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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Just checking in! Sounds fun! I've never been in may but I've always wanted to go I've gotta find your other trip reports and read up! Can't wait to hear more!
Welcome along! May is a beautiful time to go, although I usually try to go earlier before schools let out!
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So having already gone on a pretty sizeable trip and my family finally catching on to DVC… I’m out of points for this use year (which only started in March ) So I kind of was in a pickle. I’m really not a fan of Value resorts - especially if it’s going to be me and a bunch of solo time. So staying on property kind of was out.
Lucky for me I work for a mega hotel company and was able to get a room. Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this report/thread reflects the views of Hilton Worldwide. Everything is my own personal opinion. Just wanted to get that out there because obviously it’s going to become apparent what hotel company I work for when you find out where I stay!
I had several moderately priced options in the “essentially on property” category, and then several super cheap options more in the Sea World realm. I opted for essentially on property and debated (okay am still debating) the Bonnet Creek Resort or the Hilton Downtown Disney. Erik is staying in the DTD area and that was the more cost-conscious option so that’s what I went with.
Found this fun little map of the DTD area
It’s still pricey for just me who is used to staying on points… so kind of a big gulp when I booked it. Still trying to convince a coworker to tag along! My bigger concern is how am I going to get there? No Magical Express I’m thinking I will get a car service, just easier than trying to fight for a taxi etc at MCO, and I wouldn’t mind a grocery stop! Any thoughts?
Erik will be renting a car for his trip but with parking at $15 a day I’m thinking it would be silly for me to as well… from what I’ve gathered the bus system isn’t bad and should get me all around WDW no problem
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If you can do without the grocery stop, you can book a Mears shuttle. I used it for the Hilton Bonnet Creek, and I paid $34 round trip back in May 2011. You can always walk or cab it to Goodings Supermarket at the other end of Hotel Plaza Blvd and pick up a few things there. Prices are a little on the high side, but if you don't need much, it might not be too bad.
I haven't stayed at the Hilton DTD, but the Bonnet Creek one (not the timeshare, the Hilton hotel) is niiiiice , as is the Waldorf next door! I was able to snag a good deal, and May 2011 was before the resort fee was implemented; otherwise, it would have been out of my price range.
It will be interesting to hear the take of a DVC'er staying off property!! Have you checked the cost of a rental car? With it just being you, you can easily do an economy car - and it might be more cost effective than the car service? And don't you have an AP? Parking would be free with that.
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DVC can definitely spoil you! Looking forward to hearing how an "off-site" stay compares.
It gets great reviews so I think I'll just be missing my kitchen amenities...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
It sounds like a fun choice. It will be an adventure!
Certainly! And it will give me time to explore DTD!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Straitlover
If you can do without the grocery stop, you can book a Mears shuttle. I used it for the Hilton Bonnet Creek, and I paid $34 round trip back in May 2011. You can always walk or cab it to Goodings Supermarket at the other end of Hotel Plaza Blvd and pick up a few things there. Prices are a little on the high side, but if you don't need much, it might not be too bad.
I haven't stayed at the Hilton DTD, but the Bonnet Creek one (not the timeshare, the Hilton hotel) is niiiiice , as is the Waldorf next door! I was able to snag a good deal, and May 2011 was before the resort fee was implemented; otherwise, it would have been out of my price range.
Oh that's not bad at all! I'll certainly have to look into it The resort fee is at both now, so that was kind of a moot point for me, although I think it's higher at Bonnet Creek
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
It will be interesting to hear the take of a DVC'er staying off property!! Have you checked the cost of a rental car? With it just being you, you can easily do an economy car - and it might be more cost effective than the car service? And don't you have an AP? Parking would be free with that.
I haven't checked it yet I might when I get back from all the travels this month as I'm starting to get more comfortable renting cars (but I hate driving, period.) but the parking I mentioned is at the resort! Parking in the parks would be free because I sure do have an AP
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So of course as soon as I post that I go and look at rates again because I'm always checking... and now I can save about $100 if I switch over to the Doubletree Suites DTD. I can get a queen one bedroom suite but I lose the EMH access - which I wasn't super planning on using anyway since Erik won't have the ability. It's still walkable to DTD but not quite as close. I don't think the views are as nice but definitely the upside of getting some extra space in the room and a small kitchenette...
I can imagine having to pay out of pocket was a bit of a shock to you after all those DVC stays, I know it would be to us!
Exactly, in all honesty it's a great deal, but just getting so used to not having the hotel cost anything at all makes it a hit!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Can't wait to hear about the comparison of off property vs. DVC!
I'll do my best
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Is it just you in the room? If so, I'd probably just stay where you were and not switch over. I'd rather be closer to DTD.!
It's just me for now! And it's a difference of 5 minute walk to 15 minute walk as far as I can tell. DT also gets rave reviews (maybe even better than Hilton!)
As far as the car service goes - we have used QuickSilver and were totally impressed. They were prompt and reliable. The driver was attentive but not intrusive. We didn't use a stop but I know it's included. We will be using them again this year.
If you go w/ the Doubletree, you'll be closer to the Goodings store I mentioend. The kitchenette will make it easier to fix some things to eat and save you some money. I know the Hilton Bonnet Creek didn't have a micro or fridge, and the food/drinks were very high IMO. Well, except those yummy cinnamon buns in the little store, LOL!
I do recall paying an arm and a leg for a pint of milk, too, like almost 4 bucks! After that, I picked up a half gallon at the store in the Contemporary (which cost less than the pint!) and brought it back to the room. I brought cereal, bread and peanut butter from home in my checked luggage (in a lock n lock container so nothing got squished) to save money.
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I've gotta find your other trip reports and read up! Can't wait to hear more!
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) So I kind of was in a pickle. I’m really not a fan of Value resorts - especially if it’s going to be me and a bunch of solo time. So staying on property kind of was out. 
I’m thinking I will get a car service, just easier than trying to fight for a taxi etc at MCO, and I wouldn’t mind a grocery stop! Any thoughts?
, as is the Waldorf next door! I was able to snag a good deal, and May 2011 was before the resort fee was implemented; otherwise, it would have been out of my price range.
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