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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Wilderness Lodge or Beach Club! WL is a western theme but think more national park not cowboy stuff. Beach Club is just plain pretty with the soft colors and gotta love the walk to Epcot
WL isn't really about cowboys and indians. It's modelled after a typical lodge at a national park like Yellowstone. Gorgious!
Ok, good view... There are rooms at the Poly that offer a view of the castle at the MK, savannah rooms at the AKL that overlook the animal areas (and, yes, rooms are nice ), rooms at the BW Inn from where you can see the Boardwalk; the woods view rooms at the WL overlook, well, the woods ...
Water view... You can get that at the Poly, Contemporary, YC/BC and BW Inn (I think) as far as deluxes go (at moderates, you don't really have a "view" as there are no balconies and the window goes out to the hall (outside))
Fireworks... Again, Poly, Contemporary for Wishes, a few rooms at the BW Inn for IllumiNations
Nice pool, lush grounds: POLY! BC has Stormalong Bay which is supposed to be awesome!
All pools at the deluxes are nice, though (some people don't like the one at the Contemporary, I believe)
So, looks like the Poly suits your needs best overall. I second the advice to check AllEars for pictures.
Only stayed at two so far (Coronado Springs and AKL) but AKL was just amazing. I'd go again in a heart beat but I want to experience more of the resorts so we're staying at Wilderness Ldoge next trip. We did the AKL Savannah view and the view every morning from the balcony of the animals was perfect!
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My favorite is the POLY with the AKL coming in second. The Poly has great views of the Seven Seas Lagoon, Cinderella's Castle, Space Mountain and the other monorail resorts (CR and GF). The AKL you can get a savannah view to see the animals. I like the theming and the decor of both of those resorts.
Just go with what theme makes you feel the most comfortable.
__________________
Trish (AKA Mum to 'Princess Avery')
Hittin' WDW since Space Mountain was 'Coming Soon'
Out of the ones I have stayed at I love the BWV (ok I know I am biased becasue it is my home resort ) but I also loved staying at the GF. When I booked that I splurged on my DVC points and requested the concierges and I wasn't disappointed.
I think the best idea so far is to look at descriptions of each resort and eliminate those you know you do not want to stay at. If you have time on this trip then see if you can go look at a few of the resorts that you might want to stay at.
Good Luck.
__________________
Jennifer
Taken April 24 - May 2, 2009 My mom Linda & I
We loved the CBR. Lush grounds! We had a lake view room. Beautiful white beaches, hammocks, a pool in every island. In ref. to getting to the loby, we never had to go there aside from check in, & for check out bell services provides the transportation there, but it is just a phone call away if any prob. comes up. Good luck! I'm sure you will be happy where ever you go.
From what you described about what you're looking for, I think you'd be happiest sticking with the Poly. But if you want to check out a new resort, I can heartily recommend the BC. It is very relaxing there, and we love the Boardwalk area, and being able to walk to Epcot and MGM. From our room at BC, we could see the high fireworks of Illuminations, and that was pretty cool. We love the Poly, too, but we love the BC just a little bit better.
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We stayed at the Poly on our first trip, and LOVED it. The atmosphere was great, the monorail was so fun, and O'hana was great too.
Second trip, we stayed at the Boardwalk, and LOVED it too! So be sure to check it out. The location is awesome, and the pool area was really fun, and we loved being able to head out at night and stroll on the Boardwalk and shop, etc.
I would look into the POR - while we visited the French Quarter side I found Riverside to be just peaceful...the river is beautiful, the resort itself is so lush with greenery...and while it is a large resort it almost gives off the affect of country living as you walk over the various bridges over the river to get to your destiantion...
Our room (in Alligator Bayou) looked out over a "swamp" filled with colorful flowers and trees...we were quite close to the main building and we still walked the long way so we could enjoy the scenery...
Well if you're looking for "lush grounds," then I'm not so sure that the Yacht Club, Beach Club or Boardwalk quite fit the bill. That's just my view of it - those hotels are fabulous - don't get me wrong. We've stayed at the Yacht Club and Beach Club and we loved them - especially the Beach Club last year. BC/YC Stormalong Bay is a great pool, so that's something to consider. I'm guessing, though, (purely guessing!) that AKL (has the Wow factor in a big way) might be a little more what you're looking for. I don't think that you can go wrong no matter what hotel you choose. There are so many great choices!! Best of luck!!!
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), rooms at the BW Inn from where you can see the Boardwalk; the woods view rooms at the WL overlook, well, the woods 
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