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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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Who: DH (63) and me (55)
Why: Love WDW of course and 30th Wedding Anniversary
Staying: AKL for 11 nights (Savanaha view)
Been many times but first time on Platinum and having trouble planning best use of this, so any comments welcomed.
Nov 28th (Friday) Arrive via Amtrack about 12-1 at AKL---Lunch ??----Dinner at Jiko ? time due to late lunch---no parks this day due to usually tired from long trip on train
Saturday BK-room service AK in AM---Lunch at Rain Forest Cafe AK---nap (yes naps some days)--
Epcot then monarail to Poly for Spirit of Aloha at 8
Sunday Room Service for BK--Lunch??? and activity ???--- will need nap--- MVMCP tickets purchased--reservations at LTT for now and not sure if should change when others become avaliable
Monday all open to suggestions
Tuesday day open till Crique Du Soleil 6 PM (have tickets) suggestions appreciated---thought dinner at Fultons at 8
Wed open but thought MGM Fantasia Reserved Seating comes with package---Prime Time 50 for lunch---Brown Derby for Dinner
Thurs--have reservations for Back Stage Safari Tour at AK for 8:15-----then open
Friday---open--thought Spectro if showing---CRT for dinner
Saturday--Magic Behind Steam Trains Tour have reservations for 7:30--open after
Sunday---open
Monday---Dolphin in Depths at 9:45---then open
Tues---BK at AKL then train at 11 a.m.
Things to plan yet on package are Fireworks Cruise and have no idea when is best to plan this for (included in pkg).
Will not be doing V&A but would like to work in meal at Narcoossee’s. Also, will probably not be doing SPA unless you can convince me to try it since I have never been and suggest what to try for first time. Husband has bad arthritis and not sure he want's any massage.
Any suggestions would be appreciated and sorry this is so long.
What an amazing set of plans you've got! I think you're going to make a lot of people (me included!) very jealous with those. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]
I think you're probably best keeping the rest of the day free, where you've got behind the scenes tours in the mornings. We've only done one - Undiscovered Future World - and although we didn't find it too taxing, I was glad we had nothing planned for the rest of the day afterwards, so we could relax.
I also wasn't sure about Fulton's at 8 p.m. after Cirque de Soleil. It's a 90 minute show, meaning it won't finish until 7.30 p.m. I think an 8.15 p.m. or 8.30 p.m. PS might work better, as you'll have more time to wander back across to Fulton's, without having to rush.
I don't know if you'll have a car while you're at Disney, but if you do, I'd suggest parking by Fulton's and walking up to Cirque. Then when you come out of Fulton's and are (probably!) feeling full, you won't have that far to walk. I hate moving the car after about 7 p.m. at DD, as we always have a nightmare finding a parking space. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]
Thanks for the suggestions Cheryl and actually we have always taken the Silver Plan before and I think I really liked it better at this point. A lot less planning to do LOL!
Hi Kathe,
The spa treatments that were available to us at the GF for our platinum plan were: 25 min swedish massage, 25 min soothing tired legs treatment, 25 min paraffin hand and foot treatment, 25 min sea salt body polish, 20 min aromatherapy bath and 50 min spa manicure. Since there are 4 of us going on the plan DD and myself are using all 4 of the treatments, 2 days of spa. One day she is doing the massage and I am doing the praffin hand and foot treatment and then the next time we are both doing the sea salt body polish. The boys are playing golf everyday sooo we get the treatments. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] As you can see it's not just massages. Also we are doing the fireworks cruise. But we are doing it from the poly instead of the GF as we have PS fot O'Hanas that night. [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] I hope this helps you to decide a little. I will be posting a travel report after we get back which is Aug 10th. Keep an eye out and maybe you will get some ideas. I have had a blast planning everything and the platinum planners at the GF have been wonderful.
I would definitely try the spa. I tried it for the first time this last trip and while it wasn't cheap (not inlcuded in any plan I had) the 50 minute aromatherapy massage was more than worth it. I don't think I'll ever go to Disney again without making a stop in the spa. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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Re: Our Plans So Far Any Suggestions (Long)
I had several spa treatments during a recent trip. I'd never been to a spa before and just loved the pampering. I had an aromatherapy massage which is not a rough or heavy massage at all and might be more appealing to your husband. The music in the room and the scent of the oils is just wonderful. The masseuse (sp?) is very gentle and the whole experience is extremely relaxing (you could do this instead of a nap one day). I did mine at the Saratoga Springs Spa.
If a massage is not enticing to your husband, maybe you could have facials. My skin never felt better than after my deluxe facial at the GF Spa. They have facials that are suited for men as well as women.
And then there are always manicures and pedicures. The pedicure will make your road weary feet feel so wonderful.
If you get spa services you can use the steam rooms and jacuzzis at any time during that day. Really make yourselves feel like you're on vacation.
Thanks for all the great suggestions. Making up my mind is the hardest part of all of this.
Barbara I can't wait to read about your trip and I am sure that it will help to give me some ideas for us.
Kathe
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