your trip report. 
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