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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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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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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We are planning to go to Destin for Fall Break (October) this year so am looking for things to do, especially with kids. I'll take and and all suggestions!!
My family of 4 has never been. My in-laws and SIL are coming with and have been once, but it was for a wedding so not much 'other' stuff was done.
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Location: Panhandle of Florida - The Emerald Coast
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Welcome to my neck of the woods! I just did a nice long post and it dropped to cyberspace somewhere, so I'll try this again.
Since you'll be in Destin, I'll give you ideas for along the Hwy 98, Emerald Coast Parkway corrider. All easy to find and to get to. Since I don't know the age of the kids, I'll throw it all in for consideration. Absolutely YES to Big Kahunas! Our DS who is 14 enjoys this place more than he did Atlantis! The Track is another great spot that the kids will love and you'll have fun too. Continuing to head east, just up from these two spots there's Fudpuckers where the kids can see some gators while they wait for lunch. Right beside that is laser tag and black light goofy golf. They're inside Sunsations on the second floor. Fat Daddy's arcade is also handy.
Now go a tad further east (still on Hwy 98) and you'll find Destin Commons for shopping galore. Behind the Commons, heading towards Niceville before you get to the bridge (on the right) is LuLu's on the Bay which has great food and a great view. Right beyond that you'll be able to visit the Whaling Wall by the artist Wyland. It's a humongous mural that wraps around the entire marina. It's impressive.
Right along Hwy 98, between the Commons and the Track is a fun restaurant called Bubba Gumps. Treat yourself to lunch or dinner there.
Back in Destin you'll find tons of things to do at the HarborWalk. Of course there's shopping, but the kids can do zipline, gaming, or if they're young you might want to take them for a ride on the Pirate Ship. And the Southern Star is a really nice dolphin cruise. If anyone want to go fishing, line up some spots on either Swoop I or Swoop II and catch some red snapper or loads of other varieties of fish. You can check, but Harry T's used to clean and cook the fish for you. The HarborWalk also usually has lots of entertainment going on all summer and fall, plus fireworks on Thursday evenings.
If you want to venture to the west, come along Hwy 98 to Okaloosa Island where the kids can enjoy the Gulfarium on the beach and also Wild Willy's on the other side of the road. Wild Willy's has 4-D movies, arcade gaming, some rides, and one of those high walk-way thingy's that you put on a harness and go way way up in the air to cross over ropes and planks, etc. A great view up there.... just don't look down! There's a nice stretch of beach all along from the island past Destin so you'll find plenty of areas to enjoy soaking up the rays and swimming. Just make sure you bring plenty of sunblock. You'll need it! Our snow white beaches reflect the sun, so folks burn much faster than they think they will.
If you remember the movie, The Truman Show, you can head east from Destin about 40 minutes on Hwy 98, drop down to Hwy 30A and walk the streets of Seaside, FL where the movie was filmed. It's an absolutely delightful town that's worth the drive.
So come enjoy our area! Dig your toes into our sugar beaches, watch the dolphins play while you swim, and start planning your next trip back to see us.
Mamasann - Thank you SO SO much!! That was a wonderful write up! And all things I think the kids would enjoy. The boys will be newly turned 6 & 9 (like a few days to 2 weeks before we arrive), sorry I failed to mention that in my original post. I will keep all this information handy!
Again, thank you!!
Location: Panhandle of Florida - The Emerald Coast
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Just a note of interest.... LuLu's is owned by the sister of Jimmy Buffet. We like the food there better than at her brothers's....LOL... and the kids can fool around on the beach while you wait for your food! AND..... it has been said that her brother has been spotted there a time or two. Though we've never seen him there.
At their age, I think your kids would definitely enjoy the Pirate Cruise at Destin Harbor. And if you enjoy goofy golf, get directions to Goofy Golf on Eglin Pkwy in Ft. Walton Beach. All the locals go there instead of the big fancy courses. It's one of, if not the oldest, goofy golf courses in the U.S. and dirt cheap too! But we do enjoy the black light course at Sunsations too. Do both! You're on vacation.
Welcome to my neck of the woods! I just did a nice long post and it dropped to cyberspace somewhere, so I'll try this again.
Since you'll be in Destin, I'll give you ideas for along the Hwy 98, Emerald Coast Parkway corrider. All easy to find and to get to. Since I don't know the age of the kids, I'll throw it all in for consideration. Absolutely YES to Big Kahunas! Our DS who is 14 enjoys this place more than he did Atlantis! The Track is another great spot that the kids will love and you'll have fun too. Continuing to head east, just up from these two spots there's Fudpuckers where the kids can see some gators while they wait for lunch. Right beside that is laser tag and black light goofy golf. They're inside Sunsations on the second floor. Fat Daddy's arcade is also handy.
Now go a tad further east (still on Hwy 98) and you'll find Destin Commons for shopping galore. Behind the Commons, heading towards Niceville before you get to the bridge (on the right) is LuLu's on the Bay which has great food and a great view. Right beyond that you'll be able to visit the Whaling Wall by the artist Wyland. It's a humongous mural that wraps around the entire marina. It's impressive.
Right along Hwy 98, between the Commons and the Track is a fun restaurant called Bubba Gumps. Treat yourself to lunch or dinner there.
Back in Destin you'll find tons of things to do at the HarborWalk. Of course there's shopping, but the kids can do zipline, gaming, or if they're young you might want to take them for a ride on the Pirate Ship. And the Southern Star is a really nice dolphin cruise. If anyone want to go fishing, line up some spots on either Swoop I or Swoop II and catch some red snapper or loads of other varieties of fish. You can check, but Harry T's used to clean and cook the fish for you. The HarborWalk also usually has lots of entertainment going on all summer and fall, plus fireworks on Thursday evenings.
If you want to venture to the west, come along Hwy 98 to Okaloosa Island where the kids can enjoy the Gulfarium on the beach and also Wild Willy's on the other side of the road. Wild Willy's has 4-D movies, arcade gaming, some rides, and one of those high walk-way thingy's that you put on a harness and go way way up in the air to cross over ropes and planks, etc. A great view up there.... just don't look down! There's a nice stretch of beach all along from the island past Destin so you'll find plenty of areas to enjoy soaking up the rays and swimming. Just make sure you bring plenty of sunblock. You'll need it! Our snow white beaches reflect the sun, so folks burn much faster than they think they will.
If you remember the movie, The Truman Show, you can head east from Destin about 40 minutes on Hwy 98, drop down to Hwy 30A and walk the streets of Seaside, FL where the movie was filmed. It's an absolutely delightful town that's worth the drive.
So come enjoy our area! Dig your toes into our sugar beaches, watch the dolphins play while you swim, and start planning your next trip back to see us.
Wooh! thanks for this response is really giving me information that we need for our trip, is great, thanks!!!
Location: Panhandle of Florida - The Emerald Coast
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You're most welcome Sean! As you can tell, I'm a fan of our area. I truly love it here. In fact, I'm having a hard time getting enthused about an upcoming cruise because our beaches are whiter than those I've seen in the Caribbean. The photo posted there under my name is the Emerald Grande at the Harborwalk in Destin.
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There's a nice stretch of beach all along from the island past Destin so you'll find plenty of areas to enjoy soaking up the rays and swimming. Just make sure you bring plenty of sunblock. You'll need it! Our snow white beaches reflect the sun, so folks burn much faster than they think they will.
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