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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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'm taking dd (she's 9) to Disney in June. What is the best way for the two of us to get to WL from the airport? Last time we took Mears we had to go back to the airport really early on our return trip. Is that normal? It was November of 2001 when we had the problem.
[img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] Hi pigletsmom and Welcome! [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]
Can't answer your question from personal experience as we are within driving distance but we have alot of friends that use Tiffany Town Car with great success.
The cheapest way for two people is MEARS, however, the best way, in my opinion only, is Tiffany Towncar. If you have a Passporter, you'll save $8 with the coupon in the back. If you don't you can print the $5 coupon off of the TTC website. I use them now exclusivly. Don't like sharing with a whole bunch of other people when it really isn't all that much more to use the private car. Also, TTC will take you to the grocery store if you request it . You make the decision on when to get picked up for the airport. For us, we always want to arrive 3 hours prior for lines and so we can shop and eat.
I highly suggest using Tiffany Town Car, oh my gosh, they are the best! We used Mears before too, but I didnt like the feeling of being treated like cattle and me and a bunch of other people being shoved in a van together and stopping at all their resorts before mine! With Tiffany, they are waiting for you when you get to the baggage area with a sign with your name on it, they bring you luggage to the car, and bring just YOU and your family to your resort! The car is beautiful and we watched Monster's Inc on the way to the Yacht Club! Truly a wonderful experience and plan on doing it again!
Hey, the last time we went we used Tiffany and they were so friendly and helpful! They had child seats available for our younger crowd, and our driver was Fab! Also, we were there during 9-11, and on standing at the airport line for over 2 1/2 hours, found out our flight was cancelled! We called Tiffany back after rebooking our flight and getting compimentary rooms at the ASMo for the extra night, our new flight left the following morning, they sent our driver back! While they couldn't give us a free ride unfortunately, they did give us a deep discount for the pickup and return the next morning. I'll definately use them next time we attempt to fly! Ruth [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img]
For two people, I agree that the least expensive way to go is Mears. BUT, if you can budget for it, going with a towncar is so much more convenient. It's definitely worth the extra cost. No waiting to get to your resort while others are dropped off at their resorts; no being picked up early because you have to ride along while they pick up other riders.
DH and I did Mears only once. We swore we'd never do it again!
We actually used it twice. first time, we were one of two families on the bus so it was nice. Second time however, we were one family of what seemed like 100! The bus was full, not an empty seat. Took waaaaay too long to get to the resort!
I am actually already impressed with TTC and haven't even left yet- they were extremely responsive and courteous when we made our ressie online, and more so when I emailed them again to notify them of changes made by Delta in our flight times. [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]
We have rented our own vehicle for all but one trip. That trip we used Tiffany Towncar after hearing of them on this board. No problems at all and had the owners brother as our driver both ways. Nice fellow and on time. Actually we were 1 1/2 hours late flying in, but he was waiting for us at the bottom of the escalator at baggage claim with our sign. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Hi Pigletsmom [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] !
We were also at WDW in November '01 and used Mears as our transportation option. DH and I were not happy that our pickup for the airport was based on their schedule and not ours.
We have used Tiffany ever since.
I manage a limo service so I am very picky.
Tiffany drivers have always been professional, on time and very friendly. If it fits into your budget, it is the only way to go.
I have to second (or sixth?) the recommendation for Tiffany Town Car! They are the BEST! Yes, it will be more money, but for me you can't put a price on the time that you will save! You go directly to baggage claim, your driver will meet you there and help you with your bags. You don't have to wait at all!! Plus if you want to stock up on munchies, they'll stop at a grocery store (just request it in advance).
Plus - how cool is it to have someone waiting for you in the airport, holding a sign with your name on it? You'll feel like a movie star!!! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]
Add me to the long list of people recommending Tiffany Town Car. We used Mears on our last visit and it wasn't horrible or anything but it wasn't much fun schlepping all over the airport, dragging all our luggage, trying to find the Mears shuttle bus stop. How much nicer to be met at baggage pickup by a friendly, courteous TTC driver. We're using TTC for our August trip and I too was very impressed with the friendly helpful lady who took our ressies over the telephone.