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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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For some reason, I waited until today to call for ADRs for our trip in June. The only places I really wanted were Boma and Crystal Palace. There was ONE open time for each during the 4 days we're going to be there - Crystal Palace for lunch at 2:40pm and Boma for dinner at 4:30pm (not on the same day).
What are the chances that if I call every day that I can get something at a more normal time? I promised my husband Boma, and my three year old son (his first trip) a meal with Pooh.
Am I completely screwed? Any suggestions of other places to try? We're staying at AKL, standard dining plan, from Monday (we get in at about noon) to Thursday (flight is at 2pm). We're not park hopping and don't plan to go to Epcot (it's our favorite park, but I don't think my son will enjoy it enough yet). He's kinda skittish and may not like character meals, but I'd like to try...
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Your not a bad mom !!! I would keep those ADR's, as you are keeping your promises. But I'd continue to call and check each day to see if something else opens up. :goodluck:
I think Elisa gave great advice. Things always open up as people change and move things around. Keep checking back and if it doesn't pan out before you go, it doesn't hurt to check while you are there as well.
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If you don't get the times changed before you leave, talk with the concierge desk and AKL--they may be able to help you out. We had the same problem last year and we were able to get a time changed doing that.
We like Kona Cafe, The Wave, Boma (which you got, yay) maybe try Ohana, that new restaurant in Kidani Village-since you'll be at AKL, 50's Prime Time or Sci Fi? Yak & Yeti, Tony's.
I used to worry about eating at normal times at WDW but then I tried off times and found that by eating at early dinners or late lunches I was riding the rides and seeing shows with less crowds as everyone else was busy eating during normal dining times and the lines diminished.
So keep trying for times you prefer but if you can't change times then look at less lines as a positive!
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i think those times are fine, actually, for the reasons amy states above, and just resting, planning, etc reasons. keep calling and also check concierge. it'll all be great!
Try O'hana, and if you go early for breakfast- right at 8:00, there will be tables available, even if you don't have an ADR - it will be no problem to just walk up - they will be able to seat you. I wasn't able to get an ADR for O'hana for my trip a couple weeks ago, it was fully booked, but every time I called the CM's told me that early in the morning they would have tables, it's a big place and that early there will be seats - I was afraid to trust it but just figured we'd eat at Kona if it didn't pan out - but they were right! We walked up to the podium at O'hana at 8:00 on a Tuesday morning and got right in, no wait at all, the place didn't fill up until we left at 9:00, and it was well worth the trip!
Keep trying for times you like better, even up until that day. Someone who is there might change their plans.
As for other suggestions, my kids really like breakfast at Tusker House and Ohana. The Plaza is a good choice for lunch or dinner in the MK. You could call & ask the CM what is available in & near the parks you plan to be in each day.
iamgrumpy says it right! Off-time eating is actually a good thing! The latest lunch time or earliest dinner time also allows you to be inside in the hottest part of the day when you need A/C the most. We also find that the servers are MUCH more available to you - sometimes even just staying and chatting because they are not busy at all. What you have is not a bad thing at all!
I am a compulsive planner but we also tend to book our trips very late. Last year, I booked well inside of the 90 mark and STILL waited to do my ADRs. I felt horrible.
On the very bright side - BOMA at 4:30 is better than BOMA at 9:00! We got 9 and by the time we were done, transportation back to our place was not possible and had to take a cab.
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You are not a bad Mommy. Try to get better times but I don't think those are bad - just plan your day around those times.
If Epcot is your favorite park I think you should go. Even if it's only for a little while. To have happy kids you need to have happy parents. I think your son will like Epcot even if he doesn't understand it all. He can ride Figment, SE, the boat ride in Mexico, etc. And he can always sit in his stroller with a treat while you and your DH switch off on the bigger rides, or enjoy a FAB, or shop.
I would also try calling several times a week until you leave to get the meals
you want. Since you don't have park hoppers I would look at resort eating
and DTD. O'hana and Kona are great as is GF Cafe and several restaurants
on the Boardwalk.
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Things always open up as people change and move things around. Keep checking back and if it doesn't pan out before you go, it doesn't hurt to check while you are there as well.
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