Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
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03-19-2003, 08:13 AM
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#1
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Community Rank: Tourist
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Saint Charles, Missouri
Posts: 16
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AK Savannah view, is it really worth the extra $$?
I have a reservation for 2 nights in the AK for the savannah view. It will be $84.50 more per night than their standard view and this is using the latest "CZF" code. Is it really worth it? Can't you just stay in the standard room and if you cannot get the upgrade when you arrive, just view the animals from other areas in the hotel that I have read about? I just don't want my wife to be upset that I spent that much just for two nights. By the way we will be there 5/15-5/25. We are planning on staying at the CB most nights and a few at the WL.
[img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]
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03-19-2003, 08:20 AM
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#2
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Poinciana, Florida
Posts: 9,422
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Re: AK Savannah view, is it really worth the extra $$?
I've never stayed at the AKL, but from reading Dad2jbj's TR's it sounds wonderful to sit on your own balcony and watch.
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03-19-2003, 08:22 AM
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#3
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Faith, Trust, Pixie Dust
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Sasquatch Territory, Pacific Northwest
Concierge Level: 8
Posts: 17,166
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Re: AK Savannah view, is it really worth the extra $$?
We had originally reserved Savannah view for our upcoming trip, then downgraded to standard. THere are so many view points around this fabulous resort, that we figured why pay extra when we can wander and see the savannah from many different vantage points? Now, since then, we have decided to upgrade to the concierge level to take advantage of the lounge, and the sunrise safari...a balcony room comes with that, and that is fine. But, I see that as a perk, not a nessesity.
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*
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03-19-2003, 08:30 AM
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#4
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Community Rank: Scout 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SE Texas!
Posts: 4,882
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Re: AK Savannah view, is it really worth the extra $$?
We stayed in a Savanna room back in November 2001 while staying here. And it was AMAZING! There is something sooo magical about seeing the animals from the privacy of your own balcony, and just feeling sooo transplanted from all the hustle and bustle of the parks.
I would not say it is a necessity, though -- as you can definitely view the animals from the public viewing areas, as well. It just depends on what you are wanting to do.
Either way, this is a wonderful resort, and you will have a wonderful stay.
[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Michelle
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03-19-2003, 08:47 AM
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#5
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Community Rank: Traveler 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Posts: 298
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Re: AK Savannah view, is it really worth the extra $$?
Nubbit,
I went thru many of the same feelings you are going thru trying to decide if we wanted to spend the extra money on a savannah view room. We finally decided we wanted to, and it was an awesome decision! From the minute we walked into our room and out on our balcony...we were transported to an African savannah. My children were in awe, and didn't want to leave our room, lol. We got lucky to have such a wonderful view. There was a feeding station right in front of our 3rd floor room. We constantly saw animals there. At night, if I had to get up for anything, I'd have to go and check out the savannah to see what was up. There was a group of gemsbok that slept right outside our room. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
We were in the parks a lot, so appreciated the ability to see the animals from our room at our convenience. This is JMO, but since you are only staying there two nights...I'd spring for the savannah view.
That being said, if you decide to go with a std. view room, Debi is right, there will be lots of areas that you can go to view the animals, and just being at the AKL is special in itself.
Have fun!
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03-19-2003, 09:12 AM
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#6
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Boston, MA USA
Posts: 2,535
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Re: AK Savannah view, is it really worth the extra $$?
It's absolutely, positively worth it! When you're out on that moonlit balcony with Disney's African savannah all around you, glass of wine in hand, and a couple of giraffe glide right up to snack on a tree...you'll be glad you did [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
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03-19-2003, 09:27 AM
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#7
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,365
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Re: AK Savannah view, is it really worth the extra $$?
Quote:
Originally posted by mattjs:
It's absolutely, positively worth it! When you're out on that moonlit balcony with Disney's African savannah all around you, glass of wine in hand, and a couple of giraffe glide right up to snack on a tree...you'll be glad you did [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
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<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Totally agree - this resort was built to have a Savanna Room view! You'll find you really do spend more time on your balcony relaxing and enjoying the vistas! Yeah, sure there are lots of public places to see the animals, but nothing - NOTHING - beats hanging out in your room and experiencing something like Matt says above. I'm currently working on a trip report from November 2001 - pop over and read more about how much we loved our savanna view room! [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] Upgrades aren't guaranteed - trust me - you'll not regret paying extra for that view! ENJOY!! |
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03-19-2003, 09:38 AM
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#8
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Florida Big Bend
Posts: 17,133
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Re: AK Savannah view, is it really worth the extra $$?
You know, we wanted to reserve Savannah View and Jean slapped my hands and said that was silly. AKL has the most upgrades of ANY of the deluxe resorts. I'm glad I listened to her because we've stayed Savannah view both times at no extra cost.
There are tons of places to see the animals. It also isn't a "given" that you actually will see them from your room. We've spoken to several who have NOT seen animals from their balcony and got annoyed at the extra cost.
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03-19-2003, 11:16 AM
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#9
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chapel Hill, NC USA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 36,592
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Re: AK Savannah view, is it really worth the extra $$?
Elaine (Bert and Sully) was lucky to get upgraded both her trips. However, you can't count on this. If you really decide you want the savannah view...go ahead and pay for it. My family was upgraded on our first trip, but when my daughter and I stayed a few months later, they put us in a standard room, they had no place to upgrade us to. We liked the room well enough and were happy to be at AKL, but I will admit I kind of missed seeing those giraffe out my window.
So, if you won't be disappointed at not getting upgraded if it doesn't happen, and just don't want to pay the extra, stick with what you have. The standard rooms are exactly like the others, but just have views of greenery and roadway/parking lot. You can still view the animals in all sorts of places all over the resort. -HiddenMickey
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03-20-2003, 12:08 AM
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#10
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Community Rank: Wayfarer 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Georgia
Posts: 163
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Re: AK Savannah view, is it really worth the extra $$?
As I have never had a Savannah view I can not tell you if it is worth the extra money. I can tell you that we booked a standard room & were upgraded to a pool view & loved it. I loved sitting on my balcony in the morning & loved the view of the pool. This resort is so awesome from the moment you walk in that you just fall in love with it. We had a small viewing area just outside our room so did not feel slighted in the least. Once you have a Savannah view you may feel differently but you really can't miss what you have never experienced. Good luck.
[ 03-19-2003, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: MargaretJ ]
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