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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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Another post got me thinking of this. But to be honest, I woke up early this morning with the thought... what snacky foods should I buy to bring on the plane! I know!
Everyone talks about layering and I will definitely check the forecast before leaving, but what has your packing list looked like for yourself and kiddos for early - mid December traveling?
I've been in December twice. The first time was early to mid December and I actually didn't have the right clothing for my first day. I wore jeans and a long sleeve T and really needed to be in shorts and t-shirt. The other two days I dressed in cooler clothing. Never really needed a jacket.
The other time was the week before Christmas and two of the nights we needed winter jackets, but we also went swimming at BB and in Stormalong Bay that week as well....so we had to have all types of clothing. But, mostly capris, t-shirt and fleece jacket would have been appropriate most days.
Hope that helps a bit.
When we went last year (the first week of December) we wore jeans everyday. DH & DS wore tee-shirts- short and long sleeve. and I wore 3/4 length sleeves. We didn't really need jackets but took them for the evenings.
I just thought I would add that the weather there is typical for us so we thought it was just right. Since you are from Wisconsin you might find it to be be much warmer than us southerners... 50 degrees here is a cold snap!
When we went last year (the first week of December) we wore jeans everyday. DH & DS wore tee-shirts- short and long sleeve. and I wore 3/4 length sleeves. We didn't really need jackets but took them for the evenings.
I just thought I would add that the weather there is typical for us so we thought it was just right. Since you are from Wisconsin you might find it to be be much warmer than us southerners... 50 degrees here is a cold snap!
Yep 50 is a heat wave in Wisconsin terms come wintertime!
I have been in early Dec 3 times.
1. I tend to be a year round shorts person if I can.
2. I only 'had' to wear long pants and a sweatshirt once.
You sound like my husband! I am so glad I asked even though I felt somewhat silly asking because I am totally rethinking how and what to pack! Thanks everyone!
We were there mid-Dec a few years ago. The first weekend we were in jeans and tee shirts and just fine. The weekend we left I had on shorts and a tee and would have worn less if I could have!
So I pack a mix of shorts and jeans, and plan on tees and light jackets. Though I always bring a sweatshirt a piece. I also like to pack those "magic" (stretchy) gloves for nights. I find my hands get cold first, and if I can keep my fingers warm I'm happy.
We were there last Dec. (Dec. '08). For myself and DD we packed a pr. of capris, couple prs of jeans, couple t-shirts, couple long sleeved shirts and a hoodie/light jacket. DH also packed along shorts and a sweatshirt for himself. The week we were there (first week of Dec.) was for the most part cool in the am with it warming up during the day. We were pretty much comfortable in jeans or our capris with a t-shirt. For the evening we were fine with a light jacket or hoodie. There was only a couple times during that week we were there when the temp for the evening/night was in the 30's and we needed our winter coats and gloves. It's like a mixed bag of temps!
We were there two years ago in mid-December and we packed mostly capris, and t-shirts, but threw jackets/jeans in just in case. But one morning at Magic Kingdom, it was so cold that we would up buying fleece jackets, hats, gloves and scarves! We were freezing . Next time I'm just going to pack all those things and take them with us in case.
I go with layers - easy as we're coming from a cold climate at that time of the year. I have sleeveless tops, capri pants and jeans, long-sleeved tops and sweatshirts for the flight that can be used if it's really cold. Swimming costumes come too, as it might be warm enough to swim, plus some nice outfits for dinner out in the evening.
We've brought everything but the kitchen sink. First trip we didn't bring hats and mittens, and had to buy them there (as well as a warmer jacket for DD). We had a few pairs of shorts, but never really wore them (the kids did). Lots of jeans/sweatshirts, etc. Second trip we brought the hats and mittens (and used them again), and mainly jeans/sweatshirts, along with a few pairs of shorts.
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I went last year, and mostly wore jeans with t-shirts, or shorts with longer-sleeved shirts. I also brought 2 hoodies. However, there was one night at Epcot where it definitely got down into the low 40's - we were FREEZING and ended up having to buy hats, gloves, and scarves (we didn't have to buy winter coats, because we'd worn them to Florida from WV) - so I'd at least pack some small "winter wear" just in case! We're going again, 2nd-3rd week in December, and I'm going to be much better prepared this time!
I've been in December before and we're going again this year. I would suggest a few T-shirts, a few shorts/capris, at least one pair of long pants, and a sweatshirt or two. I bet that if you're coming down from Wisconsin, you will already have a jacket. Last trip, for the flight down, I wore the lightest of my winter jackets, with a light weight fleece pullover under it and a t-shirt under that. When we got to Orlando, I ditched the jacket in my suitcase and put the fleece in my backpack. I was fine in the T-Shirt during the day, and then pulled out the fleece after dark. I loved that darn fleece pullover from Lands End. It was a perfect weight. Not too heavy, soft, and quick to dry.
It really depends on what you are used to and where you're coming from. When you come from a part of the country where it's 30-40 degrees, then it will feel like summer to you. But the nights do get a little chilly, so if you're going to be out and about in the evening, you'll want something warmer.
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i was interested to hear the responses to this thread as we will also be there for x-mas. was going to bring sweatshirts and light jackets, but didn't really think about also bringing hats and gloves. will put that on our list now. good to know as my hands tend to get cold very quickly!
As for snacky foods on the plane... it will be me and three girls (16, 12 and 12). I plan on packing beef jerky, fruit snacks, gold fish crackers and a quart size baggy of grapes. We have a long flight... so we'll probaby grab Subway to take on the plane [if they are open before our 9 o'clock am flight leaves] to eat at some point during our flight as we do not land at MCO until 4 o'clock pm. Hope this helps!