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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Your thoughts please! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/help.gif[/img]
I emailed Karen at Your Magical Journeys and got a quote for our trip next fall (2007). It was what I got off the Disney travel website.
I called AAA to get a comparison quote, and she said she'd get back to me by this afternoon. She wasn't sure if 2007 rates were out yet. (I'm sorry, but it's discouraging when I know more about the up-to-date Disney travel info than travel agents [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] ) When I asked her about applying later discounts, free dining, etc she said that was up to the Walt Disney Travel Co., not AAA and that she's never had anyone do this (apply the discounts).
Anyway, I just know that AAA will come back with an initial quote less than Karen's. But I like Karen, she's REALLY good about responding to my emails and is very knowledgable. Here's the problem. DH will see that AAA's quote is cheaper, and want to go with them since it's a sure thing, other than taking the chance that Karen will be able to find discounts for us later. What are your thoughts on discounts, using YMJ or Maureen vs AAA... [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/help.gif[/img]
Honestly, if you TRUST Karen then I'd go with her. That's what makes booking with a TA more of a plus. You need to know that the person will be attentive to your needs and be there for you when you want to make ADR's (or change your ADR's for the fourth time!!)
Essentially, even if it's more money with Karen, you'd be paying that extra for a bit of "peace of mind" that you might not get anywhere else.
I've been on both sides of the spectrum with TA's... I've had ones that have been GREAT and others where I knew more than they did... and I will tell you that the GREAT ones made the trip all that more amazing, simply because I knew that I could truly relax and enjoy every moment because ther was someone else who could do the worrying for me.
Hope this helps and I wish you luck with your choice! Have a blast on your trip!
A Vacation Specialist focusing on Disney will be on the look out for discounts and be on top of the latest news with Disney. While AAA may have the best deal now, you never know what specials maybe announced that might beat that price. You have to trust the person planning your trip.
Location: A Hop, Skip, & A Jump From Uncle Walt's Original Mouse House
Posts: 503
Post Thanks / Like
Likes (Given): 0
Likes (Received): 0
Thanks (Given): 0
Thanks (Received): 0
Pixie Dust (Given): 0
Pixie Dust (Received): 0
Re: what do you think the odds are?
Hi there Stephanie, I was at the same impass not too long ago. AAA gave a discount on the room, but I loved Diane at MouseEarVacations. I spoke to DH about it and we went with Diane because she knew a lot more and because it's like talking to someone who loved WDW as much as we do. We are so thrilled we went with Diane.
If you trust your agent go with her. The great thing about WDW travel agents is that they all seem to have the same love as we do and they understand what it takes to make our trips Magical [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
I hope this helps [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
update...
The nice (but a little squirrely) AAA lady called, and gave me her estimate. It's not that much lower than Karen's, so I think DH might go for using Karen. Pixies please!! If DH's in a good mood tonight I'll talk to him about it then. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
Was Karen aware of your AAA membership? I think maybe she can work with that as well if it is room only. I love Karen! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] She does all of my trips for me.
I have used AAA for all my vacations and they do apply the discounts that come out. I have saved alot of money doing this. However, I have a TA that I totally trust. I would be more than happy to give you his number.
I have used Your Magical Journeys on several occasions and can heartily recommend them. All of their agents are dependable, efficient, helpful and friendly. They're terrific at getting you the best possible deal as room discount codes get released. I saw substantial savings over room rack rates every time I used their services. And it's wonderful not having to watch yourself for the codes to come out.
I'd go with the one who you feel will give you the best deal - all around. It's worth a lot to feel "chillaxed". I hate feeling like I need to check behind people that I'm paying to give me a service! Good luck with DH! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Linear Mode
