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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We are arriving the day before the cruise, and I started looking at hotels. There is not much at the port and some are more than I would like to spend. i did find a couple of Hilton hotels at Cocoa Beach, which seems close. We have points with Hilton so we can save on the hotel, but I have no idea if this is a good idea or not. Any suggestions?
Welcome to the Boards! Not sure what your price range is, but the Radisson at Port Canaveral has an AAA deal for $109/night, payable in advance. You can get one king or two double beds, so the room will hold up to 4. We stayed there in 2005 and are staying there again in 6 weeks. They also provide free shuttle service to Port Canaveral.
They also have a park-and-cruise option if you have your own car.
Welcome to the boards! Sue mentioned the Radisson which is a great option. I've had good luck using Priceline.com to get a room near the airport. One time we got the Marriott Renaissance for $38 for one night! It's a 2 minute drive from the airport. I just make sure to start my bid low and my star rating high. I never go lower than 3 stars and I start my bidding at around $35 - 40.
Welcome to the Board! My family is flying in the day before and are staying at the Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach. I'm using my Hilton points so its only costing me the rental (look for discounts) and food the first night. If you have the points its a great way to save money. Make sure to book early so you can use them.
We stayed at the Radisson last June the night before our cruise, using the AAA discount. We found the resort very nice and Kelly's Pizzeria nearby was great for dinner.
We stayed at the Residence Inn last year and loved it (it was brand new). We were lucky to get a great deal before it opened though, as it can be a bit pricey (although they have free parking too).
Thanks all. We are going during the busiest time of the year (cruise 12/23-12/27) and WDW after that until 1/1. Prices match, so I am trying to save some by using points for the hotel night prior to cruise. Given the date I also do not think I will be able to find deals (or not much anyway....). I think I will go with the Hilton or Hampton Inn (both use the same number of points). I like the idea of being close, staying near the beach (we live in the mid-west an ocean is nice!) and being able to wake up late and still get to the ship early.
Welcome to the Boards! Not sure what your price range is, but the Radisson at Port Canaveral has an AAA deal for $109/night, payable in advance. You can get one king or two double beds, so the room will hold up to 4. We stayed there in 2005 and are staying there again in 6 weeks. They also provide free shuttle service to Port Canaveral.
They also have a park-and-cruise option if you have your own car.
We are staying at this same hotel as well..never stayed there before but when i researched hotels it had the best reviews so that is why i choose it plus the shuttle to the port is a plus.... maybe we will see you there since we are on the same cruise.
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Tracy
Cruising Disney Wonder 7 night Alaska July 7, 2011
Cruising Disney Magic 7 night western May 5, 2007
Hi, we stayed ath the LaQuinta by the airport, and it was a good value. The rooms were nice, new, and bigger than your average hotel of this type. There are a couple typical restaurants right on the street (we ate at TGIF), and the hotel's continental breakfast was good. It was about a 45-minute drive to the ship.
Have a great time!
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Lisa
With Mickey at Animal Kingdom, on a very cold day in Jan. 2008
We are staying at this same hotel as well..never stayed there before but when i researched hotels it had the best reviews so that is why i choose it plus the shuttle to the port is a plus.... maybe we will see you there since we are on the same cruise.
Hi, we stayed ath the LaQuinta by the airport, and it was a good value. The rooms were nice, new, and bigger than your average hotel of this type. There are a couple typical restaurants right on the street (we ate at TGIF), and the hotel's continental breakfast was good. It was about a 45-minute drive to the ship.
Have a great time!
There are a couple of La Quinta Inns near the airport. Do you happen to recall which one you stayed at? We're staying at the Radisson on Friday night, but we're coming in VERY late on Thursday night and are looking for a decent but relatively inexpensive option for that night.
Hi!
We actually got the LaQuinta info out of our PassPorter. It was the Airport North location at 7160 N. Frontage Road in Orlando; phone #: 407-240-5000. It was a quick drive from the airport (about 3 miles) and a good value.
Have fun!
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Lisa
With Mickey at Animal Kingdom, on a very cold day in Jan. 2008
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Sue mentioned the Radisson which is a great option. I've had good luck using Priceline.com to get a room near the airport. One time we got the Marriott Renaissance for $38 for one night! It's a 2 minute drive from the airport. I just make sure to start my bid low and my star rating high. I never go lower than 3 stars and I start my bidding at around $35 - 40.
We'll keep an eye out for you! 
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