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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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Hi All
I have a massive favour to ask......
DH and I are planning a weekend trip in January to celebrate my birthday and at the moment we are trying to choose between Chicago and Philadelphia!
I have been to Chicago in the summer before and really like it, but I am worried that both maybe a mistake in January (wish my birthday was another time of the year!) and which would be better.
I have no idea of the kinds of things there are to do in Philadelphia!
Thanks in advance for your help / ideas
Emma
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Chicago is expecting another snowstorm like last year. We received over 20+inches and they had to shut down Lake Shore Drive and most of the city with it. If it was any other month I'd say Chicago but this winter weather is just horrible.
Both cities are beautiful, but neither are the best choice for January. I was in Philadelphia in January 1996, which a lot of locals remember only too well for the appalling weather they had. We woke up one morning to more than two feet of snow, although the plus side was everything carried on as normal - that would never happen at home!
On that subject, it's worth thinking about us and how useless we are with snow and how you'd get to the airport in bad weather, as it did cause havoc last year, and despite the unseasonably mild temperatures we have had, the Met Office were forecasting a very tough and cold winter....
I would suggest Washington, DC. You have a much better chance of tolerable weather. You could also do something like South Carolina or Atlanta, Georgia, where the weather will be milder.
I love Austin, Texas and they have great winter weather-60's and clear. It also has a great music and restaurant scene.
Both Chicago and Philadelphia can be frigid and I wouldn't want to risk spending time at a closed airport.
Chicago is expecting another snowstorm like last year. We received over 20+inches and they had to shut down Lake Shore Drive and most of the city with it. If it was any other month I'd say Chicago but this winter weather is just horrible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Both cities are beautiful, but neither are the best choice for January. I was in Philadelphia in January 1996, which a lot of locals remember only too well for the appalling weather they had. We woke up one morning to more than two feet of snow, although the plus side was everything carried on as normal - that would never happen at home!
On that subject, it's worth thinking about us and how useless we are with snow and how you'd get to the airport in bad weather, as it did cause havoc last year, and despite the unseasonably mild temperatures we have had, the Met Office were forecasting a very tough and cold winter....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntermom
I would suggest Washington, DC. You have a much better chance of tolerable weather. You could also do something like South Carolina or Atlanta, Georgia, where the weather will be milder.
I love Austin, Texas and they have great winter weather-60's and clear. It also has a great music and restaurant scene.
Both Chicago and Philadelphia can be frigid and I wouldn't want to risk spending time at a closed airport.
Thanks all, it sounds as though it could be a bad idea, and that we might spend the weekend snowed in at the airport! We did visit Washington DC last September last September so wanted to try something new.
DH had a bit of a brain wave last night and has been looking at the Disneyland Paris website....it looks like 3 nights/4 days at Paris would be cheaper for us than hoping over the pond! I am seriously tempted, as I have never been to DLP - I know it is not a patch on WDW, but this year we are planning to visit WDW and Disneyland, so we could manage 3 Disney locations in one year
Thanks all, it sounds as though it could be a bad idea, and that we might spend the weekend snowed in at the airport! We did visit Washington DC last September last September so wanted to try something new.
DH had a bit of a brain wave last night and has been looking at the Disneyland Paris website....it looks like 3 nights/4 days at Paris would be cheaper for us than hoping over the pond! I am seriously tempted, as I have never been to DLP - I know it is not a patch on WDW, but this year we are planning to visit WDW and Disneyland, so we could manage 3 Disney locations in one year
Well, if it's going to be cheaper, then I say go for it! Usually the thing that puts us off is the cost. We often find it cheaper to go to the States than DLP.
If you haven't been, you should go. I say that every Disney fan should go to every Disney park, if you get the opportunity, as they all have something different to offer. You're going with the right level of expectation as well, knowing that it won't be a patch on WDW, so that's a good start.
My parents used to live in Philly and it was cooooooooooooooooooooold in the winter!! Too cold for me! I think DLP sounds like a really neat idea. I was going to suggest my town, Savannah, GA as an option too. We have quite mild Januarys usually and Savannah is a beautiful, historic city.
I can feel your pain about having a January bday and wishing it was another time of year. My bday is Jan 13. (I'm headed south this year though - to WDW. )
__________________
MNSSHP 2015: DH (Bane), Me (Batgirl), Genie, and our friends
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I'd take the train to DLP. Weather is very unpredictable on the East Coast in January, and that's an awfully long way to go for just a weekend!
Yeah I tend to agree with you! Mark just booked for 4 days / 3 nights (with no jet lag), I can't wait as we are travelling on my actual birthday!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Well, if it's going to be cheaper, then I say go for it! Usually the thing that puts us off is the cost. We often find it cheaper to go to the States than DLP.
If you haven't been, you should go. I say that every Disney fan should go to every Disney park, if you get the opportunity, as they all have something different to offer. You're going with the right level of expectation as well, knowing that it won't be a patch on WDW, so that's a good start.
I know what you mean! But January probably isn't the most desirable time to go to Paris, so it worked out to be only a couple of hundred pounds more than a weekend in Vienna!
Quote:
Originally Posted by jiwdurando
I live very close to Philly and Its FREEZING here in January, I def would suggest something else!
Thanks, I know that I really want to visit, but maybe one summer
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashli
My parents used to live in Philly and it was cooooooooooooooooooooold in the winter!! Too cold for me! I think DLP sounds like a really neat idea. I was going to suggest my town, Savannah, GA as an option too. We have quite mild Januarys usually and Savannah is a beautiful, historic city.
I can feel your pain about having a January bday and wishing it was another time of year. My bday is Jan 13. (I'm headed south this year though - to WDW. )
Savannah does sound like a good idea as somewhere milder in January - and your birthday is 1 day after mine
Hubby and I are planning a visit to Chicago in June. It's a somewhat strange trip because in the middle of the trip, we'll be heading south for a few days for my niece's graduation. They live across the river from St. Louis, so while we're flying in and out Chicago, we have to be down there for a few days too.
The plan is to fly to Chicago on Thursday and stay at least 1 night and catch a White Sox game. Then head to my sister's on Friday for the weekend graduation. Then about Tuesday, we're going to head back to Chicago to catch a Cubs game and then fly home again on Thursday.
Neither of us has ever been, so I am researching! We could do 2 separate hotels since it's almost like 2 separate trips. We don't want to break the bank, so we're definitely looking for under $150 per night (hope that's possible). Does anyone have any suggestions?
I am doing a lot of research - Trip Advisor, etc., but figured why not ask the travel folks at Passporter.
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I was in Philadelphia in January 1996, which a lot of locals remember only too well for the appalling weather they had. We woke up one morning to more than two feet of snow, although the plus side was everything carried on as normal - that would never happen at home! 
Usually the thing that puts us off is the cost. We often find it cheaper to go to the States than DLP. 
The Durando's
I think DLP sounds like a really neat idea. I was going to suggest my town, Savannah, GA as an option too. We have quite mild Januarys usually and Savannah is a beautiful, historic city.
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