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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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'm so Disappointed
We booked Grand Californian for Sept 13 - 16 and I was so excited about staying here. I kind of figured that one of our favorites, Haunted Mansion would be closed during that time so that the Holidays overlay can be completed. Today I got the newsletter from Mousesavers and not only will Haunted Mansion be closed, but so will Space Mountain.
Refurbishment/Closure/Update Schedule at Disneyland in California
Current
Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years (Disneyland) closed through 12/16/09 to re-install Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln to the Opera House.
Orange Stinger (DCA) closed through 4/28/10 for refurbishment.
Upcoming
Pinocchio's Daring Journey (Disneyland) closed 7/20/09 - 8/14/09 for refurbishment.
The Enchanted Cottage (Disneyland) closed 7/29/09 - 11/17/09 for refurbishment.
Casey Jr. Circus Trains (Disneyland) closed 8/24/09 - 11/20/09 for refurbishment.
Storybook Land Canal Boats (Disneyland) closed 8/24/09 - 11/20/09 for refurbishment.
Mark Twain Riverboat (Disneyland) closed 9/8/09 - 9/10/09 for refurbishment.
Space Mountain (Disneyland) closed 9/8/09 - 9/24/09 for refurbishment.
Minnie's House (Disneyland) closed 9/9/09 for refurbishment.
I know exactly what you mean - nothing spoils a trip more for me than having fave rides closed. I know I can catch them another time, but it does leave a bit of a hole in a trip.
I do understand that Disney have to do refurbs though.
I am going to add my 2 cents here. Did they even think about this before they decided to close Space Mountain. This is the D23 convention. There are going to be tons of Disney fans (me and DH being two of them) there. I know my plans include the expo and plenty of time in the parks. Sorry to sound negative but this is very dissapointing.
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I read somewhere about Space Mountain is also getting a Halloween related overlay (If I find it again, I'll post the link) and I can understand why they have to close it, but why at the same time as Haunted Mansion. Those are two major attractions. My plans are made and I'm not cancelling but that doesn't mean I'm not disappointed and plan on sending Disney Guest Communications a letter.
I know that it's disappointing, but regular systems checks and refurbishment is vital to the safety of the rides. It has to be done at some point and September is a slow time. I'm not sayin' that it doesn't stink, because it does, but it needs to be done.
For a glimmer of hope, when I was there in January there were several rides that were supposed to be closed while I was there. At least three of them had soft re-openings and we were able to ride.
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The closures have turned into a positive for me.
Since my DH's favorite ride at DL is the Haunted Mansion Holidays and he's so disappointed about the closure during our Sept. trip, we're going back in November for just 2 nights, celebrating his birthday. Nothing like a good excuse to go back to Disneyland.
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