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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 am trying to stay positive with this new change. But, I understand that if Disney wanted to, they could join the HIPAA website to verify disabilities, and that that would not violate HIPAA. I understand that if Disney opted into this site, that they would have absolute verification of who has a disability when a visitor asks for accommodation. Please correct me if I am wrong.
I would say yes, that is true, but (I work in a military medical facility) it would be a ridiculous risk for everyone involved. It is so easy to violate the HIPAA laws and can be a huge fine for the person actually letting whatever slip. Things you don't think would be a violation are.
I am a healthcare worker and have had education about HIPAA
It is NOT a website that lists people with disabilities. There is no master list anywhere in the US of people with disabilities.
HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
It is a law that covers portability of Health Insurance (how your healthcare insurance can be used.
The Privacy part sets standards for safe electronic storage or medical information and how information can be used and shared. It sets Standards for sharing information - basically, as a Health Care worker, I can access only information I need to do my job as a healthcare worker.
It also sets standards about sharing information between health care facilities like hospitals, clinics, etc.
HIPAA does NOT cover anything outside of health care facilities, so DISNEY (or any other business that is not involved in healthcare) is not under or involved in any way with HIPAA.
The reason Disney can't ask for proof of disability is that the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) says people can't be forced to prove their disability in order to get accommodations they need related to their disability.
Last edited by SueM loves WDW; 09-29-2013 at 12:02 AM..
I am a healthcare worker and have had education about HIPAA
It is NOT a website that lists people with disabilities. There is no master list anywhere in the US of people with disabilities.
HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
It is a law that covers portability of Health Insurance (how your healthcare insurance can be used.
The Privacy part sets standards for safe electronic storage or medical information and how information can be used and shared. It sets Standards for sharing information - basically, as a Health Care worker, I can access only information I need to do my job as a healthcare worker.
It also sets standards about sharing information between health care facilities like hospitals, clinics, etc.
HIPAA does NOT cover anything outside of health care facilities, so DISNEY (or any other business that is not involved in healthcare) is not under or involved in any way with HIPAA.
The reason Disney can't ask for proof of disability is that the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) says people can't be forced to prove their disability in order to get accommodations they need related to their disability.
My husband is an RN with 30 years of experience and I am a trained advocate for people with disabilities. We both would have said essentially the same thing. HIPPA protects your medical records and history. The ADA prevents asking specifically about your disabling condition; they can only ask what accommodations you need to experience the various attractions.
I am trying to stay positive with this new change. But, I understand that if Disney wanted to, they could join the HIPAA website to verify disabilities, and that that would not violate HIPAA. I understand that if Disney opted into this site, that they would have absolute verification of who has a disability when a visitor asks for accommodation. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Interesting thought. What would you hope that could accomplish?
Interesting thought. What would you hope that could accomplish?
....that could be the absolute worst thing that Disney could do from a liability standpoint. Because the DAS will still technically be administered based on "the honor system" ....you tell them your name and that you have a disability ...and they issue the card. And that's as far as Disney's personal investigation can go.
....if they were part of the HIPAA system ...and somehow made an incorrect assessment / judgement / decision on anyone based on the system not being up to date or for any other reason .....they'd be open to legal actions.
....it's probably wisest ...from a legal angle ...that Disney not become involved in the healthcare system.
....although the "honor system" aspect of the DAS may seem to be the possible weak link from protecting against fraud ....based on info that's been leaked from CM's that are now going thru orientation for the new system ...there are definite negative repercussions to those that intend to abuse it.
....that could be the absolute worst thing that Disney could do from a liability standpoint. Because the DAS will still technically be administered based on "the honor system" ....you tell them your name and that you have a disability ...and they issue the card. And that's as far as Disney's personal investigation can go.
....if they were part of the HIPAA system ...and somehow made an incorrect assessment / judgement / decision on anyone based on the system not being up to date or for any other reason .....they'd be open to legal actions.
....it's probably wisest ...from a legal angle ...that Disney not become involved in the healthcare system.
....although the "honor system" aspect of the DAS may seem to be the possible weak link from protecting against fraud ....based on info that's been leaked from CM's that are now going thru orientation for the new system ...there are definite negative repercussions to those that intend to abuse it.
Legally, healthcare facilities could not share information with Disney because Disney would have no reason to have that information that is related to the person's medical care.
How, with whom, under what circumstances and why information is shared that is necessary to provide medical care for a person is what HIPAA is about.
There is no 'central computer' that has lists of people with disabilities, so there is no system to be out of date. Information is shared on thousands of individual health care/physician office computer systems, so there is no 'one stop shop' to get it from.
Legally, healthcare facilities could not share information with Disney because Disney would have no reason to have that information that is related to the person's medical care.
How, with whom, under what circumstances and why information is shared that is necessary to provide medical care for a person is what HIPAA is about.
There is no 'central computer' that has lists of people with disabilities, so there is no system to be out of date. Information is shared on thousands of individual health care/physician office computer systems, so there is no 'one stop shop' to get it from.
Legally, healthcare facilities could not share information with Disney because Disney would have no reason to have that information that is related to the person's medical care.
How, with whom, under what circumstances and why information is shared that is necessary to provide medical care for a person is what HIPAA is about.
There is no 'central computer' that has lists of people with disabilities, so there is no system to be out of date. Information is shared on thousands of individual health care/physician office computer systems, so there is no 'one stop shop' to get it from.
.....correct. I guess I short sheeted my overall response on that one. My base point was ...as you indicated ...Disney isn't in the healthcare business ...doesn't belong in the healthcare business ...so doesn't warrant access to that info ...for numerous reasons.
.....correct. I guess I short sheeted my overall response on that one. My base point was ...as you indicated ...Disney isn't in the healthcare business ...doesn't belong in the healthcare business ...so doesn't warrant access to that info ...for numerous reasons.
I am trying to stay positive with this new change. But, I understand that if Disney wanted to, they could join the HIPAA website to verify disabilities, [...]
As others have said, that's not how the HIPAA works.
And, let me throw yet another spanner in the works for this idea: the HIPAA wouldn't know a thing about disabled travellers from foreign countries. And WDW gets a lot of those.
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Thank you so much for this information. I do not work in health care, and I do not know about HIPAA laws, even with the countless HIPAA forms that I have signed. I am obviously ignorant on this issue.
I still do not understand from a legal perspective that if a patient waives privacy, and gives permission to contact a physician for verification, how that could be illegal.
For example, to get a handicap license plate, a physician needs to fill out a form issued by the DMV.
Thank you so much for this information. I do not work in health care, and I do not know about HIPAA laws, even with the countless HIPAA forms that I have signed. I am obviously ignorant on this issue.
I still do not understand from a legal perspective that if a patient waives privacy, and gives permission to contact a physician for verification, how that could be illegal.
For example, to get a handicap license plate, a physician needs to fill out a form issued by the DMV.
Thank you everyone for enlightening me so far.
A handicapped license plate or hang-tag is considered "better than equal" accommodation -- the user gets to park closer in spots that other non-disabled are not entitled to use. Therefore, proof of disability can be and is required.
Most public locations do not offer, nor strive to offer, "better than equal" accommodations. The ADA allows for "equal" access, not better. The intent is not to provide a special privilege beyond what's available to the general non-disabled public. Therefore, proof of disability cannot be required.
As to waiving privacy through HIPAA - that is specific to the patient and his/her circumstances. You can waive privacy for a family member(s), one or more physicians/facilities, etc. and usually for a specific purpose or timeframe. There is no way to waive that privacy to any/all outside sources. You certainly have the right to share any of your medical history yourself with anyone (the grocery store clerk, your next-door neighbor, WDW Guest Relations) -- HIPAA doesn't control that. But the bottom line is, WDW has no fool-proof way of verifying disability. Your local DMV can contact your doctor, WDW isn't going to do that.
I believe what the OP is worried about may not actually be HIPAA related, but some website that would describe accepted medical diagnosis and what they entail?
I'm a nurse, and let me tell you, HIPAA is VERY strict about what can be viewed by whom. I cannot even access my own files. I cannot access my DH's or any of my children's, even though our records are all tied into the computer database at the hospital I work at. If I have a lab test done, I have to do as everyone else and wait for the doctor's office to call me or send me the results. This is for one reason - I do NOT need to access those files to do my job. I can only access what I need to do my job for any patient I am assigned. I can't even access a patient's file who is not my patient, unless I am filling for someone on break or on lunch - and then only to do what needs to be done at the moment (Let's say Sally goes on lunch, and asks me to watch her patients. If during the time she's gone Mr. Jones asks for pain medication, I can look up what he's allowed to have and when the last time it was given was. I CANNOT look to see what the social worker had to say about him or what his psych evaluation said, as I don't need that for the half hour I am providing care).
HIPAA also means I can't stand around with my co-workers and talk about a patient's test results, call a patient's home and tell his/her spouse test results, leave a message on the phone other than "Please call us back", or any number of things. It's sometimes a little frustrating, but as a patient, it's nice to know there are laws governing what can and cannot be shared.
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