Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
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09-10-2006, 04:06 PM
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#1
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Community Rank: Wayfarer 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Georgia
Posts: 141
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Announcing the Big Surprise
I am looking for ideas on how my sister and I can tell my DS (will be 6) and her DD (will be 7) that we are going to WDW. My DS has been twice, this will be her DD's first trip. (Her HUGE fear of the characters has prevented any earlier trips, wish us luck that this will not be an issue.) The first trip he was 3 1/2 and we just picked him up from preschool and went to the airport, he didn't know where we were going until we arrived at WDW, when he saw the sign with the over the road he screamed "We are at the Disney Channel" it was really cute. The second trip (4 1/2) we told him a few weeks before, made a paper chain and enjoyed the countdown. We would like to tell them on the morning we leave for the airport, or later if we can swing it. Please share your story or idea on how you would ANNOUNCE the big trip. Thank you in advance for all your help.
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09-10-2006, 04:28 PM
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#2
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 2,493
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
[ QUOTE ]
he screamed "We are at the Disney Channel"
[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry I don't have any suggestions but had to say that quote is priceless! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]
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09-10-2006, 06:30 PM
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#3
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Maryland
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 14,723
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
One year, we waited until the morning of our flight to surprise DS. When he woke up, we all snuggled in the bed and discussed what "we should do today". After he mentioned three or four rather mundane ideas, my DH said "we could do that OR we could jump on a plane and go to Disney!" DS eyes were wide-eyed and he quickly squealed yes! He jumped out of bed, hopped in the shower, and got dressed in about two minutes flat. Having secretly packed, we headed to the airport for our flight.
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09-11-2006, 12:33 AM
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#4
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Community Rank: Traveler 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Richmond, WI
Posts: 490
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
We get to do this on Friday this week. Our kids are in the dark on our trip.
We have a treasure hunt planned. 6 stops, each of which they will get one of the letters to the word DISNEY (scrambled). The first clue says, "Mom and Dad have planned something cool. For your next clue, go look by the pool!" The last clue will be in their closet where they will find their packed suitcases. That clue says "You have found your suitcase. Unscramble the letter that you have found to see where it is we are bound!" They will have 30 minutes to pack anything we have missed before leaving for the airport.
I cannot wait! If you can keep it a secret from them, do it! It has made our covert planning very fun. Our kids actually think my wife is sewing costumes for someone at work who is putting on the musical Peter Pan and hired my wife to sew the costumes for extra money. We said it would go to the vacation fund!! :LOL: The costumes are for MNSSHP!!
Lyle
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09-11-2006, 07:38 AM
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#5
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,526
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
*
Last edited by MattUGA; 04-16-2007 at 08:48 AM..
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09-11-2006, 08:39 PM
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#6
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Community Rank: Wayfarer
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Georgia
Posts: 141
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
Thank you for the ideas, if anyone has any others please share!!
Lyle & Jessica Orr - The scavenger hunt sounds really neat, you will have to tell us how they reacted when you return from your trip. Have fun!!
MattUGA - I agree, it is a great feeling to see the Disney World signs!! Does the UGA in your name stand for University of Georgia?
War Eagle!!
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09-11-2006, 08:48 PM
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#7
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,526
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
Yes. GO DAWGS!
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09-11-2006, 08:51 PM
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#8
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Georgia
Posts: 914
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
[ QUOTE ]
Thank you for the ideas, if anyone has any others please share!!
Lyle & Jessica Orr - The scavenger hunt sounds really neat, you will have to tell us how they reacted when you return from your trip. Have fun!!
MattUGA - I agree, it is a great feeling to see the Disney World signs!! Does the UGA in your name stand for University of Georgia?
War Eagle!!
[/ QUOTE ]
No ideas just wanted to say War Eagle!!!
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09-12-2006, 12:10 AM
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#9
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Community Rank: Traveler
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Richmond, WI
Posts: 490
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
Tonight as my wife put the finishing touches on the tinkerbell costume (for the play...right....) my daughter had to try it on for her to see that it was not too revealing with the open back. My daughter was telling her all kinds of advice to give the lady that my wife is supposedly sewing the costume for on how the girl will want to be sure to stand up really straight, etc. I almost feel bad how deep this is getting!
We are doing the 3 days to go dance and the suspense is getting worse instead of better. I think I am as excited to spill the secret as I am to go!!
We'll be sure to update with how the surprise went once we get back.
Lyle
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09-12-2006, 07:15 PM
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#10
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 2,493
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
Lyle & Jessica,
You guys are so clever! I can just about imagine how excited you are to see this whole thing unfold. Congratulations on being such great parents. Now I would give you extra credit if I thought this was ALL about the kids but something tells me you too are a little over the top when it comes to Disney. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]
[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/luck.gif[/img] on Friday and be sure to let us know when you get back how it all played out. Would love to see pictures of everyone in their costumes.
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09-12-2006, 08:24 PM
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#11
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Community Rank: Wayfarer
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Georgia
Posts: 141
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
I can't wait to hear how they react. Seeing the surprise on my DS's face was priceless on that first trip.
I can't wait to see DN's face, she is so great and loves surprises, that is why I really want the announcement to be so special.
Keep the ideas coming. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
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09-12-2006, 08:28 PM
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#12
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Volunteer State - Tennessee
Posts: 12,203
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
love your idea Lyle, hope to hear all about it!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
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09-13-2006, 01:28 AM
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#13
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Community Rank: Traveler
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Richmond, WI
Posts: 490
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
[ QUOTE ]
Now I would give you extra credit if I thought this was ALL about the kids but something tells me you too are a little over the top when it comes to Disney. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]
[/ QUOTE ]
I admit it. It is as much about us as them!
My wife says I have OCDVPD which is Obsessive Compulsive Disney Vacation Planning Disorder! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img][img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]
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09-13-2006, 09:24 AM
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#14
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Community Rank: Sightseer 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Michigan
Concierge Level: 2
Posts: 59
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
[ QUOTE ]
I admit it. It is as much about us as them!
My wife says I have OCDVPD which is Obsessive Compulsive Disney Vacation Planning Disorder! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img][img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]
[/ QUOTE ]
Finally!! A name for my illness. And I thought it was only me. I've been driving my family nuts with all my planning and spread sheets. My husband tells me I'll be too tired to enjoy our trip if I keep up like I have been. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
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09-13-2006, 11:56 AM
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#15
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Community Rank: Traveler
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Richmond, WI
Posts: 490
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Re: Announcing the Big Surprise
You won't be too tired to enjoy. Now, getting home, you may be a little tired!!
I find tht especially when I go in peak times (when I cannot avoit it) it really helps me get the most bang for my buck. The people that don't plan are the people that never go back because they felt it was a waste of time. Time=Money at WDW...gotta plan for it.
Lyle
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