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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 am flying out on the 30th of this month. I was wondering if anybody had any tips for me. Me & my sister have flown a lot but not in years. This will be my sons first time flying and he is going to be four in a little more then a month. Also my boyfriend and my best friend have not flown before. My best friend is scared of it. It's only a 2-3 hr flight so it shouldn't be too bad but any tips would be much appreciated.
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Melissa
Carribbean Beach Resort Summer 2003...1st trip to Disney World!!!
Rileys first trip to Disney & My 2nd July 30th-August 10th 2009 (off site)
Moving to Orlando...January 2010
My mothers friend was a real nutcase last year when it came to flying so my mother gave her a tranquilizer which knocked her out for the whole flight but Paula's an extreme case IMO. If your friend is that scared, maybe she can talk to her doctor about a low dose tranquilizer just for the flight down and flight back.
I saw on tv where some airlines did a short 'class' for people afraid of flying. They took them onto a plane and started the engines, etc, and explained what all the noises were. According to the airlines, people felt more comfortable after learning what all those loud, strange noises are. They even have some of the videos online now.
I highly recommend the book Flying without Fear. It was written by John Nance, a well known aviation expert and pilot.
I don't like flying myself but the only way to conquer it.. is well, to fly. If you google statistics you have a much better chance of being in a car accident or being struck by lightning. It is the safest mode of travel today.
When flying with your son, make every effort to put on a good face and calm your nerves- he'll easily pick up on it.
Even though I am a nervous flyer, I always get through it and marvel when I reach my destination about what an incredible thing it is. And it's the only way to really see the world- which is what motivates me. My travel list would not be near as long or exciting had I not gotten on a plane.
Mark me down on the scardy cat list!!! I have flown before but haven't for years but we don't have much other choice to get to WDW. DD and DS have never flown and it will be their first trip in Feb. I know I have to conceal my fear from them so I just keep telling myself (repeatedly) the same things I am telling them:
1- Thousands of people fly everyday and they are fine
2- Flying is safer than driving
3- It is like a bus ride but in the air.............
Good luck to you and your Dgroup and I am sure you will all be just fine!!!
My kids and I love to fly, my husband hates it. Unfortunately he has to fly at least once or twice a month for work as well and maybe six flights a year for fun. What I do to help him is remind him of the stats for starters. LOL In addition a good book, a fun soduko book, an iPod, etc really helps. The idea is distraction. Since it has gotten harder for him to fly as he has gotten older, we finally asked the doctor for an Rx. Simple valium works wonders for many people. I hope you have a fabulous trip, I bet the four year old has no fear : )
Every since I hit 18 I have had a fear of flying and it is just getting worse each time I fly...which is strange since i've been all over the world and used to be ok with it...anyway I agree that distraction is the key. I try to fly certain airlines that have tv's in the seats so I can watch it during takeoff and landing (air canada is the only one allowing this though..i think) I also have a HUGE stack of wordsearch puzzles and my twilight collection.
Another thing I like to do is park near the airport ( I live 5 minutes from the Calgary International and there is a nice picnic area right beside the runway) and spend the morning with a coffee or warm summer day with an ice cream and watch the planes come and go...so many take off and land safely that it does help me calm down a bit in the days leading up to flying. If you dont live near the airport just check out some videos on YouTube it really helps you prepare and know what to expect....If all else fails Gravol not only helps me not get air sick but it knocks me out cold too!!
When DIL who actually will get so upset she throws up is preoccupied with the kids she doesnt seem to get like this, unless it is a bumpy flight. I chew gum, keep busy look out the window, even though I am afraid of heights and if I get near a window up high feel like I am falling, looking out a plane window is completly different. That fear is not there. I dont care for take off and landing usually try playing with the Grandkids, counting down and doing blast off which helps me feel better and they get a grand kick out of it. Kids do so much better we have never had any trouble with any of the Grandkids flying.
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Love the Magic of Disney Thanks Dad for our first 5 trips.
ASK THE PILOT comes to mind. (Can't remember the author--sorry)
Good luck.
There is a book and a blog called ASK THE PILOT and another (no longer writing new articles) called ASK THE CAPTAIN which is by a woman captain named Meryl Getline.
I fly about 60,000 miles a year. It is very safe. I even was a nervous flyer at one time. Some things that helped me.
1) Understand the dings - after takeoff, the first ding you hear means "gear is up - we are committed to the takeoff". Then you hear 2 dings - means "We've reached 10,000 feet - you can use electronics". On approach, you'll hear 2 dings 2 times. These are the dings to let the flight attendants know that "we are cleared to land".
2) Turbulence....most hate it - especially nervous flyers. The wings will shake, etc - but a plane's wings will flex up to 20+ feet in either direction (on large planes)...general turbulence is really nothing at all...just like a poorly maintained highway in a car.
3) Airplane "noises". I would suggest headphones (when you can use them) and even when you cannot just to muffle the noises. Airplanes make lots of noises going up and down and that tends to bother many people.
My wife was a terrible flyer and now can handle 8-9 hour flights with ease! She mentioned some of these things as helping her.
Good luck!! Flying is really safe and can be really fun! So much power and technology at work!!
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'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.
Xanax - 1 mg thirty minutes before flight...at least that's what my doctor prescribes for me. I really would prefer 1.5 mg but I think I'll have to beg.
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Michele
Second star to the right and straight on until morning!
Well, we drive, but I used to fly alot, even flew on the Concorde once (someone else paid!) and I have to say that the more you are familiar with what to expect, the more comfortable you'll be. Statistics say I am more likely to get creamed driving down 95 to WDW than you are apt to get into trouble on a plane. You friend should check out her local library for the suggested books, and even see if there is a DVD available that shows a typical flight--it will help familiarize her with the noises and bumps that are part of a normal flight. Check the kids' section for books that explain traveling by plane to kids. If you have time, visit the airport so she can see where she will be waiting, how boarding works, and watch some flights take off and land.
If your friend is truly anxious, a modest cocktail (one) before leaving or a mild sedative from her doctor (not both!) plus a book on cd or soothing music to listen to on the plane will help. If she is inclined to motion sickness, a regular Dramamine instead of a cocktail will provide a small, drowsy buzz and help her tummy. Be sure she is sitting next to someone who can chat with her as a distraction too. Bring cards or a travel size game to play.
For your son, be sure he has something to snack on and some books and a comfort object (small blanket or stuffed animal).
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Mark me down on the scardy cat list!!! I have flown before but haven't for years but we don't have much other choice to get to WDW. DD and DS have never flown and it will be their first trip in Feb. I know I have to conceal my fear from them so I just keep telling myself (repeatedly) the same things I am telling them:
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