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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 have our vacation scheduled for Dec of this year, but wew are seriously considering adjusting our plans. One of the biggest reasons is the fact I can get 3 round trip flights for $351.90 total.
While I really want to see the world in it's holiday finery, I have a feeling that DD school is going to give us a hassle about taking her out.
So I know it's hot, but how bad are the crowds around the 10th of August till around th 21st? I am not sure if school is in session yet for Fl, but I know it won't be in session yet for DD.
For those who have gone around this time how do you deal with the heat? I am just curious.
The Southern U.S. schools go back in session in mid-August, so the parks may still be a little on the crowded side for the first half of your trip. As far as coping with the heat, we typically head out to the parks as early as possible (opening time, whether EMH or normal) and then plan a hotel/pool break or sit-down meal for the middle part of the day, then head back to a park around dinner time to closing.
We went on our honeymoon toward the end of August and it was great. I would gladly book another trip at that time of year. We were able to walk right on to Space Mountain, and had very few waits for rides.
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Not to be all negative Nelly, but the time we went in August (which was exactly the same time you're looking at) was the most miserable trip to the 'World we've ever had. It's ridiculously hot - morning is very warm, afternoon is disgustingly sweaty, even by the pool, and evening is still sticky and not very comfortable. And crowded - well, let's just say it seems like EVERYONE and their mother has managed to save up for a Disney trip in August.
Also, I think the money you'll save by going during Value season in Dec. is going to equal the money you'll save on flights because you're staying during Regular season...right? (That made a lot of sense in my head )...unless you're actually going during the Holiday season (Dec.20-31)?
We've been in August many times. In fact I hope to go again this year. Yes, it will be hot but it's not that bad. Yes, it will rain but unless its a hurricane it doesn't last too long. We take advantage of the night EMH's, they're wonderful. The other reason we love it, is it is value season at the deluxes which really saves money.
Christmas season is beautiful at the World but if your really worried about your daughter and school go in August and enjoy your vacation. Happy planning no matter when you decide to go...
For me, heat and humidy doesn't bother us too much. This trip we are planning to focus on the stuff we normally don't do like DisneyQuest and the water parks. Price plays a role in it too.
We were there last year at that time, the 10th thru the 27th. The crowds at the beginning were very light. The free dining promo kicked in on the 14th or 15th, and there was a noticeable increase in crowds, but by no means overwhelming. I'd highly recommend that time of year, and we'll probably hit the parks that time again in the near future
It was hot though, but it can be hot here in CT that time of year as well. We drank LOTS of water and had ice cream breaks. We also started out early each day and went back after lunch for a long pool break and nap times. Then headed back out to the parks about 6 for the rest of the night. It was nice not having to lug around sweatshirts and pants. I think it's a great time of year to go
My closest friends have gone on consecutive trips in July and then August. They voted for July when we were planning our trip. While August was cheaper and they had free dining they did not recommend it. They felt like everyone had the idea that August would be more empty. And from what we have been told, they think hitting WDW in July is a better idea beacuse although also hot the weather was a bit less humid (not that humidity bothers us NYers all that much) and they had full days of rain. They also felt like this year because of the short return of the Pirate and Princess Party in August we would be better off for having chosen July because some people will come just for it. We went for July because of my work schedule but were planning on not taking there advice and going in August, if I had known about the Pirate and Princess return I would have winged it with work. LOL! Hope that helps some.
The Agugust heat is Florida can be pretty bad. The crowds are usually manageable with planning and patience. Many schools have started back and many are getting ready. A lot of the states have passed laws requiring that schools not start till after the 24th of August.
we normally go in October....
but our kids are getting older and missing school is becoming a bigger issue. So, we are thinking of the end of August as well.
We were there last year at the beginning of August. It is hot, very hot, but like others have said go early, take a midday break and head back at night. We also added a couple of extra days onto our trip, so if we needed more down time, we could still get alot done. We are planning on going in August next year, so I guess the heat didn't scare us away. I won't take my kids out of school anymore, so this is the time we have to go. Remember it's WDW, you will have a good time.
Until recently, the majority of our trips were in August because of a timeshare week. As a matter of fact, our very first trip to wdw was in August and I was eight months pregnant! After that first trip I figured I can handle August heat no matter what!
Just remember to mix-up the attractions (outdoor/indoor) and that way you'll have the air conditioning, take lots of drink breaks (there's nothing worse than dehydration at the parks!) and if you like swimming - go in the afternoon!
We have always gone in August with the exception of the last time, then we went in November. I LOVED November, however, because my girls are a little older (15 and 17) they had a very hard time catching back up at school even though we got homework ahead of time and took the vacation along with their Thanksgiving break. By adding on to the break, we only took them out of school for 7 days, and it was still very hard for them. The older they are, the harder it is because they cram so much stuff into one year now. I also liked going in August for a few reasons - parks are open later; most of the time all the rides are open (not down for rehab); and it gives the girls (and me!) something big to look forward to instead of dwelling on the fact that school is about to start. We are going back this August and it will be the first time that we will be able to stay on property - I'm so excited! Before, we stayed at my father's home which is two hours away. That meant that we left very early in the morning, spend all day in the parks, and then drive back late at night - it makes for a long day - fun, but long. I'm looking forward to being able to take a break mid-day, swim or hang around the air-conditioned room, change into dry clothes and go back at night. Hope you have a great time, no matter which time you go!