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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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08-13-2006, 03:07 PM
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#1
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Community Rank: Traveler 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 225
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back pack?
This is my first trip to DW in about 20 years. I was 15 at last visit. I have never stayed on grounds. I am taking my soon to 5 year old DS. I am thinking that I will need a back pack. What is the feeling on this. If a back pack is a good idea what idems are a must have? I am thinking my DS an extra set of clothes (i hear there are a lot of places for children to get wet), hand wipes, map, gum, snack, and that is about all I can think of. Am I missing something? I have heard things like a flash lifht. Is that needed or just overpacking?
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08-13-2006, 03:16 PM
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#2
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Community Rank: Trekker 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mooresville, NC
Posts: 1,985
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Re: back pack?
I think a backpack or some sort of bag is a good idea. I would bring a small bottle of sunscreen if going in warm months. Snacks, juice boxes or a water bottle, camera, autograph book, pen, maybe a hat, wipes are a good idea. I stopped bringing extra clothes when my kids were that old. If you think he would enjoy the fountains at Donald's Boat what I would do is just use a swim trunks as shorts and bring an extra shirt and maybe a hand towel from the hotel to dry him off a little. After so many trips I tend to bring less than more because my bag really starts to get heavy after walking around with it all day. I wouldn't bother with a flashlight unless he has a real fear of dark places and even then it needs to be small as to not disturb the enjoyment of other guests who may not appreciate a bright light.
Hope that helps
Elise
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08-13-2006, 03:55 PM
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#3
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Living Seas wannabe
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 31,940
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Re: back pack?
I have my backpack and it has 2 pockets on the outside for holding water bottles - which is nice if you don't have a water bottle holder neck strap.
I keep my camera there during rides, sunglasses, baseball hat, blister shield for my feet, autograph book and pens for characters, and my poncho.
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08-13-2006, 04:09 PM
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#4
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Community Rank: Sightseer 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: upstate NY
Posts: 68
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Re: back pack?
I love having my backpack! (although this will be the first year without a stroller - I stored the backpack in the basket beneath the stroller - so I'll let you know how that goes! LOL). Anyway, I especially love the camelback attached to mine. We fill it up with ice in the morning and, as the day goes by, we have ice cold water. The vendors have been great about giving us extra ice when we slurp it all down during the day too.
The only downside is the minimal time it takes to go thru the security at each of the parks. I try to pack things in clear ziplock bags so that the security personnel can see exactly what is contained in any smaller bags within the backpack.
Also, even thought your son is 5, consider whether he will want a stroller. We used one for my DD until past age 6. That's alot of walking for those little feet. Bringing the stroller past typical "stroller age" was a godsend for us...where are you staying? If you're at the Contemporary, just stroll over the the MK. It's a nice walk and we ususally beat our friends waiting for the monorail!
Have a great trip!!
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08-13-2006, 05:03 PM
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#5
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Boise ID
Posts: 14,396
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Re: back pack?
carters_mom asked the same question last week. Lots of people responded, so you might want to check it out. Currently it's on page 3 of this section.
I carry a backpack, as it's easy to have everything right there. My DD is 7, but we still need some necessitites with us, and I like being able to put what we purchase in there as the day goes on. A nice feature is if you have one with pockets on the outside for water - very handy!!
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08-13-2006, 05:09 PM
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#6
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Community Rank: Trekker
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Posts: 1,906
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Re: back pack?
Most of the stuff we brought has been mentioned...I did bring my Passporter b/c of the amazing maps. And I brought a change of clothes for both the 3 yo and the 5 yo and both needed them on different occasions. And the 5 yo was totally whining to get a turn in his sister's stroller...we did rent one for him one evening at Epcot. Also brought cheap ponchos, though the day we stopped toting them is the day we had a cloudburst...sigh. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
You'll have a great time, your ds will LOVE it!!
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08-13-2006, 07:33 PM
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#7
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Community Rank: Explorer
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 10,722
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Re: back pack?
Since flashlights were specifically questioned --
I don't know that we've ever used a flashlight per se. But those spinny light up things... If you think your son will want one (after he sees "all the other kids" with them at the parks) -- buy one at the Disney store before your trip. It's worth carrying the weight in your backpack to save the price differential. It's also handy for wait times for night shows (Illuminations, fantasmic) and a distraction in scary dark rides (POTC, HM)
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