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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Yes, I am returning to the work place...after 5 months of being unemployed!
Just in the nick of time too, because my unemployment is ending next month. I was getting a tad stressed, because how would I pay my bills! There is no extension here in PA- oh because the Employment Rate is low.
It has been a Journey in finding a full time job. Since July I had many interviews where each would say, "Yes we will let you know the outcome". Sure....and each of them lied, I never heard or I emailed and I got the same answer "we hired someone with more experience".
I am so Grateful...but This job I am starting tomorrow is paying really low, and I am just not understanding what happened to the cost of living? I still am working part-time at my seasonal job at the candy store. I will be working every weekend....
After not working for 5 months the last thing I want is to be at home....
My hours will be 8-5, I get paid every week (nice perk!), eventually I will be working one Saturday which will be overtime (bring that on!), and Health benefits start on 1-1-19. I do plan on looking for a part-time job with just a little more pay, after the new year. (The candy store will be 5 years- time to move on). This new job is only 2 miles from my house too. I am really looking forward to working in a new atmosphere where there isn't a wife running the office. Nice and friendly people!
My title is Appointment Scheduler- for a Car Dealership. I also suggested that I get cross-trained, in case someone is out or etc. I like the Service Manager- he is the one that hired me. (I am still going to look for a full time job that pays a bit more- I hate to do this but I have too). He told me during the interview that the office has a huge turn over- because of the pay. If the dealership could pay a bit more, I would stay...at this point I am taking a big pay-cut. (That is why I have to work a part-time job)
But I am still Happy to going back to full time work!
Please wish me Luck...... Thank you!
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
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Congrats and Good Luck Kate. You'll do great. It is sad though that they acknowledge the high turn over due to pay but do nothing about it. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow.
Have a great first day! Crazy they don't increase the pay if they know that is why they keep losing people and then are having to spend time hiring and training frequently.
Best wishes to you, Kate, as you begin your new job. Maybe they’ll see the light and raise your pay!!!
Your starting so much more quickly than I am. The job I’ve gotten has required sooooo many steps to complete before starting work, but I expect to probably hear from them sometime this week about a start date. Even after we arrive at a date, I still have to be fingerprinted, because I will be employed by the local city police. I made my initial application in late August. I will start the job in November.
At least you got going in a timely manner. And, I hear you about being told by potential employers that they’ll let you know one way or the other. Yeah, right! I have learned that nobody does that, absolutely nobody.
Congratulations! It's sad places acknowledge they aren't paying enough, but don't think about how much they spend on lost productivity when they have a high turn over rate. In my line of business, training a new employee costs almost a year's wages - and yet - someone in upper management has been heard to say "It doesn't matter if people quit, we can replace them easily." (yeah - I heard the person say that). Makes people feel wanted and irreplaceable!
Anyway - good luck, hope all goes well, and good luck in your endeavors.
Congrats and Good Luck Kate. You'll do great. It is sad though that they acknowledge the high turn over due to pay but do nothing about it. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow.
Thank you, Darlene! I know I don't get it either- you would think if the company paid a bit more- less turn overs.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disney Dork
Have a great first day! Crazy they don't increase the pay if they know that is why they keep losing people and then are having to spend time hiring and training frequently.
I had a Great 1st Day! Thank you! You would think!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cattailmarsh
Pixies and best wishes for a great first day! I am sure you will rock it. [emoji2956]
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Thank you! It was a Great 1st Day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Congrats on the job! and that she find another part-time job.
Thanks, Cam! I might need more pixie dust come January....
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney