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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We would like to go to the grand canyon but not sure where we like to stay. Our budget is tight and I was thinking of a cabin but not sure how their cabins are. We would drive and take our pop-up but I really don't think I want to do 2 day trip there and then 2 day trip back. I was wondering if anyone been and where they stayed? I would love to hear everyone thoughts on this. Plus, with the cabins would we have to bring anything other than our clothes?
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This is where we stayed in the summer of 2008. I forget the exact price, but I know it was priced very well compared to the other nearby places. It is about a mile outside the gate of GC park. It was a very nice/clean hotel and they had a delicious breakfast buffet.
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We stayed on the South Rim at the El Tovar. There are a variety of hotels on the south rim within the boundaries of the park - and they range from high end (EL T) to tent camping. You can find out more about them from the National Park Service's GC lodging website - Grand Canyon National Park - Lodging (U.S. National Park Service)
We are going to the Grand Canyon this summer! We were originally going to stay in a cabin; but our trip has morphed into a huge month plus long road trip and we are now camping to offset some of the cost.... I'm not a big camper; but I am super excited about the trip all the same! We are spending some time on both the south and north rim....
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Just like our Disney trip this is going to be a trip about 4 years from now. For big trips like these we have to save for at least 3 years for. We always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon and I am even more excited to know that Disney has something with it also.
Grand Canyon (we did Bryce, Zion and some state parks on the same trip) was without a doubt the best vacation ever. So beautiful you think you are living in a post card.
All the national parks I have ever been to have camping facilities. We stayed in the pioneer cabins on the north rim. They were very rustic but we we very close to the rim and they slept 5-which we needed.
The cabin we stayed in did not have kitchen facilities. If I were pulling a camper, I would probably camp.
Grand Canyon (we did Bryce, Zion and some state parks on the same trip) was without a doubt the best vacation ever. So beautiful you think you are living in a post card.
All the national parks I have ever been to have camping facilities. We stayed in the pioneer cabins on the north rim. They were very rustic but we we very close to the rim and they slept 5-which we needed.
The cabin we stayed in did not have kitchen facilities. If I were pulling a camper, I would probably camp.
I think there was a double and three twins. I know we didn't have to get two rooms (my kids were not willing to share beds).
The website now says:
Pioneer Cabins
Remodeled in 2009, these cabins have two bedrooms separated by a 3/4 bath with a shower only. One bedroom has one queen bed, mini-fridge, and coffee pot.
The second bedroom features a bunk bed (twin-size), one double pull-out sleeper futon (full-size), and writing desk. These cabins sleep six people comfortably. Rollaway beds are not permitted.
One queen, one full and two twin beds
Accommodates 6 people
Standard View and Rim Side Cabins
We stayed before the remodel and they very simple and truly a cabin, not a hotel. If you go to the north rim, it takes about an hour to get to the lodge and amenities. Unlike the south rim, the north rim is very quiet and the are just outside the park is not built up. I think there was one basic motel just outside the park.
I think there was a double and three twins. I know we didn't have to get two rooms (my kids were not willing to share beds).
The website now says:
Pioneer Cabins
Remodeled in 2009, these cabins have two bedrooms separated by a 3/4 bath with a shower only. One bedroom has one queen bed, mini-fridge, and coffee pot.
The second bedroom features a bunk bed (twin-size), one double pull-out sleeper futon (full-size), and writing desk. These cabins sleep six people comfortably. Rollaway beds are not permitted.
One queen, one full and two twin beds
Accommodates 6 people
Standard View and Rim Side Cabins
We stayed before the remodel and they very simple and truly a cabin, not a hotel. If you go to the north rim, it takes about an hour to get to the lodge and amenities. Unlike the south rim, the north rim is very quiet and the are just outside the park is not built up. I think there was one basic motel just outside the park.
I booked the Pioneer Cabins on the North Rim back in November for Sept 2012. There were very few vacancies left at that time so if you want to stay there, you should check into it quickly.
I booked the Pioneer Cabins on the North Rim back in November for Sept 2012. There were very few vacancies left at that time so if you want to stay there, you should check into it quickly.
When we go it won't be until fall of 2014. When Janaury next year rolls around I will book our fall trip. Thanks for the heads up.
Show your husband the pictures from the Grand Canyon website. On the north rim, we spent too many hours on the lodge patio, looking out over the canyon. If you eat in the main restaurant, you can try to get a table overlooking the canyon and book at sunset for some incredible views.
I don't know your driving route, but most of the national parks are stunning-well worth a visit.
also.....it depends on which side you plan to focus on.....the north and south rims are a LONG drive from each other.....I think the North is less crowded.....we stayed on the South rim for a few days last fall,and LOVED it.....we chose Yavapai lodge, it was about a 1/4-1/2 mile walk to the rim (very nice) cabin style lodging......I loved the peaceful quiet setting,but we had to walk to see the rim....
The Thunderbird lodge right on the south rim is a good option,it's not too much more $$$ but it's right near the edge. The problem there that I saw (walking by it) was the crowds, we visited in late Sept. and it was pretty busy,lots of people, cars,buses nearby,etc. Not so quiet or peaceful. but a great view!
I love Grand Canyon village shopping center, cafeteria for dinner, grocery store for daytime lunch packing!( Yavapai cabins were very close to this)
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