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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 am trying to plan our next vacation and I am drawing a blank. My daughter will be 3 and my son will be 13. My husband is not a beach person at all. He also doesn't like cruises. I am trying to find somewhere that I can make everyone happy. I would like to stay in the U.S. if possible.We are not going back to wdw until my daughter is about 5 or 6, so that is out.
Does anyone have ideas of a vacation spot that would keep up busy for 7 to 8 days.
I was looking at Seattle area or Boston area. Need new ideas.
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Well my first thought would be Hawaii. It is beautiful and there is a lot more to do there than go to the beach. Also a trip to Washington DC could be interesting to the family. Last year we went to Vero Beach, Florida and liked that a lot but we spent a lot of time at the beach and pool.
We really enjoyed our time in Boston and I like Rob's idea of Philadelphia, another beautiful city. What about Washington DC as well? There's lots to do there.
I understand the idea of waiting until your daughter can remember, but your son is a perfect age for Washington DC. So much to see (much of it free) and it ties in to what most kids are learning in school around that time. In our experience -- and we did both cities with a stroller -- the DC Metro is much more stroller friendly than the Boston subway system.
I understand the idea of waiting until your daughter can remember, but your son is a perfect age for Washington DC. So much to see (much of it free) and it ties in to what most kids are learning in school around that time. In our experience -- and we did both cities with a stroller -- the DC Metro is much more stroller friendly than the Boston subway system.
I have thought about washington D.C. Would there be stuff in the museums and such that would entertain my daughter? I know where their age difference it is almost impossible to get something that would completely satsify both of them. My DH would go for d.c. what area is the best to stay in? What area did you stay in? How long did you go?
I have an age span with my kids too so I know the difficulties that it creates. Disney was the perfect combination now that dd is 5 and ds is 10. However, we are in the same boat again because dh doesn't want to go back and he doesn't like cruises either. It is difficult to try to keep the 3 of them happy and entertained. It isn't easy.
Hawaii might be a good place to keep all of them happy if you choose not to go to Washington. We are looking at Seattle and that way. Also the South. I know my dd is not ready for some of these things but we have to be happy too and she just has to come along and it is sometimes the little things such as a stop at the park that will keep them entertained for awhile.
Good luck.
We love the Oregon Coast...headed there in two days!!!
We rent a house that is centrally located (Lincoln City, Newport, etc.)and like to take day trips up and down the coast.
This year we're headed to the Newport Aquarium, whale watching and glass blowing. My DH loves to golf, so I take the girls (age 10 & 11) for shopping and lunch.
There is so much to do and it's not all "beach stuff". Lots of fun for all ages
I also have thought of these places, with so much history, I would like my daughter to be of an age that she would rememeber it before I travel there.
does Boston have alot of walking? I guess I could put my daughter in a stroller.
You can do lots of walking in Boston itself, visiting lots of historic sites. Boston is a very small city (especially since I'm now near NYC - Manhattan is bigger than Boston )
I also think your ds is at a great age for Washington DC! I took my oldest son there a few years ago and we both really enjoyed it. I know your dd is not old enough to get a lot out of it, but she should be fine just going along for the ride.... Most all of the attractions there are free (museums, ect...), so it's a pretty cheap trip! There are a lot of cool things there to see.... I think at 3, most places are not going to necessarily going to be geared towards her- but my kids at 3 were excited just to go places....
Personally, I would just go for it.... By the time your dd is old enough to appreciate DC and other similar places, your ds will basically be an adult and may not be travelling with you anymore.... JMHO.
Personally, I would just go for it.... By the time your dd is old enough to appreciate DC and other similar places, your ds will basically be an adult and may not be travelling with you anymore.... JMHO.
I agree. My brother and I are 13 years apart and the first vacation I remember taking together was after I was married -- when he and his teen daughter and my husband and I went to Scotland together.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hall0731
I have thought about washington D.C. Would there be stuff in the museums and such that would entertain my daughter? I know where their age difference it is almost impossible to get something that would completely satsify both of them. My DH would go for d.c. what area is the best to stay in? What area did you stay in? How long did you go?
As other posters have said, at her age -- going places is exciting enough. Though DC does have a zoo... And the Smithsonian (depending on the building you visit) has a Dumbo car, and Kermit, and trains, and a carousel. Don't think it's all lost on them, though. When my DD was 2, she came back from DC and informed everyone that the "Washington Monument is very big, the Capitol is yittle, and Mr. Yincoln is big and sits in a chair."
I would suggest staying downtown, though plenty of people stay out by the beltway and Metro in.
I've been going to DC for a conference for 20 years running. We usually stay in the "Foggy Bottom" area because our meetings are on that side of town. We have stayed at the State Plaza hotel (NY and E I think) for many years. Not glamorous by any means, but most of the rooms have kitchenettes and there's a CVS next door so it's easy to pick up OJ and milk for breakfast.
Our most recent trip we stayed at the Lombardy (2oth and I) -- nicer rooms and smack dab between two Metro stops. Marriott Metro Center is nice if you want to accummulate points. One year we got an awesome rate at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza -- another convenient downtown location -- but I haven't seen $79 rooms before or since!
Hotels and food in DC can be spendy, but most of the museums are free, so it balances out to a fairly affordable trip.