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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 have been to Vegas with my oldest a few years ago, but now that I have a younger child as well, I was wondering, if anyone had ideas on where to stay, I would like to stay on the strip or really close to it. My oldest is 15 and the lil one is 4. I have stayed at Circus Circus before, and Luxor, but not with the lil one. The pool is very important to us, and I dont gamble much, my mother will be joining us and she does not gamble at all.
I have been looking at Mandaly Bay as well, because of the great pools. Any places with special kid programs???
__________________
Jenn
Past Trips:
Disney Cruise: Sept. 2002
Pop Century: Easter 2006; 60s bldg, Aug. 24-29,07;50sbldg
Unfortunately, I don't know about kids programs, aside from the babysitting rooms that the casinos offer (playrooms that you pay $$$ per hour for) and I think it's only the local places (Station Casinos, Coast Casinos and Palms - where the Playboy Club is - other end of the property, tho). BUT, if pools are a big deal, then Mandalay Bay is a good choice - lots of variety. They have Shark Reef (really cool, but buy tickets) and you are close to Excalibur and Luxor (walking distance) for any shows or attractions.
DH is throwing out options right now: Mirage has Dolphins and Secret Garden and a nice pool (but no lazy river like MB). He thinks that might edge out MB.
There are a lot of things to keep you occupied, but since it is not a typicl family destination, they do not go out of their way to provide programs where you can leave the kids for awhile. But others may have figured out how to make it work - it's different when you're a local.
We were considering tacking on a side trip to Vegas for our upcoming trip to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. We ultimately decided not to though. During our debating process, we were considering (despite the price) the Four Seasons. It's rated as very child friendly, is physically a part of Mandalaly Bay but has it's own pool and separate entrance. I believe you received some privileges at Mandalay Bay IE access to their pool. I also have heard the Lake Las Vegas is wonderful and just 15--20 miles off the strip. It might be pricey though. But again, wonderful amenities, access to the lake, golfing, shopping and restaurants, there's a small beach, boating etc. There are 3 resorts, a Ritz, Loewe's and I forget what the other one is. There's also a small or a couple of small casinos. The Loewe's bills itself as child and pet friendly.
Not on the strip but we had a GREAT experience at the Golden Nugget downtown - there is a shark tank right in the pool! The price is much more reasonable than a comparatively upscale hotel on the strip.
I would go with Mandalay Bay - the pool area, wave pool, regular pools, lazy river are all great for the kids. It is on the strip (at the south end) and is a beautiful place. The previous posters also listed some great attractions that you can take the kids, Shark Reef, Circus Circus for the amusement park and circus acts, SpongeBob etc... but I would not take my kids downtown as I find it overrated and on the run down side no matter what they have tried to do there.
Most casino/hotel pools close around dinner time. They want you at the shows and gaming tables. Double check the closing times if this is what you plan for your lil one to do. I took my 9 yo DD to Vegas 2 years ago. We did the NY NY roller coaster, the M&M store and the gondola in the Venitian. Oh and of course the Belagio fountains. I still am amazed at all of the lights at night.
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