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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Linking AP to band
I must admit....I have not read everything there is about the new system.
But now that I have a trip coming up in May, I am quickly realizing I have many questions!
I am a DVC member - with a current reservation in May at Kidani Village.
I am an AP holder - but I need to renew my AP. I will be doing that by the end of March. (my current AP expired last October)
My niece who is going with me will also be purchasing an AP in late March or early April.
Are AP holders able to link their AP's to the bands?
If so, will we be able to do the fastplass + online before we go?
If we are not able to choose our fastpass + online before we go, will we be able to do them once we are at WDW?
Thank you in advance for any help regarding the APs and the bands!
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You will be able to link your AP and choose your FP+ before you go! Anyone with valid admission staying at a Walt Disney World Resort can book FP+ up to 60 days in advance and they are currently testing advance FP+ reservations for AP holders, even without a resort reservation.
Definitely still carry your photo ID and AP card. You won't need to take them out all the time, but as mentioned, you will need both to get the AP discount for meals or merchandise. There should be no problem setting up FP+ before you go.
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Thank you so much for the quick responses!
Ok - that helps me a great deal!!!!
Now - I do have another question.
If I purchase my AP online - I will only have a voucher - correct?
Will that voucher have what I need to link it to the band? Or am I going to need the actual AP in my possession to have the number from it to link it to the band?
Thank you so much for the quick responses!
Ok - that helps me a great deal!!!!
Now - I do have another question.
If I purchase my AP online - I will only have a voucher - correct?
Will that voucher have what I need to link it to the band? Or am I going to need the actual AP in my possession to have the number from it to link it to the band?
I renewed my AP before my last trip and didn't even have a voucher. DVC just gave me a renewal number over the phone. They said the old AP card itself would be re-used for another year. If your new AP is a renewal, and your old Ap says "2013-2014" on it, you can just use the number on your old AP for your MagicBand. If it's a brand new AP and not a renewal, you'd use the number on the voucher. I used the voucher number from a friend's new AP and it worked fine for our recent trip.
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 got my AP when I arrived at Walt Disney World. Hooking it up to my MagicBand was REALLY easy. I just got out my iPhone, went to MyDisneyExperience, then to the Tickets section. I typed in the number on the back of my Annual Pass, and bingo -- hooked up! It works on all three of my MagicBands (multiple trips). I was impressed at how easy it was to hook up to my MagicBands.
And yes, carry your AP card and ID around for the discounts. I had it in my PassHolder Pouch and all the cast members recognized it and simply gave me the discount. I never even had to take it out my pouch,. I don't think anyone asked for my ID, but they could.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
I have an annual pass, but do not stay onsite. When I signed on to My Disney experience tonight to check on my ADR for our trip in April, I got a screen that told me I could customize my magic Bands. Whoo Hoo! 4 Magic bands customized and ordered. I am not yet able to make Fast Pass + reservations. Hopefully that will happen soon.
Yes, it's my understanding that they are rolling out MagicBands to annual passholders now, though not everyone has the option that Lil Moose mentioned yet.
Just to clarify, you don't link APs to the bands, you add them to your MDE account. Any bands on your account have the same function.
For example, I'll have three MBs for my trip in May. One I got last year, one for this reservation, and my AP MB. All three are on my account and will be able to open my room door and let me into the parks.
__________________
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah...Tip for Today!
Proud DVC Member since December 2010
Home Resort: Bay Lake Towers
Diagnosed Sleep Apnea June 2012
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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and choose your FP+ before you go! Anyone with valid admission staying at a Walt Disney World Resort can book FP+ up to 60 days in advance and they are currently testing advance FP+ reservations for AP holders, even without a resort reservation. 
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