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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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The plan is for dd and ds (11 1/2) to get plane tickets to CA for Christmas. They have NO idea that this is in the works. They have always checked out Christmas presents under the tree from me (usually put out a week or so before Christmas) and then make guesses about what "Santa" will bring them. I don't want the tree to be sparse to make them think something is up. I thought about buying some little things that represent Southern CA attractions, (I think the plan is a couple of days in DL/CA, as well as SeaWorld, either the San Diego Zoo or the Wildlife Safari), wrapping them and having the kids guess that we are going to Cali. Anyone have any ideas of what or where I can get some trinkets????
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How about a trip to Hobby Lobby & get some craft items that represent California. for the zoo, animal shaped things, for Disneyland maybe a castle, California adventure? a orange ! They don't really have to be from Disneyland, but represent things Disney. That will really make the guessing game fun.
How about a trip to Hobby Lobby & get some craft items that represent California. for the zoo, animal shaped things, for Disneyland maybe a castle, California adventure? a orange ! They don't really have to be from Disneyland, but represent things Disney. That will really make the guessing game fun.
Oooh...great idea....I may even get a small scrapbook to wrap, and some stickers representing all of the different things we are going to do. Then they can complete their own book after the trip!
What about flip flops and sunglasses? Disposable or inexpensive camera? A Passporter to read and plan and get excited? Autograph books for characters to sign? You could have some t-shirts made at Disneystore.com or zazzle.com...
SeaWorld The Shamu Store online shop for them
you could get generic items such as dolphins, killer whales, and flamingos at local shops like Wal-mart or shop online for items such as at Oriental Trading which I recommkend, they are cheap.
stickers, socks, and toys
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Wild Animal Park http://www.shopzoo.com/ That is their online catalog.
you could do generic items such as wild animals bought locally
You could do on item that costs a bit with an official logo then do cheap stuff. The zoo has gift cards starting at $25. The zoo has a cute meerkat with Santa hat for $15 on sale for September only.
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Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
SeaWorld The Shamu Store online shop for them
you could get generic items such as dolphins, killer whales, and flamingos at local shops like Wal-mart or shop online for items such as at Oriental Trading which I recommkend, they are cheap.
stickers, socks, and toys
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Wild Animal Park http://www.shopzoo.com/ That is their online catalog.
you could do generic items such as wild animals bought locally
You could do on item that costs a bit with an official logo then do cheap stuff. The zoo has gift cards starting at $25. The zoo has a cute meerkat with Santa hat for $15 on sale for September only.
For inexpensive items how about a magazine to read on the plane or a favorite snack they don't usually get? (my girls only get Slim Jims and Pop Tarts on vacation because Mommy thinks they are gross). An empty scrap book or photo album could be fun too! I know my tweener loves getting GC's to pick out some music or you could make them a mix yourself! Having their own tunes helps both on the plane and during down time in the room.