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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ballston Lake, NY
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 46,162
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Likes (Given): 94
Likes (Received): 241
Thanks (Given): 0
Thanks (Received): 139
Pixie Dust (Given): 3
Pixie Dust (Received): 4
Quote:
Originally Posted by shnewell
It's always a relief to get the hotel and airline reservations taken care of! Sorry you won't be there on your birthday, but it sounds like the dates worked out well for your DSis and DBIL's schedule.
I was bummed at first, but everything worked out for the best in the end!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
That does look like a nice hotel/motel! Definitely NOT what I'd picture when I hear Motel 6 (although I do love when Tom Bodett is on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!).
Not what I was expecting at all either!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
I can't believe that price for the airfare! Do you have to make a lot of stops? Great hotel, too.
Nope, I change planes once in Newark both ways.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedisney247
Sounds like all of the hard things are out of the way! Congrats on the great flights and hotel!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
What a great rate for the airfare!
Thanks! I still have to pinch myself that I got such a great rate!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Congrats on the flight and hotel! That's a great deal for the flight!
Thanks!! Considering I spent $500 when I flew out in June, that price is a steal!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disneydiana
Hi Kathy! I'm here too! Great start on your TR
Hi Diana!! So glad you are following along!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
Sounds like a great way to celebrate your birthday (and how great that you get to be there to introduce your neice to the Disney Magic).
I don't know what I'm more excited about, my birthday or taking Arabella to Disney for the first time!
You snuck this in while I was gone. I am all caught up now! My very first visit to any Disney park was Disneyland when I was 14. I have not been back since, so I am looking forward to your TR.
The motel looks very nice, I like the rooms. And congrats on Disney mail!
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ballston Lake, NY
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 46,162
Post Thanks / Like
Likes (Given): 94
Likes (Received): 241
Thanks (Given): 0
Thanks (Received): 139
Pixie Dust (Given): 3
Pixie Dust (Received): 4
Party Planning
Way back when we had first started talking about going to Disneyland, I had mentioned if there was a Halloween party offered, I would like to go. My sister agreed that she would like to go too. So we waited for the party dates to be released. And it so happened that when I was in Arizona in June the dates were released. Luckily with having to change the original dates, there was still a party offered on the Friday we arrive! My brother in law will not be attending the party with us, which actually will work out good. We figure when Arabella has had enough, Nate will take her back to the hotel and Jennifer and I can stay and enjoy the party. Jennifer found a Belle costume for Arabella, so that is what she will be wearing.
As for the two of us, I found some cute headbands at Target in the dollar section and I made these T-shirts.
I’m super excited about the all the activities, the Trick or Treating and the Character meet and greets. I read that they added Phineas and Ferb and Stormtroopers to the party this year. Plus I saw today there is a Pirate Dance Party that’s new too! I’ve never done the Halloween party at WDW, but I’ve read many TRs about the Halloween Party. It will be interesting to see how they compare. Right now I’m just waiting to hear from Jennifer that the party tickets have arrived!
Up Next: Riding the rides, seeing the shows, and Dining at Disney!
Congratulations on being an Aunt and having an upcoming trip! I just got back from there and you are going to have an amazing time!!! It is so nice to walk across the street and be in the magic! Make sure you do the walk through in the Castle if you love Sleeping Beauty (entrance on the left as you enter Fantasyland) and get fastpasses for the Haunted Mansion! The wait was 70 minutes or more while we were there. I don't want to ruin any surprises so I won't say much more but you are in for a great time!
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Hi Kathy! I'm here too! Great start on your TR 
I am all caught up now! My very first visit to any Disney park was Disneyland when I was 14. I have not been back since, so I am looking forward to your TR.
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