early closing hours for three weeks in may--why? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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 looking at the park hours for both US and IoA for the week we're going in may, and the latest either are open is 7pm. in fact, they both close at FIVE pm on the friday night we will be there (and the friday night before and after, so it can't be a special event). looking in april--three weeks before we go--both are open until 9 or 10 at night, every night.
why would this be? any chance of it changing? because that kind of really, really stinks.
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grad night three friday nights in a row? and three saturday nights in a row? if that's what it is, i'm seriously considering canceling and just doing disney. 5pm? really?
EDIT--i looked up gradbash, and it isn't that weekend. i was very concerned about that (i'm not into dj ANYONE) so that's good--right?
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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IOA and Universal seem to close early all the time. I've been at Spring Break and in November and both times the parks closed around 7pm if I remember right. We never stayed until closing because we were able to accomplish what we wanted by 3pm-ish each day. We used the late afternoon for swimming and then had a nice meal out and shopping at CityWalk or went to a movie (or rented one in the room).
The nights they are closing at 5 pm are either the gradbash (first weekend in May) or the middle school grad night (8th graders) (May 13th and May 20th). The parks would be open later the last 2 weeks of April since that is spring break time.
The nights they are closing at 5 pm are either the gradbash (first weekend in May) or the middle school grad night (8th graders) (May 13th and May 20th). The parks would be open later the last 2 weeks of April since that is spring break time.
oh dear god...it is middle school grad night.
well that settles it. we're canceling our reservations. i teach 8th grade--i just can't do thousands of them whist on vacation. i think that's fair, don't you?
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For the most part the kids won't be in the parks until the park empties for the Day Guests. Either parks Disney/USO/IOA will have children in them of all ages, but the kids going to the Grad Parties won't show up in masses until around 4:30 and they are kept out of the way in a part of City Walk. Then when the park has closed they start letting them in.
We had dinner at Margaritaville one night last year during Grad Bash and they were all kept in a separate waiting area.
I wouldn't cancel a trip because Kids will be there. Otherwise you will never get to go. There are Grad Bashes, they have tour groups that go with kids of all ages all year long. Some from other countries, some from here.
As a previous poster said if you get there at opening and have a good touring plan you should be able to see and do most of the park before 4pm. Then you could leave have a nice meal and enjoy the resort or find an activity close to USO/IOA on I-Drive to spend your evening.
But its your vacation and if you feel that it wouldn't work out by all means change your plans. But I don't think you'll have that many kids during the day.
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ok--sorry. i didn't mean to be overly negative. everyone reading this should know that i typed my previous response during the only break i had today (20 minutes) and the rest was filled with cupcakes and fund raisers and middle school dances (with live bands and inflatable guitars....seriously.) thus the negativity towards middle school grad night. however, we will still be going to universal, and i'm sure it will all be fine.
but silver lining--this event may have helped me convince my husband to use that day for AK/Epcot, as we have 3.5 days at US (and only really need 2.5).
I understand the need for the "kidless" time. My oldest had Friday off and I'm willing to sell all 3 at the fair price of $10, yup that's all I'll pay you to take them.
I think Epcot would be a great pick. It's a favorite here, even the little kids. There is so much for your book there too.
I understand the need for the "kidless" time. My oldest had Friday off and I'm willing to sell all 3 at the fair price of $10, yup that's all I'll pay you to take them.
I think Epcot would be a great pick. It's a favorite here, even the little kids. There is so much for your book there too.
Love it!
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ok--sorry. i didn't mean to be overly negative. everyone reading this should know that i typed my previous response during the only break i had today (20 minutes) and the rest was filled with cupcakes and fund raisers and middle school dances (with live bands and inflatable guitars....seriously.) thus the negativity towards middle school grad night. however, we will still be going to universal, and i'm sure it will all be fine.
but silver lining--this event may have helped me convince my husband to use that day for AK/Epcot, as we have 3.5 days at US (and only really need 2.5).
Understand where you are coming from. I 'volunteered' at DS school for a field trip to the Science Center. Really needed one of those lovely little drinks you posted a picture of in your TR. Can't imagine teaching Middle Schoolers all day..you are a saint!
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