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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Your AK plans look great! Sorry Rafiki's Planet Watch is going to be closed. I had hoped to take the little ones in January. It was a hit the last big family trip!
AK has fast become a favorite park for us. We can spend 2 to 3 hours just wandering around TOL pointing things out to each other in between looking for the Red Kangaroos.
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Originally Posted by Pris
That sounds like a great day you have planned for AK. I hope you are able to make that trek to Rafiki's Planet Watch. It's not something I did regularly, but I did enjoy going there when I could. Hopefully, The Girls won't be too terribly distressed with the lack of scheduled food. Extra cookie sounds like a good plan.
Did some research today and yes RPW will be closed long before we arrive. Will likely do on of the two exploratory trails . Not so sure on the Girls Katie is a chow hound. While we fix their bowls she circles the island we are working at like the Indians at the Wagon Train in the old movies
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsteiny23
I'm back on the boards after a long time away and I am really enjoying catching up on these TRs! I'm so glad to see you've got a holiday/birthday trip coming up!! And did you say a MONTH there!? That is amazing!! We're booking our big 2 week trip today and I thought that was a long one.
I love your plans and that you're taking it easy and going with the flow. I would love to spend the holidays in Disney just once! I know it's crazy, but I think there would be something special about being there and I have it on my bucket list
Dawn about a month stay all I can say I heartily endorse retirement. Having a Motor Home allows us to bring the Kids (No more sending them to camp) Added bonus Florida in January verses Delaware.
Every TR I read from people there for the holidays has indicated going then expect capacity crowds. So rather than fight them work around them. DISNEY goes all out decorating for the Holidays why not enjoy that,
Your boys have gotten SO BIG. Seeing the Ocean City logo on the shirts of your husband ( Mike if memory serves) and your son between you and him took me right back August We were there to see the Beach Boys
Unless, Disney miraculously reopens Rafiki's Planet Watch in December. It closed on the October 20. Otherwise terrific plans for AK, my favorite park.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NanaTink
Your AK plans look great! Sorry Rafiki's Planet Watch is going to be closed. I had hoped to take the little ones in January. It was a hit the last big family trip!
Cam and Nana T yes I looked it up and we will miss RPW as it is now closed. Guess we'll just have to explore Gorilla Falls or Maharaja Jungle Trek or if line is short enough get back on Kilimanjaro Safari before heading for dinner.
DAY ELEVEN NEW YEARS EVE
As I indicate today is NYE . While I know that others have had luck in The Parks, just the idea that they are traditionally at capacity by 10 am is enough for us to avoid them. I also remember Lisafredsbo's account of her family's experience in EPCOT on NYE several years ago. Having no real desire to deal with potential groups of highly intoxicated individuals we are going to bypass the parks today.
We will hit Trails End for breakfast before we head off in whatever direction the day takes us. Most likely we will hang out for the day in Ft W but are waiting on the official announcement of activities to be posted before make any firmer plans. We do know that there will be a Beach Bash Dance Party that night at the Marina and we will likely go to that. I do have a friend that has plans to brave the crowds in MK that day commando style. I will ask him to give me a heads up after the Early fireworks as to the crowds and if they are reasonable we may try and head over for the Midnight show but I suspect we will watch that from down on the beach.
During the day there will likely be other events going on, have to wait and see. Dinner for today is likely going to be Some Turkey we plan on cooking and freezing before we go down
Dinner for today is likely going to be Some Turkey we plan on cooking and freezing before we go down
Great idea! Some of my favorite holiday meals have been like this. Nothing special, until you think of the care and forethought put into making them happen in unusual circumstances.
I think fireworks from the beach would be perfect rather than dealing with the crowds that are bound to be in the parks (even if calmed down a bit from earlier in the evening).
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Staying away from the parks and ultimately watching fireworks from the beach sounds like a great plan for New Years Eve.
I also like the idea of having a turkey dinner in your RV!
I like your NYE plans as well! We never go out at home for NY, so we would probably follow your plan of relaxing, maybe tour some resorts or engage in whatever was going on around us. And Fireworks on the beach is a capper!
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Sounds good Mike for NYE as probably a good day to avoid the parks. You could always spend some time in DS, since you won't be at the parks if you don't want to spend the full day at FW.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Before I answer those who are following I have to say this. Back in the 1980's and 90's when I first knew I wanted to go for the Holidays Disney World was a lot more alcohol free than it is today. Yes there were those that played Drunk Around The World in World Showcase and DHS had it available in some of the Table Service locations. Today it is starting to look like it will be available nearly everywhere. Just my opinion but DISNEY has made a BIG MISTAKE with this. Knowing too many people over indulge for NYE we just don't want to be around it in a small crowd of 30 to 40 thousand of our nearest and dearest friends. Okay off my soap box
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Otherwise terrific plans for AK, my favorite park. 
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This is my absolute favorite park and you will just love Pandora!!! 
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