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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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.
Okay so here is the scenerio--2 families traveling together in one minivan, 4 adults, 3 children- 1, 3, and 3 yrs old. We want to leave on Fri after work around 6 and drive 13 hours straight through to Disney while the kids are sleeping like angels. But DH brings up problem that once we arrive it will be about 7 in the morning and we won't be able to check in. What would we do? Sleep in the car a few hours? Help!
Maybe if you could trade off the driving so everyone could get some sleep you could either go straight to a park or have an early ADR for breakfast. Then break midday and go check in and take a nap. Or you could go to the resort first, you could probably check in, just unlikely that your rooms would be ready then head out somewhere. I think i just read somewhere (allears i think) that the resorts will make an automated call to a cell phone or send a text message when your room is available. If so, this may be an option.
__________________
~Kelly
***August 2013 Kidani Village/ BC Club level***July 2012 BLT 1st stay as DVC members***January 2012 Poly Club level, grandparents first trip to WDW EVER! ***July 2011 BC DS 7th bday and our 15th anniversary celebration *** Aug 2010 bonus trip, we usually go every other year woohoo!!***July 2009 Beach Club *** August 2007 2nd family vacation Sheraton Vistana Resort for 7n & then 3n at POR!! *** June 2005 POFQ 1st Family trip
I would take Friday off work, leave first thing in the morning, stay over night somewhere on the way, and arrive at WDW after a nights sleep, so you can go to the parks while waiting for your room to be ready. It will be pretty hot trying to sleep in a car, and after driving straight thru you'll be too tired to go to the parks on your first day. I'm not a fan of driving straight thru for that many hours, because your first day at WDW is pretty much a write-off.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Okay so here is the scenerio--2 families traveling together in one minivan, 4 adults, 3 children- 1, 3, and 3 yrs old. We want to leave on Fri after work around 6 and drive 13 hours straight through to Disney while the kids are sleeping like angels. But DH brings up problem that once we arrive it will be about 7 in the morning and we won't be able to check in. What would we do? Sleep in the car a few hours? Help!
Yes you can check in . but your room might not be ready you can give bell services to hold your luggage and either hit the pool and relax or go into a park . suggestion is maybe call a few days before and see if the resort might let you check in early if there is something open . good luck
I forgot to add that we were going to use that Sat to chill and rest so it probably wouldn't be a disney park day but the cost is the same as staying at a hotel elsewhere but with some dinner perks we can use the rest of the week. I think trading off sleeping and driving is a good idea
It is unlikely your room will be ready, but I have had stranger things happen. Ours has been ready a few times when we arrived between 9 and 10 in the morning, but I have also not had one ready when we arrived after noon. If you arrive about 7 am, why not find a place to have a good breakfast? since you are driving, you'll have a lot of options. the Market Place is also a good place to spend some time before your room is ready, but not much opens before 10.
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
If you are planning Saturday as a rest day, then just check-in, grab some breakfast and pick up your refillable mugs, then hang out by the pool on the lounges till your room is ready. There are changing areas and showers near the pool and there were even towels by the pool at AS Music (a value resort) when we were there in December. However, I use inexpensive Disney beach towels in the car as blankets, pillows and all-purpose wipes so I am sure to have towels when I arrive.
This is a great chance to explore your resort, pick up some postcards, review your plans for the next day, and figure out where you are going to eat dinner. Our room has been ready by noon several times, so it may be that your wait won't be that long. Definitely trade off driving so at least one of you is alert for the kids. I guarantee you they're going to want some action after their nice, long sleep.
I forgot to add that we were going to use that Sat to chill and rest so it probably wouldn't be a disney park day but the cost is the same as staying at a hotel elsewhere but with some dinner perks we can use the rest of the week. I think trading off sleeping and driving is a good idea
If Sat. is a non-park day, then go to food court at the resort and grab breakfast & relax by the pool while you wait for your room. Hopefully it will be ready early. I've had it both ways, ready before noon, or not until 3. that you are able to get an early check-in.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
that you are able to get an early check-in.
Linear Mode
