The "We Made It Through Undergrad and now we're going to Disney!" Pre-Trip Report - Page 3 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Hey All!
Sorry I haven't updated but we really haven't done anything since we booked our trip. I have been a little pre-occupied. I went to the shore this past week and was just enjoying relaxing. The week before I got some amazing news I have been praying for. My old manager notified me that I was now considered CT, which is seasonal! This is a start to my Dream Come True. So I am currently in the process of finding an APT in FL!!!! Hopefully I will be able to move from CT, to Part time, to full time and maybe even something more! I am so set on following this dream!
I will be buckling down and planning more this week so keep a look out!
Also, I would love to do something special for my friends. Any suggestions on making special moments would be great. I know I worked for the company and should know it all, but I would love to hear ideas from you guys! Making it through college and starting real life is a HUGE accomplishment in my book. Also, It's technically Ben's first time because the first time he went he was a baby. I dunno, I just want this to be so special for them!
I can't wait to hear your ideas and thanks for the support and previous ideas. A lot of planning goes into these trips and it's crazy! lol
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One half of a travel loving couple. We love Disney and the Disney Vacation Club! DVC owners at Aulani and Animal Kingdom Lodge.
No ideas but will think about it. Congrats on getting your foot back in the door. I'm so happy for you!
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šOš ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
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Frustrating times.
So I am dealing with a lot right now, planning the trip, my move to Fl, insurance stuffs and everything. It's really not cool. My friends who are coming with me to Disney in 3 weeks aren't much of a help either. They are really excited but don't want to do any planning. They won't tell me where they want to eat either. I am busting my butt trying to make this the perfect vacation for the three of us and it's just blech.
I just tried to book three different places for dinners and all were full. This was a blow because I wanted to make a special Graduation Dinner for us, but I really have no idea where now. I tried to get the fantasmic package and I tried for California Grill. All are booked.
OH STRESS PLEASE GO AWAY! haha
I can't wait to just be there. Hopefully things will go off without a hitch *knock on wood*
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One half of a travel loving couple. We love Disney and the Disney Vacation Club! DVC owners at Aulani and Animal Kingdom Lodge.
I know what you mean about planning a trip for others. I worked on a trip with friends for a year. I tried to find out what they like/dislike, favorite character, if they liked characters, what their sleep habits were, what their stamina level was - I even sent out a questionnaire to get answers. It worked out but man it was difficult.
I wouldn't get a Fantasmic pkg. because it doesn't help that much and what if it rains? - then you're out that money.
Here are some suggestions for a nice dinner - Hollywood Brown Derby, Yachtsman Steak House, Flying Fish, Coral Reef, Jiko, Narcooses. I've heard really good reviews of all of those. It's probably too late to take fireworks cruise and maybe too $$. Good luck with making decisions.
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šOš ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?