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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We've done the Sci Fi Drive In & Brown Derby multiple times for table service at HS and we're looking to do something new for our next trip and we're looking at Mama Melrose's & 50's PTC. To be honest, I'm not too thrilled with the idea of PTC because of the schtick from the CM's. I don't like the whole "rude service" thing that some restaurants do. So my questions are:
1. How far do the CM's go with the schtick at PTC?
2. How's the food at Mama Melrose's?
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I agree - don't avoid Prime Time because of the CM's antics. If you politely tell your server you would rather not partake in it, they'll leave you alone but I have to say I did that one year and actually missed the playfulness of the meal. The next time we went back, because we didn't do anything really to set off the "stand in the corner" and "airplane" antics, the most we were "scolded" about were elbows on the table (we were guilty) and our server handed us the silverware and napkins and said something along the lines of "Do you think you're guests here or something? You're family so go ahead and set the table." My camera was also spotted on the table so another server came over, told us all to sit together and told our server to get in the picture because we didn't have enough pictures with her in them. It was fun but by no means obnoxious.
So basically the more you play along (purposely leaving food on your plate, etc) the more interaction you're going to get. The less you play along, the less interaction. At least that's been my experience.
We have a avoided 50's PTC in the past but the consensus was to try it this vacation. It was ok. Nothing exciting but not bad either. We were told to set the table and to clean our plates but not much more. The table next to us were really playing along so the server went much further with them.
Surprisingly, we all enjoyed our dinner at Hollywood & Vine this trip. The food was diverse and plentiful and it was all hot. On the past we have read many poor reviews from here and were very skeptical but we were happily surprised. Our server was also efficient knowing we were most interested in getting in and out and not lingering.
We have always enjoyed 50's PT. I like the decor and the food has always been good but maybe not great. The schtick has always been mild and fun. One time many years ago, my young daughter was not feeling much like eating. We mentioned that to our waiter and he didn't bother her. If you ask your host when they seat you they will not do their "act."
We ate a MM once and it was ok but we weren't impressed and have not been back. Our favorites at HS are 50's and Sci-fi.
We love 50's PT and play along every time. However, I understand others may not want to - and the servers will follow your wishes. The food is good comfort food, and the servings are exceedingly plentiful. If you're paying OOP, you could easily share a meal between 2 - more if you're not big eaters.
We are not fans of MM.
We've eaten at both multiple times.
Mama Melrose is a bit quieter, has their own bathroom--50's shares with H & V. Both have good food and some of our favorite appetizers--calamari at MM and onion rings at 50's. It's Italian fare vs. down home favorites such as meatloaf and chicken potpie.
My feeling is that you can't go wrong with either.
Good luck with your decision and have a great trip!
I really enjoy the food at 50s PT. Its good comfort food. I love the ambiance too, but we haven't had over the top servers. I do like watching other tables have fun. We haven't asked to avoid the antics, it just happens that way lol .
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We really enjoy MM. It's a nice break from the park. We have avoided PTC as DD is shy and might be uncomfortable, but now she's older we will have to give it a try.
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