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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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11-18-2005, 02:54 PM
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#136
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Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Ohio Football Hall Of Fame
Posts: 42,304
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 2
Another great update Annabel!! I love your pictures, especially of the Backlot Tour!! Your dinner at Hollywood and Vine sounded so delicious, I do hope they have character meals again soon!! Can't wait to read more!! I am really enjoying your report so much!!!
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11-18-2005, 04:10 PM
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#137
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Community Rank: Traveler 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 404
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 2
Wonderful update. I just added Hollywood & Vine to our list for our visit. Love all of your pictures...... More please.
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11-18-2005, 04:24 PM
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#138
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 18,767
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 2
Another great report Annabel!!! Love all of your pictures. That would be so cool if they have characters at H&V. I would be there in heartbeat too! More please!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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11-18-2005, 04:32 PM
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#139
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: NC
Posts: 12,270
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 2
Yea!! I am glad to see your pictures [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
Great update!!
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11-18-2005, 05:29 PM
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#140
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Dopey's biggest fan!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: China Spring, TX
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 26,975
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 2
Great update, Annabel!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
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11-18-2005, 05:31 PM
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#141
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Community Rank: Globetrotter 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,294
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 2
[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] it, Annabel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, how I wish your July trip had happened!!
It's been TOO long since your last TR!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]
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Sponsored links
Check out the many e-books by PassPorter. The e-books are free to download if you have a PassPorter's Club pass.
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11-18-2005, 07:50 PM
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#142
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Longfellow's "Jewel by the Sea"
Posts: 14,165
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 2
We think H&V is quite the buffet, too. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] Cute Singin' in the Rain photo, looking forward to Fanstasmic! (particularly since I have to cancel our Fantasmic package. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/pout.gif[/img] ) Hurry back!
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11-18-2005, 08:47 PM
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#143
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 13,817
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 2
Great report! I [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] H&V, so yummy! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/facelick.gif[/img] Looking forward to seeing your pictoral of Fantasmic!
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11-18-2005, 10:11 PM
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#144
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Dreaming of the Future
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 24,867
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 2
Can't wait for Fantasmic! Thanks for writing this I am really enjoying it!
Amy
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11-19-2005, 09:13 AM
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#145
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RED SOX NATION!!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Connecticut
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 136,854
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 2
Great update Annabel [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Thanks for the info on H&V [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] I hope it works out!
great pictures as well [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
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11-19-2005, 01:24 PM
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#146
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Eileeeeeeen!™
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 28,861
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 2
Ooooh, you make me want to try H&V!! Great update - can't wait for more...
Eileen
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11-21-2005, 02:54 AM
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#147
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: South East London
Posts: 5,164
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 3
<font color="purple"> Part 3 - Fantasmic in Pictures
Despie the rocky start, Fantasmic started on time and I have to say it was even more awesome than usual as we were sat at the front. I noticed so many things that I’d never noticed before.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I know that they say that people sat in the first 13 rows will get wet but it’s a slight spray, you do not get soaked. And the spray was very welcome in the heat! When the lake was set on fire, yikes the heat! Phew it got really hot. You definitely need to experience Fantasmic from the front. Andy took some amazing photos. As usual, when the boat full of characters appeared, I started blubbing. We had some waves from the characters too. It was fantastic!
 
 
 
 
 
Once the show was over, we waited for the crowds to clear. The amphitheatre had been full. We sat there chatting for about 20 minutes before making our way out.
Once outside, we walked to the Rock n Rollercoaster area so Andy could ride it. I’d never seen this area before so I headed into the shop to have a nose round. 5 minutes later, Andy appeared. There was at least a 60 minute wait with no fastpasses available. We walked back out – the crowds were ridiculous. It took us ages to get out. The queue for the EMH wristbands was out of hand, thank goodness we’d picked ours up earlier!
 
 
We ended up back by the Great Movie Ride where we queued for about 20 minutes. We made it into the second to last row. We had the gangster version and both CMs were great. I don’t remember the alien coming out of the side wall – I thought it came out of the ceiling? Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The audio-animatronics are amazing.
the solitary photo I took
From here we went to get a drink from a vender and Andy went for another cigarette. We met up by Voyage of the Little Mermaid and decided to join the queue. We were the first ones inside for the next show. We sat down at the front and waited. I adore this show, I’m always crying by the end of it. We had a great Ariel, she had an amazing singing voice.
for some reason, I only took 1 photo here too [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
By the time the show was over, we realised how exhausted we were so we decided to head back. MGM was open until 11 and it was now 10pm.
Well I think that a) everybody had the same idea and b) most of Pop Century, if not all of it, was here! This had been our first evening magic hour and we were shocked [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img] The queue from our bus stop, number 10, went back past bus stop number 7. It was huge! We sat down to wait it out as both out feet were aching and we didn’t fancy standing up. At one point, the Port Orleans queue was just as bad and went sailing past ours. The difference was that all the other resorts had many more buses. Pop Century definitely had a bum deal that night, and it made us determined to drive the next time we attended an evening EMH [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
At one stage a woman driving an ECV was so close to our bench – Andy managed to move his legs but I had no room to move. Next minute, scrape! She caught me. I yelled out “ouch” and she turned and glared at me, before carrying on – like it was my fault! Hello, I’m bleeding here!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] Not only did I have a nasty cut but she snagged my favourite trousers and I have a lovely pull on the knee now. I was really angry – and to this day, I still have a lovely mark and remains of a bruise. Grr! Never mind, these things happen.
After an hour, the other bus stops were empty and Pop Century was still bad. It took a co-ordinator arranging for more buses and squeezing people on to them for the queue to reduce. We joined the queue after we’d been sat down for an hour and 15 minutes, and then we waited in the queue for 20 minutes before getting on a bus and standing. “Let’s see if I can beat my record of 99 people on one bus” the co-ordinator said as we boarded. We were crammed in like sardines! Still, we finally made it back. The moral of our story? Next time we go to an evening EMH we will be driving! I think you can say that we learnt a valuable lesson that night. And this was supposed to be a quiet time of year? Yeah right!
Back in our room, Andy had a few beers and we were asleep by 1am [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Coming Up: Day 3 - Epcot!</font>
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11-21-2005, 03:36 AM
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#148
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Dopey's biggest fan!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: China Spring, TX
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 26,975
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 3
Since we haven't done an evening EMH during a busier time (we've done January and March when it was fairly slow) . . . and the first week of December appears that it will be busier . . . I believe we will be taking your advice to drive, since we will have our own car with us!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
Great update!!! More please!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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11-21-2005, 10:20 AM
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#149
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Longfellow's "Jewel by the Sea"
Posts: 14,165
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 3
Sheesh, thanks for the EMH/car tip! I woulda been ripped over that EVC incident too. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] Super update, thanks for posting it!
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11-21-2005, 10:27 AM
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#150
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Dreaming of the Future
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 24,867
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Re: The Freeman Not So Scary October Trip - Updated Day 2 Part 3
Great Update annabel!
[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] the fantasmic! pictures!
Amy
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