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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
We have been to Disney many times in the past but never to sea world. I have a 8 year old that loves Dolphins and Dreams of working with them someday. I also have a 6 year old that loves Turtles. So I am thinking of adding a seaworld day. But what can they do and how close to the animals they love can they get? I am also wondering what is the cost there. I really want it to be something they will remember forever! Any thoughts on from you seaworld fans would be great.
Actually, I saw a promo on TV the other day where kids tickets were just $5. So depending on when you go...
I haven't been to the Orlando SW recently, but assuming it's like the one in SanDiego, there is a tank where you can see dolpins up close and pet them. At certain times of day you can feed them too but they limit the fish availalbe for public feeding and the line starts early.
There are also marine scientists and trainers at the tank, so your daughter can talk to one and ask questions.
Turtles are going to be a bit harder to find "up close and personal" The one in SanDiego had a turtle bay in one of the counter service restaurants. Don't know if there's a similar site in Orlando. If so, it was fun to watch the turtles while we ate.
There are also some behind the scenes tours available, but I wouldn't recommend them if this is your first visit to SW. There's so much to see and do.
Also check before you leave -- I think you can still have your ticket validated to come back another day.
Has anyone been been to discovery cove?? What is the fees there? I really want him to have a great time and remember it for life. This is his x-mas that will be under the tree even with us not going until May. Sea World is the one trip he has been asking for so I want to give him his day there but want it to be magical.
Is this just for sea world? what about their Discovery Cove?
That's just SeaWorld. It looks like the package with Discovery Cove starts at about $200.
You can get more info at SeaWorld Tickets & Orlando Vacation Packages
Adult gate price for SW is about $80, kids about $70. There are discounts for advance online purchases and then there's the current $5 child ticket promo.
__________________
Carolyn
Last edited by Carousel96; 06-23-2010 at 05:24 PM..
That's just SeaWorld. A package with Discovery Cove starts at about $200.
You can get more info at SeaWorld Tickets & Orlando Vacation Packages
Adult gate price for SW is about $80, kids about $70. There are discounts for advance online purchases and then there's the current $5 child ticket promo.
Well that hurts I guess we will not be doing the cove! I would love to check it out online but we have computer problems right now. I am hoping to get it fixed soon. Thanks for all your info. I will have to look into the 5.00 tickets. Does anyone know if you have to use them now we are not going until May 2011 just wondering if they will still be any good then.
Well that hurts I guess we will not be doing the cove! I would love to check it out online but we have computer problems right now. I am hoping to get it fixed soon. Thanks for all your info. I will have to look into the 5.00 tickets. Does anyone know if you have to use them now we are not going until May 2011 just wondering if they will still be any good then.
I'm guessing no.
I didn't tab through for all the details, but here's the first screen re: the promo:
For nearly 50 years, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has been rescuing and rehabilitating animals in need. We also work to support conservation efforts around the world. It’s our passion and our mission. We would like to invite you to be a part of it.
Now through December 31, 2010, when U.S. residents purchase a full-price adult admission, children ages 3-12 receive a ticket to SeaWorld for only $5.00. 100% of the proceeds will be donated by SeaWorld to a wildlife conservation project of your choice
I notice it says "full price adult" so would that eliminate the $10 discount for online prepurchase? That makes the kid ticket effectively $15. Still cheaper than the gate.
A one-day SW ticket is about comparable to a one day at WDW. We love SeaWorld. in some ways I like it better than Disney.
Do take your kids -- they'll love it!
Hope oyur computer woes are cured soon. I hate when that happens. Don't know how my parents ever planned vacations without the internet.
__________________
Carolyn
Last edited by Carousel96; 06-23-2010 at 05:26 PM..
Sea World is a great park as is Discovery Cove. While at the park there are opportunities to see dolphins, turtles and lots of other animals. You can feed the dolphins as well as the sea otters, sting rays and sharks. It's about $5--$7 per tray of a few fish. There are some behind the scenes type tours available and info. about them can be found on their website. The animal viewing areas typically have someone available to answer questions. The shows are terrific as well. It's best IMHO to pick up the show schedule when you enter and plan your day around the shows you want to see. We go quite a bit so the shows aren't our priority. We typically see just one. The Shamu Show is the biggie but we like the Blue Horizons show a bit better as there are several different animals featured. If you're into the rides there are 3 biggies; Journey to Atlantis (like Splash Mtn. but a bit bigger), Kraken and Manta (these 2 are big thrill coasters). The lines at these can be long. There is a "fast pass" type deal to get you to the head of the line anytime but you have to purchase that option. There are smaller rides in Shamu's Happy Harbor as well as a water area and climbing structure. They do have a dining deal as well as refillable mugs (.99 for the refills after the initial purchase). You can easily spend the day at SW. It's kind of nice because when we go I feel as though we don't need a plan nor do we need to be there are park opening to see all we want to. You'll enjoy the day there.
SeaWorld and Discovery Cove are both great parks. Discovery Cove is very much a "once in a lifetime" opportunity and is priced accordingly. I'd be tempted to wait to do Discovery Cove until they're both a bit older and go to SeaWorld this trip. As others have said, you can buy food and feed the dolphins and other animals and that's a great experience. We love the underwater viewing area for the dolphins - we saw some great, up close activity there the last time we were there.
Thanks for all your answers and help.....We are going to do a day at sea world for sure!! I think it is something my kids will love and totally worth it just to see there face when it comes to the animals.
When they do get older I would highly recommend Discovery Cove if you book in advance discounts are available, it was the best vacation day we have had!! Food which is included was also excellent. then we got to go to Seaworld the next day!!
Well first off, you should definitely go to Seaworld. It is just absolutly mind blowing and if you visit Orlando, you can't miss it. We went in February and had a blast. For both your kids, there is a dolphin feedings held throughout the day at certain times. You get up right behind the dolphin pool (which is amazingly beautiful) and they give you about 6-7 fish to feed to the dolphins. They take you through a tutorial of how to feed the dolphins, what and what not to do, and other facts about dolphins and Seaworld. The dolphins swim right up to you and you can drop the fish in their mouths. You can also pet them and make them squeal. It costs around $7 per person and is well worth it. If you don't want to go, but your kids do, there is a viewing area right behind the feeding area. There are sinks for you to wash your hands in after touching the fish and the dolphins are not to be missed. They are so beautiful.
I also believe there is a turtle pond type thing where you can look at and pet turtles. We didn't have time to do this but it looked like fun. They also had other animal interactions and feedings (for additional charges) such as stingrays, killer whales, dolphins and beluga whales. Wild Arctic ride has alot of animal exhibits at the end of the ride. I hope this helps you out!!
I just bought Seaworld Tickets for the first time. On the Seaworld website it was $79 for each adult and they have a Wildlife Conservation Special until 12/31 where for every adult ticket you buy you can buy a child's ticket for $5. I was also thinking about their All Day Dining Plan they have listed. Anyone ever use that?