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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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what are the perks to being on it anyway? I remember there was a thread last summer about applications. I am so addicted to all things Disney and I want to plan trips for all my friends. I seriously need to get Disney-related gig or else become a part-time travel agent! writing is my passion, too. I did complete a self-help book manuscript on student debt years back. Got one of only a handful of literary agents in Canada, but they didn't feel students would buy my book so it didn't get published. maybe passporter needs a guide for Canadians???
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If memory serves, Disney Mom's panel applications open up mid-September. Not sure of the perks, but it would definitely be an honor and a commitment. Good luck finding an outlet for your Disney passion. That's part of what inspired our blog.
Helping others on the boards is also a great way to share your knowledge, experience, and passion.
Yes, they have traditionally opened up the application process in mid-September in previous years. It's highly competitive with them accepting 20k applications and only a handful making it to the panel (the process is multi round interviews/submissions.) As far as perks go, panelists are brought in for several days at the beginning of December for "training", which sounds amazing. Beyond that, I fairly sure there is no monetary perks, just a pretty prestigious (IMO) opportunity to share knowledge as a Disney "expert."
I actually think there are a few PP'ers who have served on the panel so maybe one of them can chime in. I know there are lots of us who apply yearly too...
I believe the people chosen are given a 4-day (maybe a five-day) vacation for 4 friends/family.
The first round has typically been several 100-word essays on a specific question they ask.
Second round is more essays, plus (I think) a video piece for people who make it past the first round.
Third round are telephone interviews.
As others have pointed out, traditionally opens in mid-September, first round are typically three questions with a 100 word max answer per question, partially tests your Disney knowledge, partially to get to know you. Second round is more of the same, third round is the telephone interview.
Perks, as was said, was a training period in the beginning of December for the successful applicants. I don't know if there is much more beyond that. You also have to have a minimum number of questions answered/activity done on the Mom's Panel board per week as well.
I've personally made it into the second round twice, never gotten the phone interview yet. I also wish they would have named it something different than "Mom's Panel". Is somewhat insulting to all the Dad's that have been members/do the planning for their family trips...
Tim
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Hey, check out my blog all about being active with a disability -> activeandblind.com
As others have pointed out, traditionally opens in mid-September, first round are typically three questions with a 100 word max answer per question, partially tests your Disney knowledge, partially to get to know you. Second round is more of the same, third round is the telephone interview.
Perks, as was said, was a training period in the beginning of December for the successful applicants. I don't know if there is much more beyond that. You also have to have a minimum number of questions answered/activity done on the Mom's Panel board per week as well.
I've personally made it into the second round twice, never gotten the phone interview yet. I also wish they would have named it something different than "Mom's Panel". Is somewhat insulting to all the Dad's that have been members/do the planning for their family trips...
pulling for you, Tim! your time has come! I know what you mean about misnomer of Mom's panel, as they do have Dads on it and it is really nice to hear Dads' opinions!!
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