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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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12-08-2006, 01:52 AM
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#151
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PassPorter Message Board Manager
 PassPorter Guide Author
Community Rank: Legend VIP 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 6, updated 12/7
What beautiful photos - the Haunted Mansion looks wonderful! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] And I still think that the Halloween decoration at Disneyland are much better than WDW's, they're subtle and yet striking at the same time - I love the pumpkin flowerbed.. that is such a [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] touch.
Now hurry back - I need to read the next installment! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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12-08-2006, 09:07 AM
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#152
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Community Rank: Scout 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Songtan, South Korea
Posts: 4,681
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 6, updated 12/7
<font color="blue">
<u>Day 2 - October 31, 2006 – Part 7</u>
[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/birthday.gif[/img] Victoria!
We all talked to Deb for a while when two other ladies in blue showed up, Stacy and Tiffany. They all said it was about time for them to escort us to IASW where we would meet the mayor. One last picture of the castle…
We all jabbered to the Dream Squad and enjoyed our stroll to IASW. When we got there, the Mayor came out, shook our hands and congratulated us on this special honor. He told us that he would take us backstage where there were characters getting ready for the parade that we would get to meet. He said that there were two signs on the firetruck, and that we got to take them home with us after the parade...one for the front yard and one for the mantel. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] He also told us to enjoy ourselves, have fun and wave and smile at the thousands of people who would be videoing and taking pictures of the parade. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] We could do that!
The Dream Squad ladies said they would be more than happy to video and take pictures along the parade route if we wanted them to. Well of course we did!
I asked for a photo of Mr. Mayor with Victoria, and he happily obliged.
Then, we were led backstage. There is a gate on the far right-hand side of IASW that we went through. Back there was the adorable fire engine, dancers and characters. They said we could take all the pictures we wanted. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] First photo was with the fire engine. Are those the signs we get to take home? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] They are HUGE! We’ll figure that out later. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
Victoria was getting hugs from Mary Poppins and Tigger.
Then all of a sudden, the dancers hollered, “Happy birthday, Victoria!” She was thrilled. All of the characters were very excited about her birthday. We talked to the characters. My beloved Eeyore gave me the biggest hug, and we all got together for a group shot.
Then, Pooh showed up and had to be included along with the mayor.
They said it was time to hop into the fire engine. We handed our two cameras and video camera to the three ladies and climbed aboard our ride. Mary Poppins and Pooh continued to talk to us while we sat in the truck. Mary Poppins asked Victoria where she was from, and Victoria said Virginia. Mary Poppins then remarked that she has family in Farifax, VA. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] Victoria got the biggest kick out of that.
Then, Eeyore, knowing he is my absolute favorite, came by to say hello to me! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blushing.gif[/img] Isn’t he cute?
Victoria chose to sit in the back so she could ring the bell during the parade, and Maxine sat with her. Michael and I were next. Our driver was Vern, and he was joined in the front by Mr. Mayor. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Off we went! A banner and the dancers were in front of us.
And Mary Poppins, Mr. Penguin, Pooh, Eeyore and Tigger were dancing behind us.
Here are the pictures the Dream Squad, Deb, Stacy and Tiffany, took of us.
 
 
 
We felt like celebrities. Victoria rang the bell the entire time. We smiled. We waved. We wished everyone a Happy Halloween! And all the while, the Mayor would get on his microphone and announce, “Introducing our Grand Marshals of the parade, the Dawson family from Warsaw, Virginia. And Tinkerbell is celebrating her 12th birthday today.”
There were cheers. I don’t think I have ever had my picture taken by so many strangers. We are now in thousands of strangers’ pictures and videos. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Little children were in awe if we waved directly to them. They were so cute.
We rounded the hub at the end of Main Street and were soon at the end of the parade. It was over in the blink of an eye. What a way to start our trip to Disneyland. It doesn’t get any better than this. The fire engine came to a stop, and we got off. It was over. But it wasn’t! We got VIP seats to see the parade. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] Deb, Stacy and Tiffany arrived with our cameras and took us to a roped off area in front of the Main Street Train Station. Then, they gave Victoria all of the balloons that had been attached to the fire engine. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
There was another family up there. We never asked how they had VIP seats. But, they were very nice. Victoria shared her balloons with them. Victoria, bless her heart, was really cold. The nice family then shared a blanket with her. That was so sweet!
 
Deb came up to us and said that was the nicest thing that Victoria had done when she shared her balloons. She gave Victoria a Tinkerbell pin to keep and another to give away when she saw someone else do something nice for someone else. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] The family who shared their blanket got the same pins. That is so awesome! I’m so glad we have a generous daughter.
Then Deb offered to take our photo.
All of a sudden, one of the Dream Squad ladies from this morning (the one who offered to take our photo and talked most of the time) came up and said how great we had been in the parade and that she was so glad they had chosen us. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thanx.gif[/img] She was off work and had wanted to stop by and say hello.
We settled into our seats and got ready to see the parade.
Up Next: The Parade and Mickey’s Halloween Treat!
</font> |
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12-08-2006, 09:12 AM
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#153
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RED SOX NATION!!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Connecticut
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 136,854
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 6, updated 12/7
Wow, what a magical moment [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] It doesn't get much better than that [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] I'm so glad you all had such a great time in the parade [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
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12-08-2006, 10:21 AM
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#154
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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: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 6, updated 12/7
What an awesome, magical moment for you and your family!!! Love all the pictures, your daughter is a cute Tinkerbell. Can't wait to read more, this is just so exciting!!!!
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12-08-2006, 10:51 AM
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#155
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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: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 6, updated 12/7
What an incredible experience for Victoria and your family!! Definitely a magical moment that you'll never forget. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Can't wait for the next installment!
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12-08-2006, 02:51 PM
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#156
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Mateo, CA
Posts: 2,490
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 6, updated 12/7
What an awesome story, Laura! Zack and I were lucky enough to be in the Parade of Stars one time at Disneyland, and I still think it's my favorite Disney memory ever. What an amazing way to spend Victoria's 12th birthday! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] Can't wait to hear what you thought of Mickey's Halloween Treat. We loved it!
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12-08-2006, 04:44 PM
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#157
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Go Red Sox!! :D
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Rhode Island - Red Sox Nation
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 27,451
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 6, updated 12/7
WOW!! I had tears in my eyes, especially when I saw you standing next to the fire engine with your name on the side. What a special day for your entire family. Victoria seems like an absolute sweetheart and Maxine is GLOWING!
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12-09-2006, 02:21 AM
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#158
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PassPorter Message Board Manager
PassPorter Guide Author
Community Rank: Legend VIP
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 6, updated 12/7
Now that is true magic and what wonderful memories Disney created for you! That was just a beautiful installment and well worth the wait! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]
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12-09-2006, 01:06 PM
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#159
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Slate Belt, PA
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 15,346
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 6, updated 12/7
I'm just catching up here! Great updates! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]
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12-09-2006, 05:20 PM
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#160
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Alberta Canada
Posts: 507
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 6, updated 12/7
WOW
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12-09-2006, 07:33 PM
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#161
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Living Seas wannabe
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 31,940
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 6, updated 12/7
What an AWESOME birthday!!! Victoria will remember this FOREVER!!!
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12-09-2006, 09:41 PM
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#162
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Community Rank: Scout
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Songtan, South Korea
Posts: 4,681
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 8, updated 12/9
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12-09-2006, 11:03 PM
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#163
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Go Red Sox!! :D
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Rhode Island - Red Sox Nation
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 27,451
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 8, updated 12/9
What a day you are having!! You sure are squishing as much magic as you can into this day! WOW!
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12-10-2006, 09:56 AM
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#164
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Community Rank: Jetsetter
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Arlington,Texas USA
Posts: 2,555
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 8, updated 12/9
Awesome! I'm just catching up on the last few entries. Victoria sure had a magical birthday. Can't wait to read more.
tenya
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12-10-2006, 11:33 AM
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#165
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RED SOX NATION!!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Connecticut
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 136,854
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Re: Sing with me...California Here We Come! Day 2, Part 8, updated 12/9
Great pictures of the parade [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
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