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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Has anyone done parasailing with Sammy Duvall's Water Sport's Center? Did you do the single or tandem flights? How high up did you go? Was it worth the price? Would you do it again?
Yes, it was great. We adults did tandem with our kids. You can see really far. So peaceful.
I liked tandem because you could point things out to each other and enjoy each other's delight.
I've never done parasailing before then so it was exciting and one of my favorite experiences I've had outside the parks.
This was the first time we had ever parasailed and it was made so easy by the staff. As for the ride and experience going up & landing - it was very smooth, much better than I expected.
My mother and I have done it 3x total on 2 different trips. We a r e pooh sized so we went up as singles. They went over a couple safety issues on land then we boarded the boat and get set up. I went firat all 3x times. It was amazing. We went all around the lagoon behind the Contemporary and I got great visuals of some completely forgotten places such as Discovery Island. I was allowed to take my camera up with me as long as it was strapped on. I got some great photos. They (assistant assisted captain) helped ease our fears as well as even took a few pics of us in our gear. It was the best experience and we look forward to doing it again.
It was a short and expensive experience but one that was worth it to us...enough that we have repeated it. It is included I believe in the premium package with water & more plus. Everytime I learn the package names they change so you would have to look into that. I highly recommend this as an outside of park experience. Of it is at all windy - they will cancel & attempt to reschedule your experience within your trip (this happened for us and we did manage to get it in). My one tip - wear leggings or soft knit shorts so they are more comfy when they bunch up (they always do) and slightly longer shorts are better still.
Last edited by cattailmarsh; 06-03-2016 at 11:32 PM..
Yes, it was great. We adults did tandem with our kids. You can see really far. So peaceful.
I liked tandem because you could point things out to each other and enjoy each other's delight.
I've never done parasailing before then so it was exciting and one of my favorite experiences I've had outside the parks.
My DD and I have never done it before either & I asked her if she would & she said YES but only if we could do it together! She's a huge chicken so I'm pretty sure she might try & wuss out, I'm sure I might get extremely nervous but I don't show it.. I just get quiet and do what I'm told!
I'm glad you enjoyed the experience!!! You really made me excited to try it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cattailmarsh
This was the first time we had ever parasailed and it was made so easy by the staff. As for the ride and experience going up & landing - it was very smooth, much better than I expected.
My mother and I have done it 3x total on 2 different trips. We a r e pooh sized so we went up as singles. They went over a couple safety issues on land then we boarded the boat and get set up. I went firat all 3x times. It was amazing. We went all around the lagoon behind the Contemporary and I got great visuals of some completely forgotten places such as Discovery Island. I was allowed to take my camera up with me as long as it was strapped on. I got some great photos. They (assistant assisted captain) helped ease our fears as well as even took a few pics of us in our gear. It was the best experience and we look forward to doing it again.
It was a short and expensive experience but one that was worth it to us...enough that we have repeated it. It is included I believe in the premium package with water & more plus. Everytime I learn the package names they change so you would have to look into that. I highly recommend this as an outside of park experience. Of it is at all windy - they will cancel & attempt to reschedule your experience within your trip (this happened for us and we did manage to get it in). My one tip - wear leggings or soft knit shorts so they are more comfy when they bunch up (they always do) and slightly longer shorts are better still.
Excellent tip about the shorts/leggings! I'm so glad you mentioned it because otherwise I wouldn't have had any idea about the bunching up issue. The woman I spoke with on the phone mention something about memory maker taking pics of us from down below? I really have no idea but thought that was cool. I have to try and find my camera because I've misplaced it since my sisters wedding, opps! I'll definitely try and book our flight earlier in our trip in case we run into any weather issues, another great tip!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Straitlover
I just saw them on Groupon recently; might still be on it. Be sure to check to save some $$.
I think I have some pics on my FB still . . . I will share them and tag you so you can see!
LOL! Thanks, Sarah! I loved all the pics! It looks like so much fun! I can't wait to do this!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Straitlover
I just checked, and it's not on Groupon right now. Keep checking, though. i know I've seen it on there several times before.
I checked as well and didn't see it but I've been going to Groupon and checking daily! I have 80-something days till my trip so I'm sure something will pop up between now and then. I think in my past travel documents from Disney there was usually a Sammy Duvall coupon.... I just have never paid much attention to it before or know if its any better than what they offer on Groupon. Thanks again, Lisa!
LOL! Thanks, Sarah! I loved all the pics! It looks like so much fun! I can't wait to do this!!!
I checked as well and didn't see it but I've been going to Groupon and checking daily! I have 80-something days till my trip so I'm sure something will pop up between now and then. I think in my past travel documents from Disney there was usually a Sammy Duvall coupon.... I just have never paid much attention to it before or know if its any better than what they offer on Groupon. Thanks again, Lisa!
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We've done it multiple times. We've gone singularly and tandem. Goes up pretty high, and you can see quite a bit!
For me, I'm not sure it's totally worth it. I get bored easily and after the initial thrill, it was fairly blah. I sing to myself, swing my legs around, imagine what would happen if I undid the emergency release (no-I didn't and I'm not that stupid), make up stories about the people in the cars I can see, time the rides I can see, etc.
If you've never done it, it's worth the $$ for the experience. I would suggest taking a camera.