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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We stayed in Port Orleans Riverside on our honeymoon and loved it. It's beautifully themed and we found it very romantic and quiet. I'm sure you'll love it too.
Thank you everyone!!!
I feel so much better about my decision. I spoke to the boys when they got home from school today and neither one cared at all. They said they just want to go back they don't care where we stay.
I can't wait until December! Only 102 days left!
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Magic Kingdom Dec. '07
--Jody
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Previous Trips: PC 05/04; DS/D 09/05; POR 12/07
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I've stayed in POR and WL, and I like POR better. I really like the theming and the landscaping. The landscaping is very lush and beautiful. I enjoyed just walking around the place - but it's easy to get lost if you don't watch where you're going. It's a beautiful walk along the river. DH and I walked over to FQ one night, and that was a nice walk as well. The main pool is nice but we enjoyed the quiet pool.
We had a gorgeous room in Alligator Bayou in 2005, it was brand new from refurbishments. We've staying there again in 2 days!
The only down side to POR is that there is more walking to the food court, but you can put a request in to get a building close to the food court if you desire. Requests aren't guaranteed but it's worth a try.
We are also staying at POR. We will be there 12/8-12/16. I was like you I could not justify spending the deluxe price when we will hardly ever be in our room except to sleep. I heard read lots of great reviews so I am sure that we have not made a mistake!!!
We are also staying at POR. We will be there 12/8-12/16. I was like you I could not justify spending the deluxe price when we will hardly ever be in our room except to sleep. I heard read lots of great reviews so I am sure that we have not made a mistake!!!
We will also be there from 12/8-12/16. How !
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Magic Kingdom Dec. '07
--Jody
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Previous Trips: PC 05/04; DS/D 09/05; POR 12/07
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We stayed at POR in 2002 at Christmastime. We stayed in the mansion section and it was beautiful. Last year we stayed at WL and to tell the truth, I preferred POR. The only thing I liked better about WL was the boat to MK, and that's not worth $1500. I also preferred POR to the Yacht Club. There really isn't much difference between this and a deluxe resort. I think you made the right choice. Use the extra $ to enjoy your vacation.
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I have heard alot of discussion about resorts filling up for the month of December and worries that the parks are going to be really crowded. I checked Expedia today and they have rooms at the French Quarter for the dates of 12/8-12/16!! In fact they have rooms in almost every resort! I wonder why they could not get you in? Anyway it is cool that we are staying at the same resort at the same time!
I have heard alot of discussion about resorts filling up for the month of December and worries that the parks are going to be really crowded. I checked Expedia today and they have rooms at the French Quarter for the dates of 12/8-12/16!! In fact they have rooms in almost every resort! I wonder why they could not get you in? Anyway it is cool that we are staying at the same resort at the same time!
Usually with places such as expedia, they get a certain # of rooms at that rate for them to sell. These are separate from rooms you could get from the source itself. Maybe most people go through Disney directly, or a TA, and don't think about looking at expedia?! Good luck!! POR is our FAVE!!
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Looking forward to another Christmas with The Mouse!!
I can't wait to go! I think I am going to take a little time one day and "bus hop" through the resorts so I can see what each one is like for future trips. Is this possible or does Disney not allow it?
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Magic Kingdom Dec. '07
--Jody
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Previous Trips: PC 05/04; DS/D 09/05; POR 12/07
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I don't think resorts are necessarily filling up for December, just that Disney in general is seeing increased attendance this year. They are apparently back to pre-911 levels.
The beginning of December is busier because of events like Pop Warner Championships and the internet-community "meet" called MouseFest. Since the Port Orleans resorts are popular, they will see more reservations. When I called, there was plenty of availability at POFQ, but no discounts for annual passholders at that resort. I switched over to Caribbean Beach to get the AP rate, but I've been calling every week or so to see if anything opened up at our fav resort. Nothing so far!
Good luck!
Eileen
PS - don't you have to pay a booking fee with sites like Expedia? Make sure that doesn't off-set your savings vs. booking directly with Disney.
I loved POR when I was there last year over July 4th. At the time it was the only resort that was available and I would stay there again. You will love the place. Enjoy.
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Jennifer
Taken April 24 - May 2, 2009 My mom Linda & I
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