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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 are in the process of discussing next years vacation. We definitely have Disneyland on the plan because I really want to see Carsland after seeing it from our Paradise Pier window for days on my California trip this past August. Also we will include a visit with my Mom while in California. So that's all set. The big question is where to go on part 1 of the trip.
Choice #1 Las Vegas
I have never been there But Mike has many times because his manager meetings were always there every year, + his parents lived there for years before they passed away. We are not gamblers so I don't know what else there is to do there. advantage, 4 hour drive to Mom's house..
Choice #2 San Francisco
Have been there, but really never saw the sights. When we lived in Sacramento my job took me there so it was just for work & on the far side of town. I would love to see the Zoo, the Wharf, Walt Disney's museum Etc... would have to fly to Moms, added expense of a extra flight..
While I have not been to Vegas myself, I've done a fair amount of research on the area as I plan to visit this summer as part of my planned road trip..... There are a lot of things to do aside from gambiling. I'm especially excited to check out the Hoover Dam (less than an hour away). There are also a ton of things to check out on the strip...... So, Vegas gets my vote! Good luck either way.....
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Oh gosh. That is a hard one. I've never been to Vegas but I love San Franscisco. I have heard that there are a ton of fun things to do at Vegas that aren't related to gambling. I just never can gin up the enthusiasm for it though.
Hopefully, some that are knowledgeable about Vegas will chime in.
I've been to Vegas many times. The Hoover Dam is a great tour. We also like going to Red Rock Canyon, as long as it is not 100 degrees out. The shows are nice, but expensive. It is a very quick trip if you don't plan on gambling.
I haven't been to San Fran, just drove by on the way to Napa/Sonoma (which was WONDERFUL by the way.) If you like wine, I would suggest that as a side trip from San Fran as it's only 1-1/2 away.
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I've been to both and I much prefer San Fran. There's just so much more variety there. Shopping, famous landmarks, the awesome Golden Gate Park plus the original Ghiradelli Square. (I love chocolate!)
When I went to Las Vegas, I kept describing it as Disney but for the adult crowd. Talk about theming! Those resort/casinos go nuts, especially the Venetian with the canal (complete with singing gondoliers) and New York, New York. As someone else said, the shows are quite expensive but I've heard they are amazing. There's lots of high end shopping on the strip and some hotels have art exhibits. We didn't venture off the strip so I can't say much about the side trips to Hoover Dam, etc.
My family isn't a gambling family either. Nor are we a drinking one, seeing as Mom & I are both allergic to alcohol. (Nothing kills a buzz like wheezing and hives.) Still, we enjoyed the food --- lots of famous chefs there --- and people watching. Do I want to go back? Nope. Once was enough for me. But I'm glad I went, if only to say that I've been to Las Vegas.
But San Fran? I'd go back in a heartbeat if I had the reason and $$$!
Good luck with your decision!
Carol
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I have been to both, Haven't been to Las Vegas in years. I was in San Francisco this past May. The hills were too much for my scooter and I had to use my walker a lot more than I planned on. Those hills are a killer. We went to Ghiradelli, it was so crowded I had to stay outside while my group... girl scouts all went in for ice cream. There was just no room to move around. We did go to Pier 39 and that was very nice. No problems getting aroung there or the wharf. Loved the Disney Family Museum as well.
ETA: Next time we go, I will leave the scooter at home.
I like the idea of San Diego. I've never been to any of your choices. If not San Diego, then I'd do Vegas. I don't really gamble; The two times I've been in a casino area (once at a casino, and once on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic), I spent about $20 on slots the entire time.
My DD Samantha and her DH have been to Vegas a few times, and love the shows. However, They are expensive!
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Between the first two I would choose San Francisco,
I will tell you that I loved visiting San Diego! The zoo was great!!
Both San Fran and San Diego are great places with lots to do! making your decision.
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I just thought I would toss San Diego into the mix, Zoos & museum's look like a lot of fun, & I love critters! Close to Mom too !
Well, then you know where my vote goes.
(otherwise I would have told you that when it came down to it, it would depend on what time of year you were going and how hot it would be in Vegas. But you can ignore my Vegas talk and just go to San Diego now. )
I'd go with Vegas. We're not gamblers either, but we love being able to tour the hotels and see all the theming and enjoy the shows. You've also got the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon all within (fairly) easy reach of the city. Bryce Canyon is also well worth a visit, so that gets my vote.
Okay, if we are tossing San Diego into the mix, I definitely vote for San Diego. My sister and mother liver there so we are frequent visitors. There is a ton of wonderful to visit in San Diego and it is easier to navigate than San Francisco if you are needing a car. WAY easier.
The Wild Animal Park, the zoo, Balboa park (we adore), easy access to the ocean, del Coronado. Yep, San Diego!
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