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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 saw your post in the Austism and WDW thread. You are so right. While you still live in the same world you lived in prior to the diagnosis, now you are aware of exactly what that world is. As GI Joe says "Knowing is half the battle."
Our son is 12 and was diagnosed when he was 7. He has been to WDW 3 times and loves it. We got him a GAC so he wouldn't have to wait in long lines. He hates to wait and really doesn't like crowds. Cast members were awesome.
We are taking him on a DCL to E. Caribbean in Sept. I have been preparing him by showing him videos of the horn, muster drill, pics of stateroom, anything I can think of.
If you need to chat or more info about things just let me know.
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Our son is 12 and was diagnosed when he was 7. He has been to WDW 3 times and loves it. We got him a GAC so he wouldn't have to wait in long lines. He hates to wait and really doesn't like crowds. Cast members were awesome.
We are taking him on a DCL to E. Caribbean in Sept. I have been preparing him by showing him videos of the horn, muster drill, pics of stateroom, anything I can think of.
If you need to chat or more info about things just let me know.
WDW/DL is one of his obsessions/fixations. lol. I always thought it was because I raised him right. Little did I know........
He's adapted really well around WDW/DL since his first trip in 2001 (which was overwhelming - now we REALLY know why) and just became obsessed with it.
I will be looking into getting a GAC if possible at DL in March just to help out his crowd issues/rigidity/and at times, meltdowns/freak outs.
I can use all the info, help, support, whatever, with technically being new to this world.
I may have lived here for the last 9 years (he changed about age 3) but now it has a name.
PM me..........
I suggest starting a thread on your trip and issues that may arise at Disneyland Resort. Disneyland is different than WDW in some ways for disabled persons. I cannot explain at this time everything as I have to run. Going in March to Disneyland may be a blessing or trouble depending on school breaks and Easter. During winter off season one can walk onto some lines.
My advice for you is to pick your battles wisely. My mother cannot grasp that I am too sick to get the newspaper. That is one battle I have given up on because nothing I do will change her mindset. Patience is another thing to have as at times things may be like filling a cup one drop at a time. Changes happen but so slow as to not be visible.
I can send you hugs, Mickey bars, and prayers.
__________________
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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I'm new to the world of the Autism Spectrum.
And I'm still coming to terms with the fact that Benji has PDD-NOS.
Any advice??
I'm not sure if you are speaking in terms of overall life or issue at WD. Saying that I'm assuming "life".
My best advise would be to educate yourself and your family. Read everything and ask lots of questions. Our school system has an ASD specialist that is awesome. Check to see if your's does too. They probablly do. I have to ask, did his ped suspect this ? If not I would find him a new ped. Ours would never check into and would tell me things like DD9 was "shy" or would "talk when she was ready" etc.. So I found a new ped for my kids.
Most of all just know this. You are not alone. There are many people in the same ever growing boat. If you need to chat , pm me.
I suggest starting a thread on your trip and issues that may arise at Disneyland Resort. Disneyland is different than WDW in some ways for disabled persons. .
This is an excellent point.
Your other advice was also great!
I would suggest a special thread addressing all your needs. People will ask for help in planning a trip like one lady had a child with a special diet. List the type of people on the trip such as parents, boy aged XX, girl aged X In such thread you can bring up things like what the family really hates and really loves such as animals, princesses, transportation, characters, and food.
For guidance PM a moderator and they can help you find the right place and guide you.
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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.
I would suggest a special thread addressing all your needs. People will ask for help in planning a trip like one lady had a child with a special diet. List the type of people on the trip such as parents, boy aged XX, girl aged X In such thread you can bring up things like what the family really hates and really loves such as animals, princesses, transportation, characters, and food.
For guidance PM a moderator and they can help you find the right place and guide you.
I know how to start a thread. lol.
I am just new to Benji's world in the sense that it has a name and I'm trying to find out how well DL can accomodate him so we can all have a great vacation.
DS 1 is is living with Asperger's. I have thought about taking him to DL but the jury is till out. Thinking about it though I think in would treat it like I do in WDW. We are very flexible and go with the flow. Just when I think I know his likes and dislikes they change. This year he was willing to go to France and china movies but he would want to wait til the end and watch the curtains close. There are a couple of things I know he would love but I can't justify forcing him to wait in a line with his anticipation growing and him becoming more vocal and upset. I also have found giving him options combined with compromise helps. I usually (try to) travel alone with my kids. at the beginning of the day, one kid picks the park, the other picks the first ride. They alternate picking rides, in the general vicinity we are in. He finally understands that all though we might not be going on his choice, we will next.
I think too I would just ask CMs for advice and/or help. I'm sure they deal with special issues multiple times during the day so don't be afraid to ask.
I have to say though I love having a kid with Autism. He has helped me see things in ways I don't think I never would have if he were "typical". I have one of those (ds2). I love him too.
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