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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We've watched this concert on PBS for years and will be in DC on the 4th of July this year so we want to try to see it in person. I've found the official website, but it's not terribly helpful. I'm hoping some folks here have been and can share advice on how to make it a tolerable afternoon. We'll be driving, so can pack a picnic blanket and supplies for the wait.
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Carolyn
Last edited by Carousel96; 06-17-2010 at 10:42 PM..
I actually performed in A Capitol Fourth two years ago with the choir. (Got asked to again this year, but had to turn it down due to a previous commitment.)
My advice is simply to wear a lot of sunscreen, get there early, and be prepared to be patient. I'll ask around to see if any of my friends have better advice.
How about some sightseeing in your leisure time? There are plenty of historical buildings, museums, etc. If you have never been to Washington D.C. this would be a great time.
How about some sightseeing in your leisure time? There are plenty of historical buildings, museums, etc. If you have never been to Washington D.C. this would be a great time.
We'll be in DC for a week -- plenty of time for sightseeing.
I'm looking specifically for what to do between when the grounds open at 3 and when the concert starts at 8.
The official website doesn't tell anything about bringing in food, or other "survival" tip.s Waiting for the promised article in the 7/4 Washington Post doesn't help me plan.
I just checked with my friends, and none of them have gone in a few years, but they all remember picnics being allowed, but no alcohol. They also said to bring umbrellas to use for shade.
Trying to find someone who went last year with better advice! Looks like this crazy heat wave might break by then, so it won't be so awful for you guys!
It has lots of information on all the activities happening, including the Capitol Fourth and the security rules...
and yeah, our heat wave is supposed to break next week.....have fun!
Never been to the Capital 4th but we used to go to the Esplanade in Boston-pre 9/11 so security was very different.
We would bring a picnic with lots of drinks, which we would spread out on a blanket. Small foldng chairs are nice, too, if you get stiff from blanket sitting. We would also bring cards and books (including puzzle books) to keep us occupied. When the kids were young, we had a collection of travel games that I would keep in a bag. In Boston, we never brought music becuase it was all around us although I think now I would probably bring an IPod or something similar. although we waited 5-6 hours, I never remember it being too long.
and yeah, our heat wave is supposed to break next week.....have fun!
Thanks for the info -- I guess if it says coolers and backpacks are subject to inspection, it's safe to assume they're allowed.
Keep your fingers crossed about the weather.
Last time we were in DC for the 4th proper, it was 2002. No one was there (DC - first July 4 after 9/11 - folks were scared!) but the heat index was something like 106. I remember the water stations on the Cap grounds were passing out shrink wrapped 12 packs. DD was only 2, so we bailed and watched it on TV in our hotel room. Just like being home only we had take out Chinese.
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Carolyn
Last edited by Carousel96; 06-28-2010 at 01:12 PM..
I have no advise. I hope you have a wonderful time. I have always wanted to go to one of the July 4th celebrations in Washinton DC or Boston. Please let us know how it was.
My advice is simply to wear a lot of sunscreen, get there early, and be prepared to be patient. I'll ask around to see if any of my friends have better advice.
Patience is an understatement!!! DH and I went the first few years we lived in the area. We haven't been in about four years, but you have to go through security and have your coolers, etc. checked. We usually sat on the steps of the Capitol, but be prepared to get there early and wait - spaces go quickly! Are you staying in DC? If you can, avoid the metros or at least exercise that patience once more and hang around as long as you can to let the crowds dissipate a bit. The metro is the worst part of the experience as you end up feeling like that proverbial sardine in a can!! It's not as bad getting there, but after the show...ugh!
That all being said - it is the best feeling to be in "America's hometown" on the fourth and makes all the other stuff you have to go through worthwhile!!. I remember the feeling the first time we went and were singing the National Anthem and turned to look at the flag on the Capitol. I had goosebumps and started tearing up (not unlike the feeling I get when I go through the tunnel at MK) DH helped a father and son (boyscouts) fold up their flag the first year we went and a few years later we figured out that we were sitting next to them again - sometimes the magic happens outside of WDW too!!!
Have fun and be sure to tell us all about it when you get back!!!
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