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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 have never been on a Disney cruise (or any cruise for that matter!) But, just for fun I decided to look at the possibility of doing a land/sea package for Christmas '08. When I entered all my info on the DCL website, requesting a Cat. 6 room, the only resort options that came up were Swan/Dolphin, or SSR, even though for other dates in Cat. 6 you can also choose AKL, BC or Poly. So my question is, do you think those other three resorts are already booked solid for next Dec 21-24, or is there any chance spaces might open up as the time gets a little closer? Would a TA have a better shot at getting us in, or is the availability fully shown on the DCL website?
It really is a "pie in the sky" type of thing right now, and it's a fun way to ease my winter blues. But it would definitely be more appealing (and harder to resist ) if there was any chance of getting into AKL/BC/Poly. Thanks for your help!!
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.
It is possible that additional rooms would open up. We had that happen a few years ago when we wanted Beach Club -- we booked Poly through a travel agent, then she was able to switch our reservation when a room at Beach Club became available. That said, the week before Christmas is a busy time, so it is possible that the other resorts will stay booked solid.
Another option is booking the land and sea portions separately. You could check whether there are any room-only or package reservations available, and if so how the cost compares to a land/sea package. At off-peak times, we've been able to save money by finding discounts on the land portion. Booking separately also allows you to stay for more (or fewer) days than on a cruise package.
I would talk with a travel agent. There's no additional cost, and an agent might have a better sense of when to check for additional rooms than you would.
It is almost always cheaper and allows you more flexibility to book the land and sea portions of your trip seperately. This way you can save $$$ on a less expensive stateroom so you can splurge on the Poly!
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The availability shown on DCL is the same inventory we see. Sorry that we don't have any magic wands, but we can keep checking for openings.
It can be less expensive to book the resort stay separate, but not always so knowing what the total price from DCL would be can help spot any bargains.
Happy planning!
__________________
Lynn
Yes, I am a Disney Addict... and I'd rather be cruising!.
Thank you all so much for this helpful info! As I said, it's still just a dream at this point, but you never know! I will continue doing research, which is a lot of fun in and of itself.
Since you have a lot of time I would definitely price everything out. Room only, package, AAA package, Land/Sea separate/together, etc. Availability is constantly changing. As most people have said, it is usually better to do them separately. You can still add DME and cruise transportation. Good luck!
__________________
"The price of popcorn, $5. Price of Mickey Doll, $20. Price of seeing grown adults run and scream in terror at Devine in AK, Priceless"
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.
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I decided to look at the possibility of doing a land/sea package for Christmas '08. When I entered all my info on the DCL website, requesting a Cat. 6 room, the only resort options that came up were Swan/Dolphin, or SSR, even though for other dates in Cat. 6 you can also choose AKL, BC or Poly. So my question is, do you think those other three resorts are already booked solid for next Dec 21-24, or is there any chance spaces might open up as the time gets a little closer? Would a TA have a better shot at getting us in, or is the availability fully shown on the DCL website?
) if there was any chance of getting into AKL/BC/Poly. Thanks for your help!!
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Pixie Dust
This way you can save $$$ on a less expensive stateroom so you can splurge on the Poly! 
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