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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 have been trying to find a host agency so I can start being a travel agent from home. I love to plan and am very organized so I think this would be a good fit. But after much research I narrowed it down to two host agencies. Dugan or Outside Agents or another one. I am looking at but have not heard back from yet. I am looking for a host agency that does not have a lot of extra hidden cost such as materials, postage etc.. Some postage I understand but some I have heard about are ridiculous. My husband is the only one working right now and we do not have a lot of expendable income. So I am looking for something to supplement his pay for extras like stuff around the house and vacations. I also would like an agency that is willing to help and is there for the independent travel agent.
My main concerns with the Host Agency:
1.)Trustworthy-I do not like giving my personal information (I am not talking phone number and email but other personal information such as SSN, Direct Deposit information etc...) out so I want the company I giving it to to be trustworthy.
2.) Ease of booking and getting paid.
3.) Low cost with no extra hidden fees.
4.) Allows to become a Disney Specialist and book Disney Travel Packages and cruises.
So my question is I know some of the fellow members on Pass Porters have gone through host agencies and I want know is opinions on it and experiences that you have had.
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Last edited by Feisty Fairy; 06-02-2011 at 07:58 AM..
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I am not sure I am the right person to answer (as an agency owner) but since no one else has, I'll take a stab at it.
I certainly understand your concerns about trustworthy, so I would start with checking the BBB and even a simple google search to see if people have had good or bad experiences with the company. If you want to get paid, you are going to have to give out some personal info so I personally, would move that down on the list.
Since this is obviously commission based I would start with what will make me successful:
- fees (up front, quarterly and misc on going)
- if you feel you can't get a good feel, maybe you could find a PP to PM for feedback on their experience. That said, one good or one bad may not represent your experience
- support: what do they offer you to get started, initial and ongoing training, marketing, leads, etc
- keep in mind there is a big difference between "Disney Specialist and book Disney Travel Packages and cruises" and "Disney exclusive". Many agencies require you sell other things. Some will also ask you to push other vacations over Disney as the commission is higher. While obviously higher commission benefits you, are you comfortable with the product and do you really want to do that.
[QUOTE=Sandy_N;3675405]I am not sure I am the right person to answer (as an agency owner) but since no one else has, I'll take a stab at it.
I agree with Sandy. Another thing is ask for a list of the agencie's current outside sales agents and contact them. They will be the best to ask since they have been at the agency and know first hand cost, training etc..
If you're just interested in doing Disney then contact Disney only agencies. Everyone of them are going to be good as we all have one thing in common, a love for Disney. Speak to the owner of the agency and see if you "click". Look at their costs to join (if any).
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