PassPorter Podcast: Episode 65: Tracie Cook, Vacation Field Guides Author - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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PassPorter Podcast: Episode 65: Tracie Cook, Vacation Field Guides Author
PassPorter Moms Podcast: Disney & Beyond Episode 65: Tracie Cook, Vacation Field Guides Author - (04-13-2011 04:00 AM)
Podcast Description: Join Jennifer and Sara as they chat with the author of Vacation Field Guides, Tracie Cook, about her kid-friendly books that offer tips and learning opportunities. Also discussed is this week's news, celebrations, contest winner, and listener questions!
Special Guest: Tracie Cook has been visiting Walt Disney World since her childhood. She decided to combine her love of Walt Disney World with her knowledge of education. With more than twelve years’ experience as a teacher and countless family trips to Walt Disney World, she recognizes that many valuable learning opportunities happen outside the classroom. She lives in mid-Michigan with her family.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Just want everyone to know I just listened to the entire podcast -- the version on our site -- from start to finish and had no problems at all. Hooray! I can't check the iTunes version because it's not indexed there yet, but I will when it pops up.
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
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Gotcha Day!
I teared up when you celebrate Gotcha Day because I too am adopted and never thought of that day. I went straight to my photo album that I put together of all the pictures I found in my families albums and I even have the announcement of the information of my adoption from the newspaper. I put it on my calendar even though I am 41 I want to now remember this day.
Also since my husband and we are having troubles getting pregnant we have thought about adoption and it would be great to celebrate Gotcha Day if we adopt.
I teared up when you celebrate Gotcha Day because I too am adopted and never thought of that day. I went straight to my photo album that I put together of all the pictures I found in my families albums and I even have the announcement of the information of my adoption from the newspaper. I put it on my calendar even though I am 41 I want to now remember this day.
Also since my husband and we are having troubles getting pregnant we have thought about adoption and it would be great to celebrate Gotcha Day if we adopt.
Thanks
I love that! Ryan gets to celebrate twice - once for his birthday and once for Gotcha day!
Actually, the Swan and Dolphin DO offer Extra Magic Hours. You can check at their web-site, which I am unable to post as a link, and confirm. Just google the "swan dolphin extra magic hours" and you'll get the link. It showed up third in the listing for me.
Those two along with the Hilton at Downtown Disney are the only three. I've stayed at the Dolphin and Hilton many times and find them reasonable alternatives when Disney-owned on property resorts are limited in availability.
Thank you and keep up the great work on the books, website, podcasts, and newsletter!
Hey Jennifer and Sara. I just listened to last week's pod cast and Sara answered a question about EMH and Shades of Green are not eligable. Of course I paniced because I'm staying there this fall and thought I read on AllEars that they were included in the EMH. Well I went straight to the source and contacted SOG. Here is there response.
Good morning MRs Bryfogle,
As our Resort guests (with the Hotel ID card) you will be eligible for the Magical hours at the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. At check in time you will receive the current schedule for the different parks.
Kindest Regards
Beate
Shades of Green Reservations
1-888-593-2242
Serving Those Who Serve
I have also confirmed with them that Shades guest DO have to pay for parking at the theme parks as I was getting confliting info about that as well. Hope this helps.
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I can't check the iTunes version because it's not indexed there yet, but I will when it pops up. 
Gotcha Day!
Ryan gets to celebrate twice - once for his birthday and once for Gotcha day! 
Holly: 
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