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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 all. Finding discounts and deals can be pretty easy when it comes to planning a trip to WDW, but I don't really know of any tricks or tips for Disney Cruises. Any input? We are considering going next July and my brother (single dad, not too much $$) is wanting to come and bring his two kids (ages 11 and 13). I just priced a 7-day cruise and it is $5,000+ for an inside stateroom!
Am I missing some way of getting a better deal??
Thanks!
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* Wendy *
Felicity Cadence
born 8.31.16
Last edited by Belle*; 07-01-2013 at 11:25 AM..
Reason: newsletter07042013
Disney Cruise Line is very strict about discounting. So for the most part - there should be virtually no price difference between booking direct with DCL or with any agency. Be careful of agencies that seem like they are offering a better price - chances are if you price it out all the way to the end, the advertised price does not include taxes and port fees. Some agencies offer large onboard credits as a way of "rebating" - a practice frowned upon by many in the travel industry but many cruise lines are cracking down on this practice.
With Disney Cruise Line, your best bet is to book early. In most cases, especially on the newer ships, the earlier you book, the lower your price. Less popular itineraries sometimes have Florida resident or military rates but these are only on cruises where they have a larger number of staterooms going unsold. For example, the Galveston cruises did not sell very well so there is a discount available for the cruise out of Galveston this fall. Hope this helps!
July is a tough time to find a bargain on DCL. Its summer itineraries are very popular, due to the families-with-kids orientation of the cruise line. At other times of year, on less-popular itineraries, they've offered things like kids cruise free (first two passengers pay full adult fare, regardless of age). Judging by the price, you're talking about Alaska. DCL's never had to offer incentives for Alaska.
I have to echo Belle*'s comments. Make sure you're comparing rates with all port fees and taxes factored in. Costco has a reputation for offering somewhat more generous incentives, but I recently priced a cruise on another line through Costco, and they did not offer a booking incentive at all. Check 'em out, but don't assume that they'll automatically be better.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
I agree with what has been said, especially the booking as far in advance as possible. Unlike hotel rooms or flights where discounts can readily be found the closer to your vacation dates. DCL has itineraries out for 18 months to 2 years in advance.
Another idea is to take a shorter cruise (also less expensive) and if you decide you like it, rebook while on board where discounts are typically offered along with on-board credits. That's what we do--book our next cruise before leaving, usually a year and a half away.
I booked our August 2014 trip as soon as dates were made available. It has since gone up over $800. We are cruising the last week of August and it is significantly cheaper - I wouldn't even try to book in July. I am already planning to book onboard for the 10% discount even though we haven't gone yet. I know I'm gonna love it
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. We are cruising the last week of August and it is significantly cheaper - I wouldn't even try to book in July. I am already planning to book onboard for the 10% discount even though we haven't gone yet. I know I'm gonna love it
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