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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
It was just in 2005. My DW had always dreamed of going. I made her a promise and we loaded up the van with three of the four kids and drove 20 hours to Orlando in June. We stayed off property to save money and "only" spent two days at the Kingdom and one at MGM. When we drove under the arch to MK, the look on her face nearly broke my heart. She was in tears. It was her dream, and it came true.
Our first trip was in April of 1995 and we had no money coming right out of college so we camped with a tent at the Fort Wilderness Camp Ground. It still brings back wonderful memories. It was awesome.
First trip was in March of 1980 with two old foggies (my college roommate and Luke's roommate). They were bothered by the crowds and the waits while I walked around, reminding myself to shut my mouth. They griped the whole climb up Swiss Family Robinson Tree House, but I still loved it and had to make the annual climb again a few weeks ago. I treasure each moment in the World and so do Luke and Stefanie.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
I really don't know my first trip. Probably either in 1979 or early 80's. I was maybe 5 or 6. We lived in Southern Florida and went up to Disney a lot. And since my Mom has passed away I'll probably never know. My Dad can't remember either. There is one picture we have found so far and we are guessing my age and the year. I made special photo albums for both of my kid's first trips. So we have a ton of memories of their first trips and second trips and....
We went in Sept. of 1984. DDs were 12, 1.5, and unthought of yet. My mom went with us, and we stayed at a 2 bdrm. at OKW.
We had no ADRs, no plans - and I still think of it as one of the best trips we've ever had. We got into every restaurant that took our fancy, Cindy's - which used to be King Stephan's- and many others that are almost impossible to just walk up to and say "seat me now, please."
DH and I loved it, and so did our 12 yr. old. She's in a wheelchair, and it was the first time that being disabled was a benefit for her. She reveled in getting to the front of the line, and was able to just be a kid again - she had spent the last 6 years of her life in and out of hospitals (more in than out - one year, she was in 200+ days!!) Her doctors didn't think she'd live much longer, and we took her thinking it would be the last trip. We did end up making a mad dash for home, as she developed pneumonia while we were there and she was admitted to hospital ASAP. still well worth it, though. Thing I remember most was that the 1.5 yr. old had just had hand surgery and was in an arm cast. AND my kids are always tiny little toddlers, so she was about as big as a 9 month old, with a cast and a leash (not taking any chances on losing her), playing in Toon Town. They used to have a place where the kids could open boxes, push buttons, step on mats, etc - and they would make noises!! We couldn't get her to leave there for hours! We got quite a few odd looks!! Kid in cast, kid in wheelchair, grandma with a buzz cut.
Now, we've been so often I don't know how many trips we've done. And, she's a healthy almost 24 yr. old now!!
I was about 2-1/2 years old. It was the 1970's - '73 or '74 - and we drove down from NY in an old school bus that was converted into an RV by my dad's friend! It was my only stay at Fort Wilderness. I have flashes of memories but nothing substantial. It was the 1st of only 2X in 34 subsequent years that I was in the presence of all 7 Dwarfs.
1995 - I had just turned 18. I had always wanted to go to WDW growing up. I used to beg my parents, but they never took me. So, for my high school graduation trip I took myself to WDW. It was amazing. It was the only place that I had been that I never wanted to come back home. I am still completely hooked and it is still just as magical to me each year!
__________________
Erin
"Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow, for all you know tomorrow, the dream that you wish will come true."
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