It Was 30 Years Ago Today...Now I'm Going to the AKL to Play! UPDATED 8/16 - Page 23 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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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.

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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.

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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!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

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Old 08-16-2010, 02:45 PM   #331
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Such a wonderful and fun birthday!! I love how Andy makes up games for you to do in the parks!! And your dinner at V&A sounded FABULOUS!! You look wonderful in your dress (and Andy looks pretty sharp in that suit!). Can't wait to say "Welcome Home" when you join DVC!!
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Old 08-16-2010, 04:40 PM   #332
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Great update! I loved Andy's idea of the to-do list and earning letters to spell out a secret message (even if you didn't get to do everything on the list, lol). DH & I love V&A's! You two looked great for your special dinner! Can't wait for the next update
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Old 08-16-2010, 05:10 PM   #333
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Fabulous dinner at V & A! I love Andy's idea with the tiles and love the surprise! Very cool!
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Old 08-16-2010, 07:57 PM   #334
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I can think of no better way to spend a birthday! And my thirties were fantastic (and long gone ), so you've just entered a wonderful decade!

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Old 08-16-2010, 08:03 PM   #335
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What a wonderful birthday Melissa!!!
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Old 08-16-2010, 09:35 PM   #336
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What a great birthday! Sounded and looked like it was very special which is such a great way to bring in the 30th
V&A is something we are wanting to do but think we have to find a special occasion for that dinner! I read your review and it did look fab!
Love the game and self shots and I have never heard of the Great Movie ride dinner...sounds really cool!
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Old 08-16-2010, 09:48 PM   #337
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the update. V & A's has been one my favorite meals of my entire life!! Loved the anniversary that we spent there I think that is a very cool idea for a game too......good job to Andy for coming up with it, even if its execution wasn't perfect.

Glad you had a great introduction to your 30s. I really do think there is something pretty great about this decade!
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Old 08-16-2010, 11:11 PM   #338
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What a wonderful 30th birthday, Melissa! Great gift, too, Andy! You all made a beautiful couple at V & A.
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Old 08-17-2010, 01:59 AM   #339
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What a truly magical birthday!
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Old 08-17-2010, 11:26 AM   #340
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Looks like you had a BLAST. This has been a great read!
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Old 08-17-2010, 12:10 PM   #341
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Great update as always. Love the idea of the game!
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Old 08-17-2010, 01:36 PM   #342
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Hey, you two clean up real nice! Glad you had a great birthday; WDW really is the best place to be on your birthday!
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Old 08-17-2010, 01:37 PM   #343
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What a great night and a super b-day surprise. Love the game. Maybe I'll have to challenge my DH one of these times. Or something more simple for the boys. I think they'd love that. Going to read up on V&A from your blog. That is one place I would love to get to one of these days.
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Old 08-17-2010, 08:05 PM   #344
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Great birthday!! I love your mouse ears and your dress is pretty. You guys make a great looking couple!! Can't wait to read more! Even though I have followed all of this on your blog.
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Old 08-18-2010, 09:51 AM   #345
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What a GREAT B-day!!!
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