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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chapel Hill, NC USA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 36,592
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How old is/are your child/children?
There are Clubs that you can check your kids ages 4-12 into so that you can go out.
There are a couple businesses that provide babysitters in your room for kids that are younger, or may not want to be with a group. They are not provided by Disney, but are OKed by Disney to conduct business with guests.
We left our kids at the Neverland Club at the Poly one evening when they were younger. While DS liked it and participated in several areas of the room, DD fell asleep in front of the big screen tv that was playing movies, so didn't do as much as he did.
I've never used a babysitter there, but I know other Passporters have and hopefully will come and let you know about that.
We have used Kid's Nite Out sitter services at WDW twice for DS, Dniece, and Dnephew while the adults went to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal. We had fantastic experiences both times. The kids loved the sitters. DS is too old for a sitter now, but if I had still had a little one, I wouldn't hesitate to use them again!
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MNSSHP 2015: DH (Bane), Me (Batgirl), Genie, and our friends
We used Kid's Nite Out as well. They were fantastic. The sitter had us fill out an info sheet with everything from medical info like allergies to if they are allowed to take the kids to the food court for a drink or to the arcade, to what time is bedtime. The sitters are first aid and CPR certified. She came with games, movies, all sorts of entertainment. DS couldn't wait for us to leave, he was practically shoving us out the door lol. He had a blast while we were gone and was sound asleep by time we got back.
The Disney sitting service is very good, albeit a bit pricey, but hey its Disney! I have never used their sitters on property but I have known and used them off property (I used to to live in Celebration and knew several folks who worked as disney sitters and they would sit for my kids). They have a very thorough background check/screening and are trustworthy. I would definitely use this service. However, the kids clubs would probably be more fun for the kiddos than sitting in a hotel room IMO. :-) (At least for my kiddos LOL) Have fun!
However, the kids clubs would probably be more fun for the kiddos than sitting in a hotel room IMO. :-)
My DS actually much preferred the babysitter to the kids club. He claimed the kids club to be "babyish" (he was 9 at the time though).
With the sitter, you can give permission for them to take the kid/s around your resort, to the playgrounds or food court or wherever (except no pool, for safety reason), so they definitely don't have to just sit in the room all night.
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MNSSHP 2015: DH (Bane), Me (Batgirl), Genie, and our friends
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 now when we last traveled with a child we got Kids Night out and from the time the sitter arrived we where just in the way as far as the Child felt. The sitter brought toys and it was heaven.
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Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
We used the sandcastle club at beach club in November 2013. We sent DS11 there so we could enjoy dinner at the Yachtsman. He had fun, yes it was "pricey" but I had it budgeted so I didn't mind. He got kid time, we got adult time, well worth the money we spent. If you are worried, what are you worried about? The caregivers were extremely nice, DS said he enjoyed his time but he was hungry when we picked him up. Any specific questions feel free to ask here or PM me.
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Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
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