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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Tell me about Boardwalk...Please!
DH and I have decided to rent DVC points and are trying for AKL or Boardwalk in November. After looking at pictures I am leaning towards Boardwalk the studios look nice and I LOVE the location (favorite park is Epcot). So for those of you who have stayed there please tell me pros and cons and any helpful info you have! TIA!!!
I'm staying there this summer for the first time and I'm curious to hear opinions as well.
When in November will your trip be? If it's early November you might have a hard time getting into Boardwalk Villas as it is very popular during Food and Wine which goes until November 14 this year. You are into the 7 month window for November booking (where any DVC member can book any resort, not just their home.). Don't wait to try to secure something as availability at resorts will become more limited as time goes on. For future reference, if you want a specific DVC resort, you'll probably have better luck renting closer to 11 months out.
I haven't stayed there, however, I have stayed at the Yacht Club and the location is amazing! I have heard that the Boardwalk is doing some renovations but I do not know what all it involves or how long the work will take. It maybe something that you want to look into.
DH and I have decided to rent DVC points and are trying for AKL or Boardwalk in November. After looking at pictures I am leaning towards Boardwalk the studios look nice and I LOVE the location (favorite park is Epcot). So for those of you who have stayed there please tell me pros and cons and any helpful info you have! TIA!!!
Boardwalk is our "home" resort with DVC since 2006. We love it!
Pros:
Walking to and from Epcot is oh so very handy (especially after Illuminations).
For meal variety and convenience, we often mono-rail from Magic Kingdom around noon to Epcot, have a World Showcase meal, and then walk to Boardwalk for an afternoon pool break.
Boat or walk to Studios. (We usually boat to Studios, but walk back at night to avoid Fantasmic crowds.) So overall, a lot less bussing!
Theming is so beautiful in the entire area. (And we're certainly looking forward to the refurbished rooms for our May 2016 trip!)
Night time entertainment! -- ESPN, Jellyrolls, and the Boardwalk entertainers (jugglers, magicians, etc.)
Excellent variety of nearby restaurants -- especially with Swan, Dolphin, and Yacht & Beach Club all nearby too.
You can walk to the Fantasia mini-golf (near Swan).
Cons:
Bus service can be slow due to sharing with Swan and Dolphin.
Some people will complain about the long hallways, but not a big deal to us.
We have stayed at BWI many times over the years, it is absolutely our favorite resort. Love the location as well as the feel and opportunities available there. We love the artifacts throughout the resort and the entertainment on the boardwalk at night. We are actually staying there again this summer and cannot wait to return to our home away from home. Enjoy!
BWVs is my home resort..........since 1999. I've had many great vacations there. I usually get a boardwalk view location.
One of our favorite things is to get up and out early for coffee and pastry from BoardWalk Bakery and eat right there on the boardwalk. ........watching the "friendships" on Crescent Lake. It's such a peaceful way to begin our day.
We do love the location and ease to getting to and from Epcot and HS. I usually go through Epcot and get the monorail (with hopper) to MK instead of taking a bus.
Illuminations can be seen from some of the rooms......the high fireworks. The lobby (check in) is beautiful ........especially during the holidays,
Another favorite is getting a glass of wine.....or other adult beverage after Illuminations and sitting in "France" as the crowds leave...then walk back to the resort.
It really is a fun place to be. I love it.
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I love Boardwalk! Walking to Epcot is fantastic (but it's a healthy walk - you're not right on top of the entrance). I love the decor at Boardwalk. It also has my favorite lounge - Belle Vue Lounge. There are comfy stuffed chairs, and it's just quiet and bright and pleasant. The "Boardwalk" restaurant area is great too. They've put in some good food options. At night, there are street entertainers. During the day, it isn't as fun, so plan to spend any time there at night.
Some people don't like the clown slide at the pool. The whole pool area is actually not that great - it tends to feel crowded because it's just one big, open space.
The BW is a great resort and stayed there once before. Just so convenient to Epcot and Studios. I actually walked to Studios as the boats make several stops and often I will get to Studios before the boat does. It takes about 15 minutes and is very direct. Lots of good dining choices in the area and also has one of the best resort lounges with Bellevue Lounge.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I just stayed there on my trip a few weeks ago. While I love the location and think it's a beautiful resort, there's just something about it that doesn't make me want to jump at the chance to go back. I'm definitely not a fan of their pool, not just because of the clown, but because it just feels like something's missing. Also, depending on where your room is located, it can be a bit of a walk to the lobby or transportation area. I had requested a higher room that was closer to transportation, which I got, but the problem was that they were renovating the floor that had access to that walkway, and only Cast Members were allowed through the doors. Defeated the purpose of my request. Give it a try and see how you end up liking it. It may turn out to be your favorite.
I'm staying there this summer for the first time and I'm curious to hear opinions as well.
When in November will your trip be? If it's early November you might have a hard time getting into Boardwalk Villas as it is very popular during Food and Wine which goes until November 14 this year. You are into the 7 month window for November booking (where any DVC member can book any resort, not just their home.). Don't wait to try to secure something as availability at resorts will become more limited as time goes on. For future reference, if you want a specific DVC resort, you'll probably have better luck renting closer to 11 months out.
You are very right about possibly having difficulties getting Boardwalk Villas during Food & Wine! We rented points for our vacation last year and I was initially trying for Boardwalk (I was renting around the 11 month out period) and could not get anything! We ended up choosing AK Kidanni Village, which has now become my DD's favourite resort - everything happens for a reason I suppose lol! But do try sooner than later just in case you are able to still get a reservation