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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

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Old 04-24-2012, 09:32 AM   #1
Jennifer Marx
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In Memory of Stefanie, Our Hero

On April 21, 2012 a beloved PassPorter community member, Stefanie Matthews, ended her heroic journey at the age of 26. Her parents, Cam (Cam22) and Luke, shared Stefanie's love of Disney and are shining examples of strength and love to all of us. I encourage all members of our community who had any contact with Stefanie, Cam, and Luke to gather in support, and so many of you already have!

To honor Stefanie, we'd like to encourage you to consider donating to one of Stefanie's favorite charities.

The first is Special Olympics, in which Stefanie participated several years ago (and was, in fact, scheduled to do two races this coming Saturday).

The second is Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, which Stefanie contributed to every year because she loved the animals. You can donate on your next visit to Walt Disney World at shops in Disney's Animal Kingdom, at The Seas with Nemo and Friends and The Land in Epcot, or by sending a check directly to Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, P. O. Box 10000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.


Stefanie's smiling face and sweet spirit lives on in the PassPorter community through hundreds of photos in the PassPorter Photo Archive, one of which I've posted above.

Thank you for shining your light on us, Stefanie, Cam, and Luke.



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Last edited by Jennifer Marx; 04-24-2012 at 09:41 AM.. Reason: fp1152
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Old 04-24-2012, 09:34 AM   #2
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Thank you so much for this post Jennifer. I will be making a donation in honor of Stefanie.

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Old 04-24-2012, 09:39 AM   #3
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Thank you for the special tribute, Jennifer. Stefanie touched my heart more than I can possibly express. I will be making donations to both charities, in loving memory of precious Stefanie.
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Old 04-24-2012, 09:44 AM   #4
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Thank you, Jennifer. I'll remember Stefanie every time I visit WDW and have already made a special donation in her memory.
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Old 04-24-2012, 09:47 AM   #5
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That is a beautiful post. Thank You!
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Old 04-24-2012, 09:48 AM   #6
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Thanks Jennifer. We will be remembering Stephanie every year when we donate to the Conservation Fund!
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Old 04-24-2012, 09:51 AM   #7
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What a beautiful tribute to an amazing young woman! I plan to make a donation to the Disney Conservation Fund in memory of Stefanie.
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Old 04-24-2012, 10:00 AM   #8
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Thank you for the wonderful post, and thank you for allowing all of us here on Passporter to express our feelings about this special girl on the boards. You've created quite a family here on Passporter.
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Old 04-24-2012, 10:12 AM   #9
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Thank you for this post, Jennifer. I always thought that one day I would meet Stefanie. Unfortunately, I waited too long. We will be making a donation to the Disney Conservation Fund in memory of Stefanie, and we will continue to do so in the years to come. Stefanie may be gone, but she will never be forgotten.
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Old 04-24-2012, 10:15 AM   #10
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A beautiful post. Thank you for sharing this. I will definitely be making donations to each in her name. Stefanie was a bright light, and we are all blessed to be a part of her PP'er family.
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Old 04-24-2012, 10:19 AM   #11
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Thank you Jennifer for posting, we will remember Stephanie when we visit the parks. We also donate to the Conservation Fund so we will remember her there as well.
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Old 04-24-2012, 10:21 AM   #12
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Thank you for this post Jennifer. I mailed donations to each of these yesterday in memory of Stefanie. Thank you for helping us homer this amazing your lady and her family.
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Old 04-24-2012, 10:22 AM   #13
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Thank you for sharing this, Jennifer. It was a lovely tribute. I am proud to be a member of this loving community. The outpouring of love for Stefanie from many who have never even met her is awe inspiring!
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Old 04-24-2012, 10:34 AM   #14
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Thank you for the post Jennifer. I will be making donations to both charities in Stefanie's name.
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Old 04-24-2012, 10:36 AM   #15
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Thank you for this beautiful post, Jennifer. Stefanie was an amazing girl, and I know none of us will ever forget how she touched our hearts, whether or not we met her in person.
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