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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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11-12-2005, 06:55 PM
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#1
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Community Rank: Trekker 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Western New York State
Posts: 1,234
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Las Vegas with Kids
We are going on surprise trip to Las Vegas in December to celebrate by husband's birthday. Actually nobody knows but me [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] and it is tough keeping it a secret. Until we get to the airport, nobody will know where we are going. we haven't been to Las Vegas in 18 years, so I don't know what there is to do anymore. Our kids are 13 & 15. I am looking for free or low cost things to do. Thanks! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
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11-12-2005, 08:27 PM
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#2
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Community Rank: Legend 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Dreaming of the Future
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 24,867
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Re: Las Vegas with Kids
There is M&M world on the strip that was neat to look around in...There is the Tiger Gardens at the MGM but not sure if they are allowed to walk back to it??? I was only in Vegas 3 days so it was a whirlwind tour [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]
There is also the shopping, and the nightime show at the Bellagio. The Venitian has the gondala rides.
I did a search on Google and found this website Las Vegas Kids it seems to have a listing of things for kids to do!
Have a great trip and let us know how it goes and SHHHH! its a secret don't tell no one![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Amy |
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11-12-2005, 09:29 PM
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#3
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Northern NV
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 12,516
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Re: Las Vegas with Kids
Stuff my kids enjoyed--
Everyone's favorite by far was the aquarium at Mandalay Bay. It was not cheap, but by far the best aquarium we've ever been too.
We had a great time at Hoover Dam. The tour is educational and actually kind of interesting.
Seeing an IMAX movie at the Luxor (It was Beauty and the Beast when we were there.) That wasn't free either, but very cool.
We enjoyed hanging out at the pool everyday. There's also a very cool water park right on the strip, but it was closed on our last trip.
The pirate show at Treasure Island is great, visiting the volcano at the Mirage, and there's a fountain water show at the Bellagio. Those are all free.
There's always shopping! Not free though! We liked Ceasar's Palace best for that. Lot's of store of intrest to young people. A lot of the shopping at different places is really upscale, and not for families.
There's the roller coasters and stratosphere rides for thrill seekers too.
You could also go to the Grand Canyon or Area 51 too.
We actually found Vegas to be more expensive than Disney since just about everything has an entrance fee (and we didn't gamble or drink!)
Have fun! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
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11-14-2005, 12:09 PM
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#4
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Community Rank: Explorer 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SW MO
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 10,461
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Re: Las Vegas with Kids
I'm headed to Vegas in two weeks. Went last fall for the first time. I wrote out a detailed (kind of like when you are at Disney [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]) for last year. PM with your email address and I'll send you the plans. My SIL and I went and did not want to do anything sleezy or too expensive. We filled 4 days with touring each resort. Each one has something cool to see. I made the detailed plan to save on walking and back tracking. Also, I listed the $ and hours at each place. Our trip was pretty inexpensive and we stayed in a 4.5 star hotel on the strip.
Here is a quick rundown on some fun stuff:
MGM has Lion Habitat (free) 11-11 (cubs til 5pm)
Showcase Mall: gameworks (free until you ride) Simulators and rock climbing wall - very cool
Luxor as someone mentioned
NYNY: inside is set up like different areas of NY. Also has a roller coaster
Aladdin/Desert Passage: The shopping area (desert passage) has a rainstorm on the hour
Bellagio: inside check out the lobby & conservatory (free) It will be beautiful at Xmas. The fountains after dark in front of the Bellagio are a must. Different show every 15-30 minutes.[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]
Paris: has a french boulevard. It's wonderful. Shops and dining. Some aren't too $. We had crepes there. Go up in the Eifle tower at just before sunset. ($9)
The Venetian: gondala rides and the canal shops. Wax museum ($) but you can find 2 for 1 tickets on the web.
Caesars: there are two light shows inside in the forum shops. One at each end. (free) The cheesecake factory is there as well. Great food! Cool FAO Shwarz toy store too!
Mirage: There's a white tiger habitat and a dolphin habitat in the back. ($15 - I think but worth it) Spend a couple of hours here exploring. Volcano out front after dark. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]
Stratosphere: take a cab (too far to walk - take it from me [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]) The ride to the top for the viewing deck after dark - OMG what gorgeous views ($7?) There's 3 rides on top of the stratosphere but I don't know the price. They are for the very brave. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] Fun diner downstairs. 50's theme. Wait staff break out into song. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
Don't miss Freemont Street Experience! Take a cab or the bus. Cool light show. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] Don't forget your camera. Wow! (free except for the cab or bus) ask at a resort how to get there.
The one thing someone mentioned is the pirate show in front of Treasure Island. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] Don't do. Not appropriate for kids. They permanantly changed it last year. It's called Sirens now. Scantilly clad ladies stand on the ships singing and girating. It's not family friendly in any shape or form. May bring a blush or two to adults. Skip!
The shoping at the resorts that I mentioned are very interesting. The stores are $$$ but the scenery and experience is not to be missed.
Sorry this long but I throw myself into planning like I do for my Disney trips. I can even tell you who has the most beautiful public bathrooms. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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11-15-2005, 06:54 PM
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#5
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Posts: 27,691
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Re: Las Vegas with Kids
Great suggestions, everyone. I will be going with my parents and the boys for a week in March, so I loved reading these [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img]
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11-15-2005, 07:34 PM
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#6
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Community Rank: Trailblazer 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Orlando area via Chicago
Posts: 5,424
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Re: Las Vegas with Kids
We just got back from vegas and we went to Red Rock canyon which is about a 20 minute drive from the strip. It was just awesome. We rented a car as we stayed off strip. There is a 13 mile scenic drive (cost $7) with stops where you can go hiking, take photos or picnic. It was well worth the cost of the rental car and took about 2 hours to go through leisurely. Hoover Dam is also a great diversion but you would either need a rental car or pay $$ for tours to get you out there.
I think you may not be able to swim. It gets pretty cold in the desert and they close the pools. I know it snowed a few inches last January.
HAve fun.
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11-17-2005, 01:23 PM
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#7
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Community Rank: Sightseer 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 59
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Re: Las Vegas with Kids
Vegas now has a monorail that runs back and forth between about 6 resorts. Very nice if you're not staying on the strip. You can buy one trip tickets, one day passes, and maybe multiple day passes.
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12-16-2005, 09:44 PM
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#8
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Community Rank: Trekker
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Western New York State
Posts: 1,234
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Re: Las Vegas with Kids
Just an update on our fabulous trip to Las Vegas. Yes, my husband was very surprised and so were my kids. Everything went great from the flight on Southwest to the weather ... a sunny 60 degrees every day. All of your suggestions were great. We decided to rent a car and go and see some of the sights outside of Las Vegas during the daytime, so we didn't get to see everything people suggested. Guess we will have to save the list for next time, which will be soon. The city is so clean and tourist friendly, even my teenagers thought it was great. We are already planning on another trip, hopefully around Easter Vacation as soon as the Southwest flights get posted for April. Thanks so much again, we had a wonderful time! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] P.S. I even won $10.26 on the penny slots!
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12-17-2005, 08:52 AM
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#9
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Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Ohio Football Hall Of Fame
Posts: 42,304
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Re: Las Vegas with Kids
Glad to hear you had such a nice trip!!! Las Vegas has so much to do!! Congrats on your winnings, that's more than I have ever won!!
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12-17-2005, 12:22 PM
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#10
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Community Rank: Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Posts: 27,691
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Re: Las Vegas with Kids
Glad you guys had a great time. I can't wait for March!
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