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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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.
I am 99.9% sure that the girls and I sat at the same table when we had CS at BoG back in December. We had some rainy days while at Disney too, so I feel your pain! It's a great excuse for some down time at the resort though!
it is so nice that the rain didn't change your plans. BOG sounds wonderful and SAB- love it. It is worth the price of the beach club just for that pool. It is nice you had some down time and hopefully the kids got some rest. Sure hope the rain stops for tomorrow
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.
BOG sounds wonderful! There were no reservations availble during our trip in May. So glad to hear you liked it! I also didn't know guests had the chance to meet the Beast. So neat!
Sounds like you had a good afternoon and evening despite the rain.
If I ever make it to BoG, I definitely have to add some celebration as I want to try the grey stuff!
I love the color of Josie swimsuit!
Can't wait to hear about AK.
I wouldn't normally say this, but for this place, I would add a celebration of some sort because otherwise I am not sure you can even order the grey stuff.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Ha Ha, I love the picture of you in your soggy poncho giving the thumbs down
Dinner at BOG sounded delicious!! Too bad you got a seat far from the windows, but at least you were there, right Was Josie exited about dinner there that night? I remember earlier in the day she had mentioned how cool it would be to eat there, and that you hadn't told her you actually were. I hope she liked the surprise!
Your pic with the Beast is awesome. I love how your "matchy matchy" matched him!
She was excited, we kept telling her all day we would try our best to see if we could get in. Then waiting for the bus we told her where we were going and she was overly thrilled!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Those miserable, soggy Photopass pics are too funny! Glad you had a great meal at BOG, even if your table wasn't the greatest. The photos with Beast are wonderful. Did you plan that color choice to match? Just perfect.
No I didn't even know he would be there. SO it was a nice bonus!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
That's a lot of rain!
Too bad your BOG pics were so dark. But at least the food porn turned out! Eveything looked delicious, not just the grey stuff!
And I am so glad that the Beast got the memo on the matchy-matchy color of the day! He looks great with the four of you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
What troopers you were, but for dinner at BOG, I'd be throwing on those ponchos too. How did Josie enjoy eating at the Beast's castle? And did it end up snowing in the "windows", or were you not able to see that from your seats?
SNOW??? Yeah, no. Wayyy far in the back we were. I probally should have walked up just to see the windows, but didn't think of it at the time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Stormalong Bay is the coolest pool! Glad you all got to enjoy it some before the rain set in to stay. We didn't get a little candelabra to carry to the table at BOG, and I don't remember seeing anyone else getting one either. I wonder if they have stopped this. I do like your poncho clad pictures!
When we first got called the CM handed the candelabra to Josie and as we started to walk one light when out, she stopped and fixed it, then again other one went out and she just gave up at this point and told me they had been having problems with them. I hope the fix it though because it was a cute little touch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Best rain photo! And again love the matchy-matchy with the Beast!
I can't wait to try BoG in October!
Come on.....I got Beast on speed dial, so we planned it
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoanneS
We didn't get a candalabra either when we went. We really could have used one it was so dark in there!!
I think they are inn the process of trying to fix them because the lights kept going out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jillybean
I am 99.9% sure that the girls and I sat at the same table when we had CS at BoG back in December. We had some rainy days while at Disney too, so I feel your pain! It's a great excuse for some down time at the resort though!
Jill
It was a fabulous table wasn't it
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommapants
it is so nice that the rain didn't change your plans. BOG sounds wonderful and SAB- love it. It is worth the price of the beach club just for that pool. It is nice you had some down time and hopefully the kids got some rest. Sure hope the rain stops for tomorrow
Rain. Yuck. But you made the most of it. And what wonderful pictures all dolled up in your ponchos. So nice that you got to eat at BOG. I'm still trying to decide if I want to try and get an ADR there for Jan or save it for a future trip.
So this is the day that we still refer to as….”DUH??!??” or “What are we doing??” or “Total waste of AM EMH” Up early and down to the lounge for the usual and then set of for the buses. This whole morning headed to MK was off and on rain. However when we did get to MK it was the annoying misting rain, which didn’t really call for a full on poncho…..at first We watched the RD ceremony and just as fate would have it, the rain let loose just as we started to enter the park. This is where we stood around like “DUH???” Like complete idiots I tell ya. Our goal today was to ride SPLASH, BTMMR and of course get over to Barnstormer a little more, well that wasn’t gonna happen and we had no real back up plan and we just stood there like….now what?? So we decided to head over to the little shop and get the kids some new ears since the ones they did have sure do not fit them anymore. We tried on many different hats but of course my kids choose other hats. Josie wanted a Pluto hat, and Andre wanted a baseball cap with the Toy Story characters on it……ehhh, whatever. So then we checked outside and still coming down like mad, we headed on into the candy shop, looked around and then left with some jelly beans and lollipops. Now here we went up the left side of MS and moseyed in all the shops on that side, which we don’t do very often so that was kinda nice. About halfway up the street we decided to cross over and maybe get some shopping done. The kids each picked up something, cars I believe. We landed around the back section of Casey’s and the cartoons were on so we sat and watched and sent Arnaud off for the stroller. Once he came back we took advantage of the baby center and got Andre changed and decided we couldn’t waste any more time so let’s make a mad dash to PoTC. However, not before checking out all the baby ducklings at this time of year!!!
Suited up we took the mad dash to Pirates and walked right on, and when we came out, the sun was shining with just a little tiny misting going on. HOLLAAA!!!! We noticed there was NO WAIT for Carpets and walked right on that as well.
We then decided to do something we never have done with the kids before. Swiss Family Tree House. Josie just thought this was the coolest, I however was never impressed. So when she asked if we could do it again, I was all like…….”How about we go get something to eat!! That worked. Since we had no real agenda anymore and it was still misty, we wanted to hit up KC for lunch, knowing we had some time to kill we jumped on the monorail and headed over. It was 11am at this point and I thought for sure they would be serve lunch by 11:30……no such luck. Again we sat at the Poly like “DUH” again and talked about what to do. We decided to hop back on the monorail and hit up Basin at the GF. We browsed the stores and picked up a few things, then headed down to the GFC and picked up a complete Hodge podge of items for lunch. I am telling you this was the most random Disney day we have EVER had!!! We left and jumped the monorail to Epcot to wander around and just walk our way back to the BC. Andre had fallen asleep in the stroller so we took our time going around WS. Stopping for Duffy of course.
Then funny thing is, we ended up at the food booth by Mexico where the F&GF booth had those great Rosita margaritas. Well, let’s get one. As I was walking up Arnaud shouted to me to get the flight of tequila again. I was thinking, why he would want me to get these when I didn’t care for them. His plan was he was going to do one shot, then pour the other 2 into each of our drinks….making for one very strong Rita……………..well here is the outcome of that!!
Josie and I went to ride Maelstrom while Arnaud sat with our sleeping boy and after we wandered around in the shops a bit. As we were walking I looked up on my Disney Experience when VoL would be playing and sure enough they were just getting ready to start, so we made a dash for it. Andre woke up and we grabbed some seats on the floor. We were ALL blown away and just how magical they are. I a sooooo very happy we finally got to see them. This has got to go on my must do list for every trip.
Just as we started to leave the park the rain started coming down again and we ran to that “secret door” entrance at the BC. It was great being able to get out of the rain quickly. Once up in the room we showered up and dried off and we all just lay down and chilled for a while and watched the rain come down.
A random Disney day at its finest! We had one of those on our trip, too! We did discover on our trip last month that you can ride BTMMR and Splash in the pouring rain as long as there isn't any lightning.
We are usually glad of the rain in Orlando and are always the mad scots that are walking about when everyone else is hiding just so we can cool down. I think you however, have had rain overload. I'm not used to it raining in the morning so I can see how it would mess with your plans, but sometimes those no plans moments can be the best.
Hope you enjoyed KC for lunch it is one of my personal must dos the creme brulee is to die for. Man I repeat myself...
MORE rain. What a shame, but at least it stopped periodically and it looks like you all managed to stay cheerful despite the hodge-podge day. Imagine getting to MK for EMH and spending the time shopping on Main St! I can totally see how that would happen, though, and the kids look adorable in their new hats.
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.
Josie just made such an adorable "beast". So glad she got to particiapte, it looks like such a fun expereince. Love that Josie asked if you could eat at the Beast's Castle. I can't wait to try it in August
Sorry for the rainy day, but even without a plan sounds like you got a lot done, love wandering the shops of the monorail resorts, ok I love wandering in any shop but I do love the Poly and the GF alot....lol
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.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Holly: 
Was Josie exited about dinner there that night? I remember earlier in the day she had mentioned how cool it would be to eat there, and that you hadn't told her you actually were. I hope she liked the surprise!
But at least the food porn turned out! 
We had one of those on our trip, too! We did discover on our trip last month that you can ride BTMMR and Splash in the pouring rain as long as there isn't any lightning.
PassPorter Guide Author
Deb
Linear Mode
