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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 don't remember where we watched Wishes (think it was Tomorrowland Terrace), but we watched Illuminations near the Mexico Pavilion. But, I wouldn't call that a favorite spot, as we've only been to WDW once.
We enjoy sitting near Germany pavilion for Illuminations. Wishes we watch in front of the castle, ususally.
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Disney Trips: BLT & Poly Bungalow 2016, VGF 2015, Fantasy 2015, Saratoga Springs Resort 2014, Grand Villa at VGF 2013, Fantasy 2013, BWV and Kidani Village 2011, BWV and Kidani Village 2010, BWV and Saratoga Springs Resort 2008,Beach Club Villas 2008,Villas at Wilderness Lodge 2006, BWV 2006, BCV 2005, HHI 2004,Polynesian 2003,Grand Floridian 2000/concierge, Honeymoon at Polynesian 1994,Polynesian 1980,Polynesian 1978
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We watch Wishes from Main St, usually in an area between Casey's and the Plaza Ice Cream....or closer.
We usually watch Illuminations from the area between Norway and Mexico. Tt's an unobstructed view and the wind rarely blows the smoke that direction (if it is coming that way, we move to the other side of the lagoon on the bridge b/w France/England).
My favorite Illumination spot is right in front of Japan below the pagoda on the far right side. They have stone benches so some of your party can sit while you wait and some of your party can hold a spot on the railing in front of you. The Globe is also "parked" there and it moves to the center of the lake. You get a great close up view as it is turned on right away. For wishes, I like to be as far away from the crowd as possible. We usually end up watching it near the bridge to Adventureland.
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We always watch Wishes from the hub near the castle. As for IllumiNations, our favourite spots are between the United Kingdom and France and over in Italy.
I think I've heard every spot around the World Showcase mentioned as a favorite for Illuminations at some point, so I don't think there is a bad spot!
The first time we saw Wishes we didn't really know what/where it was and we saw it from Pinnochio Haus behind the castle. It was actually pretty cool to be in the middle of the fireworks, although overall Ithink th eeffect is better fomr the front of the castle. But if you've seen it form the front a bunch of times, try behind the castle for one show.
I like a spot near the German pavilion. It seems to be our "go to" spot.
As for Wishes, it often changes. This year, we were behind the castle. Not exactly the same view with the castle as the centerpiece, but there were significantly less people back there.
We had 8:00 reservations at La Hacienda San Angel and asked to be seated right next to the windows. We enjoyed the show at the end of our dinner and stayed dry during one of the many rainstorms! It was perfect!
I've seen Illuminations from the front and back. The front, by Mexico is usually packed, but a nice view. In the back, I like to be by Japan. The torii gate makes a great foreground for photos.
Crowds are not my thing, so I enjoyed Wishes from the Ticket and Transportation Center. In the Magic Kingdom, I also like being in the hub area. The walkway to Liberty Square near the hub gave us a good view.
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For Illuminations its by japan. almost nobody is ever there. we then browse our way through england and then head out
For Wishes the best was at The Tommorowland Dessert Party.
we actually managed to see it on the inaugural date in WDW Tinkerbell flew right over our head and the desserts were delicious
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