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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Ok, so we were able to take our trip to WDW we planned last year(which we put on hold after dd's dx and treatment, then got the ok from dr's to go) and now I want to do a DC. I have to gather info and convincne DH that we HAVE to go but I MUST be armed with facts, prices and all the other necessities (where he can't say no!).
A few questions like where do I start. Remember, I'm not going (YET) just planning so spending $$ on a guide isn't going to fly (YET!). I know dates on ressies for WDW (THANK YOU PASSPORTER!!!!!!) and all that jazz for WDW, but know NOTHING for DCL.
I agree with duck addict, you should get the planning DVD from Disney (DH orders them regularly to see if anything has changed). Also, find a few exemplary Trip Reports for DH to view (maybe ones that focus on what you guys would experience - ie just couples, or family) that might show him how exciting or relaxing or enjoyable the trip could be (with some planning and just a little pixie dust!)
Dana, if this is your first cruise, it might help to talk to a well qualified travel agent. That would be someone who knows both Disney products and cruising. Cruises are very difficult for many people because there are so many new concepts to deal with. For instance, picking a room is a little harder than "which is better, PO-R or PO-FQ?"
Thanks! I ordered the DVD (3-4 weeks). We previously got one (let's see, that would be two years ago?) but can't find where it is! LOL! DD wants to go back to Disney but I want to experience a Disney cruise first. DH has been on a cruise before but I haven't nor have my little ones.
I'll look into the travel agent route to get more information. All the info about levels and rooms really confuses me!
How soon (or rather how far out do you book?) Right now we're living three months at a time (with DD#1's dx) and planning about 6-8 months out for trips (like we did WDW). Will I be missing out if I don't plan for longer out? (Does that make sense?)
Have you tried the website Disney Cruise Line ? As a temporary planning tool, it works great. When we took our cruise I got lots of my information there.
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Will I be missing out if I don't plan for longer out?
Disney cruises sell out so they tend to raise prices as you get closer to a sail date. By waiting, you may end up paying a little more. However, if you aren't able to plan further out, it's just something you figure into your budget. The only thing is, if your dates aren't flexible, you may not find availability on the cruise of your choice - or if you want a specific room, it may not be available.
One thing to consider is that the cruise is fully refundable up to a certain time period - and we were surprised at how close to the trip you could cancel and get money back. So, while you'd have to come up with the "down payment" to reserve the trip, which can be pricey for a family of 4, you could also get it back if you are unable to fully commit.
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Where to start planning/gathering DCL info?
I have to gather info and convincne DH that we HAVE to go 
but I MUST be armed with facts, prices and all the other necessities (where he can't say no!).
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