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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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My apologies for the slow pace of this TR. I haven't been writing because of real life getting in the way, but my goal is to at least have the TR written before my trip to WDW next week. That way I can just post updates when I have a few free minutes. I've got a short update to post right now to hold you over. Thanks for being patient!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
I was so thrilled when we arrived, I took a blurry cellphone picture.
We valet parked the car and I went to check us in. They’d put us in a king room, so I asked to be moved to a room with 2 queens. There weren’t any other rooms available, so I agreed to stay in the king room for the night and then switch the next day.
We headed up to drop off our stuff. The room seemed very small and was the last room on the floor. I definitely wanted to change in the morning, so neither Karen or I did any settling in, because we’d only have to pack up again in the morning. We headed up to the lounge (I don’t remember if I mentioned it, but I’d booked a Club Level room with theme park view ).
After relaxing in the lounge for a bit, we decided to walk down to the park so I could purchase my Premier Passport, which is a combined DL/WDW AP. I decided to get one because my WDW AP expired the week before my trip and I knew I’d be making at least one more trip to DL before a year was up. Shortly after my purchase, they changed the entire AP system, so my purchase turned out to be a bargain!
With Passport in hand, I knew we’d be able to hit the ground running in the morning. On the way back to the DLH, we stopped in World of Disney to do a bit of shopping. Neither of us made a purchase at that point, but we both found a few things we’d buy later.
Then we went back and hung out in the lounge. We could just see parts of WOC from there, but we had a lovely view of the fireworks. I have to say it wasn’t the best idea to watch it from the lounge before seeing it in the park, because you don’t get the full story and can’t appreciate it as a whole. Luckily, we remedied that the next night.
We headed down to our room and went to bed. It would be an early start the next day!
Up Next: Touring a Disney park, old school
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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 tried to talk Luke into the Premier Pass as our WDW APs expired on his birthday, but he thought it wouldn't really work for us as it will be three years before we return to DLR. At least I know someone who has one.
So glad that you got the Premier Pass for DL and WDW AP before the price increase went into effect! So excited that you're writing the DL part of your TR! I'll be in WDW from 12/12-12/18, so hopefully I'll run into you!
I was going to say the same thing about your signature pic too - I love it! How neat you've now got the Premier Passport. I'm sure you'll make very good use of it.
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.
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!
Love the new sig picture of you & Karen with Olaf!
How terrific that your AP ended up being more of a bargain!
Thanks! And the PP went up more than $400! Yay for me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pris
Yea!! You got the Premium Passport! Another year of Disney!
Now I have to visit often to get my money's worth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
I tried to talk Luke into the Premier Pass as our WDW APs expired on his birthday, but he thought it wouldn't really work for us as it will be three years before we return to DLR. At least I know someone who has one.
I figured it's really only worth it if you plan to visit DL more than once in the year (or have one very long visit). I'm not sure how it would break down now though, after the price increase. I'm going to try to make 3 visits there if I can. As Karen would say, value optimization.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindawdw
So glad that you got the Premier Pass for DL and WDW AP before the price increase went into effect! So excited that you're writing the DL part of your TR! I'll be in WDW from 12/12-12/18, so hopefully I'll run into you!
With our history, we'll definitely run into each other!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I was going to say the same thing about your signature pic too - I love it! How neat you've now got the Premier Passport. I'm sure you'll make very good use of it.
I plan to make excellent use of it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Looking forward to your time in DL!
More coming right up!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Day Six – Monday, September 7 Touring a Disney park, old school
I was up before 6:00, which was good, because this allowed us time to get breakfast in the lounge before heading to the park. I think it was an 8:00 opening, with EMH. We walked through Downtown Disney on our way to the park. I didn’t take any photos because the sun was so very bright this morning. It was so bright my sunglasses were kind of useless. But hey, I can’t complain about the California sunshine, can I? Well, I guess I was, really, but nevermind.
We joined the opening crowds at DCA. Karen and I both seem to have a knack for choosing the slowest-moving line, but I learned a new trick this morning. I looked for lines that had a lot of strollers in them, which made them appear to be a lot longer than they actually were, so they moved faster.
The park was decorated for Disneyland’s 60th. I like the color blue a lot, so I was enjoying it!
We were toward the front of the crowd, so the park was pretty empty.
We wanted to do Radiator Springs Racers first thing, but it was down at the moment.
I think we went on Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and then RSR was back up? My notes aren’t good and it’s been a while. Anyway, I recall riding RSR in the Single Riders Line, so let’s say that’s what happened.
We made our way to the other side of the park to ride the E tickets over there.
We did Toy Story Midway Mania first. I think I actually like the theme better here. I miss the very cool queue that DHS has, but at DCA, there’s more of a midway feel, which I think works better with the attraction. But I like both.
Karen beat me, of course. I’m no fool
Then we went on California Screamin’. It was just as much fun as it always is.
This picture shows just how bright it was that morning
We headed back over to Cars Land.
I think this is when we picked up FPs to use later for RSR. It was a little odd using paper FPs again. It was also weird having to carry around the Photopass card all the time! Even if DL doesn’t implement FP+, I think having a Magic Band is a good idea – only one thing to keep track of!
We went into A Bug’s Land, which I happen to find adorable.
Sunny!
I talked Karen into a ride on Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train. Adorable!
We checked out TOT, but the wait was too long so we decided to hit Soarin’ Over California instead. A trolley happened to be waiting and would depart in a couple of minutes, so we hopped aboard.
We were able to do Soarin’ without much of a wait.
This whole area had been refurbished since my last visit and I liked the new look.
Next was Goofy’s Sky School. It reminds me of the Barnstormer ride at WDW, but only because of the theme. The ride itself is completely different!
Then we did Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. The ride is the same as at WDW, but the queue is much better at WDW. It was a little weird just going through a normal-looking queue.
I wanted some water, but I hate the taste of Dasani water, so I wanted to find a place with fountain drinks so I could get a cup of water. It was a bit tricky finding something that was open. We went into the Boudin Bakery and ended up doing the tour in reverse order.
Then we ventured into Ghirardelli, where I was able to get a cup of water. It was very cute in there.
That looks familiar!
We went over and picked up a TOT FP to use later.
I haven’t held one of these in a long time!
Then we went into the Animation building. It was a nice break because it was nice and cool in there. It was a hot day. It was over 100˚ nearly every day I was at Disneyland. There’s lots to do in the building, besides getting cool.
We took the animation class and my drawing wasn’t great. If I remember, I’ll scan it in and post it so y’all can have a laugh.
Then we headed out to use our RSR FPs.
That looks familiar!
DCA is such a great park, and Cars Land is the greatest part of it. So. Much. Detail.
When we used our FP, we were in the queue near a guy who I guess thinks it’s his job to ride RSR. He’s ridden it a lot, and he had a little thing hanging around his neck with a stack of cards to show exactly how many times (if I remember, it was more than 2,000 times ). I’ve already lost count of how many times I’ve ridden RSR, and it’s only somewhere in the low teens. Maybe I need cards to keep track!
We were ready for a bit of a break, so we decided to go back to the DLH through the GC. This allowed me to get some nice photos on the way.
There was an edible castle in the lobby of the Grand Californian. I love looking at displays like that.
Hidden Mickey
Up Next: Stepping into Disneyland
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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.
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At least I know someone who has one. 
PassPorter Guide Author
Now I have to visit often to get my money's worth. 
My notes aren’t good and it’s been a while. Anyway, I recall riding RSR in the Single Riders Line, so let’s say that’s what happened. 
If I remember, I’ll scan it in and post it so y’all can have a laugh.
). I’ve already lost count of how many times I’ve ridden RSR, and it’s only somewhere in the low teens. 
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