Thoughts, advice, suggestions, opinions needed please - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
Ok--we are going to wdw for our first time in September for 8 nights. (2 adults, 13dd and 6ds.) We have lots of ADR's and lots of plans. Most of those are ways we've decided to make magic as a family or for hte kids...but I got to thinking....
my wedding anniversary is at the end of July--the 31st actually. We will have been married for 16 years, and the last several have seen me loose my parents, us let go of our home, moving, financial upheavel, kid medical issues.... etc....and so I'm thinking that we've survived..and I'd like to truly celebrate us...but the only place I can see a vow renewel is through the wedding page and I don't have that much money to spend on something...and while I know he and I can go out to dinner or something...I want something more...I want something that says we've made it inspite of our difficulties, we're still together, blessed to be so and would do it all over again.
SO--I turn to you who have far more experience with Disney than I. Any ideas? Any suggestions?
First, I want to say Congratulations! It sounds like you have made it through a lot of really difficult life things with yourself, your marriage and your family intact, and that is nothing to sneeze at.
I don't have a lot of advice for you as far as vow renewals or ceremonies in Disney go, but you might look into something from Gifts of a Lifetime. Also, I must heavily advise getting the bride and groom ear hats while you're there. Anyone can get them, not just newlyweds. It's just a little extra to announce to the world that you are together, solid, and happy about it. (And you never know what kinds of little extras you will get.)
Congrats on your anniversary. There is also memoriesbybetsy.com that a lot of people use. I think you can order like some strawberries and choc. for your room. Dinner in the castle with the slipper dessert. Watching wishes from the beach.
If you're looking for a vow-renewal, there are tales of people having them in their room. WDW frowns on not using their service, though.
There are lots of places off-site that offer small renewal services.
Or, just know that you've made it this far and you're committed. Enjoy the time with your kids - they grow up and leave too soon.
And, I'd tell every place (resort, restaurants, etc.) that you're celebrating your anniversary. Don't have to tell them it was a month before.
Congratulations - and I hope you have a wonderful time! The first time is always the most memorable.
When we celebrated our 25th anniversary, I bought the Bridal Ears and Groom hat ears - and we wore them and we were silly - and we wore the anniversary button - (I wrote with a sharpie 25th)
it depends on how much you want to spend memoriesbybetsie is expensive but really special!
I order from disneyflorist.com - I called them and added (and subtracted!) stuff - I got DD a snack pak for $30 (I asked to have only sprite - non caffiene) and a Tropical floral arrangement (I think it lists for over $100 now, but I got one for $50)
IF you have the money Victoria and Alberts is exquisite - otherwise maybe California Grill - or Yachtsman's Steakhouse -
definately if you like champagne THE best champagne is the "red stuff" in Italy at Epcot - its Rosa Regale - if you buy it in the shop they give you a dark chocolate - its smooth bubbles, with a hint of berries in the smell and taste - not yeasty at all!! to buy a bottle its $19 (same price they sell it at our liquor store - I actually bought one in Fishers IN to share with MIL!)
Or, just know that you've made it this far and you're committed. Enjoy the time with your kids - they grow up and leave too soon.
And, I'd tell every place (resort, restaurants, etc.) that you're celebrating your anniversary. Don't have to tell them it was a month before.
Congratulations - and I hope you have a wonderful time! The first time is always the most memorable.
I think Teresa nailed it - just knowing that you made it as a couple, spending the time as a family would be the best! And like she said - celebrate it as your anniversary - they don't ask for the date. Or celebrate something like 'nothing can come between our love for each other - NOTHING!
Don't try to hard to label it - the celebration is in your hearts and the magic will be there!
Congratulations - your story is an inspiration! Best wishes for many, many more years together
If you could swing it financially and get away from the kids for a night, Victoria and Alberts will probably be one of the most luxurious and memorable meals that you will ever have. Another suggestion would be a wishes cruise (maybe throw in some strawberries and champagne?) Congratulations and good luck!
__________________
ZAX
Thanks for the Boo, Eeyore Tatoo, Cam22 and RescueSK!
I think you've had some great ideas. Victoria and Albert's sprang to mind, as did a Wishes or IllumiNations cruise. Another option is Gifts of a Lifetime - we did a photo session through them and had some great results or it might be worth looking at the resort photo sessions that Disney do, if you have a favourite resort?
Congrats on your Anniversary. And overcoming a very difficult time. I love Narccoossee's in GF. Time it so you can watch wishes, they pipe in the music. Most people go out on the veranda to watch. We had a window seat, and it was beautiful watching the castle changing colors at night. Then you can go out to the dock or beach and watch the Electric Water Parade on the lake.
Have a magical first visit.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Best wishes for many, many more years together 
PassPorter Guide Author
Victoria and Albert's sprang to mind, as did a Wishes or IllumiNations cruise. Another option is Gifts of a Lifetime - we did a photo session through them and had some great results or it might be worth looking at the resort photo sessions that Disney do, if you have a favourite resort? 
Linear Mode
