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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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There are a bunch of books with hints, tips and all sorts of great things that they can give you... the number one tip I'd give ANYONE planning a trip to Disney, ESPECIALLY their first one is this:
You won't be able to see all that Disney can offer your first trip, so don't bother trying to plan to fit everything in. You'll end up being rushed, and miss a lot of the "magic" that Disney has to offer. Make a list of the most important attractions that you CAN'T MISS in each of the parks, and plan to hit those, and those alone. Anything else you do is icing on the cake. Know you WILL be back someday, you'll get to see all that other stuff then.
Also, I'm a big fan of what has lovingly been referred to by my family as my "Titanium" touring plans. I have a fairly good idea of what we're doing every day, so we know for the time we are there what we will be doing, where we are going etc... so the frame work is there....but much like titanium, they are also flexible... so if we find a show we decide to see, or someone is getting tired, hungry or whatever else, we can flex that plan to be what we need it to be.
My wife also chimes in if the kids going are younger, don't push them... they'll get exhausted and cranky...you'll be exhausted and cranky, and then NO ONE has a good time then. Even I...master of the Titanium touring plan has fallen victim to this at least once...and have a nice chunk of my skin ripped off by my daughter who was quite upset that Mommy threw out her Goldfish crackers to show for it.....yes... that set it off....
So take it easy, remember it is a vacation and you are supposed to be having fun... and the things that I enjoy most about Disney are the little things they do... that "Disney Magic" that everyone talks about....make sure you enjoy that. Because without the magic, Disney is just another amusement park...
To TiM Sullivan There is way too much to do and see at WDW to even try and do it all in one trip. Make sure to give yourself and those you are with time to enjoy themselves. A MUST DO list is a good idea but can sometimes be impractical Be ready to change your plans to meet what comes along and find the silver lining that came with it.
Also, I'm a big fan of what has lovingly been referred to by my family as my "Titanium" touring plans. I have a fairly good idea of what we're doing every day, so we know for the time we are there what we will be doing, where we are going etc... so the frame work is there....but much like titanium, they are also flexible... so if we find a show we decide to see, or someone is getting tired, hungry or whatever else, we can flex that plan to be what we need it to be.
That's the best description of the way that we plan too - much better than I've been able to describe myself! We do plan the frame work, as you say, but we fill in the rest as it comes. It's worked out wonderfully for us. We hit the stuff that we really wanted to, but also have the flexibility to take in some spontaneous Disney Magic when needed.
hi, my first trip was last year and i utilized the website wdwent.com. it has the current schedule for each park, parade, and fireworks. they update it every week on saturday so you can check it the saturday before you go. it also has a lot of other information on it.
i also used passporter, allears.net, mousesavers.com, stitchkingdom.com. there is an array of info out there. just if you can, plan for at least 5 to 6 days in the park. we did it in 4 and it wasnt enough to see or do everything. in planning, i would start working around parades, and events you want to do, then build in park hours, and dining if doing dining plan.
I too am a first timer to WDW. All the more special to me since it was a gift for my birthday from my DBF. To add to it were travelling from Australia!
It is easy to get overloaded with info, but would definitely recommend the PP guide. I have read mine several times over and it has been a huge help. I tend to be a little OCD on organising but Ive stepped back a bit this time. We've planned roughly what parks on what days but thats about it. My DBF is pretty slack on organising or taking charge so it's usually up to me. But I've decided for a change to play it by ear a bit more (teehee ears!!) I agree get everyone involved in the planning stages since it will give you all something too look forwards too. Also drag out the Disney movies before you go and re-watch some old favourites!
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.
Welcome to the boards!
Last year was my first trip to WDW. And my BFF did the majority of the planning. I "went along for the ride" and boy what a ride! I did get a Passporter and found it was concise and informative. Read up but try to avoid "information overload". And know that you won't be able to do everything - thus makes it a great reason for another trip!
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