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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Ok here is the situation that I need advice on helping to plan:
We are driving down to Disney, but the other 6 people accompanying my immediate family is flying directly into Orlando. When they arrive at the MCO airport, they want to head over to LegoLand and then meet us at our Disney resort later in the evening.
How to get to LegoLand and then our resort is where I am stuck. I think a rental car would probably be their best bet and then this way they can be on their own schedule. However, they don't really want a car for the whole week, as they want to take the Tragical Express back to the airport when they fly home.
I was thinking maybe they could return their car either at the Car Care Center of the rental at Swan/Dolphin, which would make a lot of sense since we are staying at The Boardwalk. Has anyone tried doing this before?
Also, if I got them a round trip booking on Magical Express, would their luggage automatically go to the resort even if they didn't actually take the bus there? I ask because then they wouldn't have to wait for baggage claim before getting the rental car.
I have never returned a car at the Swan/Dolphin, but I have rented from there with no problem. I agree that renting a car at the airport, driving to LegoLand, and then returning the car at Walt Disney World would be the best option. The drive to and from LegoLand should be easy.
The official policy of Magical Express is to transport luggage only for people who are taking the bus. I am guessing that's why they check "tickets" for a free service when you board. If some of the 6 people in the group are adults, one (or more) could pick up the luggage and put it on a luggage cart (or two) while another waits in line for the rental car. Be aware that if more than one person might drive the rental, they need to make sure all drivers are authorized. (I know in some states spouses are automatically authorized without needing to sign anything, but I can't remember if Florida is one of them.)
There may be shuttle services that go to LEGOLAND, but they would have limited schedules and limited drop-off points back by WDW. A rental car is the way to go, even if it takes a little maneuvering at the airport.
I have never returned a car at the Swan/Dolphin, but I have rented from there with no problem. I agree that renting a car at the airport, driving to LegoLand, and then returning the car at Walt Disney World would be the best option. The drive to and from LegoLand should be easy.
The official policy of Magical Express is to transport luggage only for people who are taking the bus. I am guessing that's why they check "tickets" for a free service when you board. If some of the 6 people in the group are adults, one (or more) could pick up the luggage and put it on a luggage cart (or two) while another waits in line for the rental car. Be aware that if more than one person might drive the rental, they need to make sure all drivers are authorized. (I know in some states spouses are automatically authorized without needing to sign anything, but I can't remember if Florida is one of them.)
There may be shuttle services that go to LEGOLAND, but they would have limited schedules and limited drop-off points back by WDW. A rental car is the way to go, even if it takes a little maneuvering at the airport.
Have a great trip!
Melissa
Thank you! I kind of remembered that policy for all the times we flew to Orlando, but I wasn't 100% sure. Whenever we land, we always got on the bus and went straight to the resort, never detoured. I will pass the info on to them.
I haven't returned a car to the Swan or Dolphin but I have returned to the Car Care Center and everytime I do, they ask if I need a ride anywhere so going that route is definitely doable IMO for your friends. Just double check the times though as I'm not sure how late they are open but worst case scenario they could keep the car overnight and return it early the next morning.
Please note: Disney’s Magical Express service does not provide luggage-only transfer. You must be present on the motorcoach to have your luggage transported to a Disney Resort hotel.
I haven't returned a car to the Swan or Dolphin but I have returned to the Car Care Center and everytime I do, they ask if I need a ride anywhere so going that route is definitely doable IMO for your friends. Just double check the times though as I'm not sure how late they are open but worst case scenario they could keep the car overnight and return it early the next morning.
Thanks! I figure they can pull up to the Boardwalk and unload their luggage and then drive over to Dolphin to return the car since it's only a short walk over the bridge back to our resort. It's good to know about CCC though, I've always wondered how they work.
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I figure they can pull up to the Boardwalk and unload their luggage and then drive over to Dolphin to return the car since it's only a short walk over the bridge back to our resort
I keep forgetting how close all of those hotels are. I agree, walking back from the Dolphin would be a much better choice than taking the shuttle from the CCC.
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I keep forgetting how close all of those hotels are. I agree, walking back from the Dolphin would be a much better choice than taking the shuttle from the CCC.
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