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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
(I think I may have posted this in the wrong place, so I'm reposting)
I have problems with both of my knees due to osteoarthritis and torn meniscus, especially climbing up and down stairs. I will not be using a wheelchair or ECV since WDW has so many benches to take a rest, if I need one. When we go to one of the many shows or attractions (like Toy Story Mania) at WDW if I could avoid climbing stairs, and would be allowed to sit in the handicap rows that would be most helpful. Do I need to get a GAC for our trip? That's all that I think I may need the GAC for. šoš
I would say, yes you should get one. If you don't actually need it, you don't have to show it to a CM. But at least, if you discover that you really do need it ... it'll be there, ready to go.
I get one and ask for alternate entrances to avoid steps. I know at the Beauty and the Beast show we were allowed to sit the one the front rows so i could avoid the steps. same was true of the Stunt car show.
Since you won't be using a wheelchair or ECV, I would say get one. Mobility devices tend to signal the CMs that you need a special entrance, no stairs, etc.
My husband uses an ECV, but I use a cane, mostly for stability. At TSMM, the CM intercepted me in line to direct me away from the stairs. At Fantasmic, I asked if there was a place to sit that didn't involve more than one or two steps, and they seated us in the reflective captioning area, one step down. But rather than count on the observational skills of the CMs, I would get the card so they'll know what your needs are.
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.
I get one and ask for alternate entrances to avoid steps. I know at the Beauty and the Beast show we were allowed to sit the one the front rows so i could avoid the steps. same was true of the Stunt car show.
For Beauty and the Beast, the back row is handicapped seating and does not require any steps.
Just so you are aware, going down to the front row involves going down a number of steep switchback ramps, and back up them to exit.
Many people with knee problems find that steep ramps are as hard for them as steps because of the angle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disney Franatic
(I think I may have posted this in the wrong place, so I'm reposting)
I have problems with both of my knees due to osteoarthritis and torn meniscus, especially climbing up and down stairs. I will not be using a wheelchair or ECV since WDW has so many benches to take a rest, if I need one. When we go to one of the many shows or attractions (like Toy Story Mania) at WDW if I could avoid climbing stairs, and would be allowed to sit in the handicap rows that would be most helpful. Do I need to get a GAC for our trip? That's all that I think I may need the GAC for. šoš
As others mentioned, without a Guest Assistance Card, the CMs won't be able to see you have an issue with stairs.
I would suggest taking along the phone numbers of at least one of the off-site ECV rental companies. The average guest at WDW walks at least 3-6 miles per day and some of the lines are a long distance to walk - for example, the line for Soarin' is over 1/4 mile to walk in and another 1/4 mile to walk back to the ride entrance.
Even though it may seem like there are many benches, we had noticed as far back as 6 years ago, when my FIL died, that there seemed to be less and less benches. On our trips since then without him, we have noticed that even more of his favorite benches are no longer there.
So, it would be good to have the numbers of rental companies ready in case you need one.
Last edited by SueM loves WDW; 01-19-2013 at 07:18 PM..
Reason: Typos
I'm going to add my 2 cents: I agree with everyone else.
Go ahead and get it, telling them what sort of assistance you might need (no stairs, place to sit to wait instead of standing in a large queue, etc.).
Then, if you don't need it, don't worry about it. The problem isn't with having it and not using it, but with needing it and not having it (and then having to go all the way to Guest Services to pick one up). Remember - you only need to get it once, at one park, and it's good for your entire stay and for all parks.
[QUOTE=SueM loves WDW;4098336]For Beauty and the Beast, the back row is handicapped seating and does not require any steps.
Just so you are aware, going down to the front row involves going down a number of steep switchback ramps, and back up them to exit.
Many people with knee problems find that steep ramps are as hard for them as steps because of the angle.
The CM said the last row was for people at the parks with folks in ECVs and wheel chairs, since we had no such in our group, i didn't qualify to sit there. I'm sure you're right about the ramp, i just don't remember it being anything but one long ramp down on the east side. .
seems that not all CMs take people in the same way, however it was consistent that i wasn't allowed to use the benches that were allocated for the areas for EVC and wheelchairs. they were for people accompanying folks with EVC and wheelchairs.
(I think I may have posted this in the wrong place, so I'm reposting)
I have problems with both of my knees due to osteoarthritis and torn meniscus, especially climbing up and down stairs. I will not be using a wheelchair or ECV since WDW has so many benches to take a rest, if I need one. When we go to one of the many shows or attractions (like Toy Story Mania) at WDW if I could avoid climbing stairs, and would be allowed to sit in the handicap rows that would be most helpful. Do I need to get a GAC for our trip? That's all that I think I may need the GAC for. šoš
Hello! It looks like there are some good answers here. Remember that getting on and off attractions could be a bit taxing on your knees, and walking in the parks can be a real test of stamina. Just stay aware of how the terrain effects your energy level.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
About This Page: 
10/00- CBR * 9/01 - CSR * 7/03 - CSR * 4-5/04 - POFQ *
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Parlor Panther in 'stalking mode'
Linear Mode
