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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Great plans! I definitely think the Mama Melrose's Fantasmic Package is the way to go! I've done it twice in the past (at HBD and MM) and just knowing you have a reserved space for the show is worth it!! I actually have it booked for our September trip at Mama Melrose's again!
Thanks everyone. Just a note…we were not able to get a Fantasmic package at Mama Melrose's for that night. They were all booked up. When I checked Wednesday night, they had 2 time slots (wish and 11:35 a.m.). I decided to wait one more day to see how things went, and when I went back last night both were booked up.
Also, I decided to drop California Grill for dessert and fireworks on our anniversary. With Narcoossee's being at 8 p.m., I just didn't think there'd be enough time to enjoy the meal and take our time and then make to Cali without being in a rush. So, we'll either try to watch fireworks from somewhere at the Gf or try to make it back to the deck right inside the main gate to watch from there.
Sorry the F! package didn't work out, but keep trying - even ask that day maybe. We had it booked once and went to the restaraunt but decided not to do the package as it had been raining and the kids were at their ropes end. We just ordered off the menu instead. Not sure what happened to our 'reservation' for F! though.
Also think it's a good idea that you cancelled Cali Grill as I didn't think you'd make it. DH & I have eaten once at Narcoossee's, a later reservation like you, and just the 2 of us it took close to 2 hours.
Sorry the package didn't work out. Be sure to check the day before, as some people will cancel their ressie the day before with the new 24 hour cancellation rule
I agree with those guys about the Fantasmic package. Check when you get down there and see if anything pops up!. Good plan to drop the Cali Grill and take your time at Narcoossee's!
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Ok, finally posting the final 2 days since we leave for the trip in less than 2 days.
Saturday, June 13
Epcot Day
The plan for this day is to sleep in and rest a bit. Maybe get up and have breakfast at Pop late morning. Then we head over to Epcot.
Our first FP is Soarin at 2:15-3:15. We want to ride TestTrack and don't have a FP for that. So, we might get to the park an hour early and try and wait in line for TestTrack before going over to Soarin.
After Soarin we will walk or boat over to Beach Club for an ADR at Beaches and Cream. Since we're not on the deluxe dining plan and because we're having a late breakfast, this will strictly be for an ice cream or something. She wants the kitchen sink, although I'm not sure we want to order that for just the 2 of us.
We will then go back to Epcot after eating and walk the World Showcase, checking out the shows, etc. We will probably plan to grab dinner at the Japanese counter service (Katsu-something), although I'm not sure at what point we'll eat. We might opt for San Angel Cantina instead as we had that last time, and it was really good.
Our 2 final FPs are Mission Space from 7-8 p.m. DW will ride that and then will re-ride with my band as I have no interest in that ride. The final FP is from 8-9 at Spaceship Earth We'll then watch Illuminations and then call it a night.
Sunday, June 14 - our final full day
We'll be going to MK this day.
The plan is to start in Tomorrowland with Space Mountain (I haven't ridden this yet, and don't know if I will as I HATE roller coasters). I am really wanting to try SM and trying to get the courage. The FP for that is from 9:15-10:15.
Our next FP is Buzz Lightyear from 10:15-11:15 and then lunch at BOG at 11:30 a.m. We will probably try to ride something else in between Buzz and BOG. Maybe Pooh, the Teacups or Peter Pan. Not really sure. Might also try the Carousel of Progress as I really want to see that. DW doesn't as much as I do. Might also do Great Goofini and Dumbo (we did both for the first time last trip and those aren't usually long waits).
After BOG, we will try and catch Mickey's Philharmagic, maybe Regal Carousel or something else because our final FP isn't until 7 p.m. that night.
We will take our normal break about 2-5 but might go back to the park a bit early since it's our last day.
Dinner will be QS somewhere in the park (I'm hoping for Casey's as I love the atmosphere). We've got a FP for Anna and Elsa from 7-8 p.m., and then will do anything we haven't done that we wanted to do. We will probably watch Wishes from Fantasyland or Frontierland and then try and ride BTMM again as it's my favorite.
Not sure what else we'll do as I don't really have a schedule, other than a couple of ADRs and FPs.
Unfortunately, Monday is get up, pack and get ready to go to the airport. But lets not talk about that just yet.
Thanks everyone for the read, and I look forward to doing a TR afterward.