Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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05-01-2005, 11:22 PM
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#1
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colonia, NJ
Concierge Level: 2
Posts: 2,517
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Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
I've left one morning/early afternoon totally open for us (how unusual!!LOL); nothing scheduled til 5:40pm at LTT in MK. I thought we could use that time for shopping/eating at DTD and/or mini-golf. I've also thought about inquiring about being the Flag Family at WL - that's an early morning thing, isn't it? Any idea how early? LOL
Anyway, is it too much running around to do DTD and mini-golf before heading to MK for our PS at 5:40pm? I believe mini-golf doesn't start til 10am; do the shops at DTD open earlier than that? I'd love to squeeze in a snack/lunch at the Earl of Sandwich too How would you work that all out? Also, my girls are 4-1/2 and 7; which mini-golf course would be the most fun for them? I was thinking Fantasia Gardens but I'd like some opinions from those of you've been there/done that. TIA
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05-02-2005, 09:50 AM
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#2
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Community Rank: Traveler
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: New Jersey
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 394
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
I definetly think that you could do Mini-Golf and DTD. I'd do the Mini-Golf first, then go have lunch and shop at DTD and then take a bus directly to the MK for your Dinner.
We've done the Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf and my kids loved it. The Winterland/Summerland looks good too. I don't think you can go wrong with either one. Check and see which one is easier to get to.
I don't know anything about the Flag Family at the WL but I think there is info. on Deb Wills site.
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05-02-2005, 05:28 PM
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#3
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,072
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
From what I've read about the Flag Family, you need to ask about it when you check in so that you will have a better chance.
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05-02-2005, 05:49 PM
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#4
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Community Rank: Trekker
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mooresville, NC
Posts: 1,985
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
Mini-golf is not too long. I think it opens either at 10 or 11. We did Winter Summerland. You take the Blizzarad beachbus and it is right next to it. If you hvae an Ap, you get 50% off. We also go a free mug for answering a trivia question at the end. We would have had plenty of time to go over to DTD. You could just head over there and eat lunch there. You'll have to allow travel time if you don't have a car because you can't get a bus to a park from DTD so you would have to go back to your (or any) hotle first & then head over to MK. You could take a bus to a monorail resort & then take the monorail to Mk. That would be fun.
HTH
Elise
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05-02-2005, 06:54 PM
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#5
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Community Rank: Globetrotter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,651
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
Yes, ask about being Flag Family when you check in - they will either have an opening, or the schedule will be filled already. Good luck, I wish we had gotten a discount so we could have stayed at WL - I was really looking forward to this opportunity.
Mini-golf: I think your girls would enjoy Winter Summerland better, unless they really like the Fantasia movie they won't know who the characters are at that course and the second course at Fantasia has no characters on it. Plus at Winter Summerland, there are 2 GREAT courses, in case they really really like it you could do both, and it is decorated so cute, regardless of which side you play - you choose either sand or snow. Lots of great photo ops also.
I would definitely play mini-golf before going to Downtown Disney, before it gets too hot later in the day and before the crowds hit.
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05-02-2005, 08:04 PM
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#6
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Community Rank: Scout
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,169
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
Since your children are younger, I would suggest Winter Summerland. My dad and I found Fantasia Gardens quite difficult (and we are "avid", and very good miniature golfers!). We found Winter Summerland very easy, and I think you would have more fun. I think you would get too frustrated with Fantasia Gardens. Good luck!
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05-02-2005, 08:13 PM
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#7
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Community Rank: Globetrotter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,651
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
[ QUOTE ]
My dad and I found Fantasia Gardens quite difficult (and we are "avid", and very good miniature golfers!).I think you would get too frustrated with Fantasia Gardens.
[/ QUOTE ]
While we are not avid mini golfers, we do enjoy a round or two while on vacation. When we went to Fantasia Gardens, we had planned to play both rounds, starting with the Fairways course. When we got there, we told the CM we wanted to play both courses, and were prepared to pay for both at that time. Luckily, he talked us into just playing one course, then coming back to pay for the second if we still wanted to. Boy, did he know what he was talking about - I have never gotten so tired playing mini golf! We should have just done the Gardens course, and if we go back there, we will know better next time!
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05-02-2005, 11:41 PM
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#8
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colonia, NJ
Concierge Level: 2
Posts: 2,517
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
Thank you all for your great advice!
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05-07-2005, 12:10 PM
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#9
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Community Rank: Trekker
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,302
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
I would try Fantasia gardens course...steer clear of the fairways course!!! It is like regular golf only 1/3 rd the size. Fantasia gardens has lots of water and fun characters. From there, walk to the Swan or dolphin and catch a bus for DTD.
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05-08-2005, 12:25 PM
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#10
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Community Rank: Scout
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,169
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
Like someone said, we played both the Fairways and the Gardens. The Fairways is very hard, and frustrating. (just like golf! LOL) The Gardens is fun, and has great holes, just is a little difficult.
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05-08-2005, 06:00 PM
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#11
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 7,386
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
The Flag Family experience at WL is awesome but it's also exceptionally popular so as already mentioned, be sure to ask about it while you're checking in. We got the chance to be the Flag Family at WL in Dec/03 and we loved it. Along with raising the flags on the roof of the WL, you get the opportunity at viewing some breathtaking scenery from up there (along with some excellent photo ops) plus you get a lovely personalized certificate (suitable for framing) commemorating the occasion. When we did it, we had to
meet Ranger Becky at the front desk at 8:15 a.m.
Joy
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05-08-2005, 09:30 PM
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#12
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Community Rank: Wayfarer
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 156
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
I'll put another vote in for Fantasia Gardens... We received tickets with our package. I have two boys age 11 and 6 at the time. They really enjoyed reading the stories at every hole and the last hole with Yensid is lots of fun. Plus it's a different side of Disney, the photos we took turned out great.
It was a nice break from the parks. Afterwards, we were able to walk to the Swan and catch a bus back to the Magic Kingdom...
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05-13-2005, 05:57 PM
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#13
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colonia, NJ
Concierge Level: 2
Posts: 2,517
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
Thanks for the info!!
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05-14-2005, 09:11 AM
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#14
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Rock Creek, Ohio USA
Posts: 2,530
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Re: Mini-Golf/DTD/WL Flag Family LOL
These ideas sound like a fun way to make your vacation even more magical.
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