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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Well this is my first family trip to US. I ws there once before over 10 years ago. And from looking at all the maps a lot has changed.
There will be myself, husband and 2 sons age 7 & 8. Which on site resort is best for that age group. I like the look of HRH but am afraid that it may not be a good hotel for kids that age. I was thinking more along the lines of RPR for this trip. What are your opinions.
Also are 2 full days enough. We would get there on a Monday and be at the resort by afternoon (hopefully). ANd we would leave Thursday morning. Or Get there Sunday and leave Thursday morning. How many days are actually needed at US. This would be the last we of August becuase of lines.
Is there anywhere special that I need to go having 2 boys that I may not be aware of from just the part maps.
Any advise is greatly appreciated
We stayed onsite at Disney, but went over to US/IOA for two days in August. It was plenty of time for us to see the parks.
Our kids enjoyed Suessland at IOA, the exploration center at Jurrasic Park (IOA), and the Flying Pteradons (IOA). There was also another rollercoaster at IOA (small one) that we went on about 3 or 4 times (they were too short for most of the other big coasters).
At US, the loved Shrek, Jimmy Neutron, the water park (Curious George) , ET, and the Woody Woodpecker roller coaster and play area (kind of like Honey I Shrunk the kids playground at MGM).
the jurassic park discovery center is pretty neat too. if you're lucky, you can witness a dinosaur hatching in front of your eyes, or they have a baby triceratops they sometimes walk around.
i think the small coaster referred to above is the flying unicorn.
You can't go wrong with either resort! I stayed at RPR in 2004 and loved it! It was a very laid back atmosphere and the decor was just beautiful! I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone!
For me 2 full days would be enough esp during off season.
Welcome to the Passporter boards and to the Universal forum mseg16222!
I think HRH would be fine for your family. I don't think theming is too sofisticated that they would not enjoy themselves. Do they like water slides? The pool at the HRH is the best anywhere in Orlando, according to my kids. I've done it myself a few times, it's pretty fun. That could be a big draw for them. The HR pool also has zero entry and a sandy beach side.
If they are not into slides they may like the pool at the RP better as it does not have a slide but a water play area instead. Both pools are very kid friendly.
The rooms at both resorts are equally nice and have similar perks. The bathroom at the HR is a little larger and has an extra sink.
The biggest different (besides price) is the location to the parks. HR is closer to both parks and much much closer to USF. So another factor in deciding which resort is which park you think you might spend more time in.
2 full days with FOTL access (front of the line - for Universal resort guests) should give you enough time. You can go to the resort the morning you arrive, and although you probably won't be able to check into your room, you can get your room keys and head to the parks. They will call you when your room is ready. And the day you check out your room keys are good until around 3-4 pm. At every attraction each guest should show their room key and they will be directed to the Express line. As the Mastercard commercial puts it "Priceless"
My advice: don't forget the shows. There is a very funny animal show in USF. Our favorite is the Gruesome Horror Make Up Show, we've seen it several times and it is always hilarious! Don't sit in the front if you don't want to be picked on - my DH was soaked with a water bottle by one of the actors! Terminator 3D is the best 3D show I've seen anywhere. Shrek is very good too. The shows in IOA - not as good.
At USF: first thing that morning head straight back to Men in Black. Then you can work your way to the front of the park.
At IOA: head to Spiderman first, it is one of the most crowded attractions.
Dr. Suess land at IOA has lots of kiddie rides that we normally skip - except for Cat in the Hat - I love it! There's a new trolley ride there too.
FYI, FWIW, the volunteer for the hollywood effects show is always a woman.
as far as ride priority, hulk should come before spiderman. normally it's hulk, spiderman, dueling dragons, but depending on how the day goes, dueling dragons can wait a bit since it's halfway around the park.
ROTM, MIB, BTTF and ET are usually the most popular at USF
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Two full days are enough. Here is a run down of my son's favorites, he is 7; Jimmy Nuetron, Mummy, Spiderman, Shrek 4-D, Storm ride (kind of like the Madd Hatter Tea Cups)- that was my least favorite!
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