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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I have one last TS credit we can use, any suggestions? I'm thinking Wilderness Canyon is OUT.
Since you are going to be at the BWV why not a breakfast at CMC over at the BC?
We have had an early breakfast there, and found the early time gave us a very nice and relaxing breakfast, while there were definitely a lot of kids for some reason it did not have that crazy feeling like we always get over at Chef Mickey's, plus we have had some of our best character interaction there. We stayed at the BC this past trip and I also noticed that the later breakfast also looked pretty tranquil in comparison to some of the other character meals. We had a very filling breakfast there and it is a nice walk over from the BWV.
I completely understand your view, and it stings a little to realize how arrogant I sounded when I used to give similar advice on childrearing. Multiply that with a SN child....
What stands out in my mind is the scene in a movie where Sullivan and Helen Keller fight over table manners. Ray Charles is another person who comes to mind as he was to fend for himself not be coddled because he was blind. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between special needs and just being a child. I bet you have seen other kids who are not special needs that run around restaurants, throw toys and food, make rude noises, fidget, and bounce on seats.
Autism on the Seas
For me the hardest thing about caring for my elderly mother is the lack of me-time. I can go off for a while thankfully and get some respite. That is something about the autism cruises that stands out for me, respite which would allow you to have a quiet meal without someone on your lap.
Also most child programs are by age but autism cruises group children by abilities. Normally child programs do not allow anyone into the area except staff and enrolled children. Autism cruises allow family to come and join in with the child.
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Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
I agree, the respite time on Autism of the Seas cruises sounds unreal! We're taking a family vacation, but it's not to reconnect, we are in one another's face every day---the opportunity for DH and me to get some time alone and not worry about DS's care, now THAT'S what would complete an honest-to-goodness vacation. I hope to someday make good on this option.
In the meantime, now my current ADRs are scrapped because I had to change my dates around to much later (November.) Oh well, it's nice that DS will be a little bit older and all the more time to plan!
Since you are going to be at the BWV why not a breakfast at CMC over at the BC?
We have had an early breakfast there, and found the early time gave us a very nice and relaxing breakfast, while there were definitely a lot of kids for some reason it did not have that crazy feeling like we always get over at Chef Mickey's, plus we have had some of our best character interaction there. We stayed at the BC this past trip and I also noticed that the later breakfast also looked pretty tranquil in comparison to some of the other character meals. We had a very filling breakfast there and it is a nice walk over from the BWV.
These are the best kinds of suggestions We had to cancel our CMC adr's in 2008, but now reading this we'll definitely be looking into it for our upcoming trip!!
I agree, the respite time on Autism of the Seas cruises sounds unreal! We're taking a family vacation, but it's not to reconnect, we are in one another's face every day---the opportunity for DH and me to get some time alone and not worry about DS's care, now THAT'S what would complete an honest-to-goodness vacation. I hope to someday make good on this option.
In the meantime, now my current ADRs are scrapped because I had to change my dates around to much later (November.) Oh well, it's nice that DS will be a little bit older and all the more time to plan!
When are you going in November? We'll be there in November too! (We are there from November 23 to 26.)
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Maybe we can meet up
We will arrive Nov. 13 and going home the 18
How many think Pam needs to change her dates?
Quote:
Originally Posted by simbarel
Say AYE! We'd love to meet up, it'll help me figure out our plans.
Oh if only, I could. *sigh* We are going the week of Thanksgiving so Grace doesn't miss too much school. Plus my family and Grace's dad are all joining us.