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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Hello, I'm Amy and I'm a Disney Addict on a county fair (think cheap county fair) budget. Since I can't go nearly as often as I would like I plan - currently I'm planning out a cruise for January 2016 (I want to know how much money I need to start saving).
I'm trying to decide what to do for a hotel the night before we would cruise. provided Disney sticks with the same schedule in 2015 - we would sail on a Saturday on the Fantasy. We live in MN and I want to fly down on Friday to make sure we don't have any weather problems. My son will be in school and although I don't mind taking him out for a few days I don't want him to miss too much so I'd rather fly out on friday afternoon. Would you stay at the Hyatt at MCO, stay at a Value resort - like Pop or drive to the port and stay somewhere there? I'm still trying to work out transportation (renting a car vs. using DCL transportation) to the port. There's three of us so using DCL transport seems expensive. So many choices... What would you do?
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Hi! If it were me, and there were no Disneyworld plans in the mix, I would skip places like Pop and just stay someplace either near the port, or near the hotel. Renting a car and either picking up or dropping off at the airport is probably going to run you 100.00 or so. You can find deals though, so keep an eye out as it gets closer.
Make sure you take TONS of pictures and have an amazing time! We took our first Disney cruise in March and are already booked for our next one. It was incredible!
We've stayed at the Hyatt at the airport twice and enjoyed our stays there. I'd be tempted though to head for the port area when you arrive, then you know you're in that area and can relax that night before boarding the Fantasy the next morning.
We've cruised twice with Disney and both times have stayed right at the port the night before. Actually we'll be doing the same next April as well
Hotel rates are pretty decent and you'll definitely feel relaxed once your're at the port and can see the gorgeous ship in front of you!
We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites (approx $120/night) ~ clean, nice rooms, includes breakfast, shuttle to the port ($6/person) and the closest hotel to the port (less than a 5-6 min drive).
We've also stayed at the Radisson at the Port (about 8 yrs ago ~ I've read it needs some updating ) gorgeous pool area and decent rooms.
Good luck planning and be sure to check out and ask as many questions as you need to on the PP boards!
Welcome to the Boards!
Some of your decisions may become more clear once you have purchased your flights. We, too, live in the midwest and fly the day prior to our cruise sailings. After a long day of flying, the last thing our family wants to do is gather our luggage and head to a rental car and then drive an hour. In fact, we have yet to drive for any parts of a Disney vacation--cruise or WDW. We're on vacation and let Disney do the driving for us.
While a rental may be cheaper, we find that for a family of 3, round trip Disney Cruise transports are the same as a town car service. So, we have found it easier and more convenient to stay at the Hyatt at MCO the nights before we sail.
Just tell them upon check-in that you are sailing with Disney and they will give you a piece of paper to complete and hand to the cruise transport folks the next morning--it tells your name, your hotel room, your stateroom, and number of pieces of luggage.
Then, put on those DCL luggage tags the next morning at the Hyatt, leave your bags in your hotel room--except for what you want to carry onto the ship (passports, travel documents, swim suits, etc.) --and the next time you see your luggage will be outside of your stateroom door. Magic transport of luggage is incredibly convenient!
Good prices can be had at the Hyatt--there are pre-pay options, and various discounts. We only booked them once through Disney Cruise Line and we paid full price. All of the rest of the times we have booked on our own or through our travel agent. Oh, and when we have used DCL transports to the port, we've been on the first bus to the port and scored boarding group 1 or 2--which means first on the ship to enjoy all of the amenities. (Staterooms though are not available until 1:30 pm.)
Again, once you know your flight times, it may help you with your decision.
Good luck and happy planning!
We spent the night at the Radisson at the Port before our last cruise. We drove, but they also offer a shuttle service from the airport. It was nice being able to relax on Saturday morning. We had breakfast at the resort and even spent some time by the pool before heading over to board the Fantasy.
Thanks for all the replies everyone. I know I have lots of time to plan but isn't half the fun the planning? I'm so glad I have all of you to help me plan. I'll have to find out what my husband feels like doing - because he will be the one who drives. But he likes to sit back and let me plan everything.
I'll be taking my first cruise on The Magic in April. I booked a one night pre-stay at the Hyatt in the airport. It may be a bit more expensive than some of the hotels near Port Canaveral, but a least to don't have to drive anymore after your flight lands. They have some good rates for AAA members. The Hyatt also has a deal with Disney as they will pickup your bags and have them in your stateroom, when you arrive at the port and board your cruise. Make sure you mention to the Hyatt that you will be taking a cruise the next day and they will provide with a letter of what you have to do. Basically, when and where you will leave your checked luggage to be picked up.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I'd wait to see what your flights are like. If you get in a bit earlier, I'd opt for something close to the port and see if they have shuttle service. That way maybe you can relax by the pool etc. If you get in a little later, I'd do the Hyatt MCO and use Disney transport to the ship in the morning. Happy planning, for me it is part of the fun.
I like country fair budget. My kids and I frequently travel to WDW on country fair budget to the point that we usually drive down there and will camp at FtW to get our disney fix in.
The Hyatt at MCO can be a bit expensive. Last year I explored that option for the night before my cruise. It was $188 a night! Since i wasn't going to be checking in until midnight, i elected to just sleep in the airport lounges. This year, i checked it out, just for giggles really, and if i pre-paid it was $153 for the night. However, if you book it at a gov't employee rate it is only $101 a night. They rarely check for ID and who carries their employee IDs on vacation, anyway? But i do have my old id from when i worked at the city.
If you would like to be closer to the port, i found the Motel 6 down the street from the port was only $40 for night. It is about 2-3 blocks from the beach. However, it did not appear to be within walking of the port. Not because of the distance but more with logistics of streets. We had origianlly planned to drive down and would be able to drive and park the car at the port. We are now flying.
I agree; the Hyatt MCO is not budget-friendly, although it can't be beast for convenience.
We had a blast at the Ron Jon Cape Caribe Resort. It had a great pool with a lazy river, and mini golf! Our one-bedroom rental in November was around $100 per night.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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I'll have to find out what my husband feels like doing - because he will be the one who drives. But he likes to sit back and let me plan everything.
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