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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 me and the hubby have been looking around at cruises. We have decided in 2010 that just me and him are taking one. Figure we deserve it since we are taking the kids 2 years in a row.
Anyway this is our choices so far.
We were looking at the 7 night eastern cruise with Disney that goes to Tortola. We would be getting the stateroom. No view. We figured most of the time we would be on land or out on the ship somewhere.
Then we looked at Carnival. Haven't figured out were exactly we would go but looked at the prices. We could get a room with a balcony for the stateroom with no view price at Disney.
Those are the only 2 lines we are looking at. Others seem to be way to pricey and my parents went on the Royal Carribean cruise and did not like it at all.
Is it worth going Carnival to get the Balcony? Or should we just stick with Disney? Also I have a question about Disney. I was reading in there that it takes care of your transportation. Does that mean a bus from were you are to there or what?
I know when my parents went on the Royal Carribbean they took a bus to the port of call.
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I know this is coming out of left field, but how about a Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise? The most beautiful country we've ever seen. Humpbacks, orcas, dolphins, eagles, puffins, bears, caribou, moose - you name it. The 2 best cruises we've ever taken
If we do that we are going to take my MIL...shes always wanted to go to Alaska but I really want to go to Tortola, it looks so beautiful. Are these the only majore cruise lines. Maybe I need to look around somemore and figure it out...big on planning years in advance.
Cruise Lines are all very different. DH and I have never cruised on Disney, so I can't help you out there. Since you would be traveling without your children, I think you would probably enjoy Royal Caribbean (I know your parents didn't enjoy it, but do find out what they didn't enjoy) or Princess. Both these ships offer tons of activities all day and you can choose to do all of it or none of it! They also have casinos on board which are fun even if you don't normally do something like that. Just remember to "set your limit" and only bring that much cash with you. I am not a big Carnival Cruise Line fan, but they have worked hard to better their image over the years. Definately go for a balcony if you can do it.
I do recommend going to talk to a travel agent if you have one available near you. They should be able to suggest a cruise line that would work for you. Also, if you decide to book through a travel agent, they often have the ability to through in "on board credits" etc. Good Luck.
We have been on five Carnival cruises and loved them, scheduled for a sixth in December. On our upcoming trip we picked them for exactly the reason you mentioned - can get a balcony for a reasonable price.
I know it's not for everyone and the ships are kind of gaudy, but we find the staff to be incredibly friendly and helpful, the rooms spacious, and the itineraries varied. The food is decent. We also like Princess, which you can somewhat get for just a little bit more if you pick a less popular itinerary. All this said, I have very recently decided that I want to try a Disney cruise just to experience the ships.
If you have any specific questions about Carnival feel free to PM me. Do you know what ship you would be going on? There are BIG differences among the old and new members of the fleet, IMO.
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.
Thanks everyone.. i did find a list online of all cruise lines and looked at each...we have decided that we are going to do the Disney cruise. We really really want to go to Tortola so Disney is it for us. 3 years away...ugh well plenty of time to wait then