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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I'm looking for information from those who've booked the Romance Package - especially on the 7-nighters. Here are my questions:
1. Which days did you choose your champagne breakfast in the room? Did you have a choice when you wanted the turndown, etc?
2. When did you go to Palo?
3. Did you feel the package and all its benefits are worth the cost...?
We cruised on the Wonder May 13-17, 2007 and since it was our 20th wedding anniversary, I decided to book the Romance at Sea Package. Partly because it was our anniversary and partly because as a travel agent who specializes in Disney, I wanted first-hand experience with the pros and cons with the package.
First off, the stateroom gift included in the package was wonderful - two waffle-weave robes embroidered with the DCL logo, a silver DCL 8x10 picture frame and a heart-shaped box of Ghirardelli chocolates all placed in a pretty basket. There was also an anniversary card from the Captain and officers.
Booking at 105-days was a nice perk but as Castaway Club members who can book at 90-days, I don't know if that particular option was much of a benefit in our situation. We did get the exact day and time for our Palo dinner & brunch that I wanted but don't know if the 15 days earlier made much difference. It would, however, be a benefit to first-time cruisers as they can jump to the head of the reservations line for Palo (definately a plus for shorter cruises) and harder-to-book shore excursions.
We didn't use the Tropical Rainforest pass (too much else to do!) but the other parts of the package were nice. Our rose-petal turn-down service was beautiful and the choices for our champagne brunch the next morning were good. They ended up bringing us TWO of everything that we ordered so we had more than enough food! You can order hot items like blueberry pancakes and eggs benedict - normally room service breakfast is cold / continental items only (unless you're a suite guest!)
Our Palo dinner was fantastic (but then again, it always is) but was made even better by the fantastic service of Serena. She couldn't have been any more wonderful! The $10 per-person cost is covered by the package along with a bottle of wine. Since my husband doesn't drink (and two drinks would be a no-no with my medications), I opted for a single glass of wine which she recommended. At the end of the evening, she brought us an entire bottle of the wine to take with us (so I only had to pay for the single glass).
All-in-all, it was a lovely experience. If you're celebrating a special occasion, then it is a great way to add a bit more magic to your cruise. Was it worth the extra money? I feel it was, even with not using the rain forest pass (which was hard on a 4-night cruise to find the time). The stateroom gift alone was about $200 worth of goodies (I was told the robe included isn't the same one sold in the gift shop to guests which makes it more exclusive). Not everyone has the same idea of what a good value is - some want to see cold, hard items to equal the dollar value spent but some of this package can't be measured in monetary terms. Booking early to guarantee what you've got your heart set on can be more priceless than any picture frame! The obvious time and effort into creating towel swans, a heart made out of rose petals, and a petals on the floor was touching. My 20th wedding anniversary only comes around once - and we were fortunate enough to celebrate in our happiest place. The Romance at Sea package was a wonderful extension of that celebration.
Part two specifically answers your questions:
1. We picked the morning of Castaway Cay for our champagne breakfast. That way we could take our time getting ready and still be off the ship early. We did not have a choice for which night the turn-down service was. When we boarded the ship there was a letter in our cabin letting us know what night it was. Turns out is was the night before Castaway Cay so it worked out with when I wanted to have the breakfast. The only morning you can't choose is disembarkment day. Note that the service time is PROMPT! You check off what time frame you want it delivered and *PRESTO* food was there, piping hot and delicious!
2. Our Palo night was on our anniversary night so I didn't care which dining rotation we missed. Sea days are popular choices and book quickly. Early times on port days can be available and the show at Animator's is only shown during the first rotation if that helps make your decision.
3. As mentioned above, I do feel the package was worth it, especially for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
Happy cruising!
__________________
Lynn
Yes, I am a Disney Addict... and I'd rather be cruising!.
Hi Lynn -- Thank you very much for your detailed response!
Going for Champagne Breakfast at the same time as CC sounds like a great idea - I was worried I'd have to clash with the Character Breakfasts which are on Sea Days, right? Soooo many things to think about.. And then there's that Champagne Brunch we're thinking about adding on too.. hmm..
It's hard to be a first-time cruiser but VERY FUN AND EXCITING!
Ok, I am sold. Do you write advertising brochures for a living? If not you should think about it.
Since our cruise leaves on hubby's birthday I thought this may be a nice thing to add on.
We also did the Romance at Sea Package as well!, but can add nothing to the wonderful rundown that Lynn gave you on the package! I love our robes and they are a wonderful reminder of a very special trip, but the whole experience is very romantic and worth the money IMHO!
We are doing the Panama Canal Cruise for our 30th anniversary and I plan to add it again!
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