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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Yeah I guess I am going to try and look for some sealed case that isnt to big and bulky to put it in, its bigger than an iphone, so if i can then I guess we will just do the cell phones if i cant then we will do the 2 ways??? i saw a h20 proof sealed type case either on ebay or amazon maybe that will work ???
I hear that VERIZON has the best cell service.
When my DD(10) went away to camp, I got her a disposable pre-paid phone to take with her, in case of an emergency. The phone was very small and cost about $10, I put the unlimited plan on it for one month at $50 and it worked out great. Not sure if that is an option for you. I know they have different amounts of money you can put on them.
Cell phones are the better choice i have the 2 way Radios and they are right you get stepped on all day long not good .
I have AT&T and there are a few dead spots in disney but hopefully it is different since i'm on line now lol
Thanks disney got my 1st PP back in 2001 but i still have lots of questions, and because Im a full time student i really havent had the extra time YET to do FUN reading!!!! Can't wait to get my summer break in 2 weeks!!!! thanks for the help
It looks like everyone has chosen the cell phone which is 100% correct and one or two are for cell phones but have a small doubt why.
2 way radios that you are talking about are actually on the C.B. (Citizen Band Radio) frequency of 27 MHz where cell phones are on a higher frequency. Basically like comparing regular radio station to VHF. The lower the MHz rating the noiser the channels are. That is basically from the laymans explanation of the difference.
The small 2 way radios (actually C.B.) that are available now have about one to one and a half watts output DOWN from about four and a half watts back in the 1960s and 1970s. Many things including others and the kids stepping on you helped cause the lowering of power over the years. The more power (watts) the further you can talk. This is way you might not hear a radio station after so many miles but why you hear another. That loud station is putting out more watts. Thus reducing the wattage cuts down on the distance you can talk and receive.
Todays wattage generally lets you talk with the 2 way radio from 2 to 5 miles. In the old days 4-1/2 watts allowed you to talk up to 50 or more miles on a regular basis. This C.B. frequency is by direct line of sight communication where cell phones at a higher frequency are now by satellite or the old way of telephone lines. The old regular telephone.
Ham operators, which you are probably familar with has a higher frequency that doen't require telephone lines or satellites.
The current 2 way radio and cell phones are like an orange and an apple, two different things. But don't think that because you use cell phones that C.B. is something of the past or not used. Short wave aboard ship (ships, cruise ships, etc.) is an example of C.B. and Ham radio but again at a higher frequency and more power (watts).
So with your 2 way radio (C.B.) you hear anyone whom is talking on that channel. These radio do pickup all the adults and kids talking within a few miles, These radio waves can be interferred with by buildings, tunnels, mountains and literally anything in line of sight.
In the old days a license issued by the F.C.C. was required. Mine was KQX2004. Most U.S. tourist visiting Canada with a C.B. were issued a temporary C.B. license by D.O.T. (same as our FCC). The temporary license imvolved just adding XM to the U.S. license number. Thus mine would have been KQX2004XM. However, I also had a regular Canadian C.B. license which was XM11-1737 issued in British Columbia, Canada. Few americans had both licenses. Another story.
For anyone from the old days I did run a "Pirate Station" at times. In my mobile (car) and home I exceeded the 4-1/2 watts with 150 watts. On my base station (home) I modified a regular beam antenna to a horizontal beam which increased the distance and cut down on noise and the regular adult and kids talk (stepping on) of today.
Distance? I lived in Bell, CA which is about 17 miles north of Long Beach and on good days I talked into the states around the great lakes, Florida, the south into Texas and north into northern CA, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Canada), Alaska plus a few in between.
Yes, C.B. was policed by the FCC and many were fined and a few went to prison. The more serious and repeaters were the ones the FCC went after. The most serious was foul language. A real No, No.
So that is the difference. Most people these days have cell phones (texting, etc.), so stick with them for private communications. For fun go to 2 way radio (C.B.) Anything you say on 2 way (C.B.) can be heard by others and you can be stepped on. You might keep in mind that because you can hear someone else talking that due to radio conditions that does not mean they can hear you. You never know whom is listening.
C.B. is fun around around a park, while hiking, camping, etc. if you use it a lot and on a limited minute basis with your cell phone. If you are on a plan where minutes and cost are not a factor then stay on the cell phones. Cell phones can basically go worldwide vis satellite but not C.B. Try using a C.B. if you are a few miles away from what you want or where you are going. No response. Your chances are much better with a cell phone.
Due to the amount of cell phones and programs out there STICK WITH THE CELL PHONE. Don't run out there and buy a small wattage 2 way radio. Leave the 2 way radios for the children to play with.
Remember the 2 way radio channels are open to everyone.
More information can be found on the internet under CB Radio.
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Last edited by Papa Mouse; 06-29-2012 at 02:11 AM..
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