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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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It all started at an amusement park, with a bunch of pushy kids trying to get everyone’s picture at the front gate. Then they hand you a piece of paper that tells you to come back and see your group photo after a designated time. After a long day of rides and ice cream, you find the ticket and stop to see your picture (that is if you remember). When you find it, it’s a small slide photo on a cheap key chain that you have to hold up to a light to see. All this for the bargain price of $11.95.
Like all things, Disney has made this not just better, but fantastic. Disney teamed up with Kodak some years ago to capture families as they walk down Main Street USA. With the help of Kodak, cast members were trained to not only stop and take pictures, but give them better quality pictures than most family’s point and shoot cameras.
This service has “developed” as the technology advanced. Yes, they started with old-style film cameras, but like everything Disney touches, they have made it better. With the old way, film had to be developed, so you had to stop back after a period of time to see the prints. Even after the introduction of digital cameras, you had to wait about an hour or so to see the pictures, but now you could view them on a computer screen. You still had to go to a shop and ask to see your pictures. Then you had to decide at that very moment if you wanted to purchase the photos. Sometimes, it was a tough decision due to budget constraints, or because Mom did not have her eyes open in the picture but everyone else looked great. Now with the new PhotoPass system, you don’t have to stop that day to look at pictures, and you have lots of time to make your decision. Yes, Disney still has locations in every theme park where you can view and purchase your photos, but you can also view and purchase any and all of your PhotoPass photos on the Internet when you get home.
So here is how it works - you start down Main Street USA (or as you go into any park) and someone with a Nikon D-70 Digital SLR camera and a Disney name badge asks you to stop for a picture. Tell the kids this will only take a second, and make them turn around and follow the directions of the cast member. The cast member will stand you in the perfect spot and take a few pictures of the family. If you want a picture of just the kids, ask, and they will make that happen also. By the way, they will be more than happy to take a shot with your camera, too. If you ask for advice, they will give you some tips about how to take photos and get great shots during your vacation. Be sure that you get your PhotoPass card before you walk away (they should offer it to you automatically). Treat this card like your park tickets or your credit cards, as it will be the way you will be able to see your photos later.
Carry your card with you, and give it to each cast member that takes your picture. They will scan your card, and all your photos will be stored together. If you forget to give them your card (or leave it in your room), they'll give you another. Don’t worry, you will be able to view all of the pictures - you'll just need to keep track of all those extra cards. To be safe, make sure you have a record of each card. Take a digital photo of the back or write down the number, so you have it in case the card gets misplaced.
When you meet Disney characters there will usually be a PhotoPass photographer on hand to take pictures of you and your kids with the characters. They will get candid shots of the first moments with the characters, as well as posed shots.
If you are taking pictures at the same time the cast member is, let your family know that the cast member gets the first photo, then have whatever family member is also taking photos say, “Now, look at me.” This way, you will not get home and find that everyone in your pictures was looking at the PhotoPass photographer!.
As I said in an earlier article, the cast member with the character (the “handler”) will be happy to take your picture, using your camera. We had the PhotoPass photographer use our camera right after he took his shots and they turned out great. Use both of these cast members to your advantage while you spend time with the characters.
Now you have spent the day or week getting your picture taken in front of all the park icons and with the characters. You can stop at one of the locations in the park to look at the photos, or better yet, go home and visit the PhotoPass web site to start the process of viewing your photos.
Logging into the web site is a simple process. On the first page of the web site you are asked for the number on the back of your PhotoPass card. Enter the number and go to the second page and fill out the required information. It will ask for your, name, address, e-mail, and a password. Keep in mind that if you want anyone else to be able to view and purchase these photos, they will have to enter your e-mail and password, so don’t use a password you use for other software.
After you register, the photos will come up in the file marked “My Disney Photos.” They will be there for the next 30 days so you can view them and decide if you want to purchase any of them. There are six things you can do at this point - view all of them in a slideshow, purchase them, create greeting cards out of your favorite photos, share them with others, enhance them, and add other PhotoPass numbers if you have multiple cards - you'll be able to view everything with a single login. To me, the neatest feature is enhancing the photos with borders, autographs, or customized captions.
If at any time you need help, you can click on the word "Help" at the top of the page and it will take you to http://www.disneyphotopass.com/help. This will answer any questions you may have and give you additional information about the system. Two things to keep in mind at this point is that you only have 30 days to make up your mind, and you will not be able to download any photos from the site. Any photos you buy will be shipped to the address you listed.
The cost of the program is listed at the site when you choose to purchase a picture. Currently, a 5x7 is $12.95, an 8x10 is $16.95, and the best deal is 1- 5x7 and 4 wallets for only $19.95.
If you want all of them but they took A LOT (our last trip they took 120 photos)), you can have all of your photos put onto a CD for $149.99 and take them home with you. You can order this CD from the PhotoPass web site or at one of Disney's in-park camera shops before you head home.
Disney usually has discounts available on the web site and they will change often. For the most part, the more you buy, the better the discount. Just keep checking and take advantage of them if you can.
In closing, do not shy away from the PhotoPass cast members, as they are there to not only help Disney’s bottom line, but to capture the magic as it happens for your family. Take the time to let them take your picture, talk to them about photographic tips and when you get home, share the photos with everyone you know. Who knows? You may just find the perfect picture, and save the magic forever.
I thought I would post this to save someone the hassle that happened to me (or I should say "the horror that almost happened to me")
WRITE DOWN YOUR PHOTOPASS CARD NUMBER!!!
I luckily had a PP photog give me this advice early in my trip so I took a minute at lunch to jot the number down in my PassPorter.
On day 7 of our trip we went to DHS, I gave the card to the photog at the Jedi Training Academy to take the lightsaber pictures of my DS. When DS returned (the photog took them over to the side to take the pictures away from a crowded background) he handed me back the card. Something made me look at the number and notice that the first 4 letters were different from mine. (What made me look was that I noticed the photog kept reaching into the same pocket to pull out cards and I wondered how he was keeping them straight)
So, I quickly compared the # to the one I had writen down and it was definately different. Long story short, the photog insisted I didn't give him a card (DH and I as well as DS all swear I did) and I went to all the other parents whose kids were in line and none had my card.
I went to the Photo Pass store on Hollywood Blvd and opened my PP'r to my number (The CM was vey impressed with my organization...thanks Dave and Jennifer for making me look so good!! LOL!!) and she was able to transfer all those picture (7 DAYS WORTH...Phew!!!) onto my new card.
And just to validate me....the "old" card that I had lost...when she pulled up the number the picture of the little boy who was in front of DS in the Jedi line was on our card (even though it wasn't the card that kid's Mom had...hope they got heir picture!).
I knew that I could have waited until I got home and just used the written down number to retrieve them but my fear was that he still had it in his pocket and would give it to someone else....what would happen if they "redeemed" the number before I did??? I was just happy to be on the safe side and have them transfered to one card.
The actual PhotoPass is a plastic card that you are given when you have your first photo taken by a park photographer (then, for each photo you have taken after that, you give your PhotoPass card to the photog). They take your photos and scan them on to your card.
When you get home, you can enter your PhotoPass card number into your account at Disney's PhotoPass - Add some Disney magic to your memories and view all of the photos taken on your trip as well as make edits to them, such as adding borders, cropping, making them black and white . . .
You have the option of buying just one or a few prints or you can order all of the photos on a CD. To save some money, you can pre-order the CD before you go on your trip --- Disney's PhotoCD Pre-Arrival Savings Offer
I came home with several photopass cards, not just one. When I got home and logged onto the website, I just entered the number off of each card and purchased the ones I wanted. Also note that not all photos taken are on a photopass...such as Tower of Terror. You need to buy the photo at the photo pickup counter when you get off the ride, which is in the beginning of the gift shop (there may be other attractions set up like this...I'm not sure of which other ones are like this).
I highly recommend using it we get the best pictures! One tip is that each member of the group has their own card then we combine them later, or when we get home! My DS 14 like the ones from the water parks bc they are smaller and come on a cord to put around your wrist. Plus never buy the cd there, once you get home you can add broders, zoom, etc and cab turn 100 pics into 300.
There are also spots around the parks that are special, something special will be in the picture when you look at them. Like a pirate, pixie or alien.
We pre-ordered the photopass last trip. I was happy with the CD and was able to embellish the photos many times over on the site and end up with so many photos!
This trip, however I may not opt to pre-order (when/if I get the email) or even order the CD after return.
My question is: Will the photopass photographers take photos with a guest's camera if asked? I would like some photos of our family together and do not want to necessarily ask random folks near us to do it.
My question is: Will the photopass photographers take photos with a guest's camera if asked?
They sure will! We have done this MANY times and have found sometimes that the photos they took with our camera came out better than the PhotoPass pic.
The price of the Photopass CD is now 149.99.
You might get an email sent to you 1/2 way the time until your trip or 45 days before that will offer a discount. The discounts are not mailed to you any more but are applied to your photopass account (set one up for free now..).
John
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2016 - August 27 - 7 nights on the Fantasy!!
Most recent trips
2014 - August - 10 nights at theBeach Club - My family and our friends
2012 - August 21-Sept 2 - Me, My Beautiful Wife, My 2 Unbelievable Sons, and MY best friend and his Family (including my 3 adopted daughters )
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If you order the Photopass + or the regular Photopass online, prior to your trip, there is a huge savings. Pre-order photpass + is $149 vs $199.95 in the park, and pre-order regular photopass is $119.95 vs $169.95 in the park.
We got the photopass + for our last trip. With the photos, ride photos, dining photos and the edits we did, there were 699 pictures. It was well worth it.
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"Visions of good times that brought so much pleasure, makes me want to go back again." - Jimmy Buffett
If you order the Photopass + or the regular Photopass online, prior to your trip, there is a huge savings. Pre-order photpass + is $149 vs $199.95 in the park, and pre-order regular photopass is $119.95 vs $169.95 in the park.
We got the photopass + for our last trip. With the photos, ride photos, dining photos and the edits we did, there were 699 pictures. It was well worth it.
Thanks so much for the info...helps with our budget.
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Trara
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We have done this MANY times and have found sometimes that the photos they took with our camera came out better than the PhotoPass pic. 
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