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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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So I have been searching for flights for FOREVER for our August 19 to 31 trip this year. So far everything I find is upwards of $1,000 or over for my 8 year old daughter and I. We are Canadian and Air Canada and Westjet are just ridiculous right now so I have also been looking at options out of Bangor or Portland Maine. WELL, I just found a fare out of Portland to Orlando and back for $559!!!!!!!! I've never really heard anything about them before and I don't know what to do. The only sucky thing is that on the way down we stop twice. We go from Portland to Washington......Washington to Atlanta.....Atlanta to Orlando. On the way back we go from Orlando to Washington and then from Washington to Portland. I HATE flying as it terrifies me but I know I have to do it. I need some serious advice right now. I haven't seen fares like that anywhere else and I'm thinking I should grab it. ANY advice and comments would be appreciated.
I am really not able to help you with Air Tran, except that they merged with Southwest. I had the same problem too, buy now or wait. Well, I went ahead and purchased my tickets Sunday at $303.00 RT, because we know fuel is only going higher from now on through summer.
I flew AirTran for the first time in October (direct flight though...). It was the best flight I have ever been on! The boarded quickly and efficiently, we were on time, the offered drinks (and refills!) and snacks on the flight. It was a very good experience. I went with my mom and my 2 year old son. We are going back on Airtran in June (this time with DH too!)
I'm really upset that they are leaving our local airport
I would definitely book!!!
While I can't advise regarding whether or not to buy based on price (I haven't looked for/priced out flights to WDW in over a year), I can tell you about our experience on AirTran, if that helps.
We flew AirTran to MCO last year. It was our first experience with this airline. I am happy to report that everything went well. We were on time - both ways - and had no issues. It was a direct flight however with no layovers. But I had no problems and would definitely book with AirTran again.
AirTran was the cheapest flight (at the time) out of our home airport but several hundred dollars (beating Southwest which unitl last year had always been the lowest priced).
We flew Air Tran a few years ago out of Boston for the same reason as you (only airline that had a reasonable fare). It was okay - got us there safely and on-time, which is what we wanted! Just be careful though, because Air Tran had a history of changing flights after booking & not letting you know about it. Our direct flight got changed to a connecting flight, and I only found out about it when I checked my reservation. They did re-book me on a direct flight, but I was kind of irritated that they changed me and didn't notify me. Might be different now that it's part of Southwest. Good luck!
Well I went ahead and booked it. I just couldn't pass it up. I had wanted to fly Jetblue but for my dates the prices are still at about $1,100 compared to the $559 I just paid. Air Canada and Westjet in Canada want close to $2,000 which is just insane. I will check back religiously to see about our flight times. From everything I've read on here so far it seems like they change direct flights often but I didn't get a direct. I'm SO nervous about flying so the two stops on the way down may be tricky but it helps that I have my daughter with me so I HAVE to be brave lol. I'll be less likely to freak out since I have to keep her calm.
I would still love to hear more experiences from everyone about AirTran and any tips or comments you have.
I have flown Air Tran several times and have never had a problem. I haven't had them change any of my flights - that has been Continental (which I will never use again - different story). Air Tran has had some pretty good fares in the past coming out of Boston. I would fly with them again.
We usually fly Southwest, but have flown Airtran before. I thought the flight was fine, especially for the price. DH thought there wasn't enough leg room, but he's a big guy.
AirTran is my favorite airline. I've never once had a problem with them. The stops aren't ideal but for that much savings I'd do it. You'll be fine and just think that a ton of money your saving
AirTran is my favorite airline. I've never once had a problem with them. The stops aren't ideal but for that much savings I'd do it. You'll be fine and just think that a ton of money your saving
Thanks!! You are right...there is just NO beating that price. I've been waiting and waiting for other airlines to come down and it was time to make a decision. I told myself that if I found a great fare I would jump on it because you just can't predict the way the prices are going to go. Even with the two stops on the way down it actually makes less time in the air at a time so THAT works for me. We leave at 8:20 a.m. out of Portland and get into MCO at 5:20 p.m. or so. That's not a bad day considering we are making two stops. The flight home leaves at 9:20 a.m. and we get back to Portland at 1:20 p.m. with one stop so on the way home so it will be a shorter day. I had budgeted about $1,200 for flights so getting it for $559 is just a steal!
We have also flown Airtran and had a great flight. They did change our time, but not by much (about 45 minutes). For our last 2 southwest had a better price.
Good luck on your flight! You did save a ton of $$. That has to help with your decision.
I also am not a good flyer. Very nervous and always fly direct. We have flown AirTran for a few years now and have never had a serious problem. There was one time where our flight was cancelled and they put us on a flight with a connection, but we were notified well ahead of time and I was able to call and get us on a direct flight. There was also a time where we were bumped to first class at no charge, now that was awesome!
Getting to Disney always seems smoother to me rather than coming home. I'm sure it's just because i'm excited to be going, but it's just easier. Try to stay 'brave' and think of it this way...it's the fastest way to 'Mickey World' as my boyz used to call it.
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We have only used 2 airlines for our flights, airtran and us air. We like both. we have had time changes on both so I just make sure I go in and check the flight before our trips. Usually I will get an email saying times have changed. The airtran flight crew were very nice to us when we had a difficult flight home due to a death in our family. It was a very difficult situation with us needing to leave disney early and we were placed all over the plane where ever they had seats. With little children who really didnt understand our early departure from Disney and the adults upset. I was breaking down left and right on the plane trying to get the kids back next to us, the flight crew was very good to us in this difficult situation. I would fly airtran any time.
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Love the Magic of Disney Thanks Dad for our first 5 trips.
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