The obsessive compulsive planning has kicked in - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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Now that I finally convinced hubby to go on a first-ever trip to WDW, I've got alot of pressure to make sure I plan the best trip ever. He is convinced that Disney will be a big ol waste of money. sheesh!! BTW..it will be me, husband, 13 yo, 10 yo, going in Dec '11 (one of the first 2 weeks).
So.....I realize since I know NOTHING about ANY of the parks that I really need some sort of play-by-play itinerary. Our family stands around confused and arguing just to drive 3 miles and go eat or do a local activity! I can't imagine the fights and drama that will occur at Disney if we don't have down a fairly concrete plan of action
So...here's what I got so far. I picked up the really cool Passporter book at the used book store (an older copy) and also an Unofficial Guide (older copy). I love both of them and I see both have "touring plans" in them. Now I keep hearing about Tour Guide Mike so I'm getting obsessive on thinking I need to fork out 20 bucks on his deal. It's getting ridiculous. Since we are first-timers I think I really need to just focus on ONE book or website or whatever and not confuse myself. Which one though?? If I chose just one to study inside and out, is there one that ya'll really recommend? Obviously Passporter is fab which is how I even got on this great forum! The tourguide mike site seemed a little confusing and I'm not entirely sure what you get for the money. Is it play-by-play sample tours or just general info. I know people like his crowd calendar but I see Touring Plans has that for free with the book. Sheesh. I am just one of those people i think that needs ONE choice or I get all anal and crazy. I was doing fine w/ Passporter until I kept hearing about TourGuide Mike and unoffical guide and then I worry about missing something and have to get in on those! haha
welcome to the crowd! i'm in over my head obsessing about our trip in dec '10. :smile: passporter is wonderful! i also picked up a hidden mickey book. my kids enjoyed that. they were 6 and 7 when we went last year and they are still talking about finding the ones we missed "next time"!
I'm not using Tour Guide Mike for the same reason... too overwhelming when I've got all of this at my fingertips! I'm sure it's good, just not for me. I'm going on our first ever Disney Family Vacation in a month (Whooo hoooo!) and I've been using the Passporter for everything. Between the book and these boards, it's been a great planning experience. I'm really not a planner by nature, but this has been fun!
Your first trip to Disney is going to be so exciting! Here is what I do to make things easier. Have each member of your family pick two or three things that are must dos for them. These can include rides, shows, attractions, or optional fun things like boating or parasailing. Then have each person choose one place they absolutely must eat! These become your baseline planning weapons! Plan your days around hitting these must dos. Have a print out of park hours and decide what days will be best for certain attractions. For example, each trip I simply have to eat at the California Grill and watch the fire works. My Husband has to go on Space Mountain. Therefore I make sure to hit the MK either before or after our Cali Grill dinner to make the day flow nicely. If everyone in the family gets to participate in the planning it wil make things more fun for all involoved as well. Each person knows that something they have especially chosen to do will be part of the itinerary at some point! Have a great trip!
I think you've got enough with UG and PP. My first few trips in the 90s was helped by UG, and then I found PassPorter and have used both since then. Any other things you are concerned about, just post to the boards and you'll get some helpful advice.
I have never used TGM either. I have never felt the need. I started with the Birnbaum's book and then get my new PP with each and every trip. I also read lots here and also on allears.net among others.
Congrats on your first family trip to WDW!!!!!!!!!!!
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Lori
“I’m in a Disney state of mind……”
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner w/Fairy Godmother Travel For a Pixie Dust Sprinkled Trip!
I love TGM! I became a member again, because I loved it on our last trip in '07. One of the reasons why I love TGM is because he explains why you should plan his way. After studying his site, I felt like a tour guide pro. I'm obsessed with planning as well (we'll be going to WDW in Dec '11), as well. You don't have to be a hardcore planner, but at least have the basics (be at the parks before opening, book ADRs, take breaks during the late morning/early afternoon, and have fun). You will not be able to see everything in the parks during one visit. It's impossible.
I have used TGM and PP, and I use PP now on every trip. I have been there many times and I usually stick with their recommendations.
I also had the joy of taking my First Timer Hubby a few years back after Hurricane Dennis pounded the Florida Panhandle. So we ended up in Disney. My biggest recommendation to you is to make it is as simple on him as possible. Don't make him plan, just make your plan based on knowing your family. Don't pack too much into the trip and allow for some flexibility with the trip. Pool time usually gets skipped in my trips and I found the down time in the afternoon to be just what the hubby needed. I got him hooked and then 2 years later we were buying into DVC. We now go every year and sometimes twice. The key to him wanting to go back was that he did not have to plan a thing or know anything. I just kept them on all schedule and having fun. I did it with the help of my PP. Good Luck and have a great time!
Definitely get the 2011 Passporter when it comes out. That is the best resource. You can read about each attraction and each dining place. Then you can have a game plan of what your family will and wont like. Like another pp wrote it is impossible to do everything in one trip. I am a fanatical planner. Remember to allow things to change, it is ok. I have used Tour Guide Mike the last two trips and loved his advice. We were there in the summer when it is really busy though. I found his park recommendations and touring plans right on. I liked how he split morning and evening recommendations and told you why he made his recommendations. But hopefully the first two weeks of December wont be really busy and the passporter and these boards will be all you need. Have a great time planning!
I agree about getting the 2011 passporter. Your copy of the Unofficial guide, while older is probably ok.....they don't change much....I have several years editions and I'm always dismayed to see the same bd review for Chefs de France that gas been there for 6 years. For updates on dining plans and such your Passporter will cover!
As far as mapping out your days...... Since this is your first trip maybe try not to plan too much, it's going to be overwhelming enough and you want to be able to just take it all in. Now I'm a crazy all inclusive planner, but I have learned to limit myself to picking the park we will go to and making my dining ADRs accordingly. Really mapping your assault on the park I think is to much. The most I'll do is decide in advance which side of World Showcase at Epcot I start with and that's usually based on where my lunch ADR is. Don't set the bar so high that you'll feel like you missed out on things if you don't get to it.
I love the touring plans on the UG site! You can use premade plans or you can create your own. I also consult my family on their "must do's" and incorporate those along with ADRs into my plan.
Since this is your family's first trip, you should order one of the free Disney DVDs from WDW website. It will give you all a good idea of some of the attractions so you can formulate your plan of which things are "must-dos." Reading about them in a guide book is ok, but actually seeing them in action is a great way to get everyone excited about all Disney has to offer. I haven't watched ours in quite a while, but I think it may also have restaurant and resort info.
I don't think you are being kind to yourself by calling it "obsessive, compulsive" I prefer to call myself "precise!!!" I use both PP and TGM but if you put the 2 of them together you have such an enormous amount of information that it can overwhelm a first time planner, especially a "precise!!!" one. Stick with PP on the first trip, it will not steer you wrong and add TGM next trip when you have a book knowledge of WDW combined with WDW street smarts!!
Ken
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I can't imagine the fights and drama that will occur at Disney if we don't have down a fairly concrete plan of action
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I'd highly recommend the PassPorter book! 
Kristie
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