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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I am thinking about trying to do MF this year. I most likely will go myself if I do go. This dont bother me too much because when I am at WDW with family I go off by myself at times any way. My first question is for those that have gone solo before to you feel alone while there...I don't know people from here all that well and such. I guess what I am asking is will I feel like the fifth wheel going and going to meets and such without knowing anyone and being by myself.
I see that there is an ordament exchange each year. Can someone tell me about this?? WHat park is it in, how it works and how do you get the ordaments to WDW, home, and to the exchange?
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I will be attending my 4th Mousefest (all solo). You won't feel like a fifth wheel : The minute you start wearing your Mousefest lanyard and nametag (definitely register!) you will find you are part of a great big celebration. You will make lots of new friends and have a ball.
The Ornament exchange has usually been near the Liberty bell. You bring an ornament to exchange in a bag (usually there are spare bags if you forget it). Everyone gets in a big circle and passes the bags until the leader shouts to stop. After making sure everyone got an ornament, you open your new one. This is usually followed by a group photo. (last year there were about 30-40 people).
Thank you for the information Mr. Don. Don't think I can talk my sister and nephews into going to MF with me. I just dont want to feel like the 5th wheel or anything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by duck addict
The Ornament exchange has usually been near the Liberty bell. You bring an ornament to exchange in a bag (usually there are spare bags if you forget it). Everyone gets in a big circle and passes the bags until the leader shouts to stop. After making sure everyone got an ornament, you open your new one. This is usually followed by a group photo. (last year there were about 30-40 people).
Oh that dose sound cool. I thought you had to do one for each person that was going to be there. Do you make them or buy them? What kind do people usealy exchange...a disney one, one from their state or do they make them??
I also did a solo trip, My first solo. I had a wonderful time. I never felt alone.
I had time to myself & time with all my Passporter friends. The perfect trip..
There are many meets to to go to, Actually more that you can even get to.
Choose some favorites & have a wonderful time.
I am going back again this year. My poor husband can't take vacation time in December.. Darn
Do register for Mousefest so you get your Mousefest lanyard & book Etc..
Deb
My poor husband can't take vacation time in December.. Darn
Thats funny I have some family members that are that way. They work retail so they cant take off that time of year and hate me for it. I have all of Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb and 1/2 of March off. Just looked at your "where you are from" and realized that you are almost in my cusins back yard. She lived in Euless. I get to spend next Jan with her there in TX.
Thank you for your information also. I think that I am really going to go the week of MF or some of it at least. If the rest of my family dont go so be it. Had one find out what I was thinking and said I was rude for thinking of going without him. But I am going to try. I have to go to the store and get another "unopenable" bank to save my money in becuase I have to crack the one I have now for the DEP on the room.
I really enjoy solo at MouseFest. You can choose moment to moment whether you want to do your own thing or join in on a meet. I choose meets by what interests me and also try to make all Passporter meets. I made friends from other forums just by the 'meets' that I chose. I met two ladies who are part of PP but don't post very often. We even meet up again on a future trip. I'm not very out going and get anxious at small talk but it's pretty easy to meet people during a meet. You have a focus like a ride or a hidden Mickey hunt, etc.
The ornament exchange is fun. You can make one if you're crafty, purchase one from home, or buy one at WDW. So it's just one ornament per person that participates.
I hope you can make it. I'll be there solo again and i wouldn't have it any other way. I really enjoy some alone time to indulge in my Disney nerdiness.
Tips: Keep posting and watching this area for meets - official and non-official
Register for MouseFest to get the official lanyard, pin, and book. You will feel left out without something to show that you are apart of the MouseFest event. IF you wear a PP pin, we'll find you.
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šOš ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
I really enjoy solo at MouseFest. You can choose moment to moment whether you want to do your own thing or join in on a meet. I choose meets by what interests me and also try to make all Passporter meets. I made friends from other forums just by the 'meets' that I chose. I met two ladies who are part of PP but don't post very often. We even meet up again on a future trip. I'm not very out going and get anxious at small talk but it's pretty easy to meet people during a meet. You have a focus like a ride or a hidden Mickey hunt, etc..
I know what you mean about find PP's all over. I have a family member that is a Disney nut like me and this past fall I found out that she is a member here on PP even though she don't post alot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minnie Lor
The ornament exchange is fun. You can make one if you're crafty, purchase one from home, or buy one at WDW. So it's just one ornament per person that participates.
When I get into Disney mode my mind gos 100000000000 miles a second. So if I do go I was already thinking of a home made ornament. It is good to know that I only have to do one. But knowing myself I will get carried away and make 100 of them. Have paper hung on my wall with some ideas already on some ideas that I am having about them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minnie Lor
I hope you can make it. I'll be there solo again and i wouldn't have it any other way. I really enjoy some alone time to indulge in my Disney nerdiness.
I am hoping that I will be able to do it. I am getting ready this week to do a room only and then I know I will have a room for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minnie Lor
Tips: Keep posting and watching this area for meets - official and non-official
Register for MouseFest to get the official lanyard, pin, and book. You will feel left out without something to show that you are apart of the MouseFest event. IF you wear a PP pin, we'll find you.
I will keep an eye out for all of that...thank you again!!