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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Peru in early November. Woo-hoo! We are just at the beginning stages of planning. We are considering doing part of the trip with a guided small tour group and the second part exploring on our own. The guided tour part would include hiking through the Andes for four days along the Inca Trail to see Machu Picchu. We possibly will be doing the guided tour for 7-8 days followed by our own adventure for another 2-4 days.
For all responses please keep in mind that money is tight!
First question:
We are considering using G.A.P. Adventures OR Intrepid Travel. Does anyone have any insight into either of these companies? Is one definitely superior to the other?
Second question:
What are your ideas on places to see and do in Peru?
Thank you for all your help. I'll be updating you all as decisions get made.
In surfing around the internet to gain some insight, I discovered a company that some have advocated called Llama Path. Add them to the list. Anyone have any insights?
As you might have noticed, I have been rather absent from the Passporter community. Life has taken over and I haven't been making the time. Part of the problem is it's been 5 years since I've been to a Disney park. I can't believe that! Where has the time flown by!?! The economy really has done a number on my finances and I really wouldn't be able to do this trip if it weren't for the incredible generosity of my bf in helping me out. I think I'm going to be paying this out in foot and back massages ad infinitum. So if you can stretch your mind back to the days when I was much more active in the Passporter community you would know that I ALWAYS do some kind of trip report. Part of the benefit of doing that is it is a way of preserving all of those wonderful memories. I will definitely be posting a trip report of some sort. If we end up doing planning on our own, I'll make a little report on how we did our plans. If we end up spending the whole time with a guided tour, then there won't be the need. Hopefully, all I will need to do is sing the praises of the travel company we choose.
P.S. I'm loving your signature photo. Chez as always has a great signature photo too. I just got a new digital camera so you can be sure I'll be taking oodles of pictures on the trip as well. It doesn't send out a lazer web to capture people like Chez's; but it should do swimmingly.
P.S. I'm loving your signature photo. Chez as always has a great signature photo too. I just got a new digital camera so you can be sure I'll be taking oodles of pictures on the trip as well. It doesn't send out a lazer web to capture people like Chez's; but it should do swimmingly.
I wish I had some useful information to give you, but just wanted to say I've always wanted to go to Peru and look forward to your report.
In 2006 at the F&WF I went to a special Peruvian dinner and entertainment event. It was spectacular. One of the performers was Cesar Vilalobos, who founded the group Inca Son. If you want some wonderful music to get you even more excited about your trip, check out his DVDs. He plays the panpipes so beautifully. Here's his website: Inca Son
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I'm going to call my upcoming adventure "From Snow to Jungles to a Cloud Forest"
After an incredible amount of deliberation and research, we decided to not go with a package tour. I am creating our own journey to suit our needs. The highlight and core of our journey will be a hiking adventure trek with the Llama Path company.
The Llama Path
This agency , based in Cusco, Peru, was begun in 2004 by a Peruvian-British partnership with the aim of providing tourists with an unforgettable service using native knowledge and local people.
They believe that their dynamic mix of indigenous and international awareness helps them to organize tours that give visitors a unique experience in Peru. They want you to take as much pleasure in this beautiful country as they do and due to their passion for the culture and people, they make this possible!
Their mission:
In organising all our tours, we incorporate the universal principle of tourism; protect the environment and benefit the local community and its culture. To this end, we have recruited trained local staff that know, understand, feel and respect the places and the people.
Conserving the environment
The beauty and diversity of Peru is awe-inspiring – we want to keep it that way…
On all our tours, we have a clean-up policy that must be respected by all our employees – ‘take out what you take in’
We use clean burning fuel to cook the meals on our treks
We ensure local water is kept clean by avoiding using pollutants in streams or springs
We limit deforestation - we do not make open fires and discourage others from doing so
We avoid acitivities which threaten wildlife or which may be potentially damaging to our natural environment
Helping the local community
Providing opportunities for local people is vital in ensuring that tourism benefits the community, improve life standards and give oportunities to people.
We employ local staff and pay them fair, legal wages
We ensure that our treatment of staff abides by legal requirements
We use locally-owned transportation and accommodation
Once we have made our deposit for the Adventure Trek and purchased our plane tickets, I will provide a complete descriptive itinerary of our trip. But in broad brush strokes we will be exploring Cusco (also spelled Cuzco), Lake Titicaca and the floating islands, Sacred Valley Tour, hiking through the Andes with Llama Path ultimately ending at Macchu Picchu and fun in the hustle and bustle of Lima.
Craig and I would love to have active individuals who are about embracing a new perspective and experiencing a different culture join us in our adventure. If you are interested, just let me know and I can fill you in on more details.
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Day 1: Travel Day. Depart Philadelphia for Lima, Peru with a layover in either Houston or Atlanta, depending on the flight I purchase. Sleep in Lima
Day 2: Lake Titicaca – Fly from Lima to Juliaca; transfer to Puno. Visit the unique Islas Flotantes, the floating islands of the Uros people. These islands were built using the buoyant totora reeds that grow abundantly in the shallows of Lake Titicaca. The lives of the Uros are interwoven with these reeds, which are partially edible and are also used to make their homes and boats and the crafts they churn out. Go shopping at the cooperative inside Casa del Corregidor for quality woolen and alpaca sweater, hat, gloves.
Day 3: Inka Express Bus – Tour the journey between Puno to Cuzco on a bus sporting panoramic windows and an English speaking guide.
Visit the Museo Litico Pucara which displays a selection of anthropomorphic monoliths from Pucara’s pre-Inca site, which was connected to the ancient Tiahuanaco culture.
Next stop is the Andean mountain pass of Abra la Raya, the highest point on the trip to Cuzco. Enjoy the view of the snowcapped mountains.
Visit the ruins of Raqchi. These are the remains of the Temple of Viracocha, which was once one of the holiest shrines in the Inca Empire. Twenty-two columns made of stone blocks helped support the largest-known Inca roof.
Buffet Lunch in Sicuani village
The last stop before Cuzco will be the Jesuit church at Andahuaylillas which is almost oppressive with its baroque embellishments. The church dates from the 17th century and houses many carvings and paintings including a canvas of the Immaculate Conception by Esteban Murillo.
Sleep in Cuzco
Day 4: Sacred Valley of the Incas – We join a Llama Path guided tour
Pisac – famous for its agricultural terracing which sweeps around the south and east flanks of the mountain in huge graceful curves. Topping the terraces is the ceremonial center with an Intihuatana (Hitching Post of the Sun), several working water channels, and well preserved temples. See hundreds of holes honeycombing a cliff wall. These are Inca tombs. Visit Pisac market.
Urubamba – Surrounded by beautiful countryside
Ollantaytambo – The inca ruins mark one of the few places where the Spanish conquistadors lost a major battle. Though a highly effective fortress it was as much a temple as a fort. Ollantaytambo is one of the best examples of Inca city planning, with narrow cobblestone streets that have been continuously inhabited since the 13th century.
Chinchero – This typical Andean village combines Incan ruins with a colonial church, some wonderful mountain views and a colorful Sunday market. Explore the massive Inca wall.
Day 5 - Llama Path 5 Day Adventure Trek
Mollepata - Soraypampa
We pick you up from your hotel and travel by bus* to Mollepata. A 3 hour walk will take us to Cruzpata where we will have lunch with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains (Humantay; 4120m/13500ft and Salkantay; 6271m/20575ft) – just the start! We will begin our trek towards Soraypamapa, our first campsite (4000m/12750ft; the highest and coldest campsite of the trip) taking in the beautiful landscape along the way.
Day 6 - Mighty Salkantay!!
We will have breakfast at around 5.30am and begin our walk to the highest pass on this trek (4650m/15200ft) located halfway between 2 huge mountains; Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. From the pass, the views of the 2 snow-capped mountains are incredible. There is a possibility of snow here.
After a rest, we will continue our walk (downhill) through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku (alos know as Huayracmachay), where we will have lunch. We hike again after lunch in the direction of the start of the jungle until we reach (in 3 hours+/-) our second campsite, Colcapampa (3000m/9800ft).Other possible campsite are Challway and Andenes (depends on the group pace/person's pace)
Day 7: Cloud Forest
After breakfast, at 6.30am, we start trekking for the day through the upper jungle crossing the Lluskamayo River and a variety of little brooks. Today we will pass through valleys and have wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits and plants. We will camp in La Playa (2500m/) with a warm climate. After a rest, we will (optionally) go to the hot springs and enjoy the well-deserved soothing water, a real treat after finishing the trek!
Day 8: Llactapata - Puente Ruinas (camp near Aguas Calientes town)
We will have breakfast at 6:30am and leave our campsite and head for Llactapata (3 hours of steady climbing) Llactapata is an incredible Inca fort from which we will see Machu Picchu! after some photos and rest we will continue walking dowhill (2 more hours) passing a variety of crop plantations, coca, banana etc. until we reach the hydroelectric station. At about 4pm, we will go by train to Puentes Ruinas (near Aguas Calientes town) where we will spend the night.
Optional: In Aguas Calientes, you can take advantage of the thermal springs in the town (entrance 10 soles or $3.50) I’m pretty sure by this time I will be dying to take advantage of this option!
Day 9: Machu Picchu!!!!!!
We will have breakfast at 5:00 am then catch the one of the first busses (05:30) to Machu Picchu (25-minute ride) in order to appreciate the magnificent city as the sun is rising.
A walking tour (approximately 2 hours) is given by your Guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. If you still have energy you can also climb Huayna Picchu (2720m/8890ft)!!! It takes 45 minutes to reach the top (this is an extra walk, please talk to your guide for arrangements to climb this mountain) .
You will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes (it can be reached by bus or on foot) for lunch and to be given your train tickets back to Cusco. The train usually leaves at 15.55 and we will arrive back in Cusco at about 20.20.
Day 10: Lima – Fly from Cuzco to Lima. Explore Lima. Definitely want to explore the dusty catacombs in the Monasterio de San Francisco. Self guided walking tour of Central Lima. Sleep in Lima
Day 11: Lima - Get a grip on Peru's multilayered heritage in the Museo de la Nacion. Peek at the erotic ceramics at Museo Rafael Lorco Herrera. La Catedral de Lima.
Flight departs at 11:30 pm. Overnight flight to US
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