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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 in Orlando (MCO) at 12:55 AM. We won't get our luggage till at least 1:30 AM. I was then planning to rent a car and drive to Port Canaveral and hang out but what to do from 3:00 AM to 10:00 AM when the terminal opens is beyond me. I do not want to spend the money on a hotel room to use for 5 or 6 hours but I am also not thrilled about being out in that area from 3:00 to 6:00 while it is dark. Any thoughts or suggestions or experiences are appreciated.
First, the terminal now opens at 11:00am. They won't even allow drop-offs (shuttles, etc.) before 11:00am. So add an hour to your morning plans.
Twilight begins around 5:30am - are you planning to be on the beach to greet the dawn? Get there early and enjoy the whole thing.
Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach is open 24 hours. However, a room at Motel 6 will probably be cheaper than a t-shirt and swimwear shopping spree at Ron Jon.
Unfortunately, sea turtle season doesn't start until May 1. Otherwise, you could do some observing during peak viewing hours.
There doesn't seem to be a rocket launch scheduled for KSC, but perhaps the Air Force is sending something up - might be worth checking out.
Fishing charters can start up before dawn. Lots of boats/skippers to choose from.
The Brevard Community College Observatory has open viewing hours on their telescope on Friday and Saturday nights, but only until 10:00 pm. However, if there's a major astronomical event the night you're there, you may be able to track down an astronomy club or college group that's open to having some guests. BCC Planetarium & Observatory Welcome PageAstronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2012 - Sea and Sky
I know the idea of a hotel room seems a bit of a waste to you, but considering you'll have a really long day and evening... You could still get 6 to 7 hours of shuteye before heading to the ship. If you nap after you get access to your stateroom, you'll only get about 2 - 2.5 hours before the safety drill. Motel 6 in Cocoa won't set you back a whole lot.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
Are you just renting the car and returning it that same day, or are you paying to keep it all week? My suggestion would be to get a room. We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites before our last cruise. They have a free breakfast and a free shuttle to the port. Also, if you do leave a vehicle, they allow you to park it there for the length of your cruise for free. Having done the "drive all night and then board a ship with no sleep" thing, I strongly recommend against it. That first night was rough! Cranky, sleepy cabin mates...no bueno. Good luck with your decision and have a great cruise!
For our Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, check-in registration begins at 11:00 a.m. and embarkation begins at 1:00 p.m.
Just a couple of weeks ago DCL put an advisory out to travel agents stating that ground transportation (town cars, etc.) would be turned away if they arrived before 11:00am.
As always, policy and actual practice can vary. Note, however, that when you pre-book your port arrival time (which is currently required), you can't get a time prior to 11:00am.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
What about getting a room at the Hyatt at the airport> you won't have to go far and still rent a car.?? I know you don't want to spend much money. But that would be a long..........night.
I also agree with the above posters ^ You may want to get a room for the night at the Hyatt at MCO. We were able to spend the night there and take their Disney bus to the port. When we checked in at the airport we received a boarding pass number 3. The day/evening will be a long one and you may not make it through dinner or the show because you'll be so tired.
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. Good luck with your decision and have a great cruise!
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