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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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So I have two friends coming in for the weekend and the way everyone's arrivals and departures fall we really only have one day to spend at Disneyland. Our current plan is to drive up from San Diego super early in the morning to be there for Rope Drop at Disneyland and then park hop over the DCA during the day. We are planning to stay as late as we can (Disneyland is open till 12am) and then drive back to SD at night.
I've been a couple of times but my friends have never been. I am starting to worry that this plan is crazy. Two of us have complimentary park hoppers, and one would have to buy a 1 day park hopper ($160!!!!!!)
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Is it worth the money? I don't know, how much do you love Disney?
If it were me, and two of the three friends had free admission, I'd split the $160 among the three of you (you're there to see each other, right?). $53 and change apiece is not bad at all. It would not be worth the money to me if one of you was forced to pay out that kind of money and the other two did not; I'd resent being forced to pay it, or feel guilty that my friend had to pay so much.
If you go into it with the right attitude--that you know you won't see everything, but plan to have a screamingly good time with whatever you can fit in--you can have not only a fantastic time, but also a great story!
I'd plan a bit...make sure everyone gets a chance to do their top 1 or 2 favorites, figure out how to work the FASTPASSES, pack some sandwiches so you don't waste too much time eating, and plan to have fun. You might want to go ahead and invest in the Disneyland LIVE! Guide, so you can see what's there and so all three of you can decide what you want to see most.
I say go for it, share the admission costs, and have a blast!
Yeah, you can totally do both parks in 1 day. Will you get to everything? Nope. But if you prioritize what you'd like to do then you should be able to accomplish a lot. I would make a list of the rides you are SUPER interested in and make sure you get them in. So research the best touring plans for them.
For instance, if you'd like to do Radiator Springs Racers I'd make sure to get over to DCA for Rope Drop (or get there early enough you can get a FP, which tend to disappear early).
Also, at DL I found some of the ride wait time apps to be helpful. There are some free ones you can get that are alright. Then you know if it is worth making your way across the park or even to hop to the other park.
Have fun!
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I want adventure in the great wide somewhere...and coffee
It'll be a long day, but it is possible. Plan ahead, get fastpasses, do "single rider" whenever possible. For example, we were there last week and the stand-by line for radiator springs was 75 minutes. DH and I opted for single rider, and were were on ride in 7 minutes. You may not get to ride all together, but it is a perfect solution when time is not on your side.
Got it. Single rider line when possible! I think when I share the line lengths they'll be okay with that. I was wondering if we should hit Radiator Springs very first thing, but I figure lines will be long everywhere since it's the weekend.
For instance, if you'd like to do Radiator Springs Racers I'd make sure to get over to DCA for Rope Drop (or get there early enough you can get a FP, which tend to disappear early).
Have fun!
Thanks! I'll have to check and make sure Radiator Springs is one they definitely want to do and then if so we'll go there first.
Originally Posted by CatieLou
Ok so not totally crazy, yes! Thanks for the tip about The Disneyland Live! App.
I think I'll probably just buy her ticket. I live out here so I'm not paying for any plane tickets, while both of them are.
Any suggestions for Fastpasses? From what I've read Space Mountain is one we'll want.
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So generous of you to buy her ticket! I can see this being the most fun girls' day out ever! When are you going, again?
I was going to suggest the single rider line, too, but Debi beat me to it! IIRC, you can do single rider lines at Radiator Springs Racers, Indiana Jones, California Screamin', Splash Mountain, and Soarin' Over the World (not worth it, as you save very little time).
I love thrill rides, so if I were going by myself for one day, this is what I would do:
-DCA rope drop, fast-walk for World of Color FPs, first thing in the morning. You do NOT want to try to see this without one, especially on a busy weekend, because every good spot is roped off for FPs, seriously. (A CM with a sign will lead the crowd to this spot--I believe it's in a bug's land--and keep people from sprinting.)
-FP for Soaring Around the World (WOC FP is not linked to the others)
-Toy Story Midway Mania (no FPs, no single rider line)
-California Screamin', SR line
-Radiator Springs Racers, SR line
-Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters, if they look fun
-Tower of Terror
-Meet Anna & Elsa ('cuz I'm a Frozen nerd)
-Ride Soarin' with FP
Then I'd head over to DLR
-FP for Space Mountain
-Ride Buzz Lightyear
-Ride Star Tours
-Single Rider line for Indiana Jones
-Go back to Space Mountain at FP time
-Use any extra time to visit ToonTown
-Head back to DCA for World of Color
How much of this you can actually do will depend on crowds. You might want to try to see the new Frozen musical in DCA. Parades are nice, but if I were in a hurry I'd use that time for rides, as it can lighten the crowds at the rides a little bit.
Everyone's interests will dictate what you'll want to do, but that's how I'd try to do it (except I'd probably skip Space Mountain with only one day). Matterhorn Bobsleds are so not worth it--a very rough ride!