Recruiting Fans for PassPorter Street Teams! - Page 6 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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.
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THE PASSPORTER FOR ME HAS BEEN LIKE THE BIBLE. FULL OF A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND HELPFUL HINTS TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF PLANNING FAST EASY AND FUN. I AM THE "VP" (VACATION PLANNER) OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND SINCE ME FINDING YOUR PASSPORTER QUITE A FEW OF MY CO-WORKERS AS WELL. I LUCKED UPON YOUR PASSPORTER WHILE PLANNING OUR FIRST FAMILY TRIP TO WDW. IT WAS THE BEST FIND BESIDES CHEAP AIRLINE TICKETS. I LIVE IN INDIANAPOLIS AND I VOLUNTEER QUITE FREQUENTLY AT MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AS OTHER FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENTS AROUND MY CITY; I ALREADY HAVE A VACATION FORUM THAT I WORK ON AT WORK... I LOAN OUT MY OLD COPIES OF THE PASSPORTER TO THOSE WHO ARE NEWBIES TO THE AREA AND HELP THEM PLAN OUT THERE VACATIONS. AS FAR AS CONTINUING TO SPREAD THE WORD I WOULD START FIRST WITH GROUPS THAT I KNOW HAVE DIFFERENT EVENTS GOING TO WDW SUCH AS GIRL SCOUTS, CHEER TEAMS, KARATE TEAMS SENIOR CLASS TRIPS ETC. I VOLUNTEER TIME AS WELL AT THE LIBRARY FOR DIFFERENT FORUMS SUCH AS BUDGETING MONEY AND TUTORING THAT I CAN ALSO ASK TO MAKE A GROUP FOR VACATIONS AND BRING MY PASSPORTER AS THE GUIDE. I LOAN MY OLD COPIES OUT TO ANYONE I HEAR LOOKING TO PLAN A TRIP TO WDW OR DISNEYLAND AS I TELL THEM THIS IS THE ONLY GUIDE THEY WILL NEED FOR THEIR TRIP. I SIMPLY LOVE THE PASSPORTER AND EVERY CHANCE I GET TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PASSPORTER I DO.
I depend on my Passporters. As a Disney Earmarked travel agent, even I sometimes get questions that I cannot answer. I keep the latest copy of the WDW, the DL and the DCL Passporters on my desk for quick reference. I have donated a few older copies to my library and do have one or two more I need to donate. I would love to be able to spread the word about Passporters as I fully believe them to be the best guide books!
I would love to be able to offer my travel clients even more information about the Passporters!
I in on it!!!! I pass the PP word along every chance I get...I live near Annapolis, MD. and have great access to the military community! Disney is my passion and Passporter feeds it!!!!
Would love to help!
Just wanted to point out...whether I get picked or not...whether I receive free stuff or not...I always share Passporter and will continue to do so! Passporter as a guidebook is so user-friendly and the Passporter community is very much a family; a caring community...something difficult to find in these times.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
I'd love to be your Charleston, SC Street Team rep! I've already "donated" all of my previous PPs to friends and family members, and I refer anyone who mentions a trip to the PP boards for information. I also work at the large institution of higher education located in the heart of downtown Charleston and would be able to distribute materials liberally throughout the downtown area as well as the surrounding communities. Pick me, and I'll make you proud!
Hi there! I would love to help out! I spread the Passporter love every chance I get. I always encourage people who are visiting WDW to purchase a copy before they book their vacation. When someone asks me how I know so much about WDW, I give all the credit to this book and site. I often show people the site and the store page with all of its wonderful books. I tell stories of the trips I have taken to WDW and how the PPer helped me plan.
Let me know if I can help you out in your endeavor!
Hi! I would love to help spread the Passporter word around Huntsville/Madison, Alabama! I stumbled across my first edition in a bookstore years ago and fell hard. Several volumes later- including Open Mouse for Special Needs, etc. it is the ONLY Disney book I buy. As the "Disney Expert" for my friends they used to chuckle at the totebag of books I let them borrow- now I hand them this and say, "It's the only book you need!" BTW- Love TGM also! As a retired military family with kids with severe food allergies- peanut, dairy, egg, chicken, etc. we appreciate the shout outs PP gives on those topics as well. Let me know if I can help- y'all are the greatest!
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I would be happy to help! I love PassPorter. I bought my first copy in 2008. Every friend that travels to Disney I have bought a copy for I would be happy to do all that is necessary to spread the PassPorter word and I do! I know our bookstores already carry the passporter but I would be happy to check the smaller bookstores in the area(about 40 minutes to the first ma and pa bookstore) and see if they have them at their establishment. I know our Library does not carry it and I would be happy to get a copy to them and our sister Libraries. If picked I would work very hard for the best Disney travel book on the market. If I am not picked I will work very hard for the best Disney travel book on the market and do!
Oh my gosh, what a great opportunity to expand what I have already been doing. I am probably the biggest fan of Passporter and Disney. I have a passion for both. That is how I landed a job at our local Disney Store in Northwest Arkansas in 2004. I was a regular shopper at our store-they offered me a job and 2 years later I was promoted to ASM because of my passion. I would suggest the Passporter to all of our guest who were interested in Disney trips and then suggust Disney trips and your book to the others guest. Our store closed in 2008. I still share the Passporter with everyone that I meet-what a great opportunity this would be to have handouts to give to each and everyone that I meet. Please give me this opportunity-you will not regret it. Thanks again for all that you guys do. Keeping everyone up-to-date on everything.
What a great opportunity to spread such an awesome book.
Oh my gosh, what a great opportunity to expand what I have already been doing. I am probably the biggest fan of Passporter and Disney. I have a passion for both. That is how I landed a job at our local Disney Store in Northwest Arkansas in 2004. I was a regular shopper at our store-they offered me a job and 2 years later I was promoted to ASM because of my passion. I would suggest the Passporter to all of our guest who were interested in Disney trips and then suggust Disney trips and your book to the others guest. Our store closed in 2008. I still share the Passporter with everyone that I meet-what a great opportunity this would be to have handouts to give to each and everyone that I meet. Please give me this opportunity-you will not regret it. Thanks again for all that you guys do. Keeping everyone up-to-date on everything and getting the information out so quickly. Thanks in advance for giving me this opportunity.
Great idea! I would like to be part of this team. I have used passporters since '05 and have bought each edition of both WDW & DL since we frequent both coasts. I have recommended passporters to family, friends, & co-workers. Pretty much all the people I know who visit Disney (or will be in the future) gets a copy based on my recommendation and reports of how our trips go and what we do. I frequent the community boards for ideas even if we don't have a trip planned...just in case I can use something for future trips.
Some ideas besides posting postcards, donating books, and frequenting bookstores...would be to advertise in local PTA announcements and maybe work bulletin boards. I work at a hospital and we have a community board that we post announcements on...
Hopefully, I can help you guys expand...
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Minnie taking my daughters for a little walk at Disney's California Adventure.
I couldn't plan my trip withouth everything that Passporter offers. I don't post as much as some other but I read, read, read all that is said. I am the PTO president at school so I have lots of people to contact. Last year we raffled off a trip to WDW. It was the biggest money makers for a raffle. The kids were soooo excited about Disney. I am from Peoria, IL. Everyone who even mentions Disney gets me included in the conversation.
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Why am I passionate about PassPorter? Anyone who has used or even seen a PassPorter can answer that question. It is very simply the BEST planner/guide for a Disney visitor. It is wonderful for both neophytes and veterans. There is nothing that I don't like about it, but my favorite parts are the reviews of the restaurants, the maps, and (of course) the organizer pocket pages.
The restaurant reviews are great because they manage to give a ton of information in such a concise way. They also let me know different opinions about the same place. I love that you give a number rating, but tell us that you like more extensive themes or if the food is more exotic.
The maps are the best maps of the Disney Parks, bar none. They are the right size to look at while on the go with a stroller or as you race to Expedition Everest, big enough to see the map, but not so huge that you actually have to stop because it blocks your entire view including peripheral vision. You can also hold it in one hand and the paper is thick enough to to hold up and not sag or flop around. It makes it much easier to hold a child's hand and still figure out where to go next. The approximate walking times on the map are a real plus, too. Distances can be deceiving, especially at the World Showcase in EPCOT. In hot weather, it is good to know that it might take another 15 minutes to get to France, so it is a good idea to get a cold drink in Mexico now.
The organizer pockets are something that can not be overrated. There are so many ways to use them that it is impossible to describe them all. It's almost like you came up with the perfect place to organize a WDW day. I don't have to list all the things to fill out to you, but I can tell you a few things that I have put in there, such as ADRs, lists of special photos, napkins and stickers for scrapbooks, receipts, email addresses of a person whose camera had died during their first visit to WDW so that I could send along a couple of photos I took of them. The possibilities are truly endless.
Ideas for spreading the word are pretty easy. I'm a relief pharmacist who works in several community pharmacies in a 35 mile radius. All of those stores would be happy to post information, and I'd love to talk to anyone that wanted to know more about PassPorter or WDW in general. Donating copies of the PassPorter to our town library, county library and larger neighboring city libraries would be more than just a typical donation, it would be a community service to let people know about this great resource. I'd love to be able to let people I don't even know have access to this book. I belong to our local MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers) group, am a former PTO Vice President, an active volunteer at our church and school, and scrapbooker. All of these activities offer me opportunities to talk to groups and individuals about PassPorter and PassPorter.com. I often help friends and soon-to-be friends (since you really can't help bonding over Disney) plan trips and vacations to WDW and DCA. I have purchased many volumes of $1 copies of the PassPorter to pass out when I help with planning. Passing out fliers, postcards, and other material would be merely an extension of that.
One unusual thing that I did that helped open a now-avid PassPorter fan's eyes was using the maps out of many $1 copies of the book as a teaching aid in our preschool. I had 2 parents ask where those wonderful maps had come from and another teacher went back to purchase a book for her trip after hearing me rave about PassPorter.
I'm often surprised that even some of the most die-hard Disney fans still have not heard of PassPorter. I carried my PassPorter at the last 2 Magic Meets and at both meetings had people ask me about it.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I would love to be an ambassador for PassPorter, but whether I get picked to be part of the Street Team or not, I'll continue to be a proponent of your book and website. Letting people know about PassPorter is not really advertising, it is more of a public service. Being part of this would just make it much easier by having access to the materials to give out.
Jennfier, it looks as if you are going to have a really hard time deciding on your Team members. However, it also looks as if you will continue to have a ginormous legion of "unofficial" Street Team members to promote Passporter books.
I would love to do this! I have been a huge fan of PP since I first picked up a copy, and I recommend it to everyone. Between my work (an elementary school) and my husband's work (a university campus), and all of the places I frequent in my community, I would have plenty of opportunities to distribute "pass alongs" and post notices. I think giving local libraries older editions is a great idea and one I would be interested in pursuing. Let me know if I can help.
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Several volumes later- including Open Mouse for Special Needs, etc. it is the ONLY Disney book I buy. As the "Disney Expert" for my friends they used to chuckle at the totebag of books I let them borrow- now I hand them this and say, "It's the only book you need!" BTW- Love TGM also! 
I would be happy to do all that is necessary to spread the PassPorter word and I do! I know our bookstores already carry the passporter but I would be happy to check the smaller bookstores in the area(about 40 minutes to the first ma and pa bookstore) and see if they have them at their establishment. I know our Library does not carry it and I would be happy to get a copy to them and our sister Libraries. If picked I would work very hard for the best Disney travel book on the market. If I am not picked I will work very hard for the best Disney travel book on the market and do!
-Amanda 
What a great opportunity to spread such an awesome book.
Monika
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