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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 DD11 is a HUGE HP fan! We'll be in Disney the last week of July. She's been asking to see the HP attractions so I'm thinking about taking her. I'll get the park to park ticket but we'll only have a partial day (thinking 8 to 2 on a weekday).
I've read the Unofficial Guide WDW 2015 warnings about crowds and it's scaring me off. Our main focus would be all the HP stuff. Does anyone have any advice? Tell me the good, bad and the ugly please.
If we see anything beyond HP, that would be a bonus but as long as we can explore the HP attractions, etc she would be thrilled! For those who have been do you think this is possible in July?
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My DD11 is a HUGE HP fan! We'll be in Disney the last week of July. She's been asking to see the HP attractions so I'm thinking about taking her. I'll get the park to park ticket but we'll only have a partial day (thinking 8 to 2 on a weekday).
I've read the Unofficial Guide WDW 2015 warnings about crowds and it's scaring me off. Our main focus would be all the HP stuff. Does anyone have any advice? Tell me the good, bad and the ugly please.
If we see anything beyond HP, that would be a bonus but as long as we can explore the HP attractions, etc she would be thrilled! For those who have been do you think this is possible in July?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Glad you are getting a park-to-park ticket as that is the only way to ride Hogwarts Express. Islands of Adventure will not be as crowded as Diagon Alley. You may want to start at US at Diagon Alley, ride Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade and return (both directions offer a different experience!)
When you say "weekday" what do you mean? A Friday crowd will be different than say a Monday or Tuesday.
Arriving early is the best!
Have a great trip!
Glad you are getting a park-to-park ticket as that is the only way to ride Hogwarts Express. Islands of Adventure will not be as crowded as Diagon Alley. You may want to start at US at Diagon Alley, ride Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade and return (both directions offer a different experience!)
When you say "weekday" what do you mean? A Friday crowd will be different than say a Monday or Tuesday.
Arriving early is the best!
Have a great trip!
Thanks for the tips! Fun that the train ride is different in each direction. We'll try to ride both ways. It's probably going to be a Wednesday or Thursday.
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Location: Chapel Hill, NC USA
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I was there for five days last July. We stayed at Cabana Bay.
The crowds were not unbearable. But we got there for opening or before it, then left before lunch to go back to the pool, just as tons of people were coming in, including big groups of South American teens. Then we came back to the parks before dinner time, they were mostly on their way out. We didn't find lines early or late to be too awful...except for Despicable Me which is always busy. It's hot, but lots of rides are inside.
I was there for five days last July. We stayed at Cabana Bay.
The crowds were not unbearable. But we got there for opening or before it, then left before lunch to go back to the pool, just as tons of people were coming in, including big groups of South American teens. Then we came back to the parks before dinner time, they were mostly on their way out. We didn't find lines early or late to be too awful...except for Despicable Me which is always busy. It's hot, but lots of rides are inside.
Any questions.
Thanks! That's encouraging that lines weren't too bad.
We plan to be there before the 8AM opening and stay until early afternoon. We're thinking we'll go to Diagon Alley first thing, hopefully get right in (get a return time if it's full) , explore everything there and then take the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade. My DD11 wants to ride all the attractions, buy a wand in Olivanders and explore the other shops. If we're able to get all that done in the morning, we'll do a few more attractions as a bonus. This is probably our one and only trip to US/IOA. Does this sound possible?
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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I should think so. There are so few rides and mostly just taking time to look around.
Do the Gringotts ride first then go in Ollivanders in Diagon Alley (they have several rooms in that one and the line is faster). Look around a bit and then take the train over to Hogsmeade and do Forbidden Journey. Will you also be doing the Dragons Coaster (never much of a line for those) and Hippogriff? Do them next and then look around. Hopefully you'll be able to catch a show on the outdoor stage. When you go back to Diagon Alley, try to catch a show there too. Eating at either restaurant will be fun.
I love Suessland at IOA. The atmosphere is great and I just like to sit for a few minutes and take it in. I also think the rides are fun. I think anyone going to Universal with an open mind will have a great time.
I should think so. There are so few rides and mostly just taking time to look around.
Do the Gringotts ride first then go in Ollivanders in Diagon Alley (they have several rooms in that one and the line is faster). Look around a bit and then take the train over to Hogsmeade and do Forbidden Journey. Will you also be doing the Dragons Coaster (never much of a line for those) and Hippogriff? Do them next and then look around. Hopefully you'll be able to catch a show on the outdoor stage. When you go back to Diagon Alley, try to catch a show there too. Eating at either restaurant will be fun.
Thanks for your suggestions! Sounds great. Yes, I do think my daughter will want to do the Dragon Coaster and Hippogriff.
I love Suessland at IOA. The atmosphere is great and I just like to sit for a few minutes and take it in. I also think the rides are fun. I think anyone going to Universal with an open mind will have a great time.
I have looked beyond the HP stuff in my research yet. I will be sure to do so once we make a definite decision to go. Thanks for the tip about Suessland!
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