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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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at Magic Kingdom. I've always wanted to check it out and never have (and I've been 9 times!!!) because DH is not an early riser. This time we're going with a 7 year old. Do you think he will enjoy it? Is it worth getting up early for? Tell me what goes on and will it be packed? We will probably go on a Tuesday (8/12). TIA
This is a you tube video of the opening ceremony. I loved being there to see it in person. I have heard that there are some days where they do a shorter version....can anyone verify that? I really want my mom to see this in December.
There's plenty of different videos to pick from on you tube.
By the way, the ceremony runs at the official park opening time, if you arrive early for EMH there is just a normal park opening and then I assume the ceremony takes place an hour later. I missed it last year because we were already in the park enjoying Little One's Extra Magic Hour.
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Last edited by carters_mom; 02-09-2008 at 11:20 AM..
We made sure to be there for it on our first day. (Myself, Dh, Dd 9yrs & Ds 6 at the time). Waiting for it all to begin and then the train arrived and all the charaters and the family of the day got off. It was fun and exciting!
We were given Mickey shaped pixie dust to throw in the air when the Family of the Day officially open the park.
It really set the whole tone for the day!Everyone should do it at least once!!!
Oh my goodness - thanks for that disney fix Carters Mom!!!!!
So with that I will have to say that being there is so WORTH it!!!! We have visited the world several times and have been early enough to see the opening on 4 occassions - and all 4 I had happy tears (the sap in me - even had them watching the You tube video!!!) - we LOVE it!!!!
You should also try to catch the opening ceremony at Animal Kingdom!!!!
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I love the MK opening ceremony! It really sets the tone for the day. When they let you through into the area between the ticket gate and the train station most people don't know that there will be a show, so they head right to the archways under the station (it's roped off, so you can't enter the park yet). Just plant yourselves front and center in front of the floral display at the train station and you'll have a perfect view.
The opening ceremony at MK sets the tone for a Magical day! We always try to be there for the ceremony on our first full in WDW. My DD's pick up the Mickey confetti and tuck it into their pass holders to use on a scrapbook page later... it's a Magical start to a day in Magic Kingdom!
I had no idea when I went that there was an opening show, so we weren't in the best spot to see it or get pictures () but we saw a bit. The dancers were fun and seeing the character welcoming you into the Kingdom is the perfect way to start the day. You don't get much better than Mickey Mouse asking you to come into his home!
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You never know, you might find you enjoy going in the morning for a few hours, going back to the hotel for the middle of the day then going back in the afternoon/evening to finish out the day. I've never tried it but I've seen a few articles on it in different guide books saying it's the only way to go.
My tip would be to get to the park at least 15 minutes before opening (more like 20-25 if it's a high crowd day and you expect larger crowds.)
They will let you get through the turnstiles -- the best spot to stand is right in front of the train station, facing the Mickey face flowers on the "hill."
My son likes to collect some of the streamers and confetti that gets thrown at the end of the ceremony -- the CMs cleaning up will happily help you to some.
Tip #2, if Mickey's train doesn't leave the station immediately, it's a good idea to hot-foot it up into the station and hop aboard. It will generally get you right to Splash Mountain before the runners can make it there.
BTW, sometimes it's a woman leading the proceedings, sometimes it's the Mayor and sometimes it's the Fire Chief.
Also, they generally don't do a ceremony on EMH mornings (not before EMH or at regular park opening.) That's not to say that it doesn't sometimes happen, but don't count on it.
Eileen
I had a hard time getting up for the opening cermonies that we went to....but i'm glad that i did. It was great at the magic kingdom and it was a bit crowded but i had a great view and pics of the show! We saw the one at animal kingdom too and that was alot of fun but very packed as well. I think its very worth getting up early to see something different at the parks. We have a lot pics of it and it really gets you excited about going into the park for the day! Hope you get to go!
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Danny and I at Epcot 8/14/08
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Pixie Dust
Everyone should do it at least once!!! 
) but we saw a bit. The dancers were fun and seeing the character welcoming you into the Kingdom is the perfect way to start the day. You don't get much better than Mickey Mouse asking you to come into his home!
Michelle - with my step sisters!
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