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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We will be staying off-property this June for 7-nights at Fantasy Word Resort. We will have a couple days that we may not be going into the parks, but I know we will want to do something in Orlando area. Our resort does have a waterpark, but looking for other things to do outside WDW.
We are NOT interested in Universal, Sea World or Legoland -- much the the dismay of my kids. We are looking for something 5 of us can do for about $100, rather than spend the on one adult park ticket somewhere.
Also, we will be eating outside the bubble a few times as well. Any suggestions?
Any idea are welcome.
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Have you gone to the Kennedy Space Center? That's a great way to spend the day. You can get a ticket that gives you the bus tour, plus lets you into the astronaut museum.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Kennedy Space Center is really nice if you don't mind an hour drive. You could also hit the beach for the afternoon. I loved St. Augustine and the Spanish fort, Castillo de San Marco, that is still standing from the 1600s but that's a 2+ hour drive.
Orlando has a science center and children's museum. Depending on the age of your children, they might be appropriate. Mini golf at Disney is always fun. We usually do 2 courses and you get a discount on your second round. Fantasia Fairways has a harder course if your children are older. And there is always Gatorland Never been though.
For dining, Celebration has a great Tavern restaurant in downtown that's reasonable. If you haven't been to Celebration, it is worth the trip. Giordano's Pizza is a Chicago chain that serves a yummy "stuffed" pizza and thin crust too. Tastes just like home. For more upscale dining, Roy's, Season's 52, and Vines are on Sand Lake Road. They are my brother's favorites.
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Michele
I'm living the dream 20 minutes from Disney! Next trip...tomorrow. Follow me on instagram at ShirtsByShell
Kennedy Space Center is really nice if you don't mind an hour drive. You could also hit the beach for the afternoon. I loved St. Augustine and the Spanish fort, Castillo de San Marco, that is still standing from the 1600s but that's a 2+ hour drive.
Orlando has a science center and children's museum. Depending on the age of your children, they might be appropriate. Mini golf at Disney is always fun. We usually do 2 courses and you get a discount on your second round. Fantasia Fairways has a harder course if your children are older. And there is always Gatorland Never been though.
For dining, Celebration has a great Tavern restaurant in downtown that's reasonable. If you haven't been to Celebration, it is worth the trip. Giordano's Pizza is a Chicago chain that serves a yummy "stuffed" pizza and thin crust too. Tastes just like home. For more upscale dining, Roy's, Season's 52, and Vines are on Sand Lake Road. They are my brother's favorites.
We though about the Kennedy, but seemed a little expense, and concerned if the littlest one would like it.
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For those Disney fans looking for a fun road trip outside of the park, I suggest checking out the planned community of Celebration, Fl. There are plenty of fun Disney elements in this town.
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.