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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Congrats to you and Scott on weight loss. I checked and calories consumed in WDW DO NOT count. (AB's DO just not the calories associated) How great that Em's friend will get to see and spend some time with you all. Hopefully insurance is just a cautionary expense will definate keep in our prayers
Yeah Single Digits!! I'm shaking my rear in excitement for ya! Your plans sound great!! And boy have you been busy! Congrats on the weight loss!
Thanks!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Single digits?
Great plans!
Thanks!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shazza
Go, Girl! Pounds shed, Plans made, and you're into single digits.
Have a great trip!
EDIT: Forgot to add that I'm expecting to see a lot of early morning photos from your time at BLT
Thanks!! I will try!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
I can't believe it's single digits! And I'm so jealous - 15 days?! You all deserve it though and I know you'll have a great time!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdobereiner
Yay!! Single digit dancing!!!
Congrats on your WW success so far, that is awesome!! Make sure you get Scott some breathable clothes because it is HOT HOT HOT down here
Your first few days sound awesome!! Can't wait to hear more!
Mel
Thanks!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommapants
Signing on board.
15 days how cool is that. You all deserve a nice long break.
Congrats on the weight loss and the single digit mark.
I hear you about Emily growing up. My son Evan is done his first year of school today. I can't believe he has already finished Kindergarten. Before I know it he will be in 8th grade...
Thanks!! It does fly by way to quickly!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Yay for single digits !!!
The plans are looking good. And congrats on the weight loss
Thanks!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
for single digits! Congrats on the weight loss! All your plans are looking great, too!
Thanks!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Yay for single digits!!
Congrats on the weightloss too
All of your plans sound great!
Thanks!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Hooray! Single digits, but double digits on the WW success! Keep up the good work! And can I just say I do think it is a little unfair that men seem able to shed faster?! Good job, Scott!
Thanks!!! yes - Men with weight loss...............just NOT fair!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeL
Congrats to you and Scott on weight loss. I checked and calories consumed in WDW DO NOT count. (AB's DO just not the calories associated) How great that Em's friend will get to see and spend some time with you all. Hopefully insurance is just a cautionary expense will definate keep in our prayers
Thanks!!! I do hope it was a waste of money!!!
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Wow - it was a busy weekend!!! So sorry that I am already neglecting this PTR!!!
Yesterday I attended a dance festival with Emily and her dance company - Jacob's Pillow - it was almost 2 hours away and consumed our entire day - so by the time we got home, we hit the beds and out like lights!! But it was beautiful where the festival was - very serene and peaceful!!!
Today we slept in, then ran around doing errands - then I did what any Disney Fan Freak would do.............drove to the nearest Disney Store (an hour away) and purchased LOTS of new tees for the trip!!! Then Em and I stopped by to visit Scott at work, as he is now there until Weds, to show him the new tees (in a size smaller) we got for him! Then we came home and went through all the toiletries to see what we have/need. She has a list to do tomorrow while she is home! Included in that list is pulling all her clothes/etc for packing!
So some more plans (and I am going to add a few days to make up for missing the last few!):
Thursday July 4th:
We really don't have too much planned for this day - our expectations are low as it is a HIGH crowd day, so we are thinking maybe head to AK for a few hours in the am (I might add the Wild Africa Trek Tour for Em & I this day - haven't booked it yet (have called and there is plenty of availability still for most of trip), want to kinda wait and see how first few days go), then we would like to head to MK for evening - but again, we understand that this is a very busy day - so if we can't get in, we are okay with that and will watch fireworks from one of the monorail resorts. We don't have any ADR's scheduled for this day - as there is no TIW discount on this day - so we are planning to do counter service.
Friday July 5th:
We will definitely head to AK this am, as we have a late breakfast ADR at Tusker House!!! (my favorite!!!) - and of course some pool time in the afternoon - then evening at Epcot with ADR's at Coral Reef (one of Em's favorites).
Saturday July 6th:
no set plans for first part of day - thinking either AK, DHS or water park. Evening will be spent at DHS with ADR at Sci - Fi (Scott's request) and we will try to catch Fantasmic tonight.
Sunday July 7th:
Another birthday I need to remember to call NJ and wish my friend a Happy Birthday!! Today is also moving day to BLT - we are hoping by some chance our room will be ready in the am so that we can move our stuff over ourselves and get settled in there - Em is excited about staying here because she will have her own bathroom!!! then we will spend the evening at MK (walking of course!) as we have ADR's at Liberty Tree Tavern and it is EMH!
Monday July 8th:
We are taking advantage of being on the monorail loop and we have an early ADR at Ohana for breakfast with Lilo & Stitch! Then we are thinking that we will head back to BLT to get in some pool time. Then we will spend the evening at Epcot with dinner at Via Napoli.
Tuesday July 9th:
Again, taking advantage of resort location - we have an early ADR for breakfast at Crystal Palace! Really hoping to get some nice photos of near empty park this am! For the evening, we will spend some time at Downtown Disney as we have dinner at Bongo's (first for us!).
Up Next: What have we been up to?
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
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I LOVE Jacob's Pillow! I used to go to a ballet camp near there and we'd go every week for performances. I saw so many wonderful companies, and agree with you about the serenity of the area.
Sounds like you had a fun time shopping and your plans look great. Can't believe it's only 5 days away!
Plans are looking great. Given that you guys are experienced at dealing with high crowd levels, I'm sure you'll make the best use of your time when the parks are busy on the 4th and for the next few days.
Hoping you have some dance recital photos to share ?
So I promised some pics showing what we have been up to!
Here we go!
The infamous Boat we purchased (which we have named "Never Grow Up":
Captain Scott on his boat!
Scott & I on the boat!
Miss Lulu enjoying her time on "Never Grow Up"
Emily and one of her best friends sunning themselves on the boat!
Scott & I ready for my cousins wedding!
Emily all ready for the wedding!
The Bride & Groom!
My Beautiful girl (she was the Junior Bridesmaid):
Me and my girl:
One of my favs from the wedding day (taken with I-phone):
Wedding party:
Me and the Bride!
Emily's 8th Grade Formal Dance:
Em at her 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony - I am so proud of her, although it is still so hard for me that she is now a freshman!!!
And My New Toy!!!! Scott ordered this for me on Father's Day - kinda a joke with us - with all the time he is at work, I often bug him about how I feel like a single parent sometimes - so when he ordered this - he printed out the shipping info and gave it to me saying Happy Father's Day!
so, now I have to get it out of the boxes and start to play before we leave!!! lol!!!
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
I saw the pic of Jacob's pillow on Facebook. It looks beautiful there! Love the camera for Father's day! You are so close to your trip now. I love your plans!
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