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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 usually go to WDW the end of July- first part of August. I have heard we need to go during the holidays, so I booked our 2011 trip Nov 29- Dec. 6. The kids are excited about seeing the christmas decorations. I have a few questions:
Good time to go to see the decorations? Any recommendations as to what to see or do during that time?
No matter where you go you will see decorations. The main thing I would recommend would be the Osborne Light at DHS. They come on every night around 6 p.m. and it a really cool Christmas light display.
Sounds like a great plan! We went that week in 2009. Christmas decorations are everywhere, so it's a great time for that. If you've never been to MVMCP, I would recommend doing that if it's in your budget. A lot of the deluxe resorts have wonderful decorations, so those are worth a visit if you have the time. You'll see a big difference in crowds from when you normally visit - it was busier than I expected based on comments I had read from others, but really not very busy at all.
Yes! As previously posted, the Osborne Lights are not to be missed. Just awesome! All the resorts are decorated and it is lots of fun to take a tour of as many as you can work in. MVMCP is a very festive way to begin the Christmas season. Have fun!
When does the Osbourne lights begin? We are booking for the week before Thanksgiving and were hoping to get to see all the Christmas lights as well. And definitely hoping that they have a Christmas party that week as well.
This should be a great time to visit WDW -- I would definitely recommend doing a search to find some in depth information about holiday time that has been posted in the past (especially since the holidays were just here!).
However, to answer crystal's question too: The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights have been starting earlier than in the last few years, when they were "on" right around Thanksgivng; however, just this past year, they began as early as November 8 (and ran through January 3, 2011).
This year's dates have not yet been released, but they should be roughly around the same time unless Disney reverts back to starting them later, but with October through December being more popular times to visit, I'm thinking they won't.
I would also recommend going to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! Although you didn't say old (or how many!) kids are in your family, I have to say, the party is great for kids of all ages -- as well as any adults! The dates for the 2011 parties have not been released yet either, but we usually see something around May, if I'm remembering correctly!
Resort "decoration touring" is a nice break from the parks -- if it's needed. All of the resorts are decorated in some sort of theme and some, like the Grand Floridian and Beach Club, have extra special decorations like their gingerbread house and carousel!
Try to check out the rest of Allears.net, the site I've linked to above, as well as doing some searches here on the boards too. There is a lot to do and see during the holidays and having a plan of attack is a must!
We just went 11/30-12/8!! We had a great time! The Osbourne Lights are one of my favorite Christmasy things in WDW!! The castle was beautiful too...try to catch the castle lighting!
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We went during that time in 2009. We found the crowds to be minimal which was very nice. The weather wasn't always cooperative. It was chilly and raining quite a bit. We did do a small amount of swimming, and as long as we warmed up in the hot tubs before going back to the room we were ok. We stayed at the GF and found their decorations breathtaking! Be sure to see the gingerbread house there! We also thought the decorations at the BWI and the Y&BC we beautiful too. Plus there's nothing like the Castle with the white lights. We also loved the themed fireworks during the MVMCP. If you don't want to put out the $$$ for the party go over to the GF or the POLY and watch the fireworks from the beach!
Have a great time!
We also were there that same week in 2009. Our favorite was definitely the Osbourne lights in DHS. I could've just stayed there all night watching the lights and standing in the street with the "snow" falling on me! It was awesome! I also agree that if you can swing the cost of MVMCP it is worth it to go once. The parade is really great and the fireworks and castle lighting up is breathtaking! We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and loved it. Also, remember to look in at the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. It's beautiful listening to the storyteller and all the choirs singing beautiful Christmas music. Also, spend a day visiting all the Deluxe resorts to take in the beautiful Christmas decorations.
We have gone twice in December (about 2 weeks later than you are) and are going again this Decmber. Our not to miss are: DHS lights, GF gingerbread house, Mickey's Christmas Party and the EPCOT Candle Light Processional. We try to get other things in as well of course (like story tellers around the world, downtown Disney etc).
o matter what you do you will be so glad you chose this special time to go!
I am taking my whole family this year the first week in December for Christmas. For the EPCOT CP is there a ticket you need to buy or is it like you camp out by the pavillion in the USA section and wait?
Also has anyone done the carriage ride in FW? Is there prices somewhere? I was thinking of surprising everyone after my parents treat everyone to the Hoop-De-Doo review. I want to even surprise my DH.
you got to see the castle at christmas. It's like it turns to different colors of ice. its beautiful. the resorts have some nice decorations. at GF resort they have a life size gingerbread house. alot to do there at christmas.
I am taking my whole family this year the first week in December for Christmas. For the EPCOT CP is there a ticket you need to buy or is it like you camp out by the pavillion in the USA section and wait?
Also has anyone done the carriage ride in FW? Is there prices somewhere? I was thinking of surprising everyone after my parents treat everyone to the Hoop-De-Doo review. I want to even surprise my DH.
The Candlelight Processional is free with your admission to Epcot. You can, however, purchase a CP dinner package for Reserved Seating. For everything you need to know about the CP, check Candlelight Processional at Epcot, but note that the narrators and prices are for 2010.
We went for the first time last Feb. and were going to book again for August of this year, but have decided to bump to December. For All Ears and Mousetacular - plus ALL the decorations! An extra magical time to be at the world!
We would like to go in 2012 in Dec....my must do's are the Osbourne Lights, MVMCP, Decorations at BWI & GF. I would do some research from some of the other link people have posted!! You will have a great trip!!
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