Living the dream and remembering the Bagman LIVE UPDATE 10/2 - Page 8 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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Sounds like everything is coming together very well! Glad you were able to get your flights booked and the car details worked out! It's funny to read this and think this took place 6 months ago and your trip is not too far away now!
I know! I'm reading it back and I can't believe how long ago all of this was now...
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I just caught up with your last couple postings and my have you got quite a busy itinerary planned! I get overwhelmed thinking about all the changes and reservations/tickets that you have to buy for this trip but I certainly love hearing all about it! So glad that you were able to fit NYC into your plans. We did the 9/11 memorial tour for my birthday last year and it was quite informative but also very moving since we live so close to NYC and remember that day so vividly. You will truly appreciate the stories that they tell during the tour. We did our tour inside the museum. It sounds like all your plans are coming together to make this a wonderful vacation!
Oh that is so good to hear. I must admit I assumed that it would be very well done, given it's only been recently opened. I always tend to think that museums that are new will be better than older ones, because they make the best use of technology and perhaps also have a better understanding of what visitors want these days. That's not always the case, as we have really enjoyed some museums that have been open for a long time of course, but equally we've rarely been disappointed by a recently opened museum.
Just catching up again. Sounds like things are beginning to "gel". I was talking to my mother about your time in Bar Harbor, and while they've never been to the lobster place you are planning on, she did say that she and my dad like Tranten's (sp.?) Lobster Pound, which is about halfway between Ellsworth and B.H. She started telling me about the road it's on and naming landmarks, and "if you go over a bridge, you've gone to far..." gotta love her!) She and my dad have very plain palates, but do like their food fresh and well presented.
I am jealous about your New York and Canada portions, as the places you are visiting are ones that I either want to go back to or are on my bucket list. But for now, I'm content to live through your trip reports!
Hope you find some Bath & Body Works--my daughter just stocked up for the rest of the summer (and since she has been working mucking out stalls and paddocks, she needed to get LOTS!)
Just catching up again. Sounds like things are beginning to "gel". I was talking to my mother about your time in Bar Harbor, and while they've never been to the lobster place you are planning on, she did say that she and my dad like Tranten's (sp.?) Lobster Pound, which is about halfway between Ellsworth and B.H. She started telling me about the road it's on and naming landmarks, and "if you go over a bridge, you've gone to far..." gotta love her!) She and my dad have very plain palates, but do like their food fresh and well presented.
I'll look into that!
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I am jealous about your New York and Canada portions, as the places you are visiting are ones that I either want to go back to or are on my bucket list. But for now, I'm content to live through your trip reports!
Hope you find some Bath & Body Works--my daughter just stocked up for the rest of the summer (and since she has been working mucking out stalls and paddocks, she needed to get LOTS!)
Oh trust me, we will find Bath and Body Works as I need new supplies!
I asked Dave about them draining the Falls (he's from Niagara) because I was a little befuddled about the whole thing! He explained it to me. We may have to take a trip up there to see it when they do.
I asked Dave about them draining the Falls (he's from Niagara) because I was a little befuddled about the whole thing! He explained it to me. We may have to take a trip up there to see it when they do.
You guys have the most awesome trips!
Interestingly, it's just the American Falls that would be shut down. The water would then be diverted over the Canadian side (or Horseshoe Falls. )
I asked Dave about them draining the Falls (he's from Niagara) because I was a little befuddled about the whole thing! He explained it to me. We may have to take a trip up there to see it when they do.
Oh please do - I'd love to see some photos of that!
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You guys have the most awesome trips!
Well, I figure it's a long journey for us across the pond and we may make the best of it when we get to the States...
Pre-trip report – part eight: the park hours start to make their appearance!
Saturday 13 February
I saw something on the boards today about when Southwest open up their flights, and apparently they can open them any date, from what I read. Apparently someone called them and that’s what they were told, and they said to keep checking back. Oh boy! Now there was me thinking they’d be out on 18 February, as per previous information. I guess I’ll be checking every day, just to be on the safe side then… I checked tonight and nothing… hopefully there will be something in the next few days… The website is still saying 18 February, so fingers crossed that’s right, and that I can get what I want when the flights appear.
Monday 15 February
I got home to an email from Virgin Atlantic, sending me our e-ticket for our return flight from JFK. It’s very nice of them, but we’ve already got one, and they usually only re-send them when the times have changed, even if it’s only five minutes, but I checked all of that information, and I can’t see anything different. Oh well, at least now I have two I guess…
Someone in our Facebook group posted tonight that apparently park hours are out for September. I’m not sure where she found them, as I can only see them up until 23 August, but apparently they’re showing at 7:00pm close for the Magic Kingdom on Friday 23 September, a very strong indication that there should hopefully be a Halloween Party going on that night. I certainly hope so, given that we’re aiming to be in the Polynesian then for that very reason.
Tuesday 16 February
The September WDW hours have been posted in our Facebook group, but they are patently a very early version. What’s the giveaway? Well, the fact that there are no evening parades or fireworks at the Magic Kingdom… there’s the occasional night with one or the other, and of course I wouldn’t expect them on Halloween Party nights, but to have so many nights without anything on… there’s definitely another version of the hours coming out sometime soon.
From what I can see, there’s likely to be a Halloween Party on the Tuesday we arrive (20 October), another on the Friday (23 September) and finally one on the Sunday (25 September), as the Magic Kingdom closes at 7:00pm on all three nights. Currently, the only night for the Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes while we’re in Orlando is on the Saturday night (24 September), but as I say, I figure that will change as time goes on.
No surprises with the Epcot hours, exactly as I expected, with standard opening and closing times and IllumiNations most nights, but interestingly not on the Friday or the Saturday night, so that’s something else I can see will change as time goes forward. Even more interestingly, Fantasmic! is already down for every night at the Studios, which I wasn’t expecting to see. Animal Kingdom has standard opening hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm the whole time we’re there, but given the evening show opens in the spring, I fully expect to see those hours lengthen out more into the evening.
As for Extra Magic Hours, well they’re currently scheduled as follows:
Tuesday 20 September – Epcot (pm)
Wednesday 21 September – Magic Kingdom (pm)
Thursday 22 September – Epcot (am)
Friday 23 September – Magic Kingdom (am) and Hollywood Studios (pm)
Saturday 24 September – Animal Kingdom (am)
Sunday 25 September – Hollywood Studios (am)
Monday 26 September – Animal Kingdom (am)
Let’s see what the next few days, weeks and months bring in terms of changes to those hours, as I suspect there’ll be a lot along the way….
Wednesday 17 February
This morning, there were discussions on the Facebook group about the planned sunset photography meet on the night of Thursday 22 September, which will be the actual first anniversary of Bill’s death. Sue (rescuesk) came up with the idea, given Bill was an amazing photographer and loved his sunsets and sunrises, and it seemed like an appropriate way to honour him.
Someone asked where the meet would be, and Epcot was suggested, but Sue came up with the idea of perhaps doing it on the BoardWalk, so that those without park tickets could participate, which is a lovely thought. She also mentioned that then people could go and see IllumiNations afterwards if they wanted to. Oh boy, decisions, decisions… I like the idea of a combined group meet for IllumiNations, given it’s my favourite night-time show, but then again, it’s also the Disney Vacation Club Member event after hours at Animal Kingdom, which is very tempting too. I’m going to have some tough choices to make, I think….
Later on, I went back and had a look at my plans in my itinerary, and actually I think we can fit everything in that night. Sunset is about 7:20pm that night, so we may need to get a very early dinner to get to the meet, then we can do that, see IllumiNations, and the DVC Member event only starts at 9:30pm, going on until midnight, so I think we can fit it all in… just about.
I have to be honest, today was the first time I read the All Ears Newsletter with great interest. Don’t get me wrong, I read it every week, but for the last few months, I’ve just been glancing through some sections, like the refurbishments, as they didn’t feel as if they applied to me. Well, I guess with the advent of the first round of park hours for our trip, finally I do feel as if it applies to me. It now feels real that we’re going back to Disney.
Let me explain what I mean. Firstly, they mentioned the Mickey Monitor for Passholders (which we never got when we were Passholders, as they don’t send it out internationally, which is frustrating to say the least ) and how it contains information about the new Rivers of Light show at Animal Kingdom. It sounds wonderful, and I really cannot wait to see this in September.
There was also information about a couple of new meet and greets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and what a pleasant change to get news about them opening something there for once, rather than closing things. Of course, one had to relate to Frozen (doesn’t everything in Disney these days? ) and it’s a meet and greet with Olaf. You know what? It’s about time frankly. I mean, you can meet him on the cruise ships (admittedly just the ones with a colder itinerary as their theme, like Alaska or Europe), and Disneyland, so why not Disney World? I also liked the description of Mickey and Minnie starring in red carpet dreams, allowing you to walk down the red carpet to meet the famous duo. Now that sounds like fun.
However, I was a lot less impressed to discover Winnie the Pooh will no longer be doing meet and greets in the United Kingdom in Epcot. Seriously Disney? You first took my donkey boy away, now Pooh bear’s gone. Who does that leave? Tigger on his own? That’s going to look a bit wrong, surely?
Oh and talking of Frozen, the new shop in front of the castle at the Magic Kingdom is called Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire, which debuts in the summer and it includes characters from the newest Disney classic movies. I’m sure you can see where this is going…. Yep, you got it right – it will of course include Anna, Elsa and Olaf, along with characters from the Princess and the Frog, and Rapunzel. Nice to see characters from those movies making their debut in a show on the castle stage, but don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Frozen, but there is such a thing of overkill, isn’t there?
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I'm reading it back and I can't believe how long ago all of this was now... 
I don't care if you're on vacation - to me, you still lock everything!
as I need new supplies!
]
Now there was me thinking they’d be out on 18 February, as per previous information. I guess I’ll be checking every day, just to be on the safe side then… I checked tonight and nothing… hopefully there will be something in the next few days… The website is still saying 18 February, so fingers crossed that’s right, and that I can get what I want when the flights appear. 
Oh well, at least now I have two I guess… 
) and it’s a meet and greet with Olaf. You know what? It’s about time frankly. I mean, you can meet him on the cruise ships (admittedly just the ones with a colder itinerary as their theme, like Alaska or Europe), and Disneyland, so why not Disney World? I also liked the description of Mickey and Minnie starring in red carpet dreams, allowing you to walk down the red carpet to meet the famous duo. Now that sounds like fun. 
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