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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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this is probably a stupid question........ I'm interested in a late check out so we can sleep in before the 12-13 (haven't calculated the route yet) hour drive back. I imagine after getting up early to get the most out of the parks, sleeping till noonish on our last day sounds like a vacation perk. I know you have to leave a credit card at the desk for this.... Does the same apply to a Visa debit card? I'm a proud non-credit card holder.
Originally Posted by ohmygawshimgoingtodisneyworld!
ouch really posted in the wrong category.
I'll move it to Planning for you!
As for your question, as long as the debit card can handle whatever charges are on your account, it should be fine. It might be a good idea to stop at the front desk the night before and clear off any of your balance. That way, whatever is left the next morning should be minimal.
Late check-out is not guaranteed and is only available to guests when the room does not have to be immediately "turned" for an incoming guest. If they can accomodate the request, you'll be able to stay in the room until about 1pm.
Originally Posted by ohmygawshimgoingtodisneyworld!
I'm interested in a late check out so we can sleep in before the 12-13 (haven't calculated the route yet) hour drive back. I imagine after getting up early to get the most out of the parks, sleeping till noonish on our last day sounds like a vacation perk.
Just so you know, we've been told no every time we've asked for late checkout. Maybe other folks have had better luck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ohmygawshimgoingtodisneyworld!
I know you have to leave a credit card at the desk for this.... Does the same apply to a Visa debit card? I'm a proud non-credit card holder.
Most hotels I've stayed in put a "hold" on a debit card that's higher than the anticipated charges. Does Disney do this too?
It can take a while to get the excess hold released.
And to the OP -- this is off topic, but I love your screen name. It makes me smile!
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Carolyn
Last edited by Carousel96; 09-14-2011 at 12:44 PM..
They take mine...I'm a proud non-credit holder myself. Only thing I owe on is my house!!! How else could I afford Disney.
I am right there with you on this!! I am about to payoff both vehicles this month leaving payments for mortgage and child's braces payments (no interest payments, so just makes sense). So, being able to maintain this credit card free life, we are able to enjoy WDW once a year, and when we get the DD out of college, maybe a DVC will be in our future..sure am working toward it!!
We only use our Visa check card at WDW and have never had any problems. We attach it to our room at check in for room charging privileges and use it to take care of any incidentals at check out.
Eileen made a good suggestion about going by the front desk the night before check out and taking care of any charges that need cleared. Also, make sure you ask about late check out when you CHECK IN and then verify it/ask again when you go the night before to take care of the room charges.
We've also always used our Visa debit card and not had a problem.
I've seen you mention in other threads that you are from Houston. I haven't driven from Houston to Orlando in a long time, but the trip is longer than 12-13 hours. The last time we did it, it was just DH and me (before we had kids). We drove straight through, stopping only to get gas, go to the bathroom and drive-thru fast food for meals, and it took us 17.5 hours.
I am right there with you on this!! I am about to payoff both vehicles this month leaving payments for mortgage and child's braces payments (no interest payments, so just makes sense). So, being able to maintain this credit card free life, we are able to enjoy WDW once a year, and when we get the DD out of college, maybe a DVC will be in our future..sure am working toward it!!
WOW. You deserve some Disney magic. that felt good when we paid off our car. Got a cheaper.. nicer place to live.... I even just changed electric companies 'cause I got a much lower over-all rate. Now Disney is going to be the next big thing.
I see WDW as a reward we put in like 40+ hour weeks each and work opposite shifts to do it. It's hard to anticipate the cost (or even spending that much on ourselves )we are very cautious and that's how we maintain our finances and savings. We saved only 5K last year and put the lot of it as a down payment... We're also looking to furnish our new home this upcoming year (or at least 2 rooms of it.) Fingers crossed.
We've also always used our Visa debit card and not had a problem.
I've seen you mention in other threads that you are from Houston. I haven't driven from Houston to Orlando in a long time, but the trip is longer than 12-13 hours. The last time we did it, it was just DH and me (before we had kids). We drove straight through, stopping only to get gas, go to the bathroom and drive-thru fast food for meals, and it took us 17.5 hours.
My husband and I have road tripped a few times and do fine packing snacks and drinks buying coffee when we stop for gas. We have the added benefit of detouring to Panama City Beach to Stay a night with family..... However we're gonna try to save it for our return trip. I imagine we'll be too excited to get to WDW and drive straight through. And then we can take our day after check out to still enjoy Orlando knowing we'll only have to drive 5 hours to my sisters.... Too bad I never took advantage of my FLorida Resident Discount... but I was too young and broke when I lived in that Redneck Riviera. No offense to P.C.B..... I'm sure it's a great place to visit.
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