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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 on a roll with questions now (and searches!)... we fly out of here in 17 days and set sail in 20!!!
Is there good shopping within walking distance at both Gr.Cay and Cozumel? What are the "hot deals" that you can get in these places? I know I need to get some Vanilla in CZM-- is it readily nearby the port? I assume there will be plenty of touristy stuff available at both places, what about stuff that is "cheaper there than in the US" type things? My friend brought me back some pretty silver jewelry from Mexico, but she was at a resort and not on a cruise. Just curious what's in proximity to the port.
When we got off the ship in Nassau, and went to the straw market, I hated it and really plan on never getting off the boat there again. Please tell me that Cozumel is not as bad as Nassau.
I assume that in both places, most vendors will accept American dollars? I'm sure in Mexico the kicker is making sure they give you the right change (in relation to the exchange rate!)...
We liked shopping in Grand Cayman - they have Wedgwood, among other stuff. It's within walking distance of where the tender lets you off. That was the main shopping port for us. I'm not sure what you're looking for, but if you let me know, my Grand Cayman magazine is within reach at home.
Vendors do accept American dollars - just be sure which currency they're asking for, as the currency of the Cayman Islands is also denominated in dollars. Usually you can tell, though.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
I thought that Cozumel was very nice. I expected it to be more like the straw market in Nassau, but it wasn't. I was so glad b/c I can't stand that kind of shopping experience. You know the "in your face you have to have this" selling tactics. Cozumel had more shops with nice store owners. There were a few stands set up, but no pressure selling.
In Grand Cayman, we did a tour that lasted most of the day. So unfortunately, not much shopping here. Except the tortuga rum store for some rum cakes.
Have a great time and good luck with the shopping!
Just a shopping tip for Cozumel. The shop keepers know what time you need to be back on the ship, and are more likely to make a better "deal" the closer it is to boarding time - so if you are going to make an expensive purchase, considering doing it right before you go back to the ship! My friend got such a great deal on a Coach purse (she thought it was a great price for a knock-off, can you imagine her surprise when she found out it was authentic!)
Just a shopping tip for Cozumel. The shop keepers know what time you need to be back on the ship, and are more likely to make a better "deal" the closer it is to boarding time - so if you are going to make an expensive purchase, considering doing it right before you go back to the ship! My friend got such a great deal on a Coach purse (she thought it was a great price for a knock-off, can you imagine her surprise when she found out it was authentic!)
You must find out where this fabulous purchase occurred! Might be the oonnnllllyyyy way I ever get to get a Coach purse!
According to my Key to Cayman magazine, picked up in port:
There's no haggling in the Cayman Islands.
Most stores are closed on Sunday.
Most shops are open from 9 am to 5 pm, Mon thru Sat. Here's the thing to remember: Grand Cayman is an hour earlier than New York time! We arrived at the dock at 9 a.m. and wondered why no stores were open - then we realized it was 9 a.m. ship time. (We wound up having breakfast.)
As for shopping - what are you looking for? Within walking distance is Cartier, Swatch, Llando, Waterford and Wedgwood, and Del Sol, among others, as is the Hard Rock Cafe and a camera store. (I'm not endorsing any of these other than to say I bought stuff at the Waterford and Wedgwood store.)
And if you're into stamp collecting, the Cayman Islands Post Office in Grand Cayman is within walking distance as well. That you may need local currency for, I can't recall.
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