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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Am I the only one not excited about the Poly Villas or really the Polynesian in general? I heard so many great reviews for so long that I finally treated myself to one night on my last trip and I have to say I wasn't that impressed. I personally like the Contemporary/BLT better! I didn't really see what all the fuss was about. So am I the only one?
You are most definitely not the only one. Although I have never stayed at the Poly, I have visited the grounds and I also do not get what all the fuss is about. Besides the fact that it always feels crowded, the theme just comes off to me as rather hokey.
But as they say, "to each his own."
Brad
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"Esprits et fantômes sur vos fièrs destriers, Escortez dans la nuit la belle fiancée." -- Madame Leota in Phantom Manor, DL Paris
Yes you are right to each their own, which is why there are so many different resorts to choose from. It just seems, though, that "everyone" loves the Poly!
The theme doesn't do anything for me either. Similarly, we stayed at a resort in Ohio a couple years ago for an event and it was "African Safari" themed and trying to put yourself into this theme was impossible when a little voice in your head keeps screaming "You are in the middle of Ohio!". I would catch myself laughing out loud at the absurdity of it. It just didn't work.
But, I did seriously consider staying at the Poly. My understanding is that it is in a great location. We are going to attend the Luau show. If I could have fit it in, I would love to have eaten at O'hana. But in the end, perhaps it is not surprising that we are Contemporary folk - the least "themed" resort, isn't it?
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Last edited by SheLovesAriel; 08-22-2014 at 06:14 PM..
I have never stayed at the Poly, but "over-water bungalows" certainly has me excited!
The theming of the Grand Floridian has never done much for me and I wasn't very excited about DVC at the GF -until I saw the model rooms. Absolutely gorgeous! I could also say the same about BLT. The Contemporary theming never really spoke to me, but the villa design sure did.
Everyone has their own preferences of course. I'm curious to see what they will do with these villas.
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My formative years was with the influence of the NW native americans so heavy dark woods, totems, being as close to the water for travel and hunting....I think the theming fits just fine for what it's shooting at.
It's not meant to be truly authentic, just representative (sometimes "hokey") and if it gets you interested in learning more about the culture then "mission accomplished" as they are providing options...its not "OMG HAVE TO BUY NOW" stuff.
The best comparison I can make is "which country from EPCOT (or elsewhere) would you like to spend a week in a studio apartment in?" as it's coffee on the patio in the mornings taking in the view, and a glass of wine in the evenings enjoying the night. We may spend all the in-between times in the parks but we want to like where we have to go home to at night and wake up to; and if we decide to take a day off what can we do at the resort?
They aren't trying to make every place palatable to everyone despite their tastes, they are trying to make different places palatable to accomodate everyone's individual tastes.
Random Thoughts.
Cheers,
--john
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Last edited by jendahl12; 08-22-2014 at 10:30 PM..
I must admit the Poly has never done much for us, yet we've known people who absolutely love it. I'd like to try the Villas when they open, if we can get in there, as we won't be buying points there, as they'll be brand new and I'd like to see what they're like, but I doubt they'll become a regular destination for us.
We're weirdos who actually didn't enjoy a trip to Hawaii, so we hardly ever go to the Poly to eat much less want to stay there. Honestly, I'd feel like I was staying in the Tiki Room.
But then, we liked the CR only slightly better, mostly for the shops and the fact that the in-Tower monorail station is simply too cool for words. I'm still impressed by its location despite having been through it zillions of times.
We both very much prefer the GF, close to the MK and as DH Drewness puts it, "Just plain classy."
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
We stayed at the poly earlier this year and love the closeness for everything. Boat to MK, monorail, short walk to TTC, waited a while for some buses though but never spoiled anything for us.
Loved the balconies and the beach too!
We didn't get much of the theming because they we're smack bang in the middle of renovations etc. and capt cooks had been relocated and we weren't impressed with Ohana breakfast ��.
Saying that we would definitely be going back there next year if we were just going ourselves but we're taking our 2 nieces (6 of us In total) and and I think the Ambassador Suite is just a little (miles!!!) out our price range!! Lol
Suzanne x
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Disneyland Paris approx 2004, Caribbean Beach April 2013, Polynesian May 2014, Old Key West October 2015, Wilderness Lodge Oct 2017, Disneyland Paris October 2018 and looking forward to AKL Sept/Oct 2019 trip!
Last edited by suzanne1972; 08-24-2014 at 04:22 AM..
To each their own and that's perfectly fine.
") and if it gets you interested in learning more about the culture then "mission ?
They aren't trying to make every place palatable to everyone despite their tastes, they are trying to make different places palatable to accomodate everyone's individual tastes.
Random Thoughts.
Cheers,
--john
I am glad that Disney does make different resorts for everyone! I guess I was just a little disappointed after all the hype but there are plenty of other resorts that I love and stay at.
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