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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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12-05-2013, 09:40 PM
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#1
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PassPorter Guide
 Community Rank: Globetrotter 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,041
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Feature Article: When to Splurge and When to Save at Walt Disney World - A Walt Disney World Review
When to Splurge and When to Save at Walt Disney World - A Walt Disney World Review
by Sydney Dean
Everyone wants to visit Walt Disney World as a big spender and experience all the things money can buy.
But sometimes that is not reasonable for families. There are some big ways that you can "splurge" without breaking the bank. The less expensive experiences are very similar to some more expensive options, and when given the chance, my kids often prefer the cheaper options. The face painting found throughout the parks is a definite place to splurge. The quality of the experience and the product is very good for the $10-15 dollar cost. It doesn't take long and is a relatively inexpensive treat for your princess, fairy, superhero, pirate, or animal lover. The face paint is durable and comfortable even on hot days. And the new look makes character picture taking a unique experience.
Save your many pennies and skip the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. The quality of the experience largely depends on the cast members serving that day. Personally, I don't care for the look of the makeover. The girls don't end up looking much like princesses to me. This is a cash drop of $40 to $200 that doesn't offer value for the expense. If your child wants to bring a costume and take a picture with a character -- it is free!
A good place to splurge is to find a special viewing for the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. You might choose to visit California Grill for a lovely dinner with a view. Or try the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Cruise, which is also a great experience for the money at $34 for children and $60 for adults. By using one of these options, you avoid the crowded departure of Magic Kingdom which completely ruins the magic of the fireworks for me. Be sure and plan this for your next trip. Avoid the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party. Again, reviews are mixed on this experience. At $12 for children and $22 for adults during regular season, this sounds like a good deal on the surface. However, the reports are that the desserts are in limited supply and the guests are allowed to stand in front of the tables at the rail. So your image of sitting and watching the fireworks while you eat is not what is happening. This experiences could cause more stress that it relieves and is a good place to skip in order to save money.
Splurge on ears or hats. Ears and hats are unique, cute and make inexpensive souvenirs. Some of them serve functional purpose like carrying sunglasses, shielding from the sun, or holding your hair back. Make absolutely sure the ears are comfortable for wearing so they will stay on heads for a majority of the trip. You will also find a ton of uses for them through out the year. Throw them on for a school report on Italy or to give out candy at Halloween.
Don't buy the Glow with the Show ears. Yes, I know I just said buy ears. The Glow with the Show ears are totally cute but not unique- they are all the same design. They have much more impact in a group or crowd than alone. Your family can have the same great experience watching all the other ears glow and sporting your unique ears that match your personality or make a statement.
As these are only my opinions, it is always best to do your own research on the experiences you might like to enjoy. Use PassPorter pictures, guidebooks, and boards to check on things that you haven't personally experienced. If I had taken my little girl to a certain godmother, I would have been heart broken with the outcome. Some people on the other hand, love the experience.
Be a smart vacationer. Don't fall into the trap of doing the thing that everyone else is doing. You might find that following the crowd leads you into paying too much money for the value of the experience. In general, look for the off the beaten path options. They will provide a much better value for your Disney vacation dollar.
Added to PassPorter's Article Collection on 12-03-2013 10:12 AM
What do you think? Please add your own comments, experiences, or news related to this article in this thread! Reader feedback is welcomed and encouraged.
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