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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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-this is a weird question, but here goes--would anyone out there consider using airline points to upgrade to first class. Remember this is 30th anniversary trip, so I'd love my 6'3" DH to be comfortable once in his life. Should I even try?
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.
It's not always the best use of points, but -- depending on the airline -- it might be your best bet.
With Airtran, they have a generous "credit" policy except for the fact that they expire. So, since I rarely have 8 points in a single year, I use 4 credits to upgrade to Business Class when I travel alone and it makes it a nice flight were I can sleep comfortably.
It's better than losing the credtis to expiration.
Eileen
Location: Central Florida 12 miles from the Disney Border
Posts: 1,884
Post Thanks / Like
Likes (Given): 0
Likes (Received): 1
Thanks (Given): 0
Thanks (Received): 1
Pixie Dust (Given): 0
Pixie Dust (Received): 0
Although I didn't use points to upgrade to first class, I did use my Hawaiian Airlines points for first class one-way to Hawaii (6 hour flight from Las Vegas), our return will be coach. Even though it was a lot of points for one-way 80.000 for both of us, I think it's worth it, especially if you're going to be on a lengthy flight. I'd say, if you can get it, go for it --- and Happy Anniversary!
I typically don't like to for a 3 hour flight but I did use my American Airlines for an upgrade to first class from Boston to Miami as I know I would not be using it for a free ticket (too many restrictions for someone who has 25K miles). It was great though as we had a whole bunch of school kids on our flight and while everyone was fighting to get into their seats and for luggage space I was in first class all comfy
I would do it for your anniversary if you don't think you'd use them for a free ticket.
The occasion is special - no question about that. I find that with the new fees for booking "free" tickets with miles on NWA, using miles to upgrade is the best utilization yet. Plus, when you use mile to upgrade, you still earn miles on the flight. When you do a "perk choice (NWA term)" or cash and miles type fare and get upgraded, you do not get miles. Straight mile tickets also do not earn miles.
We do tend to use ours for upgrades but generally do not for 3 hour flights. But on the other hand, there are 4 of us and we take a LONG flight trip every couple of years so those are the flights we personally choose to upgrade on.
If comfort for your husband is something that always comes up in coach, I think it is a SUPER idea to give him a surprise like that even if it is only one way.
Have fun! Happy Anniversary!
__________________
'78-'88 - 4 stays w/ parents! '89 - w/ HS Band & Choir '90 - 3rd date w/ my wife! Super Q on I-Drive '91 - w/ College Choir '94 - Comfort Suites on 192- '97 - Orange Lake Country Club '03 - Rented home! '04 - Pop Century! 60's Building - Partied w/ Hurr. Charley! '06 - 9 nights free dining at ASMu! '08 - May-MS Marching Band- '08 - September - 7 nights free dining! Aug '09 9 nights - free dining. Nov '11 7 nts free dining @ Cabins!. Jan '15 8 nites DD 21st b-day ASSp, DDP.
Phewy! Called last night and our ticket class does not allow miles to be used for upgrades. We'll have to way until we get to the airport and pay the whatever charge to upgrade. Oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained.
That's too bad. I've found the airlines are getting so strict and tight about using the miles now. I've treated myself to first class flights to WDW when I was in a mood for a more "deluxe" trip (and I was flying a lot for work), but I have a 5 hr flight, so it's worth it.
Phewy! Called last night and our ticket class does not allow miles to be used for upgrades. We'll have to way until we get to the airport and pay the whatever charge to upgrade. Oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained.
I almost mentioned that as a possibility but did not know which airline you are on. We were able to do it on the lowest class NWA fare for Hawaii (K) but only because I am elite.
I'm sad that you won't be able to do it as a surprise!!
__________________
'78-'88 - 4 stays w/ parents! '89 - w/ HS Band & Choir '90 - 3rd date w/ my wife! Super Q on I-Drive '91 - w/ College Choir '94 - Comfort Suites on 192- '97 - Orange Lake Country Club '03 - Rented home! '04 - Pop Century! 60's Building - Partied w/ Hurr. Charley! '06 - 9 nights free dining at ASMu! '08 - May-MS Marching Band- '08 - September - 7 nights free dining! Aug '09 9 nights - free dining. Nov '11 7 nts free dining @ Cabins!. Jan '15 8 nites DD 21st b-day ASSp, DDP.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
TOT hiding in Morocco
Linear Mode
