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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Welcome to my second TR. I loved reliving the memories of our last trip while writing my first trip report, so I thought I would give it another go.
First I will start with some introductions:
Aimee (me): I am a 33 year old stay-at-home mom and our family's Disney obsessed planner.
Justin (DH) age 32: Justin is a contractor with FedEx and when he isn't working he loves to spend time with his girls.
Lexi (DD) age 5: She is a very sweet, shy little girl who loves Mickey Mouse and all of the Princesses. Lexi is in kindergarten and we are in the countdown to the end of the school year. I am looking forward to summer, but I am so sad that Lexi's first year of school will be over. She is growing way too fast!
This is from Lexi's first Disney trip in 2011.
Our last trip was in Sept 2011 and I knew we wouldn't be going to Disney in 2012 because of other vacations we had planned, so I was hoping for a trip in 2013. After having to replace both of our cars last year and spending money on new living room furniture we sort of put a 2013 vacation on hold. Then on March 21st our little trio was devastated with the news that Justin and Lexi have a genetic kidney disease. A couple of days after Lexi's doctor appointment, I decided our family needs a Disney vacation.
I knew that Justin has vacation that coincides with Lexi's first week of summer vacation, so we decided to go May 27- May 31. What a perfect way to kickoff our summer vacation! (hence the name of my TR ) This would give me just 2 months to plan. Eek! I hopped on the Disney website and was happy to see the Spring offer (up to 30% off room only or room plus magic my way tickets) was an option and priced out several resorts for the last week of May. I then got Justin on the phone at work and let him in on my idea. It didn't surprise me that he thought it was a great idea. I told him the resort options and was sure he would pick WL as that is his favorite resort, but he surprised me and said he wouldn't mind checking out the Beach Club. I was good with that as we have never stayed there before and it was actually my first choice. Picking the resort was the easy part. Getting the dates to work ended up being quite the hassle.
Great start! Sorry about Justin and Lexi's condition. I think a trip to WDW is just what you guys need. And if it's at the Beach Club... well that's just the cherry on top.
Sounds like a great trip in the making. You did well getting Beach Club with so short a lead-time. Can't wait to hear the rest of the details. Hope the kidney condition is something that can be dealt with-- always good to know these things so you can minimize the problems.
Great start! Sorry about Justin and Lexi's condition. I think a trip to WDW is just what you guys need. And if it's at the Beach Club... well that's just the cherry on top.
Thank you Mayra!
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Originally Posted by apqsmom
Wonderful start!
Thank you!
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Originally Posted by OneLittleSpark
checking in!
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Originally Posted by lfredsbo
Sorry about the genetic conditions - hope they are manageable for you and your family
And I think a trip to Disney is just what the doctor ordered!
Thank you Lisa!
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Originally Posted by Roxie2006
Great start!!!
Thank you!
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Originally Posted by Cam22
Many for Justin and Lexi!
You all will love Beach Club!
Thanks Cam. I cannot wait for our first stay at BC!
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Originally Posted by DMA
Great start. Looking forward to hearing about all your plans!
Thanks Donna!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Sounds like a great trip in the making. You did well getting Beach Club with so short a lead-time. Can't wait to hear the rest of the details. Hope the kidney condition is something that can be dealt with-- always good to know these things so you can minimize the problems.
I was very happy to get BC, I believe the lagoon/pool view was the only option left for our dates when I booked, so that is what I went with.
Their kidney disease is something that can be dealt with. It is actually an "adult" disease as it is very rare to get diagnosed as a child and some people never know they have the disease. We have changed our diets and are trying to be proactive to prolong the function of their kidneys as long as possible.
I am sorry to hear about the genetic condition. Hopefully it is something manageable? Can't wait to read more about your trip!
Thanks Jess! It is something that is manageable. The progression of the disease is also inherited, so with Justin's family history and also controlling their diets they can live a long, normal life.
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 hope that you and your family have a magical time at the world
__________________
Heather - "I'm Tinkerbell's biggest fan!"
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
I hope you have a magical trip! Isn't it amazing how we need that Disney magic.? I hope your hubby and little girl will be okay. She is adorable! And we'll be arriving at Beach Club a few short days after you leave!
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About This Page: 
I loved reliving the memories of our last trip while writing my first trip report, so I thought I would give it another go.
A couple of days after Lexi's doctor appointment, I decided our family needs a Disney vacation. 
) This would give me just 2 months to plan. Eek! I hopped on the Disney website and was happy to see the Spring offer (up to 30% off room only or room plus magic my way tickets) was an option and priced out several resorts for the last week of May. I then got Justin on the phone at work and let him in on my idea. It didn't surprise me that he thought it was a great idea. I told him the resort options and was sure he would pick WL as that is his favorite resort, but he surprised me and said he wouldn't mind checking out the Beach Club. I was good with that as we have never stayed there before and it was actually my first choice. 
Picking the resort was the easy part. Getting the dates to work ended up being quite the hassle.
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"Sparky"(My first trip.)
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