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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Andre looks adorable with his haircut! And how cool that Josie got to ride the teacups with Alice. That is something to remember.
I must say, you're killing with the matching outfits. I love it! Wish I could do the same. I remember the days when my kids were little and I picked out there clothes. Now I'm lucky if one of them happens to pick the same color shirt as me and keeps it on. I want them to be little again. I want matching clothes at Disney!!
I'm so jealous that you got to ride with Alice and the White Rabbit!! So very cool The pictures came out really good too, I can see the excitement on yours and Josie's faces
Andre looks like such a big boy with his new haircut! I'm glad that you were happy with it, even though you were a little unsure of it while he was getting it done.
What a special day! I love that you & Josie got to ride the teacups with Alice & the White Rabbit--what a nice surprise. A couple of years ago we got on the carousel at the end of the night and a ton of characters got on with us. Very cool , except Chip was getting a little too friendly with my sister
Andre's hair looks adorable I wish we would have taken our son to the MK to get his first haircut. We are going again in January, but considering he is in college now, I doubt he will want to get his hair cut at the Main Street Barber Shop
Hands down getting to ride the teacups with Alice has to be the most magical moment I've ever read about!! And Andre looks so handsome with his new haircut!!
You look just like I did Linny when my DD got chosen to meet the Fab 5 all together by herself. I didn't realize until I saw the pics that I was smiling like the Cheshire Cat the whole time. Yes, and tear...many tears were shed....by me. How awesome is that for you and Josie!!??!! So glad Arnaud was observant and told you to go and do it!
Andre is so cute with his new big boy haircut! Too cute about him loving the ride, but I hear you about being nervous.
What a wonderful morning! Rides with Alice and first haircut, not too shabby! Josie looks like she is have the time of her life, and Andre looks so grown up in his new cut. We have plans for our DD to get her first haircut at the barber shop so I am glad to hear it went well.
I those pictures with Alice & the White Rabbit!!! What a magical moment for you guys, and I'm going to continue being jealous of you, but in a very good way. I was tearing up as I was reading about the haircut, because that's how I feel about Hope's clothes. I don't think we're having another child, and for some reason I still can't part with them. I've decided that I'm probably going to take my favorites and make a blanket out of them, but I haven't gotten there yet. I guess it's just a hormonal mom thing.
And bummer about not making it to Belle's SB preview, but you did the right thing, and when a kid has to pee, they trump everything.
So many wonderful photos! How incredible that you got to ride the teacups with Alice and the White Rabbit! Sorry about missing Storytime with Belle, though.
Andre looks adorable with his big boy haircut!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
The ride with ALice will totally make up for missing ST with Belle
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Oh wow, what an absolutely incredible day - now that's what you call Disney magic!
Yes, you are right......but just hold on
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Wow, that ride with Alice was pure magic! Andre looks so handsome with his big-boy haircut. I love Josie's comment at the pool race-- VERY clever!
Clever is right.....the next day they had to look out for a 2 headed snake
Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR
Andre looks adorable with his haircut! And how cool that Josie got to ride the teacups with Alice. That is something to remember.
I must say, you're killing with the matching outfits. I love it! Wish I could do the same. I remember the days when my kids were little and I picked out there clothes. Now I'm lucky if one of them happens to pick the same color shirt as me and keeps it on. I want them to be little again. I want matching clothes at Disney!!
The matching has now taken on a life of it's own.........it's a game to me now
Quote:
Originally Posted by mousestruck
Wow... that's a lot of pixie dust for one day! Awesome!!! Love all the pics... and the big boy haircut, too! He looks very handsome!
Thank you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
What a great ride on the teacups! Great memory! And love Andre's haircut! Great pictures!
Great memory for sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
I'm so jealous that you got to ride with Alice and the White Rabbit!! So very cool The pictures came out really good too, I can see the excitement on yours and Josie's faces
Andre looks like such a big boy with his new haircut! I'm glad that you were happy with it, even though you were a little unsure of it while he was getting it done.
I knew in a day or two it would be fine, but the inital shock, eh....it got to me
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurast
What a special day! I love that you & Josie got to ride the teacups with Alice & the White Rabbit--what a nice surprise. A couple of years ago we got on the carousel at the end of the night and a ton of characters got on with us. Very cool , except Chip was getting a little too friendly with my sister
Andre's hair looks adorable I wish we would have taken our son to the MK to get his first haircut. We are going again in January, but considering he is in college now, I doubt he will want to get his hair cut at the Main Street Barber Shop
OH well wait............let me tell you. Andre was the only little kid in the shop that day. The other's were all teen boys, older men and even some younger toddler boys. It was awesome!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Hands down getting to ride the teacups with Alice has to be the most magical moment I've ever read about!! And Andre looks so handsome with his new haircut!!
That WAS the best Disney moment I have ever had!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by poohbr2015
Andre's hair is adorable! So you get the ears with the hair cut?
YES!!! Ears come with
Quote:
Originally Posted by islandgirl
What an amazing day!!! Seriously, Disney should use your pictures as advertisement! Truly magical!!
Aww thank you, the PPpeople are great!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OneLittleSpark
You look just like I did Linny when my DD got chosen to meet the Fab 5 all together by herself. I didn't realize until I saw the pics that I was smiling like the Cheshire Cat the whole time. Yes, and tear...many tears were shed....by me. How awesome is that for you and Josie!!??!! So glad Arnaud was observant and told you to go and do it!
Andre is so cute with his new big boy haircut! Too cute about him loving the ride, but I hear you about being nervous.
Sounds like it was a great day!
YES!!! Chesire Cat is right!!!! How awesome to have the Fab 5 all to yourself too. Disney is great for making those memories.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jlhill4444
What a wonderful morning! Rides with Alice and first haircut, not too shabby! Josie looks like she is have the time of her life, and Andre looks so grown up in his new cut. We have plans for our DD to get her first haircut at the barber shop so I am glad to hear it went well.
OH I'm sure you will have a great experience too, I leraned about doing that from here on the boards
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
I those pictures with Alice & the White Rabbit!!! What a magical moment for you guys, and I'm going to continue being jealous of you, but in a very good way. I was tearing up as I was reading about the haircut, because that's how I feel about Hope's clothes. I don't think we're having another child, and for some reason I still can't part with them. I've decided that I'm probably going to take my favorites and make a blanket out of them, but I haven't gotten there yet. I guess it's just a hormonal mom thing.
And bummer about not making it to Belle's SB preview, but you did the right thing, and when a kid has to pee, they trump everything.
I did that too with Josie's clothes. I kept only the really special ones and hope to give them to her one day for her little ones. It's bizarre when those moments hit you though, I never thought I would have cried like that. I'm really not that emotional............or so I thought
Hope we didn't keep you up too late last night
Well I'm emotional. I keep getting all teary reading about all your magic. I'm going to be a mess when you tell the next story! Did they hand you tissues at the Barber Shop? Because that's what happened to me. And the ears are new! Well, the script on the back is different than both my boys' anyway.
I just love all your happy smiling faces in all these pictures!
After lots of frolicking around in the pool today and playing some pool games with the kids, we headed up to the room with a quick spin in the lounge to see what was out for snacking. We grabbed some milk for the kids with I’m sure some cookies and gummy candies for a certain ‘Big” kid, and headed back for some baths and a disco nap.
Once the kids were bathed I think Arnaud ran off to the gym and I just sat in the silence and took a breather by looking out at the beautiful castle. I have been so spoiled by this view, the CL has changed us for sure in how we will book our future trips, the TPV has changed us too, but this was really a once in a lifetime opportunity. I don’t think we will ever have this view again, so I took it all in as much as I could.
Around 5pm we were all dressed and ready to head over to GF for our ADR at 1900PF. This was a super quick trip on the monorail. YEAH!!! One stop!. I got there early on purpose because I wanted to talk to the CM at the front about a little something. I have eaten at PF twice now, and BOTH times we have been in the very back table in that weird little annex room that shouldn’t even be a part of the restaurant. BOTH times we have missed all the dancing and waltzing and fun that is going on in the main room, Soooo I asked if we could please be seated out in the main room for once. She told me she could seat me right now but it would be at the very first table when you walk into the room. I said I could wait for our ADR time, which would be in about 15 min anyway. She told me that was OK and gave us our pager.
We walked around a little bit in the lobby and Josie quickly noticed the kids table and TV, so we sat and waited for our pager to go off. About 15 min later it did and we were off to get our pics taken and head inside.
We were seated at a table in the main area and I was super happy to FINALLY see what is really going on in here. I started making trips up to the buffet for the kids, then for me and Arnaud. The first plate I brought back for him was filled with nothing but sushi, ginger and wasabi and soy. He was in his glory and told me to keep bringing him plates like that for the rest of the meal!!! SO I did. I on the other hand tried everything and loved it all. However I was all about the spicy little chicken corn chowder soup they had this night. OMG amazing. I need to find that recipe because I was in pure joy with my roll and soup.
All of the characters were making their way around and we were having such fun with them all. Then finally we get to see some waltzing!!! Josie was up on her feet and I thought she was waiting for her turn to spin with Prince Charming……but no, she blew him off and headed right for Cinderella. It was way too cute and I am so happy I spoke up about wanting to sit in the middle of the action. This was a terrific meal tonight!!
Once we finished we headed out to all go to the bathrooms and Josie and I went into the ones right outside the waiting area of PF. As we were walking in a lady and her, maybe 7 or 8 yr. old daughter were walking in right behind us, so close that I was holding the door for them to follow in right behind me. All 3 stalls were taken so all 4 of us were just standing in that little area. As one stall became open, the 7 yr. old behind me went to go walk in and turned to call back to her mom to see if she was coming in with her, the mom was all “ OH, uhmm, no go ahead honey….I’ll be…” …..ME stepping in…..” I’m sorry, did you not see us waiting here, in front of you?” The mom quickly looked at me in shock and said, “OH, no, just zoned out, you can go ahead of us” UHMMM. Go ahead of YOU?? I was in front of you lady. I asked the girl if she was OK and she just walked away and shrugged her shoulders. Now, clearly if she was having an emergency I would have said nothing because we have all been in that position before and I would never hold someone up like that. But this was just typical of “let me see how far I can push things before someone would say anything to me.” I don’t play that way. So with that weird little mishap behind us, we went off to the monorail for yet another quick spin and one stop over to the MK!!!
We got to the MK around a little after 7pm this night, my “goal” was to watch MSEP at 9pm and then see what happens from there. Either stay for Wishes or watch back from our room. We headed over to the Barber shop to tip Barb, but the shop was closed, so we headed off to get Josie her balloon. The one thing she cries for on every visit now.
As this was going down I notice the huge crowds filling up on MS. I thought this couldn’t really be for the parade, could it?? Was I wrong, was the parade at 8pm tonight. As we were going up further on MS I had to stop and ask because this crowd was nuts. Sure enough, it was a 9pm parade. Geez……not sure how this was gonna play out.
We decided to head to IaSW for Andre’s first ride on that. BOY was it a good one, he was so quiet and so into watching every little thing. It was a great ride. From there we went over to the carousel. Something about going on this ride at night when we were all a little dolled up from dinner was kinda cute to me. Josie scored Cinderella’s horse and we had a great little spin.
We decided to brave the crowds on MS to see what we could do about finding a spot, but it was chaos!!! We could hardly get around the hub with the stroller and the big bouncing balloon. Arnaud was getting annoyed by the people just going every which way and I kinda was too, so we decided to bag it and head back to the Poly and catch the parade another day.
Before we even got back to our room Andre had fallen asleep so we put him in bed and then Josie and I sat out on the balcony again for our own private viewing of Wishes. This can never get old to me.
I put her in bed after and then soon went to bed myself. Tomorrow would be EMH at the AK and we were all looking forward to that.
UP NEXT: Just when you thought it couldn’t get better…..