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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I personally would choose Hawaii too as it is a once in a lifetime chance. WDW will always be there I could go a year or 2 later. But I agree with talking it over with your daughter to see what she really wants to do. If she really hates the idea of going to Hawaii, obviously I would not force it.
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.
I would definitely do Hawaii. She can't just go cheer in the Pro Bowl any year, but Disney will always be there for y'all to go to the next year or year after that or whenever you can go.
This is an especially huge accomplishment due to her disability, so it is definitely something you are going to want to take part in. This accomplishment will last a lifetime. A trip to Disney may, as well, but that trip can be taken at any other time.
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.
Here's what our family's experience was. DD has danced at the Orange Bowl and the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. We scrimped and saved and yes we did not get to go to Disney. Now when she looks back on her trip she tells us that she wishes we went to Disney instead. "Why did I let her go to the bowl games when we could have had relaxing vacations at WDW?", she said to me. She said the intense practices and the rushed schedules were not worth it for her. They were practicing at midnight and getting screamed at by their coaches and instructors. We had to extend our stay to get some family time in.
I would hold back on making your decision and ask lots of questions about what's expected once you get there. Sometimes it's not worth it especially when it's costing you thousands of dollars.
How many on the cheering squad are going? Hawaii is a very expensive destination and I am sure you are not the only family on a budget. Maybe the team will decide not to go, you never know.
But if the team is going, and I could get the money together, I would go to Hawaii. Once-in-a-lifetime event trumps a trip to WDW any day.
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.
We've been to both places. Lots of choices, lots of questions. We love both, as both offer different things to do, both are fabulous.
First, would there be a group rate for this trip with airfare and hotel or would you be on your own to plan this? If you have to plan this yourself, are you former military? That will save you on hotel if you can stay at the Hale Koa.
Second, what does your daughter want to do? Hawaii or Disney? Can Disney be postponed to 2009? Will she miss school for the Pro Bowl? Will her team be disappointed if she doesn't go to the Pro-Bowl?
My personal choice, if I had to choose, would be go to the pro-bowl. Then plan another Disney vacay the next year. Start saving for that by buying Disney Gift cards as a way to put the money away towards it and not being able to use it until you book your trip.
Good luck and keep us posted on what you all decided.
I agree with the others...WOW!!
I guess I'd let DD know the situation and get her feelings on it first. Then discuss it as a family. It doesn't hurt to have everyone's input and maybe DD won't want to go. When I was in cheer a billion years ago, I would have passed on the games to go to Disney any day!
Robin Twitter name: @NKsDogwalker Find me on FB: robinkay6573@yahoo.com 38th Birthday with Mom, Dad and friends 2011 Next Trip: Cruise on Jewel of the Seas for Christmas 2012
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I agree 100%
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with your decision!
She said the intense practices and the rushed schedules were not worth it for her. They were practicing at midnight and getting screamed at by their coaches and instructors. We had to extend our stay to get some family time in. 
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