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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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Can anyone give me advice on what to bring on a car ride that will last for about 12 hours? I could really use some advice. My daughter, 4, and godchild (boy), 7, have never been in the car for that long. We plan on plenty of rest stops and are bringing an ice chest with drinks and snacks. Looking for age-appropriate games and cheap, fun stuff for them to do on the way. I really want the trip to be fun and exciting for them and not too boring.
THanks for any advice you guys have,
I really appreciate it,
Sherry [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]
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Thanks, keep those ideas coming! These are all great ideas. The computer thing sounds good, I'm going to check and see if my husbands company computer can play movies! That is a great idea! That would help lots. Yep, we got leappad and I'm pretty sure he's got a gameboy, that's a super idea also. All of the advice was great. I'm even more excited, if that's possible!
thanks a bunch,
Sherry [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]
Magna Doodle boards, Crayola markers that only colors specific Crayola paper, Gameboys, books on tape/CD (like Harry Potter or similar), those invisi-text quiz books, Mad Libs...
Sherry, I can tell you what DS1 loves. Any of his favorite books, a personal tape player with headphones with tapes of his favorite music and also books on tape (there are a ton). I think too what would be great for them is the Colorwonder markers and books. The markers work on only Colorwonder paper so there is no marking on seats or anything. The other thing that might be a good idea is a small portable potty in case your in jam. I'm sure others will have some great ideas.
We also bought Emily a cheap walkman and some books on tape. This past trip I took my laptop that plays DVD's. I usually go to the dollar store and pick up some things and wrap them like activity books, coloring books, etc. Then when the kids are getting bored I let them pick out a present. Also we tend to leave at night so that most of the driving is done while the children are sleeping. We drive from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We usually dont clutter up the car with a cooler with drinks and snacks. We find that we stop enough at rest areas and gas stations to accomadate that. Also this gives the kids to have an opportunity to get out and pick what they feel like at that moment. Hmmmm, what else. OH at Walmart that have a thing for $5.oo that hooks over the back of the front seat to give the kids in back a place to set their drink. Pillows, dont forget a pillow or light blanket for napping.
Hope this helps.
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Re: car ride kid\'s stuff!
Now that we have a video player in the car, I don't have to think about this much anymore. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Does your godhchild have a gameboy or Leappad? Buy a couple new games for it, that should keep him plenty busy. Also, you could bring a box of legos or playmobil and let him do some building/pretend. My daughter (who is that age) really gets into the licence plate game...looking for all 50 licence plates on the road. I just give her a paper and pencil and we spend time looking out the window at all the cars we pass/or pass us.
Usborne Books (you can find them online)has some wonderful puzzle books that tell a story and each page is a different kind of puzzle (mazes, search for items, etc) that even a child who doesn't read might really enjoy. My kids started looking at these when they were about 4 years old (titles of some are Puzzle Jungle, Puzzle Mountain, Puzzle City, Puzzle Ocean, etc) I would highly recommend finding some of these. I've seen them in several bookstores/toystores that cater to children.
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My 5 year old DD liked playing with her Leap Pad and her Pixter. She also made about 50 drawings on the way down. We drove staight through on the way back (13 hours) and she was so tired she slept 2 hours at the start and 3 hours at the end. [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]
We have a factory installed video tape player in our Windstar and boy or boy is it's worth it's weight in gold. The one thing I wish, though, is that we had a portable one b/c you can take it into your hotel with you (or wherever you go) - you might look into the portbale video units - they're a lifesaver in the car! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I agree with all the suggestions. We've made a 24 hour trip to southern Florida many times. If you can buy or borrow a tv with video player, that is the best thing. We got one at Target for about $200.
I also keep a bag of little stuff that I give the kids when they get restless. Stickers are always good. Hand held games are great. There are some that little ones can play. Target has a good selection.
On our first trip I packed lots of food and drinks only to arrive at our destination with most of it still in the car. I'd pack a small amount of drinks and a few snacks, but really, you can pick up little snacks when you stop. The kids love to pick out something at a gas station or from a rest area vending machine. It's great fun for them (go figure).
Last year when we took a long car trip we got my son (then age 4) a View Master. When we stopped along the way he would get new reels for it. It gave him something to look forward to and kept him occupied too. We also made up a game to play called the food game. One person thinks of a food and tells everyone the color. The person who guesses the food gets to choose the next time.
One thing my 4yo loves is an oldie but a goodie. Colorforms! She can make up her own stories and the pieces all stick to the board. There are also dress up ones. Zany Brainy has a good selection.
We also love the license plate game and like to play the Alphabet game with signs. Although it can get a little competitive between my two oldest.
The I SPY book series can keep my 8 year old busy for hours. There are also a good selection of Disney books of the same type.
You may want to check with AAA. My local office rents the portable video and DVD players. We priced them at about $90 for 10 days. No deposit necessary for AAA PLUS members. I don't know about standard mrmbership fees, though.
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I agree with everyone's suggestions...especially the colorforms, and books on tape.
but, for my kids, reading books in the car is a problem...they get carsick [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] if they read in the car. (For some reason, the gamboy doesn't cause this problem - go figure! [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] )
You may want to check this out before you go. NOTHING will make the trip worse than car sick kids. This is why we drive at night...they don't get sick when they are sleeping.
Originally posted by denwol: but, for my kids, reading books in the car is a problem...they get carsick [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] if they read in the car.
<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">I was about to post the same thing. Another vote for the TV/VCR combo - my kids were quiet for hours at a time on our trip.
You also need to pack the right snacks - we took Goldfish crackers, pretzels, cut up veggies like carrots and celery, cheese sticks, that sort of thing. Don't let them eat a lot of sugary snacks when there's no way to let off all the energy!
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