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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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05-12-2004, 09:31 PM
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#1
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Community Rank: Scout 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 4,488
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tom sawyers island
We have never done Tom Sawyers Island b/c it just seems like we run out of time. My son saw something on one of those Disney Travel Channel shows and it had Tom Sawyers Island featured in it. He thought it looked so neat and wants to do it next time. My question is whether or not Tom Sawyers Island is worth it? Thanks!
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05-12-2004, 09:57 PM
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#2
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Community Rank: Passenger 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 41
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Re: tom sawyers island
We love Tom Sawyer's island! While it is not as exciting as most attractions, it is a quiet break from the lines and crowds. It is great just to wander around, explore, and relax for a few minutes.
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05-12-2004, 11:17 PM
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#3
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Orlando, Fl
Posts: 5,517
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Re: tom sawyers island
Yes!!! As a child, I LOVED Tom Sawyer's Island. It was so much fun to run around the caves and the fort. We always grabbed a drink at Aunt Polly's and watched the ferry go by as well. It's a nice quiet break from the crowds and a ton of fun for the kids.
Kelly
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05-13-2004, 08:16 AM
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#4
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Community Rank: Trailblazer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Maine
Posts: 5,893
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Re: tom sawyers island
I think people tend to not bother because those keel boats aren't the most comfortable looking modes of transport, are they?
But it is wonderful. The caves. The rope bridges. The fort with the air guns and the checkers. The playground. The tilting rock see-saw thing (my girls favorite!)
Do not miss it.
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05-13-2004, 08:29 AM
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#5
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Community Rank: Trekker 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 1,852
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Re: tom sawyers island
It's my understanding that Tom Sawyer's Island will be closed for refurbishment May 24-June 7.
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05-13-2004, 08:50 AM
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#6
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Community Rank: Adventurer 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Posts: 931
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Re: tom sawyers island
Tom Sawyer Island is the most "un-Disney" thing at MK. I mean that in a good way. It's the only attraction that Disney doesn't herd you through a line and drop you at a gift shop. You relax and spend as much time there as you want, get a refreshment. Quite out of character for this park, but wonderful!
Anne
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05-13-2004, 09:40 AM
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#7
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Community Rank: Traveler 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 439
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Re: tom sawyers island
I wans't tkinking about doing it, bu I think I will! Thanks!  |
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05-13-2004, 10:24 AM
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#8
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chapel Hill, NC USA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 36,592
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Re: tom sawyers island
We've been on the island twice, usually forgetting to take the time to travel over there. The first time was when the kids were 4 and 6, they were terrified of the caves for some reason, but loved the barrel bridge, the fort, and the
tippy rock. We had lunch there then (not offered anymore) and spent a nice time "away" from the park. -HiddenMickey
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05-13-2004, 11:28 AM
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#9
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Community Rank: Sightseer 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bel Air, MD
Posts: 97
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Re: tom sawyers island
I always stop at TSI for a breather. It's alot more relaxed, less busy, and you can get some decent photo ops of the park, BTMRR, etc.
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05-13-2004, 01:39 PM
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#10
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Community Rank: Day-Tripper
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Iowa
Posts: 7
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Re: tom sawyers island
I was so disappointed yesterday when I found out it would be closed while we were there. It sounded like the perfect place to relax and catch your breath.
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05-13-2004, 02:48 PM
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#11
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Edmonton, KY
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 17,823
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Re: tom sawyers island
I think we're planning on venturing over to the island. We just always seem to walk by it. Such a shame!
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05-14-2004, 11:23 PM
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#12
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Community Rank: Adventurer
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 617
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Re: tom sawyers island
It's funny you mentioned TSI and never having been there...well, same w/me! In all my visits, I just never bothered for one reason or another. But this trip, I will definitely plan to check it out! My 10 year olds will get a kick out of it, especially the dark cave.
Lynne
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05-15-2004, 12:43 PM
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#13
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PassPorter Message Board Manager
 PassPorter Guide Author
Community Rank: Legend VIP 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285
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Re: tom sawyers island
We enjoyed it as a break from the crowds on our Christmas 2002 visit, as we'd done pretty much everything we wanted to do in MK by then. It's certainly worth doing once, as it's a lot of fun, especially for children.
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05-24-2004, 11:24 AM
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#14
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Arlington Heights, IL
Posts: 2,739
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Re: tom sawyers island
Lynne, I'm just like you. We have never taken the time to do TSI either, but even before reading all these great posts I had made up my mind that we are definitely going to take time to see it on our next trip in November. This trip is going to be devoted to doing things at WDW we've never done before (although of course we won't skip our tried & true old favorites!) 
Does anyone know if TSI is open during MVMCP? |
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05-24-2004, 08:11 PM
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#15
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Community Rank: Adventurer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 508
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Re: tom sawyers island
I agree with all of the yes votes. The caves are fun, (kind of like a maze), there is a playground area (not a typical one, but more of a fort), a real fort that is like a giant house, with rooms and look-outs above, the rope bridge, and just nice walking paths that are actually quite wooded. When you're there, it's hard to believe you're in the middle of MK! Unless they've put it back, the giant tip back and forth rock was removed a couple of years ago. Our DDs loved playing on it and the next year (2002?) we looked and looked and finally asked a cast member, who said it was gone. I hope it comes back! Yes, the ride over is crowded and if it's hot, a bit, well "close". But it's quick, and then you're in a cool, quiet place. We like Aunt Polly's too!
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