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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
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10-05-2002, 11:06 PM
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#1
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Community Rank: Wayfarer 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 102
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How can I make it more magical?
My friend and her boys are arriving at Disney for a 10 day vacation. Their dad just passed away last week. My friend decided that they needed to get away. Her boys 6 and 9 have never been to Disney. I will be joining them 1/2 way through their trip with my kids. I wanted to do something very special for them. They need to have a magical trip! I have already gone to giftsofalifetime and order they boys a name badge, autograph book, and pen to be delivered to their house before their trip.
Any suggestion???
Thanks,
Jennifer
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10-05-2002, 11:29 PM
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#2
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Thurmont, MD USA
Posts: 893
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Re: How can I make it more magical?
Jennifer -- It's so nice of you to be such a good friend to try and make their trip extra special. Since the boys have never been before, the entire trip will be so incredible for them....
How soon until you go?? If you have time to get the boys the book Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids, by Kids 2003 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...435351-0320035 before they go, it will be a wonderful way for them to anticipate their trip! (and help in the planning!)
Also, get them each some Disney Dollars for their trip! They will love spending their own money...and especially with Disney character faces on them!
A camera (even the "cheapy" throw away kind...with their name & address on it in case they lose it!) would be nice, so they can snap important photos....also take lots of pictures for them!
I would also think that taking them to one of the character meals would be a lot of fun for them....Chef Mickey's is soooo "Disney"!!!
Another fun thing to do with the boys is to ride in the front car of the monorail with the "driver". If you want to do this, you will need to board at one of the resorts (Poly or Cont-- if you are coming from MK, then get off at one of these resorts and then go and reboard...it is virtually impossible to get in the front car from MK!) Pull one of the CM's aside and explain that you want this trip to be special for the boys, and I'm sure they will do their best to get them on!
Have you also thought about trying to book the Pirate Cruise for the boys???? They would love it!! And it might be a nice time for "Mom" and you to relax a bit and do something "adult"...like tea in the Grand Floridian....
Whatever you end up doing, I'm sure you will all have a wonderful trip!! |
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10-06-2002, 01:44 AM
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#3
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Community Rank: Passenger 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Posts: 48
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Re: How can I make it more magical?
Awesome suggestions, Kecall!
Jennifer, you are really being a true friend by thinking of the entire family at this difficult time. Your thoughtfulness is true Disney magic....
Another idea would be to have someone already at the park send a quick post card "from Mickey" to the boys in anticipation of the trip. "Can't wait to see you guys!" or something fun like that. Perhaps another PassPorter person out there could help you out with this?!?
My heart goes out to your friend and her family and to you.
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10-06-2002, 09:07 AM
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#4
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Community Rank: Wayfarer
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Holland Patent, NY
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 122
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Re: How can I make it more magical?
We just got back. Before we left I called the WDW florist and had a welcome basket sent to our hotel the day we arrived for my son(6). The basket contained: a disposable camera, mickey ears, autograph book and pen, mickey pretzels, mickey chocolate/coconut candy and I added a mylar balloon. My son thought Mickey left it for him and he loved it.
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10-06-2002, 09:34 AM
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#5
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,478
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Re: How can I make it more magical?
Jennifer, that is a heartwrenching situation. My heart also goes out to your friend and her children. I'm wondering if your friend has a special character breakfast or lunch planned? You could let someone in charge know when you arrive for the meal, about the situation, and perhaps Mickey and the gang could give the boys a little extra attention.
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10-06-2002, 02:24 PM
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#6
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Community Rank: Adventurer
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Southwest Georgia
Posts: 519
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Re: How can I make it more magical?
REalize that this is being planned to be a magical trip, but emotionally they may take a nose dive when they get there- It is good that you are joining them and will be making the group larger than thier family unit...bring tissue as there are sure to be tears..Allow your friend some down time with you to talk and no matter what- remember you are ALL going thru the greif process. I dont know that your friend is up for planing the perfect first few days..also if your all plannig on staying together when you arrive- they may have already done some of the things your kids will want to do..So get a heads up on her "plans" before you make yours. Let the magic happen..it will if you just give it a chance.
Sending pixie dust and prayers for all concerned.
Till next I post,
PEG
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10-07-2002, 12:20 AM
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#7
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Community Rank: Wayfarer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 102
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Re: How can I make it more magical?
I called about the Pirate Cruise and it is being refurbished. I did call and make PS for Tony's Town Square - Pooh lunch and Chef Mickey's breakfast.
I am going to order the book for them. Cindy is taking the boys to get Disney Dollars.
What else is great to do at Disney??
Thanks again!
Jennifer
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10-07-2002, 12:44 AM
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#8
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: In the state of Disney Dreaming!
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 10,572
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Re: How can I make it more magical?
My boys love video games. To me it seems crazy spending the money for Disney and having them in the arcade, but it's part of what they love to do. My DH says it's a guy thing, let them do what they want.
Space Mountain is the spot to go. After the ride, make sure you have quarters so the boys can just go wild. This would give you time to sit right outside and relax and chat.
Another guy thing is the shooting gallery in Frontierland.
Tom Sawyer Island. It is a great spot to run wild and see an old fort and cave. Boys love that!
I think that even though their father is gone, this will help the boys know they can be boys. They can do the things that guys like to do.
Maybe some of you will think I'm off base, but I saw this happen to my nephew when his father died.
He was 10 and my sister didn't do things with him that his dad would have done. He missed out on a lot of sports, games and things that sometimes Moms don't think are important or Moms think "if he wanted to do that, he should have asked" mentality.
Just a thought!
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10-07-2002, 09:38 AM
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#9
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Community Rank: Trekker 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Western Pa
Posts: 1,500
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Re: How can I make it more magical?
One thing my boys loved to do was collect pressed pennies. So how about a collecting book, roll of new shiny pennies and 2 rolls of quarters. By the end of our trip dh and I were so tired of those machines.....
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