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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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 am a long time lurker first time poster going to WDW Feb. 21st. 2 adults & 2 children, 8 days and 7 nights with room only reservations. I compromised with my 9 & 6 year olds so we are staying 4 nights at AKL and 3 nights at the Contemporary.
My problem is running the numbers on park passes. I feel like Disney is penalizing me for changing resorts. Not using water parks, we may go to Disney Quest and 1 night out at Pleasure Island with my wife.
Look at the following advance purchase prices for our family of 4.
7night/8day UPH = $1,314.22
I cannot use this since we are resort hopping so I must get the following:
3night/4day UPH @ AKL = $800.90
3night/4day UPH @ Contemporary = $800.90
Grand total of $1,601.80 $300.00 more expense.
I feel it is a shame that I must spend more for the same length of stay. Every way I’ve run the numbers it doesn’t work out. My only option would be to stay at one resort and disappoint one of my kids.
DH and I found out that UPH are not always the best move for us. If you are AAA you can get Park Hopper tickets with I think a 10% discount. There are no bells and whistles, other than you can park hop. Look at what your agenda is, and make an informed decision based on that. DH and I are both getting APs (because we know we'll have more than 1 trip in the next 12 months. We are getting DD a 5 day hopper for this trip and we'll get her individual tickets for a two day trip we have added to a wedding in FL. We are taking my in-laws on this trip and they too are getting 5 day park hoppers, as we made our agenda, and have some down time for our 8 day trip. We have two travel days (day we arrive/leave) in which we will not go to a park. We also will be attending MVMCP one day, and won't go to a park outside of Christmas Party. We found that the 5 day hopper will more than meet their needs. That saves them apx $35 each. We may go to PI one night, and we'll pay for that out of pocket. We did not want to be tied into feeling like we have to go or we'll be getting ripped off. I would look at other options. Also, if you think you'll be going back you can get the park hoppers and know that the days never expire if you don't use them all.
I called CRO and the CM was just as suprised when she ran the numbers. Her super informed her that the UPH are tied to the resorts and cannot be extended. That is too bad, I guess I am an inconvenience to WDW by changing hotels in the middle of my stay. Therefore charge me more money to make up for it.
Here are a few numbers for you to digest (prices from Deb Wills' WDWIG.com):
2-adult + 2-child Standard APs: 1454.80 (doesn't include water parks or DisneyQuest or PI)
2-adult + 2 child Premium APs: 1927.72 (Includes water parks DQ and PI)
2-adult + 2 child 7-day Park-Hopper Plusses (advance purchase): 1180.08
Hey there
Guess what?? I am going through the same thing, only worse! We are staying at POP for 5 nights and then tranfering over to YC for 4 nights.... We have Gold plan the whole trip.... so, we are doubled on the check out/check in day, and they won't do anything about it! I asked to exchange one of the Cirque's, and was told by 3 different people "no"! So, basically, Disney is making and extra $433 off my reservation! Of course, they did suggest I do a non-plan day for last day of pop or first day of yc, but I don't think I could bear being stuck at the hotel and not going to the parks!
They have QUITE a racket going on, if you ask me! If anyone has any suggestions on how to not double up my plan, I am all
My advice would be to bag the UPH and go with traditional park hoppers. I personally feel UPHs are a terrible value as they are only good during your stay and don't allow a "day off" so to speak. Unused hopper days never expire and give you flexibilty to visit other Orlando destinations or just take a day off and hit the Golf Courses, GF Spa or play in the resort pool.
Signed,
Down with UPHs and packages (IMHO) & up with ala carte pricing!
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chapel Hill, NC USA
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Re: Depressing Resort hopping ticket troubles
I agree with Dadtojbj.... go for a regular Park Hopper.
I would suggest you actually go with the 6 day-hopper plus ($1062.92 total prepurchase).
I think this is how you should work it: Even though you have 8 days, I imagine the first and last day are only partial days, correct? So use your tickets like this--
Day 1 Park
Day 2 Park
Day 3 Park
Day 4 sleep in/Water Park/DQ & PI at night (2 pluses for adults/1 for kids not going to PI)
Day 5 change hotels/Park
Day 6 Park
Day 7 Park
Day 8 non-park/Character breakfast at Contemp/DD until time to leave
You'll still have to buy DQ tickets (www.ticketmania.com sells them cheaply at $24/$20) and you'll have a few pluses left on the passes, but you won't have wasted any money like the UPH plan is making you do.
Disney did the same thing to me. I had two people going with me that weren't on the reservation because they were last minute. I called and the people on the phone said no problem quoted me a price and said just to pay when I check in. When I checked in they told me that any tickets that werent on the res. had to be paid full price. I paid extra 400.00 dollars so i definetly feel your pain. I personally like the length of day passes because I feel like I get extra days. I get the day I check in and the day I leave. Wish I definetly wouldn't buy a park hopper ticket for those two extra days when i'm only getting half days. I just like knowing that I don't have to get extra days and I know we can go whenever we want. But that's just me. But disney does seem to get stinger and stinger.
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We have Gold plan the whole trip.... so, we are doubled on the check out/check in day, and they won't do anything about it! I asked to exchange one of the Cirque's, and was told by 3 different people "no"! So, basically, Disney is making and extra $433 off my reservation! Of course, they did suggest I do a non-plan day for last day of pop or first day of yc, but I don't think I could bear being stuck at the hotel and not going to the parks! 
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