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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 are considering going the first week of Dec. We have been during the holiday season but have never stayed at an EPCOT resort. We are 3 adults and 2 have food allergies and there are specific TS restaurants we always have to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner so dining is not a factor. We do want to make sure that early buses come to either resort to make an early ADR at MK or AK. We really like the design of both so any info you can give to help us make our decision would be great. Thanks!
We've never been tempted by Boardwalk because people report that quite a lot of rooms are a loooooong walk from the boardwalk itself. Also, you must go to Boardwalk Bakery to get and refill your refillable mug if you use those. Another lengthy hike, possibly.
We like a relatively quiet resort so haven't considered BWI because there's so much activity along the Boardwalk. For those who want to be in the midst of all that, it could be just their thing. Not ours.
YC, on the other hand is one where we've considered staying. DBIL's family stayed there in August and loved it. They love Stormalong Bay and, now that their kids are young teens, had even more fun there. Plus, YC/BC are literally right out the back door (International Gateway) of Epcot. We were amazed at how close the BC end is to IG when we were at WDW recently.
Of course, turning left out of IG and walking across the bridge gets you to the Boardwalk and BWI fairly quickly, too.
Since you're looking for an Epcot area resort, I think either might work well depending on your tastes. YC is sedate and somewhat elegant, IMO, BWI much more lively and festive.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
I've stayed at BWI several times, and found it to be relatively quiet. My room overlooked the Boardwalk & the lake, and when the doors to the balcony were closed, you didn't hear anything below. Yes, the resort is huge and you can have a long walk to your room, but there are shortcuts you can take (Mousekeeping taught us that), or you can request a room closer to the elevators. I also loved the convenience of the BWI, right between Epcot & DHS. The boats to the parks are fun, and it's a nice walk to both parks. Only thing that was not fun was the bus to Disney Springs. It is shared by all the Epcot resorts (including the Swan/Dolphin), and BWI was the last stop. It was quicker to get off at the first Swalphin and walk next door. Personally, I love the activity of that resort area, so wherever you choose to stay should be fine. That being said, I would love to stay at the Yacht Club someday; I'd love to visit Stormalong Bay & see what all the "fuss" is about... Enjoy!
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I don't think you can go wrong with either. I've stayed at BW and would stay again in a heartbeat. Our room was beautiful. It overlooked the pool, was close to an elevator and didn't seem that long of a walk. I loved being close to Epcot and a quick boat ride from Disney Studios. I Would also stay at the YC. It's closer to Epcot which would be a plus for us and their pool is awesome. We did breakfast at Cape May Cafe and it was the best character interaction we've had.
We've never stayed at YC/BC, but BW is our favorite resort. It's true that there can be a long walk to your room, but the atmosphere there is perfect for our family. The resort grounds are beautiful and it's a lovely stroll along the boardwalk into International Gateway. The only gripe I truly have about the resort is that they share buses with other Epcot resorts (you'll have this issue at YC/BC too). Since lately we've been going in the more busier periods, we just use a car and drive ourselves. However in the slower seasons, it's annoying, but not usually a major issue.
We´ve stayed at BC and loved the resort and proximity to Epcot back entrance. SAB is a great pool complex and our daughter enjoyed it. DH and I we both took advantage to proximity to World Showcase and almost every afternoon/evening we enjoyed something from there. We visited YC and found it relaxing and quiet. Also we walked to BW and the only con DD found there is that she saw the pool and did not like the slider (found the clown a bit scary, but she was only 8 that time so maybe we give it a try in the future).
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I've stayed at both BWI and YC. I liked BWI better. The room was so quiet and comfortable (most quiet of any of the WDW hotels we've stayed in). I preferred the lobby area at BW too.
I didn't love Stormalong Bay as it we were there when it was cold and getting to the slide meant a lot of walking across cold cement, and the whirlpool section was always busy with people. At BW's pool, the slide is more convenient and longer, and I felt the bar area was more convenient as well.
Both have easy access to two parks and the BW area.
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It's all about which theming appeals to you. And amenities. BWI doesn't appeal much to me, so I stay at either YC or BC. My pref is YC. Love the SAB pool complex, and dining.
One of the things I don't like about BW is that to get any food or refill mug you have to go outside. There are no restaurants or CS inside resort. Not very convenient if it's pouring rain outside, and during our August trips rain is pretty frequent.
Bussing has vastly improved at the Epcot resorts. Now they don't all share (except for Disney Springs). BC & YC share for MK & AK.
It's all about which theming appeals to you. And amenities.
Yup, I heartily agree.
That's why I suggest people watch a YouTube video tour of the resort(s) they're considering. Seeing more of the interior than jusf the lobby and food service area as well as getting a video tour of a room can be a big factor in determining a resort's appeal for you.
On the other hand, if atmosphere where you're staying isn't important to you, then a comfy room with conveniently located pool, food court, etc. could be all you want. You might be satisfied with just about any resort whatever its looks.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Congrats! I think you'll enjoy it. Check out the pub next to Yachtsmen Steak House. We think it's a hidden jem. Great burgers, and other menu items.
In the mornings the bar off the lobby is a breakfast place, for continental breakfast items, and you can fill your mug with hot coffee or tea.
If you want hot breakfast walking over to Beach Club is fast. Mostly connected by inner hallway with a short part outside under a covered walk by Beaches & Cream.
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