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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 was there last July 12-19. The crowds were not that bad at all. I don't think we waited in any line for more than 30 minutes. We just made sure we went to a particular park the day after an early entry day.
I didn't find the heat too awful; but I drank plenty of water and gatorade. Try to stay away from pop and any other beverage that has caffeine - the caffine makes you dehydrated. Also, stay away from the salty foods like popcorn and the big pretzils. My sister-in-law let her 2 youngest children eat salty foods and drink only pop and they paid for it. (Unfortunately, so did I and my 2 other nieces)
Finally, there are places that cool steam comes out of a mister and fountains to play in at each park. Take advantage of these areas in order to cool off and keep your clothes slightly damp. If you can't find any of these areas, don't hesitate to poor cold water over your head.
Heat related illnesses were one of the number one things we treated in our firstaid rooms at our water park here in Denver. Wear plenty of sunscreen, stay cool, and drink tons of water or sports drink.
Thanks for all the tips! I'm sure if I'm well prepared we'll be able to handle it. I asked my son today what he would think about going in July and staying at Port Orleans (he LOVES the pool!) and he said sure, as long as we could swim. I told him it would be a daily requirement! Now I've just got to pinpoint the dates and wait (the tough part!). Thanks again.
I'll add only one tip to all this great advice: Take it slowly and don't overexert yourself. There are times I wouldn't think twice about a brisk walk from one end of the park to the other to catch a live show. Summer isn't one of them.
By the way, here's the direct link to Disney's park hours calendar: http://asp.disney.go.com/disneyworld...ours/index.asp Each date on their calendar is a hypertext link. Click the link to see the parades and fireworks schedule.
Can anyone who has been to WDW in July please give some ideas as to the heat, crowds and park hours? We have been to WDW in March, May, September, October, November and December, so we've never had to deal with summer. Thanks in advance!
I went in August, and the one word that automatically pops in to my head is STIFLING! I highly recommend carrying lots of fresh, cool water, and taking lots of rest breaks. A trip, midday, back to the resort is a fabulous idea, especially if you are travelling with youngsters or seniors. Keep in mind, though, that all attractions are very well air-conditioned, and usually the queues are well shaded and most have fans and/or mist. Don't overdo it, and you should have no problem! I don't remember the parks being overly crowded, but it is summer. Lots of kids off from school. Park hours can be found on Disney's web site. www.disney.go.com Although, I'm quite sure somebody on these boards could probably tell you without having to go there yourself. Have fun!
Hey Fortissimo - I think I saw you there ,
My family was there that same week - and will be back this July 10 - 14th. We didn't have long waits at all - yes it's more crowded then other times but Disney knows that and prepares for it. The only thing we never rode was Test Track because it always had an outrageous line, but with the Fast Pass system I think we'll get to ride it this year!! The heat didn't bother us that much except at Animal Kingdom - that is one hot park - there isn't as much shade and air conditioned areas as other parks. Go first thing in the morning and leave before lunch is my advice. We always had a long, relaxing lunch at a sit down restaurant then did a few sit down shows and went back to the hotel to swim or to a water park. After a cheaper dinner at the food court it was back in the evening to ride. We had a great time - just ignore the voices of doom you're bound to hear about the heat, lines, crowds. If you plan your trip well you won't have a problem!!
Maybe I'll see you this July dznynut!!!
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