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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Thinking of booking AKL or WL club level for our stay in July. Is one better than the other? AKL is $200 cheaper than WL. Is the opportunity to book the Sunrise Safari worth it to go with AKL over WL? Is the Sunrise Safari something that books up right away and not easy to get? We will have a rental car with us so the transportation issue at AKL won't bother us. We have stayed at both resorts on previous trips - not club level though.
Anyone able to help out with opinions...
Thanks
Deb
I've never stayed at WL, so I can't speak to the club level there. I have stayed at the AKL club level several times - and it was WONDERFUL! The cast members at the desk were friendly and helpful - and the lounge was wonderful. We've done the Sunrise Safari twice - and both times, it was the best part of our trip. I would definitely take the $200 saved and go on the safari!
That said, I've heard nice things about the Wilderness Lodge. It's really a matter of personal preference.
We've never stayed WL Concierge, but I can assure you that AKL Concierge is wonderful! We totally enjoyed it...worth every penny. I wouldn't hesitate to save the extra $$$ and spend it on something special.
I would base my choice on two things:
*Do I really want to do the Sunrise Safari?
It's really cool with breakfast at Tusker House,
I believe they usually schedule up to 28 guests so during busy seasons, you may need to give different days for Concierge cms to find you a spot.
*Does the food offerings matter to me?
AKL's food is delicious. You will find the basic stand-bys for all club levels, but there are added African touches. Although I don't think it's over the top, I have some friends who don't like it.
WL's food is down-to-earth and delicious too. It really is wild comfort food!
We loved AKL Concierge--we stayed on DVC points in Oct. The Sunrise Safari was one of the best parts of our trip! Breakfast was at Pizzafari afterward and was lovely as well! I really enjoyed getting to see the "business" side of AK -- the barns -- on the ride over!
The offerings in the CL subsituted many meals for us as well--although might not be enough for big eaters. It definitely covers breakfast though! The lounge also offers red/white South African wine, beer and after dinner drinks!
One nice thing about the AKL CL is that all the rooms are savannah view and are really not much more expensive than a standard savannah room. The lounge is excellent. The CM's are wonderful from the itinerary planners to the lounge. I haven't done the safari, but I've heard it's great. WL has the convenience of being close to the MK. Plus you can boat over to CR and take the monorail to the TTC. I haven't stayed CL there, but I've also heard similar stories of great customer service. I'd pick the resort you most want to stay at.
I've stayed at the WL and AKV Kidani (and visited the AKL), however not Concierge. Personally, I would chose one of those resorts based on which theming appeals to you more. National Park flair versus an African safari I'd have a really hard time chosing as the AKL/AKV and WL are two of my favorite resorts!
If you opt for the AKL, I'd definitely try the Sunrise Safari as I've heard great things about it! We were actually going to stay at the AKL Concierge in two weeks and had the Sunrise Safari booked (we ended up upgrading to the GF Concierge but that's a different matter).
I've stayed at both WL and AKL concierge level and believe both are very nice.
For me, though, the AKL wins for their CL lounge (sooooo homey and relaxing), their food, and the Sunrise Safari. On top of all of that, the price is amazing!
Eileen
You can't go wrong with either choice - both are really lovely. The lounge itsself is set up a little nicer at AKL, but both have tasty snacks and very helpful CMs.
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Aimee
I'd have a really hard time chosing as the AKL/AKV and WL are two of my favorite resorts!
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