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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 have all my Disney dining planned for our trip in May (can't wait!), but now we're going to try to fit in a visit to Universal Studios/IoA as well, and there isn't as much info on food choices, menus, etc. Does anyone know what the food policy is at Universal? (bringing in snacks, bottled water, etc.). Any recommendations for good places to eat in or around, or to/from WDW? Thanks!
I'm not sure what Universal's policy is, but we were able to bring in a backpack that had some nutri-grain bars and peanut butter crackers in it.
Universal and Islands of Adventure have a few snack carts and a few counter service establishments, along with a few sit down restaurants.
Additionally, Universal CityWalk is located on the pathway that leads from the parking garage to the theme parks. There are quite a few dining choices there.
Cinna-Bon
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe
Emeril's
PastAmore
NASCAR Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
I've brought in water bottles many times with no problems. I've also had granola bars or similar snacks in my bag. I was checked by security and they didn't say anything. But be prepared to leave your bag or pack behind - they won't allow them on most of the rides. There are free lockers where you can store your stuff while you ride.
Just got back from there yesterday, and had no problems bringing in water bottles and snacks. There are a ton of places to eat, both counter service and full service restaurants, as well as "cart" type places. Have fun!
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First trip DW--Nov. 1975; Senior Class Trip DW--Oct. 1979; First trip w/kids--Oct. 1995; Halloween at DW--Oct. 2002; Spring Break at DW--April 2004; Christmas/Pop Warner Nationals-POR--Dec. 2005;Cruisin'--April 2008; Mom/Son trip-POP--March 2010;Taggin' along w/DD on DH's conference-BWI--Oct. 2011; 50th birthday with the Gartner Geeks--Adults only!--BWI--Oct. 2012; The Trip That Almost Wasn't--BWI--Oct. 2013; We climbed The Summit (National Cheer Competition)--ASMovies--May 2014
Officially, Universal only allows outside foods of baby food or bottled water. Unofficially, I've known people to bring sandwiches in their backpack and security just waives them through. The people clearly show security their sandwiches, but the food isn't confsicated or they aren't denied entry. I think small snacks are good. A soft lunchbox-type case might be OK. If you drag in the big cooler with your turkey dinner in it, you might be asked to leave it in your car.
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No one has mentioned if you need to make dinner reservations anywhere. I did read on the website that they have a character breakfast with Spider Man, but if I need to make reservations, I would like to do that.
Reservations are accepted at Emeril's, Tchop Chop, Mythos, and Lombard's Landing. If you're going to Emeril's or Tchop Chop, the earlier you call for reservations, the better.
I couldn't find information if you need to make reservations for the character dinner at the Royal Pacific Resort. You might want to call them and ask.
Recommendations for good places to eat? Depends if you want table service or counter service. We kinda felt that a lot of the restaurants at CitiWalk were the same thing - glorified hamburgers, etc. Like the Hard Rock. Our favorite counter service meals are at the hot dog stand next to Jaws in US - they have Nathan's hot dogs and my DH loves them! At IOA we really liked the Enchanted Oak. The atmosphere inside this restaurant is really cool. You must go inside for a look-sie, even if you don't eat there.
Never been to Mythos in IOA, but I've only heard great things about it. We mainly do counter service at Universal and leave our finer dining to WDW.
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Food options at Universal
Does anyone know what the food policy is at Universal? (bringing in snacks, bottled water, etc.). Any recommendations for good places to eat in or around, or to/from WDW? Thanks!
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