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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 no business starting a TR, seeing as how I have a woefully neglected TR about my Canada trip in the Globetrotting forum. I promise to finish that one, but I'm so excited that I'm leaving for Disneyland in two days, that I just have to start a PTR! It's going to be a short PTR, because I have to finish up my laundry and packing!
Who:
Me, Pam, 48 - 3rd trip to DLR
DH, Dan, 48 - 2nd trip to DLR
DS, Brian, 20 - 1st trip to DLR (and 1st trip to California)
DD, Amy, 15 - 1st trip to DLR (and 1st trip to California)
When: August 8 - August 16
Where: Disneyland, LA, Hollywood, etc.
Why: Because we've been to WDW many times, but we haven't been to DLR in many, many years (and the kids haven't been at all)
It's been almost 25 years since I've been to Disneyland and I'm so excited to be going back! A little backstory... I moved to Santa Barbara, CA for work for 6 months in 1990. My DBF (now DH) drove cross country with me, and we ended our trip at Disneyland. I remember that we stayed in a hotel directly across Harbor Blvd. from the main entrance, but I have absolutely no idea which hotel it was. We only spent one day in the park. It was July 1990, so looking back, it must have been very close to the 35th anniversary. Here are some pictures from that trip...
Of course, Disney's California Adventure didn't exist at the time, so that park will be new to all of us. I went to the park once in January 1991 with my mother and brother, when they flew out to California to visit me (and then my brother drove back to the east coast with me). To this day, my mother still complains about the music in IASW. I think she was scarred for life. Looking back, I can't believe I lived in California for 6 months and only went to DLR once. I want a do over!
So what are our plans? Well, we are staying in an awesome rental condo right across the street from the parking garage. $169/nt Aug 23-26*NEW*GVH4+3 bdrm+Across... - VRBO
The condo was just renovated in April, so it should be nice and fresh. The owners get all glowing reviews on VRBO and tripadvisor, so I think it will be great! We were originally going to stay at the Paradise Pier Hotel, but it was a lot more expensive for a lot less space. With the condo, my kids each get their own room, we have two bathrooms, and fridge, washer, dryer, etc.
We have 5 day park hoppers. We're planning on spending the first day in DL, the second day in DCA, and then we'll mix it up from there. We're also planning a beach/coastal drive day, and a day in LA/Hollywood. I wish we could stay longer... there's so much to do.
Our dining ressies are: Blue Bayou (Fantasmic dining package), Carthay Circle (World of Color dining package), Storyteller's Café, Carnation Café, and Surf's Up breakfast at the PCH Grill. We're also looking forward to trying In'n'Out Burger.
Well, that's it for now. I'll try to post a little more about our plans tomorrow. We have an 8:30 flight on Saturday morning, and I can't wait!!!
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That condo looks amazing, do please let us know how it works out for you and if it is as lovely as it looks! Something like this would suit us the next time we go, as we are thinking of taking my sister with us next time - she has never been to Disneyland and we think she would LOVE it. I was going to get us two hotel rooms, but your way works out cheaper, I think, plus you have the convenience of the washer/dryer, kitchen etc.
Have a GREAT trip!
__________________
Silvercat
(Enjoy reading trip reports? Why not try my books, "Tiggerific Travels Parts 1, 2, 3 & the new volume 4" - available now as e-books)
Yay!!! As you know, we are staying at an identical unit on the north end of the complex in December, so I'm really eager to hear about your experience with the condo.
You've got all the classic ADRs planned, and your kids are THE BEST age to take to the parks, IMO! You can send them home without you or leave them there late if you get sleepy. They have tons of energy and can tolerate longer sit-down meals. They are old enough to really appreciate you spending some money on them and will know what that means, too. (My first trip to WDW was at age 21, with my mom and my sis, age 19. It was GREAT.)
Look forward to hearing about your trip, so don't leave me hanging!!!
Sounds like a great trip and looking forward to hear about more of your plans! A nice deal on the condo and some good ADRs already!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Just found this! So looks like you're already there! Hope you're all having a fantastic time.
And I'm about you trying In 'n Out!! That may be what I miss most about living in LA (after DL, of course!). Hope you had a double double, and fries. And a chocolate shake.
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Great start! I'll be fascinated to see what you make of your first visit to the California Adventure.
Thanks! We LOVED California Adventure! I'll rave about it in the TR.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Sounds like a great trip, Pam! That condo looks wonderful, and you can't beat the location.
Thanks, Laurie! The condo was great!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silvercat
That condo looks amazing, do please let us know how it works out for you and if it is as lovely as it looks! Something like this would suit us the next time we go, as we are thinking of taking my sister with us next time - she has never been to Disneyland and we think she would LOVE it. I was going to get us two hotel rooms, but your way works out cheaper, I think, plus you have the convenience of the washer/dryer, kitchen etc.
Have a GREAT trip!
The condo was great and worked well! The walk to the park gates was about 15 minutes, depending on how fast you walk. Not bad in the morning, but a little tiring after a long day on your feet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KimmyAnn1147
Yay!!! As you know, we are staying at an identical unit on the north end of the complex in December, so I'm really eager to hear about your experience with the condo.
You've got all the classic ADRs planned, and your kids are THE BEST age to take to the parks, IMO! You can send them home without you or leave them there late if you get sleepy. They have tons of energy and can tolerate longer sit-down meals. They are old enough to really appreciate you spending some money on them and will know what that means, too. (My first trip to WDW was at age 21, with my mom and my sis, age 19. It was GREAT.)
Look forward to hearing about your trip, so don't leave me hanging!!!
Thanks! The condo was great! I'll expand on the pros and cons in the TR, but we really liked it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindawdw
Safe Travels and have a magical time! I haven't been back to California Adventure since 2005 so I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
We loved it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Sounds like a great trip and looking forward to hear about more of your plans! A nice deal on the condo and some good ADRs already!
Thanks! We definitely enjoyed all of our ADRs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by belle0517
Great start!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Just found this! So looks like you're already there! Hope you're all having a fantastic time.
And I'm about you trying In 'n Out!! That may be what I miss most about living in LA (after DL, of course!). Hope you had a double double, and fries. And a chocolate shake.
In-n-Out was great! I wish I'd seen your post about the chocolate shake, because I didn't have one. I guess I'll have to go back!
Well, we're back! I slept 10 hours last night and it felt great. We had a wonderful trip! I'll try and get my pictures organized quickly so I can get this TR rolling. A few notes...
I just loved how everything was so close together and walkable.
Disney hit a huge home run with the Paint the Night parade, Disneyland Forever fireworks, and new version of World of Color. (While not new, Fantasmic was also great!)
WiFi and cell phone reception in the parks are TERRIBLE! The new Disneyland App is useless because connectivity is so awful. I got a survey in my email today, and I will be complaining.
We had two celebrity encounters!
My number one tip for riding a lot of the headliners is single rider line! We used them to our advantage so much.
I can't wait to hear all about it and I am so excited about your reviews of Paint the Night and Disneyland Forever - I'm so looking forward to seeing those in particular.
Glad you had a great trip and looking fwd to the TR! I too, use the single rider lines and love them at WDW!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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I'll be fascinated to see what you make of your first visit to the California Adventure. 
about you trying In 'n Out!! That may be what I miss most about living in LA (after DL, of course!). Hope you had a double double, and fries. And a chocolate shake. 
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