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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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WOW! Our April trip is coming up fast! We are excited about visitng Florida again but this time as DVC members. We are staying at our home resort and also decided to stay 2 nights at OKW. We are not doing the parks this time. Instead we are taking it easy but we are interested in making a day at Discovery Cove. I know that unlimited admission to Seaworld in included in our DC admission. My question is has anyone done Discovery Cove? Also, has anyone had dinner with Shamu??? We will probably be visiting Seaworld in the evening and heard about dinning with Shamu. I wanted some feedback on this and if it is worth it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated for DC or seaworld. Thanks!!!
DH and I did Discovery Cove for our honeymoon and all I can say is WOW!!! It was one of the most AMAZING experiences I've ever had. We are hoping that this is still around in 14-15 years because when we have a child and they turm 13, we want to take our child. It is VERY worth it!!!
We've been to Discovery Cove twice now - both on cold days (typical! ) and both times has been great. The first time wasn't long after it opened and, since then, they've ironed out a lot of the issues and it's much, much better. I can thoroughly recommend it.
The kids and I have been to Discovery Cove twice and loved it. We will definitiely go again. Everything is taken care of. All you have to do is show up. It is a lovely relaxing day. The first time we went was in March soon after it opened. The next time was this summer. The crowd was larger and I saw lots of sunburns this time. Don't miss the birds! As you glide through a lazy river you can stop off and visit several aviaries and feed the birds.
I would recommend both. At Sea World, the dine with Shamu is wonderful. I would highly recommend you make reservations now! It is, IMO, the only decent option for food at SW; I've never been impressed, until Dine with Shamu. And it is popular. You can make reservations online. You are up close to the whales and can get great pictures. The buffet is good as well, with many choices and special kid choices. (But everybody can eat any of the food) And dessert and unlimited drinks and adult beverages (only one kind, but not sure if I can say it remember who used to own the park!)
Discovery Cove is truly a special park; once again, I would recommend doing reservations now. They do limit the number of people each day. And there is a discount for booking early, but I am not sure the rules on it.
Good Luck
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Both are wonderful parks and great experiences. D.C. does limit the number of people admitted to the park daily. It's around 800 or so for advance resos with a few walk ups allowed. We never felt crowded or hurried around. Remember that all you need to show up with is your swimsuit, they have everything else there including the sunscreen which is a Panama Jack formula that is o.k. with the sea life. At least is was Panama Jack when we were there. The buffet lunch was good and there is snack bar by the warm water lagoon to buy snacks and drinks at. If you're doing the dolphin swim, be ready to buck up some for the pictures or video. You're not allowed to take your own camera. They want you focus on your experience, not your pictures and if you drop your camera into the water, it's a goner and potentially harmful to the dolphins. We did the dinner with Shamu and while it was enjoyable, we thought the buffet was just o.k. It's been a few years since we did so maybe they've made some changes. The presentation/show with the whale was good and you were able to meet the trainer and ask a couple of questions as you left which was nice. We really love both of these parks. It's less hustle and bustle than WDW. Enjoy your trip.
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) and both times has been great. The first time wasn't long after it opened and, since then, they've ironed out a lot of the issues and it's much, much better. I can thoroughly recommend it. 
remember who used to own the park!)
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