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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Are you staying on site or off? When we stayed on site it was noted within our package and therefore automatically noted on our ADRs. I think either way the easiest thing to do at this point would be to call (during an off time) to the reservation dining and give them your confirmation numbers & have them note it. when you check in to the resort if on site have them confirm the note of your celebrations and make sure everyone gets their celebration buttons and that they were them everywhere. CMs look for them and if nothing else everyone will be wished magical pixies on their celebration sometimes the Disney magic is more but you should never expect it. I also would confirm the celebrations with each hostess when you check in for each ADR.
We are staying at AoA. I've spoken with a CM about the celebrations for my family, and my sister spoke with another CM about the celebrations for her family. All of our ADRs are together, though, for both families. Seems like too many things to celebrate. I could forgo my birthday and our anniversary. I really rather my niece's high school graduation and my DD's college graduation be the highlight of this trip.
On our first trip 5 years ago, I never expected anything, but it was a pleasant surprise that almost everywhere we went, something was done for my birthday. Even a greeting was "magical". We certainly don't expect anything this time around, but it would be nice for my sister's family to have something acknowledged, since it's their first trip. We are on the DDP, so if we don't get cupcakes or special desserts, that is fine with us. We'll have plenty of food already. I will make sure everyone wear their buttons, so CMs might at least say something, regarding a special occasion.
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Just my honest opinion but don't hesitate to celebrate everything. Disney is used to having multiple celebrations especially when there is more than one family. Just make the most of every celebration big or small - you never know when the next time is you will be celebrating them at Disney again.
Welcome to the boards! Disney is a great place too celebrate a birthday. I've been there for my birthday a few time and gotten some desserts. I remember one at California Grill and another at Narcoossees. We tend to eat at a special restaurant on that special day. (and it is usually just me and DH and a group of other adult Disney friends.
Be sure to ask for a Birthday Button at your resort - or at a Guest Services window - even some of the shops have them. Have her wear it the entire time you are there. You will get lots of Happy Birthday wishes from cast members - and even some guests. That alone makes you feel special.
This past December we were at BOG for dinner on DD's birthday. She was presented with a small plate of the Grey Stuff with a candle in it and a birthday card from Belle and Beast. It was really nice as she was able to keep the card as a keepsake.
Definitely get the birthday button. DD didn't get anything for her birthday when we were there, but when we were in the Main Street Emporium, an elderly male cast member asked if it was her birthday. When she said yes, he pulled her aside, asked where she was from and how old she was. He then asked for everyone's attention, told them she was celebrating her birthday and had everyone sing happy birthday to her.
As noted, nothing is guaranteed. Don't go expecting something special or you might be disappointed.
That said, the unexpected is often the most magical. My DSis was in FL visiting her inlaws one year around her birthday. They decided to dine at Kona at the Poly on her birthday. They were not staying onsite, nor visiting the parks. I made the ADR for them and I noted her birthday on the reservation. I got a call from her that night, asking "Did you do that!?!" They came out with a cupcake, sang Happy Birthday, generally made a big deal. Their entire party was shocked as none of them had mentioned her birthday.. She thought that perhaps I had "ordered" this. Nope, just Disney Magic
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I did WDW as my birthday present last year, first time celebrating it there.
I received my birthday button and wore it everywhere--couldn't begin to tell you how many people wished me happy birthday throughout all the parks!
We did 1900 Park Faire for my birthday dinner--first character meal ever. I wore my birthday ears just for fun, and the Stepmother remarked on how subtly I was celebrating . My birthday was noted on the ADR, but it didn't matter--as I recall, a CM asked for everyone celebrating a birthday to stand or raise their hands or something, and we all got Mickey cupcakes.
We ate at the ABC Commissary twice. The first time, the CM saw my birthday button and gave me a free cupcake. The second time, no cupcake.
So, it really is hit-or-miss whether you get something, but constant well-wishes from strangers (other visitors as well as CMs) is a lot of fun!
Just my honest opinion but don't hesitate to celebrate everything. Disney is used to having multiple celebrations especially when there is more than one family. Just make the most of every celebration big or small - you never know when the next time is you will be celebrating them at Disney again.
OK, sounds good. Just don't want to seem "greedy" and celebrate everything under the sun ~ LOL!!!
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I could forgo my birthday and our anniversary. I really rather my niece's high school graduation and my DD's college graduation be the highlight of this trip.
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(and it is usually just me and DH and a group of other adult Disney friends.
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