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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I am starting to plan my family's trip to WDW. We're aiming for end of Jan or mid-Feb 2011.
My question is: What's the difference between all the Disney-specialist travel agencies out there?
I've used an independent TA for past WDW trips but wanted to try one of the many agencies I've seen advertised both here and at AllEars. As far as I can tell, all the agencies (and the independent TAs) seem to offer the same perks: making ADRs for us, booking the ressies, alerting us to additional discounts, helping us change the ressie if needed.
So...I'm just wondering why I should choose one agency over another? Is it just luck of the draw and how well you "click" with your assigned travel agent? Is there something in the small print that I'm missing? Or is there something I should be asking TAs to help me figure out which agency is the best fit for me?
I'm the kind of person who does a *ton* of research on my own so I have loads & loads of tidbits and travel tips in my head. (Whether or not I can retrieve them during the trip is an entirely different matter!) I guess I'm also wondering how to take advantage of the combined knowledge that I've found with the agent's experience.
I think the most important factor is finding someone you trust and can communicate well with. Working with a TA is a relationship, and like any other relationship, communication is key Make sure your agent is available by phone and email 7 days a week, at any hour of the day. This is especially important while you are on vacation in case a problem arises. Your TA should never 'close' or 'be on vacation' without at the very minimum giving you the name and contact info for another agent covering.
Most agencies offer their services fee-free. Also make sure the agency you chooses follows all the Disney policies as far as cancellations and changes. Some, not all, have additional policies and charges for cancellations and changes.
Lastly, find a Disney specialist that has extensive personal knowledge of the Disney destination you plan on visiting. For example, if you are planning a cruise I would want to book with an agent who has actually cruised with Disney several times and has the first hand experience.
In addition to what Judi recommend, check for "free extras". Some agencies have gift for all travelers, certain months of the year or because you are a Facebook fan. I wouldn't let a gift take the place of experience but if you are down to 2 choices, it may be the tie breaker.
Thanks so much for the responses. I really appreciate your perspectives --- especially about the whole relationship/communication thing. And Facebook! Good idea to look there to see what being a fan might get me, all other aspects being equal, of course!
__________________
DS-almost 3 & DD-6 with Meeko & Pocahontas in 2012
DH, "Commando" (Let's get a move on, folks!) ~ Me, "Pokey" (Just a moment...Look at this cool trinket!) ~ DD, born 4/2005, "Ride! Ride! Ride!" (Roller coaster! Cars! Dumbo!) ~ DS, born 3/2009, "Charge!" (I wanna goooooo!)
If you love Disney and have your own expectations and ideas of what you want, make sure you choose an agent that is going to make YOUR dreams come true and let you experience your OWN magic. Some "expert" Disney travelers have their own opinions based on their past experiences, which might not be what you are looking for. Choose someone that will be as involved, or uninvolved, as you want them to be. Your vacation is about YOU! I know our agency offers "freebies" such as embroidered totes, etc.
Good Luck!
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Or is there something I should be asking TAs to help me figure out which agency is the best fit for me?
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Make sure your agent is available by phone and email 7 days a week, at any hour of the day. This is especially important while you are on vacation in case a problem arises. Your TA should never 'close' or 'be on vacation' without at the very minimum giving you the name and contact info for another agent covering. 
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