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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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My first official PTR: Our adventure has already begun with the planning. Our flight to Orlando from Buffalo, Ny is scheduled for January 16th for 7 nights.
6 day pass w/out park hopper for my family , My DD and DSM are only getting 4 day.
Our room is booked at Saratoga Springs resort. We have a 2 bedroom suite for the following cast of characters;
My DD and DSM - 72 and 74.
My DH - Chris (53)
ME - (51)
My DD Felicia ( 25)
My DD - Stephanie and DGD Ella-( 30 and 4)
my DS - Erick ( 13)
My sister and her family will be there as well as her in laws. But not staying with us ust an occassional dinner and time spent. Cant paln for everyone, theyre DVC so I def don't have to plan for them.
Ordering from Garden Grocer, sending a box in advance and renting both a stroller and a wheelchair before we get there.
Nice and easy is the plan. It may look like a regimen at first but we are a family of "need to follow a plan" to start. Always room to stray and venture off when neccessary and always allow for downtime.
Not doing Park Hopper. We were there in 2006 and never needed it,so i will make this work as well.
Currently, I have had no imput from anyone so that means " its the Queens way" or "off weith their heads"
So, tentatively, this is the Plan.
arriving Saturday early flight from Buffalo at 7am. Puts in Orlando at 9:45am Nice and easy to the Resort, leave bags and off on our adventure. (I know weather is iffy in January, so, suits will be in our carry ons just in case.)
I have never been to any resort on the monorail, except Polynesian for Ohana , so I would like to check out the Contempory, maybe lunch at Chef Mickey . My DD is a bit hard of hearing so the open space will echo, but then again maybe he wont come.
Then off to the Grand Floridian. I would love to do 1900 Park Fare with that cast of characters, than not worry about Crystal Palace on Sunday when we go to MK.
Definetly the Polynisian as I heard there was a new bar to try. and Maybe wishes fireworks and Electric Water Parade at the end from the beach.
We could always turn it around and go backwards - looking for sound advise here!!
Sunday would be Magic Kingdom day if we need to see the fireworks ,but now that Im thinking about it we could do HS on Monday ( its a Holiday) as my 4 year old DGD would be equally excited to see Disney Jr characters too. Breakfast at Hollywood and Vine with the characters - ending it Fantasmic. Of course time for a nap, Im Sure.
Monday is Magic Kingdom Day( also a Holiday). - Dinner at 7 at Be Our Gueszt ( i hope,) MSEP at 9pm Tuesday becomes Animal Kingdom. Dinner at Hoop dee doo Revue. Wednesday is Epcot . want to do Princess Breakfast at Akerhus. Then half of the park. and illuminations. Thursday Maybe a day off or MK again to finish up Friday would be Mk if we took Thursday off or day off. Saturday is our travel day. hOwever, our flight is not departing until 6pm, so I figure we can do the rest of Epcot if we didn't drink our way around the first time. LOL
As for your arrival day are you suggesting resort hopping for the day?
If I am reading that correctly the plans sound good. I would end either at Cali Grill at the Contemporary or the new bar at the Poly so you can watch wishes. The plus for the Poly is you can see the Electrical Water Pageant too. Every review I have read has given it high marks except for the wait time. Also kids are not permitted inside at the bar after 8 but are allowed on the terrace from whereby ou can watch wishes. Beach also works though.
Chef Mickey is very very loud & crazy. But I would choose character meals based on who you want to see not the food or location. There is a relatively new PP thread on Chef Mickey reviews. We love love love CP for the Pooh & Friends as well as the location & food offerings (huge buffet). Might be a good option for you on your MK day as an early ADR allowing you to enter the MK before rope drop.
Great start to your plans!
Last edited by cattailmarsh; 06-18-2015 at 12:52 PM..
Great plans! Gotta love those early morning, non stop flights from Buffalo!
Nice that it is now $100 less!
We are taking Southwest from BUF to MCO in September and I was pleased to pay just under $200 for round trip tix.
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Today I firmed up my plans with the Patriarch of our family, my dad. He told me that what ever I wanted to do was ok with him and his wife. I am going to make reservations for 1900 Park fare on arrival day, Hollywood Studios for day 1, Be our guest dinner for day 2, Hoop dee doo for day 3, and Akerhus for day 5. everthing else... we are going to play it by ear.
As a surprise, he told me he was going to pay for 1/2. Not split by 8 and x number in family ( 4 gereations here). Military Discount is 40%!!! Wahoooooo