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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!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

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Old 05-26-2011, 03:05 PM   #46
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I have been waiting for the TR to start! I am so envious....Italy is high on my dream trips! I can't wait to hear about it from you. Hope you are having a great time and we get to see lots of pictures!
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Old 05-26-2011, 04:20 PM   #47
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Yay, can't wait to read about your adventures in Italy! We've got a road trip to Northern Italy coming up in September so I'm especially curious about the Florence part of your trip Have fun!!!
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Old 05-27-2011, 03:51 PM   #48
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Safe Travels Sharon - have a magical vacation
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Old 05-28-2011, 09:15 AM   #49
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Have a wonderful trip! Can't wait to read all about it! Safe travels!!
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Old 05-28-2011, 10:50 PM   #50
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i would love, love, love to visit Italy some day. I am anxiously awaiting your return so I can hear and see all about it! Have a GREAT time!
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Old 05-29-2011, 08:22 AM   #51
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Wow, I almost missed this baby! Hope you arrived safely and are off exploring and finding plenty of gelato...

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Old 05-29-2011, 04:47 PM   #52
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Hi everyone! I am having an AWESOME time! The weather has been terrific so far. Rome was fabulous, and I saw pretty much everything. Our hotel was in a great location with a great rooftop view.



I got to visit all the major stuff, including


Trevi Fountain


St. Peter's Basilica & the Vatican


The Colosseum

I also dropped in at the Disney Store in Rome (the picture's on my iPod, so it'll have to wait for the TR).

Today on our way from Rome to Tuscany, we stopped off in Orvieto. Orvieto is simply stunning! Their Duomo is breathtaking!



And the view's not bad either.


I put in an offer on the castle in the background. I'd gladly move if I could live there!

We're at our home in Tuscany for the next three days (free internet here, so I might post another update).


The villa where we're staying (you can see part of it in the background) used to be one of the homes of the Medici family

Tomorrow is actually a low-key day for us. We don't have to meet until 11:00 which is practically unheard of on ABD trips! But we're spending the whole day at the villa (which, after yesterday's walking tour of Rome, sounds really nice). We'll be making pasta (which had better be good, because we have to eat it for lunch ). Then we'll have a tour of the winery here, which I'm really looking forward to. In the evening, there'll be a traditional Tuscan barbecue. It should be fun!
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Old 05-29-2011, 05:06 PM   #53
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Sounds like you are having a fabulous time!
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Old 05-29-2011, 05:49 PM   #54
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Beautiful weather and ever better views! Can't wait to hear all about it in your TR. Have fun with the pasta making (as if it would be anything but!!)
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Old 05-29-2011, 05:49 PM   #55
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Looks like a fun day ahead!
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Old 05-29-2011, 07:03 PM   #56
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It all looks wonderful! Hope the pasta you make tomorrow is yummy!
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Old 05-29-2011, 07:41 PM   #57
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I am already in love with Italy from your pics! Spending the day at the villa sounds so nice! Hope the pasta turns out
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Old 05-29-2011, 08:44 PM   #58
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon View Post



This picture is unbelievable!! It really looks like a backdrop - I love, love, love it! And all your others too! Can't wait for your TR (not to rush you back or anything...)
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Old 05-29-2011, 09:03 PM   #59
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Glad you're having a great trip! So are you giving up the cottage in Canada for the castle in Italy? Your pasta making sounds yummy!
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Old 05-29-2011, 11:30 PM   #60
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Wow!!! The places you've seen!! And that view in Tuscany. That is exactly what I picture the Italy I want to see someday looking. Can't wait to hear all the details. (Oh, and I like the short haircut too!)
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