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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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 wanted to start this PTR now with three weeks to go because I had a few requests to do this from some fellow passporters!
So, with no further adeu let me introduce myself and my fellow travelers.....
Me: 30 years old, addictions counselor longtime disney fan and obsessed with anything disney or traveling persay....
My DBF: 32 years old, Mechanical Engineer. Loves anything to do with the Carribean, not exactly a disney fantic just yet We've been together for eight years but not solid. We had a long distance relationship while in college for the first five years. The past three we have lived together in SC where we moved three years ago from Tennessee for his job.)
Now, his parents and his aunt and uncle are joining us as well for our trip this year.
DBF's father: Early fifties (not sure of exact age), looks like Jerry Garcia and he gets told this allll the time Very laid back fellow, super funny and easygoing.
DBF's mother: Early fifties too, only five foot tall she's really short and super cute. She's very laid back and easygoing too!
This is our third cruise with his parents. They got us going on our first cruise three years ago and we've been on one every year with them since.
DBF's uncle (dad's brother): Late forties and just like DBF....they are of the same mold and we often joke that DBF is really his son *LOL*
DBF's aunt: late forties and super nice lady. She is just like me and we get along great!
Usually, i would be saying "oh goooodddd i can't believe i'm going with family" But, his parents are so much fun to go on cruises with and this will be our first time with his aunt and uncle.
A little background about us and cruising.....
We went on his parents request on our first cruise in 06 from Charleston on an Western Carribean cruise. It was on NCL and the travel agent suggested this low key, older ship for our first cruise. We really enjoyed it but didnt know what to expect because it was our first cruise ever.
Once we got back from that Cruise Eric (DBF) decided we had to do it again. So, this past year in Feb 07 we took a seven day cruise on Carnival Glory on our first Eastern Carribean cruise.
This was a MUCH nicer ship with many more amentities. We then realized we loved the Eastern Carribean and had to continue to go back. here are some pics from this last cruise
This is St. Maarten
This was our excursion in St. Maarten
Here is me waiting for the excursion
This is St. Thomas US Virgin Islands
me and my burned on sunglasses *LOL* must wear sunscreen!!!
and the bahamas
and our cruise ship
So, come june Eric and his parents started plotting. We went home to TN for the fourth of July like we always do and his parents and his aunt and uncle were there. We all decided to try to do something again together in 09.
And, this is how it started!
up next: which cruise and cruise line???? so many choices!
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.
So cool that you posted that today!! First of all....you DO NOT need to worry about losing an ounce! You look great. And how cool that you travel with his family every year. I love traveling with family (most of the time ) Can't wait to see what islands you'll be going to.
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.
YAY! you guys found it!! woooo hooo....well welcome I need to find some pics of his parents and post them....hmmmm will try to do that tonight....
Dawn: you are now my best friend for that comment...my best disney girlfriend...yep that's you!! *LOL*....i do like traveling with family....and his parents are still married so that's so cool to me coming from a divorced family. I cannot wait to give out all the little details and i will put up another post soon i promise!
awww thanks cheryl! You guys are the best....it was me actually who said that not dawn*LOL* we are our worst critics i believe right?
Those pictures turned out like little postcards....we were really impressed with the islands.....
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.
awww thanks cheryl! You guys are the best....it was me actually who said that not dawn*LOL* we are our worst critics i believe right?
Those pictures turned out like little postcards....we were really impressed with the islands.....
OMG! After I read my post...when it was too late...I realized how it came off!! Sorry if anyone thought that I meant that any weight needed to be lost...cause clearly it doesn't. (Best Disney Girlfriend...brown-nosing again )
OMG! After I read my post...when it was too late...I realized how it came off!! Sorry if anyone thought that I meant that any weight needed to be lost...cause clearly it doesn't. (Best Disney Girlfriend...brown-nosing again )
Hey, don't worry - I did suspect I knew where the comment had come from originally - as has already been said, we're our own worst critics and trust me, there's no need for that here!
Love the cruise innuendo!!! Welcome and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsteiny23
OMG! After I read my post...when it was too late...I realized how it came off!! Sorry if anyone thought that I meant that any weight needed to be lost...cause clearly it doesn't. (Best Disney Girlfriend...brown-nosing again )
hahahahahaha.....You know you said that! dont deny it cause youre so mean to me! You are so my best disney girlfriend and a little brown nosing never hurts so I can bribe you into going to disney with me *LOL* I meant to tell you I saw this awesome planner yesterday at Target and thought of you...it was this mom planner...that thing was so awesome and I was a mom i'd totally have that thing!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenny
I found your PTR! Another cruise to tide me over till our next one!
Calmly (NOT!), waiting for more...
Yay! You found it!!! I hope I can do you justice in the cruise department! I mean there might not be nightly drinks on the balcolny...but i'm going to try for sure!
I will start by saying that even though i'm a little travel agent at heart we always use a local travel agent to book our cruises. She is the absolute most Fabo Travel Agent ever BTW
We have always done that because she does always get us great deals and lets us know when the pricing changes etc.
So, in June Eric sends me to her and has me get brochures for ALL the cruises that go to the Eastern Carribean....YES ALL....Now i'm might be the OCD one about planning Disney but he def makes up for it in planning for all our other vacays.
So here was our elimination process, we narrowed the ships down by itnerary. We had a price range of no more than 3500. Which isnt a lot sometimes but its all we can muster during these times. We knew we'd have to pay it off by christmas so we tried to keep it in that range.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, Disney cruise line was in the running. Eric was really impressed with the port and size of the ship along with the looks of the ship and it also helped that it had a big honkin ESPN bar on top too*LOL*
We wanted to do a different cruise line this time so we looked at Princess, Royal Carribean, Disney, and Holland America Cruise Line.
Eric's Dad threw a fit about the disney cruise and felt that he really didnt want to do that right now. Eric really wanted them to go so reluctantly we both let that crusie go with the thought that one day in the next few years we WOULD do it without them
The next process was length of time in days and ports. Eric really wanted something new on the port list this time and he wanted to see a private bahama island. I wanted more ports less sea days. His parents didnt care either way.
So, the list was narrowed down to a 10 day cruise, and two seven day cruises. The first cruise was eliminated because I was unsure If my boss would let me take that much time in a row away from my patients. Eric felt that cruise was at the top of our price range anyway AND I was paying off a disney vacation at the time. So, that one was gone.
The last two was nearly identical but one of them, the dates were later in march and the price was high along with only three ports.
So, that left us with what we choose........
This is the Ms Eurodam
We chose this ship because she is new!!!!! Brand spanking new......her first sailing was in July of 2008. She was christened in Amsterdam and she moved over here in November.
This seemed to be the best fit for our wants. It was in our price range and for a balcolny it cost 2400 total.
The itenerary:
Seven day cruise with Holland American Cruise line on Ms Eurdam.
Leave on February 28th from Fort Lauderdale, Fl and its a sat to sat cruise.
Sat: Depart at 5pm
Sun: Day at Sea
Mon: Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
Tues: San Juan Puerto Rico
Wed. St. John, US virgin Islands
Thurs: Day at Sea
Fri: Half Moon Cay, private island in bahamas
Sat: Home
In the end, the price was good, the ship is new, four ports in seven days and we've never been to st. john, san juan, grand turk or half moon cay....all new islands to us!
We have a balcolny for the first time!!!! We are so psyched! His parents room is next door and his aunt and uncle are a couple of doors down.
So, that should get us started!
Up next.....paying off cruise, exploring reviews, and buying goodies. Plus, the how will we get there and where will we stay, etc
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We've been together for eight years but not solid. We had a long distance relationship while in college for the first five years. The past three we have lived together in SC where we moved three years ago from Tennessee for his job.)
Very laid back fellow, super funny and easygoing.
she's really short and super cute. She's very laid back and easygoing too! 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
) Can't wait to see what islands you'll be going to. 
PassPorter Guide Author
And who says you need to lose a pound? Sorry, not judging by those photos. 
:
I need to find some pics of his parents and post them....hmmmm will try to do that tonight....
and a little brown nosing never hurts so I can bribe you into going to disney with me *LOL* I meant to tell you I saw this awesome planner yesterday at Target and thought of you...it was this mom planner...that thing was so awesome and I was a mom i'd totally have that thing! 
Eric really wanted them to go so reluctantly we both let that crusie go with the thought that one day in the next few years we WOULD do it without them 
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