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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We checked into our room today, and I have to say that I’m not a fan of the new design. I feel like I’ve checked into a nursing home. Not very welcoming AT ALL. I think I’d rather be in a Motel 6.
Unlike this blogger, I think the old-style photo seems colorful and cozy. The new look is stark and boring to me.
Plus, looks like there’d scarcely be adequate space for a larger person to get out of bed in the night between those two beds. If you stagger half-awake as I can, you might easily whack into the other bed.
I’ll be interested myself in hearing more from Joanne about the differences.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
We just stayed there last month and we've also stayed in the old rooms several times before and I don't understand the "nursing home" connection at all, but to each their own. I like the new room much bettter. It has a modern feel to it although the big round light on the wall could go. There is plenty of storage and the sliding door is very nice as well as the renovated bathroom/shower. The beds are also very comfortable.
This style (sleek, modern, very little color) is the hotel trend now. Even our room at the Ritz Carlton in Washington DC was like this (white linens, dark furniture, no real color). And this is the style that Disney has been using in all of their refurbishments for the last few years and will most likely continue doing it resort wide.
Personally, I like it but I know not everyone does. I would like a little subtle theming in the rooms, but it's not like I'll forget I'm at Disney World just because there aren't Disney characters all over my room. I much prefer a very functional hotel room with a lot of storage than an inferior layout/design with Mickey Mouse everywhere.
Personally, I like it but I know not everyone does. I would like a little subtle theming in the rooms, but it's not like I'll forget I'm at Disney World just because there aren't Disney characters all over my room. I much prefer a very functional hotel room with a lot of storage than an inferior layout/design with Mickey Mouse everywhere.
Totally agree. Although I love going to WDW, I don't need a room that screams Disney at me, nor a resort. I don't feel the need to be reminded 24/7 that I'm at WDW. That's why I would also like them to build a "normal" looking value resort.
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This new look has been the subject of opinions on both sides since the first renderings, and then photos, of the room design were released way back, what, a couple of years ago? As I’ve stated before, I won’t be staying in that room design. It isn’t JUST the decor, but that doesn’t help.
I’m sure WDW will fill the rooms with people who like them, people who don’t care one way or another, and people who either can’t or won’t shell out more for a resort upgrade. I will pay more for an upgrade, even if it means I must wait longer between visits.
I like it. As someone with allergies I am not sad at all to see the carpet and bed skirts and bed covers gone. They just collect dust/dirt/nastiness and are rarely cleaned appropriately. I also like that there are now queen beds and that for us (just a couple) the other bed can go away.
I'm back! Yes, the rooms at Pop are very stark. Everything is white except for one picture of Mickey over the bed and red polka dot curtains. It looks just like my DDad's room at the nursing home, without a call button. The floors are covered in a cheap laminate like flooring. The bed was very soft and we had lots of pillows for some reason. The room seems very small when you lower the second bed. And for storage, there are three drawers in a dresser and small shelves around the room. It seems odd that the room can hold 4 people, but there are only 3 drawers. The TV is huge. Really too big for that sized room. There are sliding doors to close off the bathroom and the tub area. Sounds great except you can hear those doors banging from every room around you along with the typical sonic disney flushes all day and night long. I didn't sleep through the night once while I was there. I used to love Pop Century, but with the new changes and the horrible bus service, I think next time I'll save my money for a resort upgrade or stay off-site.
I know I’m in the minority, but the size of the beds relative to the room is my number 1 complaint. I know those rooms are too small for queen beds, and this whole pull down bed is WDW’s way of trying to squeeze queens into a room that was really designed for fulls. I repeat, no thanks. These rooms are not for me.
BTW, last time we were there, the bus service was not great either, but I wouldn’t classify it as terrible, Sorry to hear yours was really bad, Joanne.
I like it. As someone with allergies I am not sad at all to see the carpet and bed skirts and bed covers gone. They just collect dust/dirt/nastiness and are rarely cleaned appropriately. I also like that there are now queen beds and that for us (just a couple) the other bed can go away.
And for a couple, I see the advantage, but we are mother and son, so not a great set up for us. Plus, as much as Disney caters to families at those value resorts, I just think this new furniture plan is poor.
Wow. That's bland. I've been in cheaper "funky" hotels that were furnished nicer. For the money, I wouldn't stay there. There are much nicer hotels in the area that aren't much more than that.
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Michele
I'm living the dream 20 minutes from Disney! Next trip...tomorrow. Follow me on instagram at ShirtsByShell
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the resort. I'm with you looks bland to me too. I think part of the Disney experience is the fun resort design. We've stayed at all levels..each had its own Magic!
I stayed there last year in one of the first sections to be completed. I am not a huge fan of the values, but I liked the new room. Tons of storage esp in the bathroom. More than in the Deluxe I’ve stayed in. I also liked the coffee service/fridge unit. Again, lots of storage. Bed is super comfy. I didn’t need the Murphy bed so there was plenty of space. Also liked the flooring. Way cleaner than carpet.
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