Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
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05-14-2004, 11:59 AM
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#1
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Community Rank: Traveler 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 449
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Staying at an All-Star for the first time...
My husband & I are first time foster parents and it has been a difficult 4 months so we are taking a very short, very inexpensive vacation. I've convinced him that we actually could fit a Disney vacation into those criteria, so...we are dropping the boys (ages 2 & 4) off at daycare on Tuesday June first and driving to Orlando (about a 10 hour drive). We'll probably hang out at Downtown Disney/Disney Marketplace on Tuesday night and then do MGM and Epcot on Wednesday and Thursday and then drive home Friday. As a result, we are staying at the All-Star Music resort to save on expense. This is my first time at a value resort and I'm a little worried about the mixed reviews. I'm also worried since they can't guarantee a king size bed and I completely forgot to ask about a non-smoking room. How easy/difficult is it to get upgrades? Are there any particular areas of the hotel I should ask for or ask to avoid?
Thanks for any assistance.
Heather <font color="purple"> </font>
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05-14-2004, 12:09 PM
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#2
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Community Rank: Traveler
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 439
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Re: Staying at an All-Star for the first time...
If you want to avoid the noise, don't go in the Calypso building! The All Star is great and clean. I love it!
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05-14-2004, 12:12 PM
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#3
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Community Rank: Navigator 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Chester County, PA
Posts: 6,404
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Re: Staying at an All-Star for the first time...
We really like the ASMusic - more than we liked Movies as Music seemed quieter, less hectic.
Calypso is the closest building and is 'preferred' meaning they charge $10 more if you request it. Next closest is Jazz, then Broadway, Rock and Country is just that - waaaay out in the country! Not exactly a short walk from that building to anywhere!
Jazz or Broadway would be good buildings to get, if you don't get Calypso. Some find parts of Calypso noiser as alot of the rooms face the main pool.
Upgrades truly depend on luck - how crowded is the resort, what rooms are available, what time you check in, and how good a day the CM is having. It never hurts to smile, ask really nice and have no expectations. If you're given a bit of extra magic, terrific!
Hope you have a wonderful time!  |
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05-14-2004, 12:50 PM
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#4
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Niagara Falls
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 12,431
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Re: Staying at an All-Star for the first time...
I've been to All Star Movies and loved it. It was clean and we did score a quiet room.
I would call up soon and request a non smoking room. They can pretty much guarantee that. They can't guarantee your building or floor, but they do the best they can to get you what they can.
When I stayed at ALL Star Movies, I asked for upper floor, non smoking, and Toy Story. They told me that if I wanted to check in right away and stay away from the cheerleader groups that were coming later in the week, to take a ground floor Mighty Ducks non smoking room. Worked out so well, that i asked for a ground floor room at the Pop Century when i was there earlier this week!
Good luck and have fun!
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05-14-2004, 02:05 PM
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#5
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Maryland
Posts: 574
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Re: Staying at an All-Star for the first time...
Don't worry. You can always request a non-smoking (or king) room when you check in. These are things that can be done upon arrival.
As far as the noise goes. You should ask for a room on the third floor (there are elevators  ). This cuts down on a lot of noise from passing traffic. Also, it helps to have a room away from the main pool.
Good luck, and you will love the All-Stars. Have a great trip! |
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05-14-2004, 04:14 PM
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#6
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Community Rank: Wayfarer 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Great State of Michigan
Posts: 186
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Re: Staying at an All-Star for the first time...
You will love it there! My brother and I were a little leary when we went in Dec. but we had a blast. The value resorts are imaculate and rate in comparison to a nice holiday inn with better theming. For the money you can't beat it.
Def. try for jazz or calypso. We stayed in Jazz on the 3rd floor and it was very quiet and a quick walk to lobby and food court.
have a great time!
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