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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Avis's fee is $3.95 per day of the entire rental period, up to the max of $16.75. I'm going to have the car 14 days, so I'd be in for the max.
I ordered mine today. Like you, I just hope I don't get double billed. But if I do, I can at least prove that I have a SunPass and I'd probably have to fight between FDOT and Avis to get the tolls charged to it and waive the Avis charge.
Which is why I love Alamo you only pay the days you use it. I think you'd have to tell Avis when you pick up car that you'll be using your own transponder?
I'm curious how it works, you register rental car plate on web site, then next rental you can switch plate number to current rental plate? How big is transponder? I may look into one when I get there in August. Don't know if they'd ship to Canada.
Which is why I love Alamo you only pay the days you use it. I think you'd have to tell Avis when you pick up car that you'll be using your own transponder?
I'm curious how it works, you register rental car plate on web site, then next rental you can switch plate number to current rental plate? How big is transponder? I may look into one when I get there in August. Don't know if they'd ship to Canada.
Yes, I'll tell Avis and try to have it noted on my rental agreement in case I need it later! I've logged onto the SunPass website to see what it looks like to add a vehicle. There is a check box for Rental Car. When you check that, you have to put in the start date/time and end date/time. So I imagine I will be standing in the garage after I get our car entering the plate info before I leave for WDW.
The website you register on and purchase does allow for Canada, so I believe they do ship to Canada.
The transponder looks to be small, maybe 1"x3" or so? And it looks like it has suction cups. Here in Illinois, our I-Pass uses the plastic hook & loop fasteners that you have to stick on the windshield.
I am not sure how the Sun Pass is mounted in the rental vehicles but I rented a vehicle that came with EZ Pass (Ohio). I took the rental company's EZ Pass and put it in the foil bag from EZ Pass and used mine instead. I added the vehicle to my EZ Pass account and it worked fine.
Yes, I'll tell Avis and try to have it noted on my rental agreement in case I need it later! I've logged onto the SunPass website to see what it looks like to add a vehicle. There is a check box for Rental Car. When you check that, you have to put in the start date/time and end date/time. So I imagine I will be standing in the garage after I get our car entering the plate info before I leave for WDW.
The website you register on and purchase does allow for Canada, so I believe they do ship to Canada.
The transponder looks to be small, maybe 1"x3" or so? And it looks like it has suction cups. Here in Illinois, our I-Pass uses the plastic hook & loop fasteners that you have to stick on the windshield.
When are you going! If you're going before me (August) I'd love to hear your experience. I may wait till I get there to buy one. I looked on web site, and the transponders are sold at many locations, Publix, Walgreens, etc. And there's both near our hotel in Ft Lauderdale. Still have time to think about it, lol. We are usually in aft Lauderdale 10 days in August, but as I say, may only go on toll roads a couple of times, including Turnpike up to Orlando. Then again maybe a couple of times in January trips.
I think the deciding factor will be what rental company I go with. Alamo only charges fee on the day(s) I use it, Budget like Avis, charges for entire rental period, regardless. Currently I'm booked with Budget, but watching Alamo, usually their rates come down lower then Budget then I'll switch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bcuinohio
I am not sure how the Sun Pass is mounted in the rental vehicles but I rented a vehicle that came with EZ Pass (Ohio). I took the rental company's EZ Pass and put it in the foil bag from EZ Pass and used mine instead. I added the vehicle to my EZ Pass account and it worked fine.
I have no idea what Alamo transponder looks like! I mostly rent from them, but it's not a box. I've never seen one. May be a sticker?
At home we don't have toll roads, but have 2 bridges that are tolled (that we rarely use) and we have sticker transponders in our cars. I'd probably feel better if Alamo had a box I could turn off or put in a bag.
I have no idea what Alamo transponder looks like! I mostly rent from them, but it's not a box. I've never seen one. May be a sticker?
At home we don't have toll roads, but have 2 bridges that are tolled (that we rarely use) and we have sticker transponders in our cars. I'd probably feel better if Alamo had a box I could turn off or put in a bag.
The foil bag blocks the signal from the transponder. That way the transponder from the rental company was not picked up at the toll booths.
Ok I need help with this. I was considering getting a sunpass but I was looking at the florida toll system website and it made it look like that the sunpass would not work on the toll roads leading from the north (75) and that we would have to use cash. I've also added up what the toll amounts would be and it would be about $12 round trip for me so I don't know that I would really be saving anything. Any advise you could give would be apprectiated.
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I am not sure how the Sun Pass is mounted in the rental vehicles but I rented a vehicle that came with EZ Pass (Ohio). I took the rental company's EZ Pass and put it in the foil bag from EZ Pass and used mine instead. I added the vehicle to my EZ Pass account and it worked fine.
That's good to hear!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sue M.
When are you going! If you're going before me (August) I'd love to hear your experience.
I have no idea what Alamo transponder looks like! I mostly rent from them, but it's not a box. I've never seen one. May be a sticker? At home we don't have toll roads, but have 2 bridges that are tolled (that we rarely use) and we have sticker transponders in our cars. I'd probably feel better if Alamo had a box I could turn off or put in a bag.
We're going in early July, so I will try to remember to post back how it worked out for me. Avis specifically listed an on/off switch on their website. The bag is probably not a bad idea if the transponder can be removed from the windshield. My fear was that it might be a license plate mount which I wouldn't be able to do anything about.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rphstearns
Ok I need help with this. I was considering getting a sunpass but I was looking at the florida toll system website and it made it look like that the sunpass would not work on the toll roads leading from the north (75) and that we would have to use cash. I've also added up what the toll amounts would be and it would be about $12 round trip for me so I don't know that I would really be saving anything. Any advise you could give would be apprectiated.
According to the SunPass website (click Toll Savings -- Roads and Bridges), it says "on toll roads and bridges throughout Florida". It doesn't list (75) specifically, but I believe it works there too. It also works in North Carolina and Georgia. I have friends in St. Louis who drive to WDW multiple times each year. They have SunPass and come down (75) from Atlanta.
We're going in early July, so I will try to remember to post back how it worked out for me. Avis specifically listed an on/off switch on their website. The bag is probably not a bad idea if the transponder can be removed from the windshield. My fear was that it might be a license plate mount which I wouldn't be able to do anything about.
According to the SunPass website (click Toll Savings -- Roads and Bridges), it says "on toll roads and bridges throughout Florida". It doesn't list (75) specifically, but I believe it works there too. It also works in North Carolina and Georgia. I have friends in St. Louis who drive to WDW multiple times each year. They have SunPass and come down (75) from Atlanta.
Thanks! I've never seen a switch or a detachable unit on Alamo cars, so thinking they must have it on licence plate or sticker somewhere. I've never paid attention to where it's located because thus far I've just used it, and never gave it a second thought.
I drive the turnpike up, sure are a lot of tolls. Very handy not to have to to stop. And once in Orlando you have some unmanned plazas, and need either exact change or use transponder.
I also heard when you get into Miami going south they have done away with manned toll booths along turnpike.
I look forward to hearing your experience. You can PM me if you remember, so I don't miss it.
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.
Seriously?!? That's outrageous! We have E-Z Pass for the convenience, but I'm pretty sure the cost is the same for cash lanes in MD.
Yes, and some of our tolls are as high as $1.90 for the I-Pass rate. Cash is double that for cars. Trucks get hit about 3x the cash rate during the day. I will say that our toll roads are pretty well maintained, but it's a very political organization and that's where a lot of the money goes - management.
I almost forgot to come back here to post my experience. When we got to MCO and got to our rental minivan, I took a picture of the license plate and tried to enter it on the SunPass website. Everything was going well, there's a box to check off that it is a rental car, and you enter the start and end date. When I clicked Submit though, it came back saying the vehicle was already registered to another account and that I would have to call. So while sitting in the parking garage, I called. They have an automated system and ultimately you have to say the license plate number. Our plate ended in 1CP. But every time I said it, the system would read back something different. "1CZ" or "1PP" or 1TC" and so on. After 4 or 5 attempts the system kicks you out. This was SO frustrating!
On the third or fourth call I the system finally read it back right and we let out a mini cheer. Only to hear the system say, "This plate is already registered to another vehicle. Please call, yada yada, yada..." Except this was Sunday, July 5th and nobody is there on a Sunday. At this point I gave up and said I would take my chances. When exiting the garage, they have an attendant who scans the bar code on the windshield. I mentioned it to her and she said as long as the Avis transponder was turned off it should read mine. My fear was if they don't hit mine they'll use the plate, and Avis would charge me the daily fee and cash rate for all tolls.
When we finally got to our resort later I checked on the website and saw that my account was being charged for the tolls correctly. So it worked out in the end. Hopefully it works ok for you too, Sue!
I almost forgot to come back here to post my experience. When we got to MCO and got to our rental minivan, I took a picture of the license plate and tried to enter it on the SunPass website. Everything was going well, there's a box to check off that it is a rental car, and you enter the start and end date. When I clicked Submit though, it came back saying the vehicle was already registered to another account and that I would have to call. So while sitting in the parking garage, I called. They have an automated system and ultimately you have to say the license plate number. Our plate ended in 1CP. But every time I said it, the system would read back something different. "1CZ" or "1PP" or 1TC" and so on. After 4 or 5 attempts the system kicks you out. This was SO frustrating!
On the third or fourth call I the system finally read it back right and we let out a mini cheer. Only to hear the system say, "This plate is already registered to another vehicle. Please call, yada yada, yada..." Except this was Sunday, July 5th and nobody is there on a Sunday. At this point I gave up and said I would take my chances. When exiting the garage, they have an attendant who scans the bar code on the windshield. I mentioned it to her and she said as long as the Avis transponder was turned off it should read mine. My fear was if they don't hit mine they'll use the plate, and Avis would charge me the daily fee and cash rate for all tolls.
When we finally got to our resort later I checked on the website and saw that my account was being charged for the tolls correctly. So it worked out in the end. Hopefully it works ok for you too, Sue!
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you only pay the days you use it. I think you'd have to tell Avis when you pick up car that you'll be using your own transponder? 
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