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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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What was it like? When was it/how old were you? I was reminded of mine when I replied to the "What Do You Look Forward to Most?" thread.
I was 26 and it was a Christmas gift from DH. He gave me a package on Christmas Eve at my parents' house with a stuffed DCL boat with mini-Mickey, Minnie, Donald & Goofy sitting on top. The box was filled with brochures, the video, our itinerary and a guidebook. I looked at the itinerary and realized we were leaving in SEVEN days for a land/sea. We left at about 6:30am New Year's Eve and when we arrived I was sick. I pushed through and we went to MGM for the evening. The next days were almost a blur of a wonderful vacation both at the World and on the Wonder except for one moment. We were standing on Main Street watching Wishes and I started to cry. I had been waiting for this moment for so many years and it was finally here. When Steve noticed I was crying he put his arm around me and squeezed.
Now when I go I try to take in every moment, sight, smell and emotion on Main Street. Cinderella Castle holds a dear place in my heart because of that moment.
My parents took me and my brother for my 18th birthday to the opening of Epcot. I'd grown up in Germany and moved to the States when I was 12, but WDW was not a priority. We were allowed to choose a destination for a birthday trip and I knew Epcot would get me the "yes" answer...FINALLY!
My favorite memory from that trip (aside from LOVING Epcot):
DB asked me to go on Space Mtn and I said no way. He bugged me and called me chicken and I finally said, "Fine, I'll go if Daddy goes." Without missing a beat, my Army officer, straight-laced father said, "Let's go!". WHAT?!?! Who are you and what have you done with my father??? So, we stand in line with all the signs that tell you why you shouldn't ride. Suddenly, I get a pain in my back, have a heart condition, etc. When we get to the loading area, I turn to my dad and said, "Would you believe I'm pregnant???" He just rolled his eyes and told me to get onboard. Sheesh. I wound up loving Space Mountain, BTW!
My first trip was in 1973, I think. Since I was born in '71, I don't really remember much about it. My parents, my aunt and uncle and cousin all went to Florida for some free trip associated with a time share thing (yes, they had those even back then!), and we went to WDW for a day. I have a very vague memory of ducking in the castle while it was pouring down rain! My parents always said a strong storm blew up while we were there. My dad passed away last month, and I got all the home movies from his house after the funeral. I can't wait to have them transferred over to DVD so I can see the footage from that trip.
I first went to Disney with my parents when I was just eight and have very few recollections of it, although I do remember meeting Mickey very clearly. We spent two days in the Magic Kingdom, which of course was the only park then.
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My first trip to DW will be December 7-17. I'll be 35 although since my birthday is December 20 I'm considering this trip my birthday present to myself.
My first trip I was around 7 and I remember the Contemporary Resort, the monorail, and a Mary Poppins topiary. The Poly was the only other resort there and the MK was the only park. I went again at 16 and spent the whole time in the Castle waiting for them to finish so we could go back to the hotel pool. I took my DD to DL when she was 6 and fell in love with all things Disney. The look on her face was just priceless. I finally got to take my DD6 and DS8 and my DH for the first time last year and the fever is worse. Now we are all disney fanatics and can't wait to go back.
My first trip was June 4-8, 1995 and was my honeymoon! Not only was I madly in love with DH (and still am) but also fell in love with The Grand Floridian and everything Disney!!! We have made 7 trips to Disney World since then and are going on our 8th this August. We like to think of Disney as "our place" (LOL) and it has been wonderful introducing DD to Disney too!
Our first trip to Orlando was in July 1990 on our honeymoon. We didn't stay onsite, but at the Comfort Suites in Kissimmee. We then made three more offsite trips until last year when we stayed at the POR and AKL. We've never looked back.
I can't remember - probably late 70s, since I was born in 71 and my sister in 74. All I know is, it has been my favorite place for as long as I can remember, and I know it probably always will be!
1975, I was 2yo, and I don't remember a thing. We went again, the next year, and I don't remember that one at all either LOL. The first trip I remember a little of was when I was 7 (1980). I know we stayed offsite, and the only thing I remember is drinking juice out of a plastic orange bought in adventureland, I remember 20,000 leagues under the sea, and HDDR. I also remember walking through Space Mountain, and deciding I wouldn't go on at the last minute-- so I walked out the chicken exit with my grandmother while everyone else went on (she walked in with us because everyone had a feeling I'd chicken out). That's all I remember.
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Dina
Last edited by Happymommy; 06-20-2007 at 12:01 PM..
We took a lot of day trips to the MK when I was a kid. I remember going with my Borwnie troop and most of us ducking out of Space Mountain after being in line the whole time! We went to Epcot the first month it was opened. These were great times, but none compare to the first time I took my own family, in Aug. 2004. My DD was four and just took everything in with wonder. Of course, the pool at WL is what she remembers most. My DS was four months old and was a complete angel most of the trip. My littlest DS was not with us yet. My DH had not been since he was 3 years old and so eveything was new to him as well. I love looking at pics from that trip!!!! Thanks for this post. It brings back great memories.
1979, I was almost 5 years old. I only remember the plane ride, the rental car place, and the sticky syrup on the tables at breakfast at the Poly. My dad says he only paid $79/nite for the Poly back then!! We went in September, and apparently we were there during a hurricane - or tropical storm - and my Mom made my older brothers go out in the storm to get her candy bars!!! Anyway, in 1983 we returned again, this time at the Contemporary. I remember this trip much better, and it was fantastic!
I have taken many other first timers - my DH, my niece, my former co-worker, my best friend, my own kids, and this last trip was with my in-laws. Next year will be with my brother's family. So it will be the first trip for his wife and kids (and 17 years since he has been there!). Each time with someone new, it's almost like going again for the first time!!
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Tanya
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In Dec., 1976 on my honeymoon. I was almost 29 and became a kid again immediately. The main thing I remember was how terribly cold it was. They had a major freeze and it was all over the papers about the unusual cold. We hadn't packed for that, so we had to dress in layers, starting with pj's on the bottom!
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He just rolled his eyes and told me to get onboard. Sheesh. I wound up loving Space Mountain, BTW!
I don't remember much, although I do remember the Bi-Centennial Parade (or parts of it) that they had that year 
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