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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 decided that I want to do pick-a-pearl again in Japan when we go to WDW in Sept. I did it in 2011 and it was fun. We have ADRs for Teppan Edo and I plan on doing it that day/night. Does anyone know the current pricing ? I already purchased a Cinderella couch cage to put the pearl in. I'm really excited to do this again.
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Glad you asked that question. DS (6) was saying this morning he wants to pick another pearl for me this trip, and one for my mom. Last time he picked a fairly large and beautiful blue pearl, which made him feel super-proud.
He wanted to know how much they cost so he can pay for it with his own money this time Love him!
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-- Beth
"There are moments of life worth purchasing with worlds."
Glad you asked that question. DS (6) was saying this morning he wants to pick another pearl for me this trip, and one for my mom. Last time he picked a fairly large and beautiful blue pearl, which made him feel super-proud.
He wanted to know how much they cost so he can pay for it with his own money this time Love him!
That is ADORABLE!!!!
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Lori
“I’m in a Disney state of mind……”
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner w/Fairy Godmother Travel For a Pixie Dust Sprinkled Trip!
Glad you asked that question. DS (6) was saying this morning he wants to pick another pearl for me this trip, and one for my mom. Last time he picked a fairly large and beautiful blue pearl, which made him feel super-proud.
He wanted to know how much they cost so he can pay for it with his own money this time Love him!
Awww.... so sweet!
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"Any wish is possible. All it takes is a little courage to set it free." -Jiminy Cricket
I love the pearl picking!! All these little things in Epcot are the best... I could wander all over these places all day if not for the kids complaining lolol
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5/02 AKL*8/09 POR*10/10 ASMu*8/11 Pop*2/12 ASMu*8/12 POFQ*2/13 ASM*8/13 CB *4/14 AoA*8/14 AKL*8/15 CS*2/16 Disney Magic*8/16 Split stay! POR/BC*2/17 Disney Fantasy & OKW*8/17 Poly/AKL*1/18 ASMu*8/18 SS/?? split stay!
We paid $17.00 a couple of weeks ago. My daughter had her pearl mounted to a small pendant and wants to wear her new necklace on the first day of school this coming Monday. Great little show and souvenir for the money.
I feel silly asking this question but can anyone explain what "pick a pearl" is ?? My daughter would love this. Thanks !!! I probably should know this .
I've only done it once......but plan to do it next month. I did it in Japan at Mitsukoshi store. I did it a couple of years ago and this is what I remember.....You pre-pay at a register...and get a receipt. You then go to the "oyster counter/pool" and when it's your turn, you select an oyster. They do a little "opening ceremony" (a countdown in Japanese) and the oyster is opened. The pearl is cleaned/wiped off and measured and put into a little baggie. Another little ceremony is done. As posted... it now costs $17 for the pearl. You can purchase jewelry there and have it set. When I did it, I purchased 2 oysters and got a pinkish/white pearl and a blue pearl. I got these for my DGDs. I purchased Cinderella coach pearl cages on eBay to put them in.
I've only done it once......but plan to do it next month. I did it in Japan at Mitsukoshi store. I did it a couple of years ago and this is what I remember.....You pre-pay at a register...and get a receipt. You then go to the "oyster counter/pool" and when it's your turn, you select an oyster. They do a little "opening ceremony" (a countdown in Japanese) and the oyster is opened. The pearl is cleaned/wiped off and measured and put into a little baggie. Another little ceremony is done. As posted... it now costs $17 for the pearl. You can purchase jewelry there and have it set. When I did it, I purchased 2 oysters and got a pinkish/white pearl and a blue pearl. I got these for my DGDs. I purchased Cinderella coach pearl cages on eBay to put them in.
This is so great !! Thanks for the info !! I am going to do this with my daughter!!
She loves things like this . Thanks again