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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Hi everyone,
Does anyone have ideas on how to save money on calling home? I like to use calling cards, so I bought some. But, is there any way to avoid that pesky $.75/call charge on WDW resort phones?? Last trip we were charged for many calls that didn't even go through. Or does anyone know of phones that somehow avoid excessive fees on calling cards. Need help, any ideas would be great.
Laurabelle's suggestion is a good one. Might be the only way to avoid the room phone charges.
Something I also learned awhile back (the hard way) was to be sure your calls are routed over the network connected/affiliated with your particular card. You do this by first calling the number that should be on the back of your card. Then go ahead and make your calls. This way the network charges are free and you're only paying the the fee the card company charges for the call itself. You don't have to do this. But it's recommended.
When you make calls without first connecting to your calling card network you can get hit with some big fees cause calls may be routed over a different network. And you end up both card company for the call AND possibly a seperate fee for the use of another network.
I think that's more or less accurate. And I know for sure it'll keep your bills down.
We made one phone call in 98 from the room, but I don't remember how much it was. We are planning on using a payphone if we have to. We are also bringing down our laptop, so we can communicate by email if necessary.
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chapel Hill, NC USA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 36,592
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Re: How to Save Money on Phone Calls??
In June I was in Denver and made all my calls home through my calling card at a phone booth to miss the room charge. Last week I got my phone bill with the long distance charges and they had added $2.00 for compensating the phone booth!!!! I did use my network, so I guess now you have to watch what phone booth you use too!! At least it was still cheaper than if I had used the room phone at .75 for 4 calls. -HiddenMickey
What about calling an 800 number do they charge you .75 for that call also? If they don't then you could call something like 1800 call att, first then make your call.
I'm not sure if that works but it may be worth a try.
------------------
Always let your conscience be your guide--JC
I used a calling card from my room, and yes, they charge the .75 even for 800 numbers. One thing you can do is change your greeting on your free voice mail periodically to say what you are doing, etc. It is free for you to get messages- so if your family and friends at home call daily, they can get your updated message and leave one for you. I know it's not as good as talking to someone personally. Anyway, I also noticed on some calling cards it says that a fee will be charged if you use the card at a pay phone! I think that's a rip-off. They are trying to get our money any way they can. (The phone companies, I mean.)
------------------ Michelle, who loves Eeyore because he needs love so badly. July 1976 - off site May 1984 - off site June 1987 - off site May 2000 - All Star Movies Dec. 2000 - All Star Movies March 2001 - Ft. Wilderness Campground
I always use my AT&T calling card from my room. I use the local calling instructions, which, I believe, is 9+1-800 etc. I have never been charged anything for those calls. It may be different, depending on which hotel you use. I would call the hotel where you're staying, and ask specifically.
Good luck!
All WDW resorts charge 75 cents per call when you call an 800 number from your room. The first time I noticed this was last December at the Boardwalk Inn. As far as I know, there is no way to avoid this if you call from your room phone.
I think this is unfair...I travel often for business and have never had another hotel do this (charge for 800 number calls). I'm tempted on my next trip to tell Disney I will refuse to pay for those calls.
BTW, if charges do show up on your bill for calls that did not go through, you can have them taken off your bill. Just talk to the front desk.
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chapel Hill, NC USA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 36,592
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Re: How to Save Money on Phone Calls??
I think there are a lot of hotels that charge .75 even for 800# calls. Make sure you check the guest services list in your hotel room before you place any calls.
-HiddenMickey
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One thing you can do is change your greeting on your free voice mail periodically to say what you are doing, etc. 
I think that's a rip-off. They are trying to get our money any way they can. (The phone companies, I mean.)
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