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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 am planning a family vacation to Disney in November. My kids (17,15, and 10), my parents, and possibly my brother's family (party of 5) will be going along. Everybody has been so excited because we have talked about this for so long. However, my 71 year old dad is not looking forward to it at all. Even the kids know he doesn't want to go. He has never been and I think he just thinks it is a huge amusement park. I've tried to tell him that there is so much more than rides. I need help. What else can I tell him to get him into this trip? We are going the week of Thanksgiving.
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I am planning a family vacation to Disney in November. My kids (17,15, and 10), my parents, and possibly my brother's family (party of 5) will be going along. Everybody has been so excited because we have talked about this for so long. However, my 71 year old dad is not looking forward to it at all. Even the kids know he doesn't want to go. He has never been and I think he just thinks it is a huge amusement park. I've tried to tell him that there is so much more than rides. I need help. What else can I tell him to get him into this trip? We are going the week of Thanksgiving.
Has your dad voiced what his objections are? Does your mother know why he is reluctant to go?
Some people just don't "get" Disney. They don't see the magic in it. They regard it as a glorified amusement park. My BIL is that way. One visit was enough for him. And he pretty much spoiled that visit for everyone else that went with him. Needless to say, I have not invited him on any subsequent trips.
If he golfs, you can point out that Disney has some world-class courses.
If he likes dining out, then show him the many restaurants that are available in such a small area.
Does he like race cars? Would a Richard Petty Driving Experience wow him?
How about Cirque de Soleil?
Is he into wildlife? Maybe a safari tour?
Or a Segway tour around EPCOT?
The truth is that you may not convert him into a Disneyphile. But he shouldn't have to be dragged kicking and screaming to a vacation with the grandkids. If all else fails, point out to him that his negativity is upsetting the kids. No Grampa wants to make the grands unhappy.
I agree with mad4themouse. Find out what he is interested in. Don't forget the history in the park like Hall of Presidents. Also consider the fact that there may be other reasons he is reluctant. Maybe he is concerned about all the walking involved. Or maybe he does not like standing in line or crowds. Maybe he has health concerns.
Consider a special tour for him. If he likes trains that might be interesting for him. What about a fishing trip?
He may never be enthusiastic about it. Think about what he does at other family gatherings. His behavior will probably be similar. Remember that you are not responsible for everyone's happiness. I know you want it to be just perfect. We all do! It never is but it can be fun!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Who knows, maybe when he gets there his feelings will change, I know of a couple of family members who thought Disney was just an amusement park, and/or just for kids but once they got there they changed their tune.
But as previously stated there are those who just don't like it but we can't let that ruin it for us.
I agree with mad4themouse. Find out what he is interested in. Don't forget the history in the park like Hall of Presidents. Also consider the fact that there may be other reasons he is reluctant. Maybe he is concerned about all the walking involved. Or maybe he does not like standing in line or crowds. Maybe he has health concerns.
Have you sat down and really talked about this with him? He may not be able to get into the Disney spirit, but maybe if he knew how much this trip means to the rest of your family he might at least keep his complaints to himself or just not in front of the kids.
Another idea might be to show him what the whole plan for the trip is and tell him that if he wants to he can go back to the hotel if he gets tired of the park, (This may be easy or not depending on where you are staying) or just park him in a nice spot while the rest of you go run to a ride.
Oh yeah and if all else fails.....you can always threaten him with a permanent seat on It's A Small World.
Has anyone asked him why he doesn't want to go ? There may be a very real reason he doesn't want to go or he could just be an old crumudgeon too unwilling to try anything new even if it means passing up the oppertunity to make memories that will last a lifetime for his grand kids
You might want o try getting him to watch some of the YOU TUBE videos out there. I showed some to my DW and they have sparked some interest that and I've tried to plan for one special event everyday around something I know she'll like
We've had the same problem with my mom not wanting to go on a vacation with us before. I tried everything to persuade her to come - what it means to the family, there will be other people her age there, etc - to no avail. Finally, I just decided to let it be thinking that we're all going to have a not-so-fun time with grandma if she comes along grudgingly. Then, all of a sudden, she changed her mind. My kids actually did what I couldn't do. They persuaded grandma to come along and have fun with them. Sometimes, our kids with their different approach and perspective can be more persuasive than us adults in these matters.
I see no real reason to force the man to do something he doesn't want to do. Chances are, his poor attitude will irritate and rub off on the others that actually WANT to be there. Nothing worse than trying to stay enthusiastic when someone is constantly chirping about how dumb they think everything is or how much of a waste of money they think it is. If it were me, I would save the money, spare the others and leave grandpaw wallering in his misery at home! But that's just me. Keep in mind that WDW IS just a big amusement park to some people. Not everyone can be converted and not everyone will get it. You go and have a blast and leave him to his golf channel and everyone is happy.
I agree!! The only way I'd try to change his mind may be to tell him how much the children enjoy it, and state it's a great way for him to spend some time with them.
I'm kind of in the same boat your in. My DD is 2 1/2 now and I want to take her before her 5th birthday. I want my dad (who will be72 at time of trip) to go and he is on the fence about it. I've been telling him how he can't miss the look on her face when we first enter the Magic Kingdom. I know that will make the trip for him. I also told him I will rent him and my wife an electric scooter, so he doesn't have to do a lot of walking. My wife has very arthritic knees btw. He has never use one so I hope his pride doesn't get in the way.
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I bet you can think of places you don't want to go on vacation. How would you feel if your relatives pressured you into going anyway? Especially if you were spending a chunk of money you'd rather spend one something else?
Could your parents come for part of the trip? Fly down with you and leave after a couple of day? My FIL doesn't want to stay anywhere longer than 2 days, 3 is his tops. When they would come here and stay a week (it's an 800 mile trip, so MIL wanted to stay long enough to justify the cost) he'd be miserable midway.
But if he really doesn't want to go, I wouldn't push it. I spend too much money on a Disney vacation to listen to someone else gripe. I's rather see the grandparents somewhere else where they're happy.
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Last edited by Carousel96; 05-16-2013 at 09:43 PM..
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He has never been and I think he just thinks it is a huge amusement park. I've tried to tell him that there is so much more than rides. I need help. What else can I tell him to get him into this trip? We are going the week of Thanksgiving.
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It never is but it can be fun!
Have you sat down and really talked about this with him? He may not be able to get into the Disney spirit, but maybe if he knew how much this trip means to the rest of your family he might at least keep his complaints to himself or just not in front of the kids. 
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