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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 great final full day with some good meals and of course MVMCP to top off the day!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I love your reports...I feel like I'm part of your plans. I can't wait to hear how the trip turns out. I've wanted to try most of the restaurants ya'll are going to and hopefully will once we move there in August.
I love your reports...I feel like I'm part of your plans. I can't wait to hear how the trip turns out. I've wanted to try most of the restaurants ya'll are going to and hopefully will once we move there in August.
Thank you!! On here that is the ultimate compliment!!
Oh my gosh, you guys!!. We have once again shaken things up for our Disney trip!! Let me explain:
As you all know, I was planning on running in the 10K race for the Princess Marathon in February. So when I got home from work yesterday, Muffin asked me if I was sure I really wanted to do that. I responded with HUH?!?!?! I was positive I had not heard him correctly and I was seriously at a loss for words and that does not happen to me often!:
Of course I wanted to run in the 10k!! I have been running my butt off to train for this and I already have an entry paid for!! Also, I discussed all of this stuff at length with Muffin before booking the race and he said to go ahead and do it!!! I had no idea where this was going, but I was not getting a good feeling here. ..........
Muffin then went on to say that he was really having a hard time with going back to WDW so soon after our trip in November. So, I told him he didn't have to come in February. Mind you, I was really disappointed but no way was I giving up this opportunity. He told me just to think about it and make sure that I really wanted to do it and of course he would come if I did.
My wheels started spinning as I was trying to think about all of the reasons I wanted to do this race. I made a list of reasons why it made sense and reasons why it didn't.
On the positive side, I really have taken to running. I don't think that I will ever be a marathon runner but I do want to push myself to stay healthy so that I can enjoy my grandchildren for many years to come.
Also, the idea of doing a run at Disney is a definite motivator for me!! Even though we are going to be there in November, the Wine and Dine 10k was sold out when we booked our trip and that wasn't going to work out anyway because it falls on the weekend we will be at the Rosen.
And! The Princess marathon weekend would give me plenty of time to see if I could actually build up to a 10k. I can do a 5k at this point but I can't do much more.
Now, to be fair, I did tell him that we would only need to go down for the weekend and, honestly, there was no way I would just go to Disney for a weekend. : After 35 years, my husband knows me pretty well when it comes to Disney stuff and he pointed this out. I mildly protested that I meant this and he just looked at me like I was nuts.
I must admit I am also somewhat of a resort snob and this is no disrespect to anyone staying in a moderate or value resort. So, even though Disney hasn't come out with pricing for 2018 yet, I figured even if we went down for 3 nights, it would cost around 1,200 bucks just for the resort. Also, it would mean that we had to renew our AP's way earlier than planned which would cost roughly another 1,600 bucks.
Then I started thinking that we also needed to eat while there and we both love a sit down meal. I am sure you can see where this is going.......
Honestly, Muffin never once told me I couldn't go, he just asked me to think about it. I think we are both trying to get some sort of a grip on our budget after Katie's very expensive wedding and so after a lot of roundabout, I really did start to see that this was becoming a very expensive added trip to just run a race.
Still, I was pretty mopey about the whole thing and I finally said, "Okay, I won't do it". Then I went to go take a hot bath and sulk for a bit.
In the meantime!!
Muffin was busy looking at the Wine and Dine Marathon and asked if there was any way I could get into that. Now, it was my turn to look at him like he was nuts!! I patiently explained that these marathons sell out within minutes of being made available and that both the 5k and the 10k were completely full for this event.
I went on the website to show him how it worked and he then asked me how much it would cost to run for one of the listed charities. Apparently, even for the sold out events, you can still enter if you sign up through a charity. This, of course, requires a fairly sizable sum to fundraise or donate. Basically, you are buying your way into the race in the name of a good cause. Just for fun, I went down the list of charities and found several that had openings for the 10k. The cost of fundraising varied anywhere from 400-2000 dollars depending on the cause and popularity of the charity. Most of them are wonderful causes but would like you to have your fundraising goal met by September.
There are also several other issues:
1. I can't get my money back for the Princess marathon that I already signed up for.
2. I have no idea how I would raise 600 bucks by September. I picked that number because that was my favorite charity. It is a foundation for two little girls who died in a horrendous house fire and loved WDW. The foundation is building a playground in their name.
3. And this is a big one--The 10k is on November 4th at 5:30 AM and we don't arrive in Florida until that afternoon.
4. I already booked Discovery Cove for November 5th, which is across the street from the Rosen.
Undeterred and sinking his teeth in for the kill, Muffin then suggested that we fly down to Florida a day earlier and stay at either the Contemporary or the Polynesian from the 3rd to the 5th of November. He said that his company would sponser me for the race and that it would still be cheaper than going in February as well. That pretty much had me hooked.
Not knowing that I was about to say yes, Muffin then threw in that I could go on an extra tour if I wanted to because I would have to change my Discovery Cove plans. I am not sure that I will take him up on this as we already have the Savor the Savanna tour booked and I have the Senses of Africa tour booked.
Now I had to go and check on the race through the charity website and make sure that I could actually still register. I was able to do that easily.
Then I had to go back to the WDW website and see what was available from November 3rd-5th. It turned out that both the Contemporary and the Polynesian were showing availability. The Poly was showing a rate of 585.00 a night for a standard room and the Contemporary was showing a rate of 463.00.
As much as I would have loved to stay at the Polynesian to complete our being able to stay at all three of our top choices for this trip, 244.00 for two nights was a little too steep to swallow to do it, so we decided on the Contemporary.
We are actually pretty excited to stay here as we have never done so!! We like the fact that you can walk to the MK and we already know we love the restaurants and lounges here!!
I next had to call Discovery Cove and cancel my November 5th reservation. I am truly sad about doing this but it just doesn't make sense to stay at the Contemporary and go there when I have an AP. I was able to cancel with a full refund and I told Muffin that I would definitely be going there next year.
To square away the last remaining part of what would be lost by doing this, I plan to call Run Disney about the Princess Marathon. If I can't get a refund, I would like to check and make sure that the money I paid will be given to the Children's Miracle Network. Muffin says we are still saving money even if we have to eat this fee.
Then, Muffin had to change the reservation at the Rosen from November 4th-7th to November 5th-7th. When we check out of the Contemporary on the 5th, Muffin will take our luggage with him as his show is at the resort. I will spend the day at WDW and then meet him at dinner time at the Rosen.
So!! Now this means we get more Disney time and we get to stay at not one, not two but three WDW resorts for this trip as well as two nights at the Rosen!! I also got an extra vacation day and I get to run in the 10K!!
Oh!! I also forgot to tell you guys that by flying down to Orlando on the 3rd, we got two major bonuses!!. Our airfare dropped from 504.00 to 269.00!! AND!! We get to utilize DME!!!
So now, I am working on re planning the 3rd-5th of November. Stay tuned..........
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Last edited by Tara O'Hara; 06-14-2017 at 02:22 PM..
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Again, I'm just going to wait for the TR....but wait, guess I do need to hear if a meet up day is possible! Our waitlist just came thru for Nov 2 - I had a backup reservation for the MCO Hyatt, but now I don't need it. We'll arrive Thursday night and leave Tuesday. 4 park days. Maybe I'll have to figure out how to cheer you on in the 10k! You'll do great. Once upon a time I did a half marathon. If I can do that, you can do a 10k!
Again, I'm just going to wait for the TR....but wait, guess I do need to hear if a meet up day is possible! Our waitlist just came thru for Nov 2 - I had a backup reservation for the MCO Hyatt, but now I don't need it. We'll arrive Thursday night and leave Tuesday. 4 park days. Maybe I'll have to figure out how to cheer you on in the 10k! You'll do great. Once upon a time I did a half marathon. If I can do that, you can do a 10k!
First of all, I am so your waitlist came through!!! I don't think I could ever do a half marathon, Colleen!! That is quite an accomplishment!! I can still do the 6th at Epcot (I am honestly too exhausted to change any of the latter part of the trip around again) or if you guys want to see who would actually put up with me for 35 years, Muffin will now be spending the 4th and part of the 5th with me!!. Just let me know what works best for you!!
These changes are insane! Hope it all works out and seems things may be falling into place! Still several months away, so we'll see how the plans continue to evolve!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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I can't wait to hear how the trip turns out. I've wanted to try most of the restaurants ya'll are going to and hopefully will once we move there in August.
Thank you!! On here that is the ultimate compliment!!
I was positive I had not heard him correctly and I was seriously at a loss for words and that does not happen to me often!
:
..........
Then I went to go take a hot bath and sulk for a bit.
I patiently explained that these marathons sell out within minutes of being made available and that both the 5k and the 10k were completely full for this event.
I don't think I could ever do a half marathon, Colleen!! That is quite an accomplishment!! I can still do the 6th at Epcot (I am honestly too exhausted to change any of the latter part of the trip around again) or if you guys want to see who would actually put up with me for 35 years, Muffin will now be spending the 4th and part of the 5th with me!!
Hope it all works out and seems things may be falling into place! 
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