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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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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Thom and I are toying with going to Las Vegas next August (as an early 40th birthday present for him - - he has always wanted to go). We are thinking of staying at The Venetian right now and will probably be there for 3 or 4 nights. Does anyone have any advice on things to do or places to go? Due to our limited time there, we have no plans to tour outside of Vegas - - probably more to enjoy the resort and perhaps catch a couple of shows.
Jill, we adored the Venetian when we stayed there last April, it's a beautiful resort and very romantic. It's a great choice. Do try to go on weekdays though, as you'll find the resorts are a lot cheaper on Sunday - Thursday nights than they are on Friday and Saturday nights.
As for things to do, I can thoroughly recommend the Cirque du Soleil shows, especially "O" at the Bellagio, it really was breahtaking. We happily spent a day just visiting all the hotels - the theming in them is amazing and it's definitely something I'd leave time for. There's plenty to do in Vegas, enough to keep you occupied for all the time you're there.
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Jill - I went to Las Vegas in June (that's my thread up there for suggestions) - you're going to have a fabulous time! We stayed at New York New York, which was so much fun and had a lot going on. The Venetian is really great, though - beautiful! I agree with Cheryl - take time out to explore all the big hotels, and see at least one show. We saw the "O" show as well, and I highly recommend it. I also recommend going during the week - not only is it cheaper, but we found it much less crowded on Wed - Friday than the weekend portion of our visit.
Have lots of fun! I hope to do a brief TR, but I hesitate to start it before I finish my Sept '06 Disney one. So it probably won't be done before your trip in August.
Vegas is a great place to go... My DW and I go every other year. There is so much to see and do, and you don't even have to gamble (unless you want too ). Our favorite place to stay is Mandalay Bay (they have the best pool area) . The Venetian is nice too (don't miss the canal ride, indoor is better). As for things to do: The Fountains at Bellagio are always beautiful, as are the Lobby and atrium inside as well. Paris of course has the Eiffel Tower. Caesars has the Forum Shops (a mall with some great restaurants). The Mirage has the Volcano and TI has the Sirens Show. Walk through the Wynn hotel as well, probably the most beautiful hotel there. You can also get a beautiful view of Vegas and surrounding area from the top of the Stratosphere. Walk through all the hotels, the different themes are great. scout out all the great restaurants as well. Our favorite shows are the cirque shows as well, they are all good. Also, the hottest ticket to get is at the Mirage. They have an impressionist, singer , comedian, etc named Danny Gans. Outside of Vegas nobody knows him. But there - he is a huge star and is fantastic! You must get tix ahead if you want to see him! Also go see any of the "dueling Piano" shows that are around town - they are great fun! Enjoy!!!!
I absolutely LOVE Las Vegas! We stayed at the Luxor hotel in 2005. This hotel is definitely worth checking out, even if you don't stay there. We had a room in the upper part of the pyramid with an awesome view over the Strip! The Blueman Group has a permanent show at the Luxor, too (at least they did 2 years ago, not sure if they still do). It's supposed to be really good. I haven't seen it myself so far, though.
I second the suggestion to visit all the big hotels (Bellagio, New York New York, Ceasar's Palace and MGM in particular). The Venetian is the perfect choice for a romantic getaway . If you're into thrill rides, you should go to the Stratosphere Tower: There's a rollercoaster as well as a free-fall tower ON TOP of the tower!!! I absolutely regret that we didn't get a chance to go there during our stay. It's at the very end of the Strip, pretty far away from all the well-known Las Vegas hotels.
Oh, right, I almost forgot: I totally loved the M&M's World - a HUGE (read: 4-story) store solely dedicated to this chocolate treat. It's even got a "M&M's" movie theater on the forth floor! I spent over an hour in that store
Since you will be here in August keep in mind that it is very hot so try to plan indoor activities during the day. Make sure you spend some time at the Forum Shops at Ceasars it has some of the best shopping and people watching you can find in Vegas.
Walk the Strip at night after the sun goes down and it gets cooler (still over 100). "O" is my favorite show here but I have heard "Love" at the Mirage is just as good if you like the Beatles. If you really want to experience what Vegas is all about I suggest getting a table at a night club. It's very expensive but worth it. The one thing Vegas is good at is pampering you when you spend a lot of money. Trust me, you will feel like a movie star. Also, your gonna want to have dinner at a nice restaurant...we have lots. I would suggest Mix at Mandalay Bay, it has amazing view and the service is out of this world. For cheaper (not too many 99 cent buffets anymore) food I would suggest the Carnegie Deli in the Mirage. I have lived here for 8 years and worked on the strip for over 7 years. If you have anymore questions, let me know.
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2011 - Pop/B2B Disney Dream, 2009 - Port Orleans Riverside, 2008 - Disney Magic - 7 night Western, 2007 - Pop/Disney Magic - 7 night Eastern, 2005 - Pop Century/Disney Wonder/Grand Floridian (Concierge) ,2004 - Wilderness Lodge (Concierge), 2000 - Caribbean Beach Resort, 1995 - Polynesian, 1994 - Grand Floridian (Married in Disney World), 1983-1993 Four trips - off property
30+ Trips to Disneyland since 2002
Stayed at the MGM in Oct 03. When I return I want to see the Blue Man Group perform.
Just be ready as you walk up & down the strip to be barraged with the guys handing out "flyers" on escort availability, etc. Unfortunately that's the only thing that got on my nerves while there.....there were hundreds of them lined up and they would have a stack of flyers in their hands and "tap" the flyer with the other to get your attention.
actually alot of the people who do that are being banned and laws are being passed because we residents find it so offensive...i love most of the many freedoms my beloved hometown affords, but they take things kinda far by being sooooo PUSHY(kids SHOULD NOT be touring the strip if you dont want them seeing *adult* themed things, but thats the responsibility of the individual parents responsibility IMO)
i cant wait to be better, we usually go to the strip and dine and tour once or twice a month....i love living here....
__________________
Me & Josh, best friends
i just hate being here.
rock <<<<<me>>>>>hardplace
and as for the heat factor....in August (read: right now...hey i can serve as a perma weather girl! i have lived here for 21 years, i know the weather here like the back of my hand) it is slightly moist it rains about 5 days sporadically this month, and averages 100-105 degree F....it doesnt really feel that hot to me, but again, living here so long, i am used to it...when we were in FL 90 something but 90% humidity almost made me dehydrate
the positives of the heat here: even when its moist, you dont really sweat THAT much....water keeps you pretty cool, and there are LOTS of hotel entrances to pop into if you get a little warm...
__________________
Me & Josh, best friends
i just hate being here.
rock <<<<<me>>>>>hardplace
Just be ready as you walk up & down the strip to be barraged with the guys handing out "flyers" on escort availability, etc. Unfortunately that's the only thing that got on my nerves while there.....there were hundreds of them lined up and they would have a stack of flyers in their hands and "tap" the flyer with the other to get your attention.
I had completely forgotten about that. It was soooo annoying. They kept trying to get my DH2B's attention despite the fact that I was right there with him!
I had completely forgotten about that. It was soooo annoying. They kept trying to get my DH2B's attention despite the fact that I was right there with him!
i swear we are working hard to get rid of them! my hubby is up on all the laws....i know that there were some ordinances on the last ballot
__________________
Me & Josh, best friends
i just hate being here.
rock <<<<<me>>>>>hardplace
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I agree with Cheryl - take time out to explore all the big hotels, and see at least one show. We saw the "O" show as well, and I highly recommend it. I also recommend going during the week - not only is it cheaper, but we found it much less crowded on Wed - Friday than the weekend portion of our visit. 
So it probably won't be done before your trip in August.
). Our favorite place to stay is Mandalay Bay (they have the best pool area) . The Venetian is nice too (don't miss the canal ride, indoor is better). As for things to do: The Fountains at Bellagio are always beautiful, as are the Lobby and atrium inside as well. Paris of course has the Eiffel Tower. Caesars has the Forum Shops (a mall with some great restaurants). The Mirage has the Volcano and TI has the Sirens Show. Walk through the Wynn hotel as well, probably the most beautiful hotel there. You can also get a beautiful view of Vegas and surrounding area from the top of the Stratosphere. Walk through all the hotels, the different themes are great. scout out all the great restaurants as well.
Our favorite shows are the cirque shows as well, they are all good. Also, the hottest ticket to get is at the Mirage. They have an impressionist, singer , comedian, etc named Danny Gans. Outside of Vegas nobody knows him. But there - he is a huge star and is fantastic! You must get tix ahead if you want to see him! Also go see any of the "dueling Piano" shows that are around town - they are great fun! Enjoy!!!!
. If you're into thrill rides, you should go to the Stratosphere Tower: There's a rollercoaster as well as a free-fall tower ON TOP of the tower!!! I absolutely regret that we didn't get a chance to go there during our stay. It's at the very end of the Strip, pretty far away from all the well-known Las Vegas hotels. 
I had completely forgotten about that. It was soooo annoying. They kept trying to get my DH2B's attention despite the fact that I was right there with him! 
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