Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
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03-12-2007, 02:50 PM
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#1
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PassPorter Guide
 Community Rank: Globetrotter 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,041
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Using Orlando's "Other" Airport: Sanford Airport
by Margaret Harris, Guest Contributor
Many people do not realize that Orlando is home to two airports - the big busy International Airport and then there is what I call Orlando's best kept secret, the Orlando Sanford Airport. This is a smaller airport located approximately 43 miles from Walt Disney World. There is no Magical Express Service to Walt Disney World from this airport and alas there is little information in most guide books about Sanford. I would not have known about arranging a town car if a prior vacationer had not filled me in. So, why bother with this airport? I'm hoping that my recent experience will encourage others to give this alternative a chance.
continued in next post...
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03-12-2007, 02:50 PM
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#2
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PassPorter Guide
Community Rank: Globetrotter
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,041
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Orlando Sanford offers Allegiant Air as one of its carriers and flying from Des Moines as we do, it is a wonderful option. I am not a flyer so it helps me to think of it as only one take off, one landing, and three hours in the air and I am there. Another comforting thought for me ... no connecting flights, so less chance that my luggage is lost or delayed. To top it off, the price is amazing! We bought our tickets in November 2006 and paid $203.00 round trip per person. We flew into Orlando Sanford on February 3rd, 2007 and our Iowa weather was good but coming home on February 13th blizzard conditions left many flights that were going through Minneapolis, Chicago, and Kansas City stranded for up to 8 hours. Not so with Allegiant -- our flight was perhaps 30 minutes late and had a delay unloading us at the airport but we were home in less than 4 hours from Orlando to Des Moines.
So here I am at the Orlando Sanford airport. Claiming my luggage is easy since this is a small airport and we are the only flight at the baggage check. It is delightful to see my town car driver holding a poster with my name on it. It truly makes me feel like a star! How did I find this wonderful service? There are many reputable town car services available and the Internet makes it so easy to make arrangements. I used the resources on the Orlando Sanford airport web site and e-mailed Sam's Transportation. I had called prior to my trip to confirm my date and the price. He was professional and prompt. I told him that I would need to stop at Albertson's for groceries and he was very accommodating. (For our 2005 trip I used Tiffany Town Car and they were wonderful and also accommodating. Their price in 2005 was $165.00.) Both companies required the full balance upon arrival at the airport, and any time this type of service is utilized a tip is in order. The driver that picks you up may not be the driver that takes you back so a tip is in order both ways. I did see many cab companies waiting at the airport but my driver warned me that the fares are very high.
It is always wonderful to have the opportunity to grocery shop before arriving at Walt Disney World and if you have a moderate or deluxe accommodation your room comes with a refrigerator. Be aware it is a refrigerator only and no freezer compartment. Our flight from Des Moines always arrives late at night (around 9:45 pm) so the only thing open is an Albertson's. We don't have those in Iowa so when they asked me if I had a preferred customer card I replied that I am from out of state. The cashier was more than happy to issue me a number to give me the preferred price. If you are interested in a rental car the airport literature stated that Alamo-National, Dollar-Thrifty, Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz are all available on-site and Budget and U-save have off-site locations with shuttle service. I am overwhelmed at the prospect of driving in the Orlando area so a town car is well worth the money for me.
So I made it to Walt Disney World with all of my luggage and my groceries having had a pleasant trip and an easy car ride. All that and I saved money too! Reason enough for me to fly into Sanford from now on. How about you?
[Our PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line and Its Ports of Call guidebook offer a full page of information (plus map) for the Orlando Sanford Airport!]
About the Author: Margaret Harris is an avid Disney traveler. Every trip she says “This is my last trip.” and then six months later she is back on the Internet planning another trip.
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