An Animal Kingdom State of Being with Cam and Fam COMPLETED 9/18 - Page 21 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Sounds like a fantastic day! I'm definitely thinking we're going to have to make time for US at some point in the future. I can't believe how low the crowd levels were.
Can't wait to hear about WWoHP! We are going to be there in December, so I'm counting on you to give me the inside scoop!
I need to add that I cannot wait for your take on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I've been a fan since the first book came out--I've read all the books, and seen all the movies. I even did a little work for an online game writing rooms for a MUD.
How !
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
What a great day, the more I hear the more I think popping in to Universal for a two day trip might be in he cards for us one day. I was worried a bit a Jasmine does not ride much (and it always seems that there are just so many thrill rides there) but it sounds like there is enough that she would enjoy.
Looking forward to hearing your views of "Harry World"
That was always my thinking -- that we'd waste a lot of money on mine and Stefanie's tickets for us to ride so few attractions. But there really was still a lot for both of us to do, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mandy1627
What a great day! It must have been nice to have such a small crowd that you were free to do what you wanted when you needed to do it! I cannot WAIT to hear about "Harry Potter World!" I have not been but would love to go (I've been a Harry fan since the very beginning...and a hee-uge one at that!) so I can't wait to hear all about it!
I love Stef and her "Coke grease!" Too cute! Loved the shirts you all picked out as well, they were all great! I espeically loved yours as it's a style I love!
I really liked the one I chose as it is just a classic style and I'll be able to wear it for a long time. It's almost more feminine than some t-shirts!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mojjo
Ughhhh...I think I'm going to have to take the boys to US soon and it's all your fault.
It was easy enough to figure out which shirt was Stef's. They are really cute.
I can't wait to hear what you think of the Harry Potter section.
So sorry, but your boys will love US!
Quote:
Originally Posted by omd
I am amazed that US does not look crowded. I am interested to hear what you think of the Harry Potter ride. That would be one that might make me want to visit.
I have to say that of all the pictures you have posted in your previous TR's all of which are awesome, the one of Luke and Stefanie walking hand in hand is beautiful. Somehow the love between them just comes shining through . It is a great picture.
That is what I think too when I look at that photo!
Quote:
Originally Posted by BettyBeBop
I am absolutely loving your updates about US. Can't wait to hear all about IoA and WWoHP! You make me want to extend my December trip by a few days to check it all out.
I just finished reading your PTR and thoroughly enjoyed it! I love all of your planning that helps build the excitement. Such fun!!
for following along, especially as the PTR got to be sooooo long.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimros
Great day!!!
We were wondering if they still had some of the older attractions like Jaws and E.T. - glad to see they are still there.
Love the Stefanie-isms for today.
After WWoHP, I think The Mummy is the attraction I'm most excited about doing. What's the 'hurl factor', do you think? I'd love Kevin to be able to do it, but if Luke thought you'd be okay with it, I think Kevin might be okay too.
And thank you for taking photos of your purchase! You know we all love to see what you bought.
Can't wait to see what the next day brings...!
Jaws was rather corny, but I really liked E.T.!
As to The Revenge of the Mummy, Luke says it's like Pirates of the Caribbean on a roller coaster rather than boat. He doesn't remember any loops, which is what makes a hurl-factor for me.
I may be horrible at remembering to photograph my food, but I was perfect at photographing this year's purchases.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shnewell
Sounds like a fantastic day! I'm definitely thinking we're going to have to make time for US at some point in the future. I can't believe how low the crowd levels were.
Can't wait to hear about WWoHP! We are going to be there in December, so I'm counting on you to give me the inside scoop!
Hope to get started on that inside scoop later today!
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Wow, you got a ton done in one day! Can't wait to hear what you thought about WWOHP. I hope the crowds were low for you. We loved it when we went but it was insanely busy Thanksgiving week. My in-laws were just there the 3rd week of May and it sounded like the crowds were much more manageable then. I did like Universal more than I expected to and I actually thought the theming around the park was quite cool! Can't wait to read more.
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15 total family trips with stays at the Poly, AKL, Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Swan, Dolphin, POFQ, Pop Century, All Star Music, Movies & Sports, and Coronado Springs.
What a great day you guys had! And no better way to end a great day than with ice cream!
I love all of your new shirts!
You mentioned that you might eventually download the HP books on your Nook. Well, I tried and so far they are not available. Maybe in the future?
I am so looking forward to your next installment!
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Great update! I love Stefanie's "Coke Grease". That is too funny!
I just recently heard that the HP series will be sold as ebooks through a website/platform. Here's a link about it BBC News - Harry Potter series to be sold as e-books Pretty cool for all the HP fans out there!
Had to pop in to say I enjoyed my Stephanie phone call last week - and our follow up conversation Wednesday! She has strict instructions to bring her scrapbook when it is finished so we can see it.
And, Noelle loves her "new" Tink backpack. She's already decided it is her WDW bag this year. I have a feeling she'll start packing it long before October!
Caught up finally. What a great TR. Sounds like you all had a great time so far. Can't wait to read more. Your TR's always make me feel like I'm there.