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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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Besides the Grayline tours, can anyone recommend any other tour companies? Planning a trip to DL, but don't want to rent a car. We'd still like to see a few sights besides DL while we're there. Thanks!
I have done Starline Tours' "Grand Tour of LA" as well as the 24 hour "Hop-On, Hop-Off" tour and both were great. (as is the 48 hour "Hop-On, Hop-Off", but I haven't had more than 24 hours in LA free in order to do the 48 hour one!)
The Grand Tour puts you in an air conditioned touring motor coach and tours you around the LA area for about 6 hours. They make stops at the Hollywood Bowl, the original LA Farmer's Market (for lunch) which is adjacent to The Grove shopping mall as well as a stop at Olvera Street (the "birthplace" of LA, if you will). They also do a few quick "pull over for photos" stops.
The 24 and 48 Hour Hop-On, Hop-Off "tours" take place on an open top double decker bus and make a ton of stops and allow you to get on and off at the places you want to see and spend some time there. The buses usually run on an "every half hour" or so pick up schedule. When we did the 24 hour the last time, we rode the Hollywood bus route sat up top and got TONS of pics along the way then got off at the La Brea Tar Pits and spent a couple of hours then got off at the Farmers Market for lunch and shopped at The Grove. Then we switched to the downtown LA bus and did the same.
If you do the 24 hour tour, you can get on the first bus of the day (there are 3 routes and they usually start running around 9am) and ride and change routes until the buses stop running at the end of the day (just as long as you are back to the Chinese Theater by the end of the day or have your own transportation plan to get back. Once the buses stop running, they are done! ). If you do the 48 hour, you can do the same thing for two days in a row. One route runs through the Hollywood and Beverly Hills area, one runs up to Santa Monica and the other runs down into downtown LA.
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I have done Starline Tours' "Grand Tour of LA" as well as the 24 hour "Hop-On, Hop-Off" tour and both were great. (as is the 48 hour "Hop-On, Hop-Off", but I haven't had more than 24 hours in LA free in order to do the 48 hour one!)
The Grand Tour puts you in an air conditioned touring motor coach and tours you around the LA area for about 6 hours. They make stops at the Hollywood Bowl, the original LA Farmer's Market (for lunch) which is adjacent to The Grove shopping mall as well as a stop at Olvera Street (the "birthplace" of LA, if you will). They also do a few quick "pull over for photos" stops.
That was the one we did a few years ago and I can thoroughly recommend it. We found it a great way of seeing different parts of LA in a day.
Is the hop on/hop off tour operated by Grayline, also? I need recommendations for tours. Has anyone done one of the tours that picks you up from a Disneyland area resort?
Is the hop on/hop off tour operated by Grayline, also? I need recommendations for tours. Has anyone done one of the tours that picks you up from a Disneyland area resort?
The Hop On-Hop Off tour that we did was through Starline. They previously only offered a 24 or 48 hour pass but have recently added a 72 hour pass as well.
Are these tours easy to get to? We will not have a rental car while we are there. Any tips on how to get from our hotel? Thanks!
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Next Trip: (Trying!) October 2015
For the Hop On-Hop Off tours, you would have to find your own way into Los Angeles. However, if you opted for the Grand City Tour of Los Angeles & Hollywood (which is an all day experience ), they can pick you up from your Anaheim hotel. The tour itself is 5 1/2 hours long (but detailed and you make a few stops around town) but with pick up and drop off in Anaheim, they say you need to plan for 9 hours. They also pick up in Anaheim for the Movie Stars Homes tour, San Diego tours and for a day at Universal Studios Hollywood . . . but not the Hop On-Hop Off tours.
The cheapest way to get to the Starline Tours terminal in Hollywood is by city bus and that takes close to 2 hours. A taxi would take the least time but could cost $100 or more. Another option would be to rent a car for just the one day from the Alamo office in Downtown Disney. You can rent a mid-size car for one day for less than $50 and you could rent a GPS along with it to get you to and from.
Thanks! That was what I needed! If I wanted to visit any actual studios, or go see a live taping, I assume I have tonget a taxi or rental? I was thinking about a possible Warnerbros tour, or similar.
__________________
This is what it's all about, this is why we drive, this is why we come. For a few moments of peace, happiness, and ice cream.
Next Trip: (Trying!) October 2015
Thanks! That was what I needed! If I wanted to visit any actual studios, or go see a live taping, I assume I have tonget a taxi or rental? I was thinking about a possible Warnerbros tour, or similar.
Yes, going for the WB tour, I would get a rental, personally.
Has anyone taken one of the Grayline tours that departs from Anaheim? I am looking at both the Hollywood/beach tour and the one that heads to Universal. Wondering if these tours are good and if the company is reliable? Trying to decide between taking tours or renting a car. We are staying at the Disney resort and want to see things further afield but not sure if we want the hassle of paying for parking or driving on unfamiliar roads. Thanks in advance for your input.
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). If you do the 48 hour, you can do the same thing for two days in a row. 
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We found it a great way of seeing different parts of LA in a day.
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