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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Has anyone exchanged their points for a vacation with an RCI resort? My brother is going to get married in Jan 2011 and it will possibly be at a RCI resort, so if I could exchange and make the resort cheaper I'm all for it. Thanks!
(I know there's an exchange fee and we'll probably pay for the all-inclusive fee too.)
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.
I exchanged RCI points for a 1 BR at AKL-Kandini (sp?) on Jan 22, this year. As far as I know my only expense is the exchange fee, and $95 for use of Disney transportation. I have my luggage tags and ready to go. I'll let you know how it goes when we get back. I'm so excited to be able to exchange to a Disney property. We have always traded for an off property time share and have enjoyed them, but this will be a real treat.
I had many choices when I started searching, so start early for availability.
I hope you find something. Sounds like such a fun time.
Thank you for your experience. I know the resort - as long as that's the one they decide on - it is her top choice at the moment - so if he agrees then they just have to pick the date and I'll start the process.
Make sure the resort in question is on DVC's permitted list of RCI destinations. RCI trades with thousands of timeshares worldwide but DVC has limited the number of destinations its members can use to only about 500.
Also, begin your search as soon as the plans are confirmed. Sounds like you're limiting yourself to just one destination resort and one specific set of dates. That's pretty restrictive. Hopefully it's not a high-demand resort during a peak travel season.
Sometimes the AI fees are extremely expensive. Compare paying cash with a package booked directly with the resort or travel agent with what RCI wants to charge you for the AI fees. You might possibly be better off renting your DVC points and using the money to book your trip and have money left over for a nice wedding gift.
As a full member of RCI, I frequently see some of RCI's AI resorts on "Last Call" for $259 a week. It would turn my stomach if I thought I gave up a bunch of DVC points for something a regular RCI member could get for $259. If you post the name of the resort, I can do a search on Extra Vacation inventory and Last Calls and see if the resort comes up cheap and at what price.
Last edited by littlestar; 01-02-2010 at 03:46 PM..
We did a DVC/RCI exchange in October. We booked a short stay at an RCI resort in Cape Cod. There was a $95 booking fee, and a $50 short stay fee at RCI on check-in. Other than that, it couldn't have been simpler!
As soon as your dates are confirmed, call and reserve. Unless it's a ski resort, I'm thinking January might be a good time to get an exchange!
Thanks everyone! I did search for the resort through DVC,then RCI and I was able to find it. Also my parents are RCI members so there's also the possibility of them getting a room(s) for us too.
I hope it all works out. The resort is in the Caribbean, so I don't have to worry about the ski goers - just those escaping the cold.
I exchanged RCI points for a 1 BR at AKL-Kandini (sp?) on Jan 22, this year. As far as I know my only expense is the exchange fee, and $95 for use of Disney transportation. I have my luggage tags and ready to go. I'll let you know how it goes when we get back. I'm so excited to be able to exchange to a Disney property. We have always traded for an off property time share and have enjoyed them, but this will be a real treat.
I had many choices when I started searching, so start early for availability.
I hope you find something. Sounds like such a fun time.
Dorothy in Kansas.
Hi Dorthy!! I would love to hear how your experience goes with this. When did you get you luggage tags and did you call the regular DME# to give them your flight info? I have traded out an RCI week in April for a stay at AK as well so I hope everything goes smoothly for you!!
Hi Dorthy!! I would love to hear how your experience goes with this. When did you get you luggage tags and did you call the regular DME# to give them your flight info? I have traded out an RCI week in April for a stay at AK as well so I hope everything goes smoothly for you!!
I called the number that RCI gave me. I think it is the DVC or Disney's Customer Service number. Anyway, they took all the flight info and told me I would receive the tags about 30 days before our arrival date. I think I received them about 45 days ahead. And it was a good feeling to get them.
I'll let you know how the whole experience goes. I so excited about it.
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I've been disappointed with the RCI exchange. I was on the phone forever and couldn't get the dates I needed. Kept calling back and finally gave up.
.... wish RCI and DISNEY could expand their choices.
Unfortunatly, you are never sure when people will put their weeks into the pool or where there weeks will be...I would keep checking the website and see if something you want/when you want comes up. Good luck!
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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