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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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A grand villa...!!! I got goose bumps just thinking about it and I am not even going...lol
Welcome back to the civilized world (or uncivilized depending on how you look at it)
Glad your camera has forgiven you after you violated it....(now with it only being mad for about an hour I think it was trying to play innocent, if I did not know any better I would think it liked it )
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Glad you are home safe and sound, even though your luggage didn't make it with you. Can't wait to hear all about the trip... the teasers are killing me.
I'm just sayin' -- I've got a package held hostage for you riiiiiiight now and I won't be sending it until my cell phone's inbox is full.
Safe travels, buddy. I'll be thinking about you!
I'm starting to suspect it's an empty box and you're just using it to get your way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caldercup
I agree!
And if you wait until sometime this Fall (maybe October), J.K. Rowling is going to release them as ebooks.
I've heard that, and I'm pretty sure I'll read at least the first book when they're released. I'm really not a fan of fantasy or science fiction (you know, that whole Star Wars thing), but I'll give it a try if I don't have to lug a heavy book around in the process.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zacksmom_1993
Not my boyfriend! My boyfriend is Liver Lips. (Quiet peanut gallery.)
Hope you're having a blast today Shashi. You look so, so fabulous in the photos you posted today.
Yeah, LeeNee! Wendell is the one who sings Mama, Don't Whoop Little Buford. Liver Lips sings about his gal who ain't pretty but she don't swear none. He's talking about his other gal. Not Karen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by belleandmaddysmom
Sounds like you are having a great time together. Has Mom gotten any Fudge yet?
Hope you enjoyed Universal
DM did get some fudge. I think she ate it before she got home, because I got a last-minute request yesterday to pick up some more!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caldercup
I'll forgive you for needling me (back) if you send me some pics of HP merchandise!
And try the Butterbeer for me. Thanks to some lousy contractural stuff with JK Rowling, I'll never get to try it. (Which makes it sound like she's got some sort of restraining order on me... it's just that she insist that the butterbeer be served with the foam, and it's not gluten-free. )
I didn't try the butterbeer. It was so early when we were there, I didn't want any. But to be honest, that will probably get me to visit sooner or later.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata
Aw Sharon I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience there. I haven't been to Universal in quite some time, but I did have a good time when I went - of course that was something like 8 years ago. I can't believe YOU were close to a meltdown. You've got to be one of the most easy-going people out there (at least that's my impression from the boards and from meeting you once). US must have really been a doozy.
I do love IOA, and I agree that it does have a Disney-esque feel with the various lands. But even if I didn't love IOA before, I'd love it simply because of WWOHP. *swoon* I hope you go on the Forbidden Journey... even if you've never read the books or seen the movies, it makes for a great and exciting ride!! Though perhaps I'm a wee bit biased.
I hope you get to go on Spiderman. I just love that ride and I'd love to hear your thoughts. I hope you don't hate it if you go on it! LOL! Can't wait to hear about the really bad day and the near-meltdown(s?)... that's going to be one heck of a story, I suspect. A squirrel in a restaurant is definitely a new one on me.
And Eileen... lol on the "contractual" thing... it really had me scratching my head until I read the fine print!! LOL!
Spider-man is one of my favorite rides at IOA! We did go on it once, and probably would've gone back a bunch more times if we'd stayed longer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zacksmom_1993
Because you're a time optimizer (if not a Club Level Value Optimizer ), I'm sure you've already ridden every ride that you wanted to (twice!) It's part of the reason I love you! (The Best)
Have a great time the rest of your stay on the Dark Side, although I know you like IOA much better to begin with. I'm wondering how many times the boys will want to ride Hulk back-to-back-to-back. I could BARELY make it once! More, more, more!
Now I feel guilty about mentioning Liver Lips. We only did the Hulk once, and I think it set Noah over the edge on the heels of both sides of Dragon Challenge. But I've done it over and over in the past.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedisney0_0
So sorry you didn't have fun at Universal, Sharon! I hope you LOVED WWOHP to make up for it...
As much as I complained, WWOHP definitely made the trip to the dark side worth it. And I'm sure I'll forget my complaints and be back before long.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Wow!! That's a lot of drops! Was it EMH this morning, or was that in less than 2 hours? Go Sharon!
No EMH! I'm just that dang good! I kept seeing the same CM again and again and he was counting my rides!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedisney247
Hmm that shot is very unusual. Usually when the wait is less than 15 minutes it says 13 minutes! Kuddos to Sharon for finding something she doesn't already have a picture of!
I think they've stopped doing the 13 minute wait. I've seen 10 and 5 far more often than 13 lately. I thought the 13 was a cool touch, so I'm sorta sad to see it go.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MickeyMAC
You really hut it lucky, I've never seen such a short wait time. How many times did you ride?
After that, I didn't do much else. It started getting hot!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheeser
Need my PSha fix...need it bad...I'm 9 days away from departure, 7 days of work. YIKES!
Please help PSha....help me...need my Disney fix.
I'll do my best, Cherese!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caldercup
A Grand Villa at the AKL -- I'm SO there.
What...?! Your mom said she'd adopt me. She did... ask Jilly!
Well, I'm uninviting you, just so I can send you mocking texts the entire time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caldercup
I'm rolling my eyes at this. Between you and Larry, I'm starting to get sick of the whole thing. Be careful you don't set off this Scorpio (who's been known to cut off her nose to spite her own face.)
And anyway, it's Kdubs you really have to worry about. I mean... "someone ELSE trying to plan something?" You better watch out -- she'll cut you.
Gah, you're right! But I'm not too worried about Karen. Since Mom invited her to stay with us at the grand villa next year, and I didn't uninvite her, she won't cut me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Sorry to hear about the lost suitcase - hopefully it turns up soon!
And are you heading to Disney in a month?!?! Lucky you!!
Looking forward to the full TR when you get started.
Just got a phone call that it's at the airport! I can pick it up after work (along with my $50 SWA voucher - sweet!). And it's only a 5-minute drive out of my way. Plus, I can park for 15 minutes for free while I'm picking it up. Easiest 50 bucks I've ever made!
Quote:
Originally Posted by jennie622
Welcome back!
Lost luggage - one of my worst fears!
So, you're going back next month?? When, do tell.....
My dates are 10/14-10/18, staying at the Boardwalk.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntermom
So glad to hear you had a wonderful time (but don't you always?). I can't wait to read your TR.
There were a lot of little annoyances on this trip, but I've learned to make a joke out of them (most of the time), so nothing bothers me much or for very long.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
Glad your camera has forgiven you after you violated it....(now with it only being mad for about an hour I think it was trying to play innocent, if I did not know any better I would think it liked it )
Can't wait to hear all the details...
OMG!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mom2twingirlies
Glad you are home safe and sound, even though your luggage didn't make it with you. Can't wait to hear all about the trip... the teasers are killing me.
Grand Villas? Must you rub it in?
Well, I do have a leeetle problem of forgetting to call at the 11-month window, so that grand villa isn't in the bag just yet. I'll have to set myself a bunch of reminders.
__________________
Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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Welcome home! Hope your suitcase makes it home soon. Glad the whole family had a great time and VERY glad they're done with off-site stays. Now, get settled in so you can start with the REAL report. And be nice to that camera .
10/14-18? Coinkidentally, that overlaps my trip!!! Maybe I'll be lucky enough to bump into you! I'll look forward to reading your plans so I can see if we'll be in the same place at the same time (I am, of course, assuming you'll be doing a PTR..., lol)!
10/14-18? Coinkidentally, that overlaps my trip!!! Maybe I'll be lucky enough to bump into you! I'll look forward to reading your plans so I can see if we'll be in the same place at the same time (I am, of course, assuming you'll be doing a PTR..., lol)!
Can't wait to read your TR!
It seems this is the week I SHOULD have gone.... Seems like so many people I'd like to run into will be roaming the parks. Then I arrive Nov 4.
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Welcome Home! Can't wait until your report! We will be staying at AKV on October 15-22 so I hope we run into you! We are taking a family of newbies with us and can't wait to show them everything!
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