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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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.
I'm looking for suggestions for a late arrival evening (8:30-9:30 ish) dessert option. I'm having a terrible time getting Beaches and Cream, so I'm thinking maybe a QS is our best option?
It will be me and my 10 year old son. The goal is to have a treat and feel "on property" (we are staying off-property).
Suggestions? I'm considering a dessert only ressie for Kona, but am open to other suggestions. High theming or a great view is a plus!
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
You don't need ressies for dessert at the Poly. The walk up sushi bar does desserts and you can get the bread pudding from Ohana if you'd like. They have a bar table that runs along the windows and you can watch the monorail go by.
There are many dessert places at Disney Springs. The Amorette's Patisserie is delicious, but doesn't offer a good view. I know these are not quick service, but the Boathouse and Paddlefish "bar" are walk ups. Planet Hollywood has crazy milkshakes. The boathouse has a giant smores baked alaska. It feeds about 8 people, but if you want something unique, it's very impressive (and expensive). You can sit out at the Dockside bar out behind the restaurant. No ressies needed. They have tables right along the lake. Paddlefish has a rooftop "bar" They have really good key lime pie and other desserts. You can watch the rainforest cafe volcano go off, watch the amphibicars drive around and if MK has fireworks at 9 - you can see them in the distance. They have live music on the weekends. It's one of my favorite places to go now.
__________________
Michele
I'm living the dream 20 minutes from Disney! Next trip...tomorrow. Follow me on instagram at ShirtsByShell
Cheryl, I was wondering about take out from B&C. Is that really a thing? I might like that! HiddenMickey, I'm all about resort touring. This is a good option too. I was excited to hear in Michelle's post that there are multiple walk-up sweets options at the Poly. I love Dole Whip, but we now get it at a local froyo place, making it a little less magical. Michelle, thanks for your locals perspective. I never would have known about most of the Disney Springs options you mentioned. I'm guessing we will do the Springs with my S and BiL later in the week when we connect. Do you know if kids are allowed in the bar/lounges you mention?
Cheryl, I was wondering about take out from B&C. Is that really a thing? I might like that!
Well, we went down to get something from Beaches and Cream in January and took it back to our room, so yes, it's definitely a thing. The menu is a bit more limited - All Ears has details of what you can get as take-out.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Michelle, thanks for your locals perspective. I never would have known about most of the Disney Springs options you mentioned. I'm guessing we will do the Springs with my S and BiL later in the week when we connect. Do you know if kids are allowed in the bar/lounges you mention?
Kids are allowed everywhere. The boathouse outside bar doesn't have many tables to accommodate larger parties or more than 2 people. Paddlefish has long picnic style tables and couches. The "bar" is inside with a pass through to the outside. There is also seating inside.
__________________
Michele
I'm living the dream 20 minutes from Disney! Next trip...tomorrow. Follow me on instagram at ShirtsByShell
Mamajab and Ashli, I have no experience with Ample Hills, but this does sound very inviting!
Michelle, great to know. We will hit the Springs at least once, I imagine, so this is great to have in my pocket for the right moment.
Dot, ditto the above. I didn't know about the candy shop. DS is all about the candy.
Joanne, Sprinkles sure has a loyal fan base. They closed the one in Cali, I think. I never visited.
I ended up with a ressie for B & C for our last evening. It took me 2 weeks of daily checking, but eventually I got it. So, I think Ample Hills is going to wait for another time, since I know I'm eating junk in the Boardwalk area once on this short trip.
I might change my mind, but I think the winner is QS at the Poly. I'm a tikiphile, and though I won't be getting to the Grogg Grotto on this trip (10 year olds can't do a 2 hr wait, no matter how fun the cocktail menu is) I definitely want to see the Poly. I never went before the Lobby remodel, and I've only seen it while it was under construction. Who knows, maybe there will be a Trader Sam's miracle, too!
Thanks for all your input, folks. It's fun to Disney-dream!
Even if it's not this time, definitely try Ample Hills if you get the chance. Their ice creams are DELICIOUS. Their Ooey Gooey Buttercake ice cream is my favorite ice cream - not just at WDW, but anywhere!
__________________
MNSSHP 2015: DH (Bane), Me (Batgirl), Genie, and our friends
Okey dokey, Ashli. I'm thinking I might cancel B&C in the end, and just do Ample Hills, since we might not need another TS meal to end our vacation. Might be more fun to walk around and people watch.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
Linear Mode
