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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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This is a LONG post...
I am in the process of planning a "partial-surprise" trip for my DH...
Here is the scenario:
We often vacation on/around my birthday (in May), as it is convenient to our work/school schedules. I have always wanted to do soemthing super special for my DH's birthday -- but since his birthday falls in April -- when he cannot have the time off/away, it is never a possibility. So.... this is what I am thinking.
He has an Aunt & Uncle who have a vacation home about 45 minutes outside Orlando. They have offered us the use of their home -- free of charge, anytime. I want to take them up on this. DH and I have discussed this, and he is a bit hesistant, as he is a "saver," not a "spender." I have told him about all the $ we would be saving with this great off-site offer, etc. He is "coming around," and is starting to think it sounds good.
Soooo...
We were thinking of driving down, as we would want our car there, and it would cut-back on $. So I thought we could drive down, spend the 1st nite at his Aunt/Uncle's place -- then we would move to a Disney-resort for a couple of nites, then move back to the home for the rest of the trip.
Since I cannot pull-off a "complete" surprise trip, I was thinking of ways I could "share" the Disney-resort plan with him. (This would be the surprise component) Here are my thoughts: I could place the confirmation letter in a birthday card for him -- and present it to him on his birthday -- kind of a "we will be celebrating in style, in a few weeks" sort of thing. Or I could not tell him about the Disney plan until the morning we are set to "move on-site," and wake him with the news. Or any other good ideas...
What do you think? This is the closest to a "surprise" I can probably do, due to the circumstances, etc. He will know we are going to visit WDW during the time down there, but he will not know about the on-site stay. I also thought I could throw in a couple of PS's for some of his fave. places.
Sorry this was sooo long, just looking for some ways to "share the news!" [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Michelle
I would definitely surprise him while you were at the vacation home. Waking him up the day you switch to the resort sounds like a wonderful surprise. I love the idea of a few of his favorite PS's too.
Let us know what you decide. You are going to have a great time which ever way you choose. Enjoy!
Michele,
Thanks for the response. I spoke with his Aunt & Uncle, so part 1 is in place, now I just need to speak with Jean, the Travel Agent, for part 2! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Michelle
I have emailed Jean -- and asked about POFQ and AKL (these are his two favorite resorts). Now the real dilemma -- can I keep quiet 'till then?!! I sure hope so, as he is going to be sooooo happy. I will keep y'all posted. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Michelle
Since you will have your car with you, would it be possible for you to sneak out on the morning you are going to check in at the Disney Resport, check in, and come back and present him with the room key. That would make it more of a fun surprise. You could go out for dougnuts and maybe get lost or stuck in traffic. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Elaine,
At POFQ, we were in 5306 -- which was a great location. We were right across from the pool and adjacent to the "main building." We were in an upper-level room, too. Here, I would also recommend a "corner room" -- which like the other moderates, gives you the feeling of "more room" with the extra window/light.
Janet,
Very sneaky idea... I like the way you think! But the reality is, I probably would get lost! Hee! Hee! I am not a very good navigator outside of my element. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Michelle
I can probably get you precise directions to the resort if you decide to follow thru in picking up the resort key and returning to surprise Mark. As it gets closer and you are more clear on your plan let me know.
Michelle -- what a great idea!! I love Janet's idea of checking in and then going back to surprise him. You could wrap the room key and resort info (map, newsletter, whatever). That would be so much fun!
Can't wait to hear how this one goes. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Elaine,
Thanks for the offer re: directions. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Sandy,
This is the 1st time I have ever attempted to pull off any kind of "surprise" -- so I will let you know how it all plays out. So far, he does not suspect anything other than a week "off-site" that will "save" us some $! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Little does he know....
Michelle
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