Celebrating as One Big Happy Family: 5/10/14 - 5/18/14 - Page 29 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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It's so good to see you back here and posting again - that sounds to me like a great step forward after some really tough times. How great that you've got a Disney vacation to look forward to, as you really deserve it and I'm sure, as you say, you'll be ready to pick up the camera in due course - and hopefully sooner rather than later.
You know that we'll always be here for you, no matter what. I'm sorry you're going through this. I know you are strong and will get through this with Hope and your family. We love you - remember that!!!
You have no idea how wide my smile has been as I read each and every response. I don't know why it took me so long to do this, but I'm so glad I finally did. I've missed this place and everyone on here so so so much. I feel like I'm back with family again.
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Originally Posted by DawnK
BIG HUGE HUGS to you Melissa and to Hope as well.
Thanks so much Dawn.
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Originally Posted by MayraLR
Oh, Melissa! You know, a couple of days ago I was wondering about you and how you were doing. I'm so sorry you and Hope are going through this. You know that you can count on your Passporter family to bounce back from this. Hope you find the strength to get on with your life and that you find the peace and happiness that you much deserve.
Awww...thank you so much for having me in your thoughts. That is so sweet because everyone here has been in my thoughts so much lately.
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Originally Posted by lauriep
So wonderful to "see" you back here again! Don't worry about finishing up this report-- I can understand that even though it's WDW, it's not a time you'd like to focus on. Visiting here and laughing and planning your next trip (yay!) will be great for you and for us. I do hope you start up your photography again. I bet seeing others' attempts here will get the juices flowing again. Welcome home!
It's just so nice getting out from "behind the scenes" of this site. You know I've been thinking of you throughout my absence.
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Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Good to hear from you, Melissa! Like others, I have been wondering how you're doing. Based on a few things on FB, I assumed that at least the separation was moving forward. I'm sure it is all painful right now, but I know you have lots of good support between your family, friends, and other PP'rs.
I do hope you can get back into the swing of it with the photography - you really do have a gift with that.
I try to keep a lot of it to myself on FB, and even in my personal life. At first it was almost a little of an embarrassment because I felt like I failed at it, but it's also a very hard thing to accept, and once you put it out there, it makes it more real. Chad was better about being able to come out and tell people. Me, not so much. Thank you so much about your kind words regarding my photography. I'm afraid I won't know how to use my camera when I finally do decide to pick it up.
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Originally Posted by mcc0313
Melissa I am so sorry. Sending tons of hugs to you and Hope and we are here whenever you need us.
Thank you so so much.
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
I miss those hugs on here.
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Originally Posted by chezp
It's so good to see you back here and posting again - that sounds to me like a great step forward after some really tough times. How great that you've got a Disney vacation to look forward to, as you really deserve it and I'm sure, as you say, you'll be ready to pick up the camera in due course - and hopefully sooner rather than later.
You know I've been following all your travels thru FB. And I'm loving your pictures and how gorgeous they're looking. My camera has been on my mind more so than before, so that's another little step in the right direction too...I think.
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Originally Posted by JoanneS
I'm glad to see you back! Sorry about all the problems, I hope time makes things better. Enjoy planning your trip, that should cheer you up.
Thank you so much.
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Originally Posted by OhToodles!
You know that we'll always be here for you, no matter what. I'm sorry you're going through this. I know you are strong and will get through this with Hope and your family. We love you - remember that!!!
ok, now OCTOBER?! WHEN?! I need details.
Kelly!!!! You know I've missed you. I haven't said anything to you girls because I wasn't sure if it was going to stick or not, but as of now, it's October 17-24th and we're staying at AKL and switching to club level that on the 20th - 24th. Are you going then or still sticking with the cruise???
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Originally Posted by xwewhisper
Sending lots of hugs your way it's good to see you back, if only for a check in
Glad to read an update from you, Melissa. I have thought about you and was wondering how you were doing. I am sure this has been a very difficult time for you.Glad to hear you have a trip planned....it will be something for you girls to look forward to
You have no idea how wide my smile has been as I read each and every response. I don't know why it took me so long to do this, but I'm so glad I finally did. I've missed this place and everyone on here so so so much. I feel like I'm back with family again.
Oh that is so good to hear you say that. You are back with family here.
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You know I've been following all your travels thru FB. And I'm loving your pictures and how gorgeous they're looking. My camera has been on my mind more so than before, so that's another little step in the right direction too...I think.
That is definitely a good sign and I'm glad you've been enjoying the pictures.
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Melissa, it's great to see you posting again! I'm sorry life has thrown you a few curves, but it sounds like you are handling everything the best that you can. I think a Disney trip is great thing to look forward to you!
So glad you're back, Melissa. You have been missed! I have been thinking of you and hoping that you and Hope were doing well. Planning a WDW trip is good therapy. Really, really glad you'll be around!
We are still doing the cruise but staying at WDW for a few days after. We are set to head home on the 17th. I hope you have an early flight because we have to make this happen! We're booked at AKL Jambo too!
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I'm so glad to see you back on the Boards Melissa! So sorry things have been so rough for you though. You certainly deserve to get back to your "Happy Place".
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Disney Magic - Oct 2015
Thank you so much about your kind words regarding my photography. I'm afraid I won't know how to use my camera when I finally do decide to pick it up. 
My camera has been on my mind more so than before, so that's another little step in the right direction too...I think. 
I have been thinking of you and hoping that you and Hope were doing well. Planning a WDW trip is good therapy. Really, really glad you'll be around! 
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