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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Our son has autism. We have got guest assistance card to help him deal with his issues last time we went to DW/MK. He is doing awesome but it still going to freak out if someone, you know, LOOKS at him, or speaks to him, or heaven forbid, touches him. We actually kept his GAC from last time, so I am figuring that handing over that and the doctor's letter asking for those accommodations should make getting a new card for him simple and painless.
But now, our daughter. A few years ago after our last visit she developed a tremor. A serious business tremor not a little thing. Then ataxia. Stressful months have lead to no diagnosis (but thankfully some helpful meds). She has cerebellar atrophy, dygenesis of the corpus callosum (which we actually knew about at age 5 months but had never caused a problem), a couple hippocampal cysts, migraine headaches, ataxia, REM sleep behavior disorder (associated with the cerebellar problems), visual field disturbance, square wave jerks and saccadic intrusions that occur often and rapidly enough that they interfere with her vision, cognitive deficits, left side motor in coordination, and ataxia.
The simplest description would be she is like someone who had a stroke. It takes her longer to understand what you are saying, longer to respond, and anything she is trying to do with her left side, well, allow a long time. She kind of sundowns. Starts out strong and then wavers as the day goes.
Initially I wasn't planning on getting her a GAC. I mean, her brother will have one. And we're taking a good (older) friend for her to go on some of the rides that I can't tolerate with her. AND sometimes she is okay. I mean, there will be times, until she gets too tired that she can walk about the park like every other 12 year old out there. And once she can't there's a fair chance we'll have to rent a wheelchair. Which will make it obvious we need help.
Then, I was thinking, what if we separate them and she does need it. We usually took Monkey (DS) out of the park after just 2 hours there last time. Would it be easier to just get two at the start so I have one for her if she needs it. And of course, if she is doing well and doesn't need it we just won't use it.
Or If I have 3 kids with me and need 2 passes are they going to look at me like I'm smoking crack?
Anyone with similar issues that can be exacerbated by fatigue? People that could be fine, or could not? Any advice would be MUCH appreciated.
I would go ahead and get each of them a card. Then if separated each is taken care of with their special needs. Don't worry about what people think with you having two cards at times, just use one when you are all together. Do what is the best for you and your children to enjoy all disney has to offer to them and that they can tolerate. And above all have a wonderful time!! That is my two cents.....
Personally, I have two doctor notes sitting in my Passporter right now. One is for DBF (severe social anxiety, OCD, and Major depression) and the other is for DD (Hereditary Spastic Paraparesis). DD will be in her wheelchair, but I have read stories (a very few) where a random CM will have a problem letting a wheelchair go through the accessible line without a GAC. I am getting one for her just in case we need it for this situation or in case we decide to let her explore on her own (or with a cousin that lives in Orlando) for a while. DBf just needs a quiet place to wait away from major crowds if possible. SO we will have a GAC for him too. I expect that we will use his most often, but we will have both just in case.
Thanks for your question. I'm so glad you'll be taking your kids to Disney for some magic!
I think two GACs would be a good idea, not only if you get split up, but because it sounds like your children might need different modifications.
If you are thinking of a chair, just be careful not to overdo it before you get one. I wouldn't want you to risk a fall or a meltdown with your DD on vacation!
I hope you have a great trip, and be sure to stop back with any other questions.
Doctor's notes are not needed to get disabled services at Disney parks, that is the law. The exception is when a person gets something above and beyond what they are entitled to like free admission to state parks.
If a guest knows they are right then they talk to a lead or manager. I once talked to a manager at a counter service because one employee was wrong. Not sure who was wrong but the way I was treated was wrong. I did not care myself but for some other guest it would have ruined a trip.
FIRST make sure there is not a communications problem. A person cannot take their wheelchair onto a plane but they can transfer to an aisle chair. As you see some people only hear CANNOT TAKE YOUR CHAIR and not the rest. Make sure you understand and the CM understands what is going on. Talking to leads can solve problems and retrain employees.
Get a GAC for each person. I took mom in her chair but did not get a DLR GAC. I could not do the line and stairs at Big Thunder so TOUGH. No GAC meant no ride. For the kids yes get a GAC for each child. Also you can print out a card with information on diet, name, triggers, etc so that you are not repeating yourself and the person can even take that to a manager or other person.
Mom went into turtle mode because she was STARVING, FEED ME NOW. I can see the turtle mode and if I point it out some people see it. She hunkers down and gets into snitty bratty moods. It is just part of dealing wth someone who is hypersensitive. What can you do? Mom has her chair whch keeps people at bay while kids like strollers especially ones with canopies. Off hours also helps and talking to CMs helps. Planning for her needs helps me a lot. I know that at noon she better be fed or else, for example.
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Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
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Definitely get one for each of them. Noone will look at you funny and even if they do, who cares
I need to remember to stop by Guest Relations this trip and get one for my BFF's mom. She is traveling with us and has progressively debilitating MS so she can not get out of her chair and stand/walk on her own at all. She is too proud to let anyone help.
Thank you ALL!!! I don't know how I missed there were responses, I thought I had subscribed to the post. That's just about right, not to subscribe to my own question!
I'm planning on getting two GACs while I am in line for one. Then if we don't need it, we simply won't use it. I really appreciate EVERYONE's input!
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