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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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It was a tough choice, because I wouldn't cruise without a verandah. But everyone I've talked to (including my kids and in-laws) all say they wished they'd taken a 7 day because the short one are so, well, short. So, I voted for the 7 day. However, I've done three 4 day cruises, so I'm certainly ready for a long one!
It's all about priorities and knowing your family. Are your kids the type that will like the kids center? Are you prone to motion sickness? How high up does a balcony rate vs. days at sea and longer experience (perhaps quantity vs. quality). Are you the type who can relax or do you need to be doing busy work (days at sea could prove a challenge)?
For me and the wife, we really didn't use the balcony all that much except for early mornings and late nights. I'm definitely going to miss it, that's for sure. The only reason we don't have one this year is because of the number of people going. I really don't think we'll ever go again without it.
I LOVE getting my coffee early in the am, then going back to the room and hanging out on the verandah and watching the ocean, or watching us pull into port.
My answer will probably not help you much at all...but I can say we did the three day in a balcony and wished we had done the 7 day-- but it was our first cruise and we were trying it out. That being said we never once regretted spending the money on the balcony--it just extends your space that much and my hubby (and his parents next door) especially loved sitting out there watchign the world go by. We are now booked on a 7 day western. I can say that we chose the western because it had one less day at sea--and I'd much rather be in a port than at sea. I personally got nervous if I spent too much time staring out into the deep blue yonder.... so I would say if you opt for the 7 day, and it's your first cruise, you might go Western so you're not at sea any more than necessary as you "test the waters" so to speak.
I would at least try to spring for a window if I couldn't do the balcony....
I too would opt for the 4 night cruise. Our first cruise was a 7 night Western and it didn't go well. My kids were 5 and 7 at the time and I think we were all overwhelmed with the whole thing. My husband wanted off the ship after day 3 mainly because the kids only wanted to hang out with us all day, had not interest in the kids clubs, and considered us their entertainment for the week. We were exhausted and finally forced them to the clubs for an hour one day.
Oh I am so sorry, I am praying that will not happen to us. Our kids will be same age as your kids were.
We rebooked with the 7 day Western Carribean in Category 11 (they had no category 12 left). We have been on a 7 day cruise before just not with Disney. And on that cruise we had an inside stateroom and were fine with it, in fact it was great for nap time.
My husband watched the DCL dvd with me and decided he would like a 7 day instead of a 4 day. And it is saving us a little money, because it means 3 nights less of hotel rooms and dining plan. He feels like it will give us some time alone, because on our last cruise 3 years ago, our son loved the kids area and it was nothing as great as Oceaneer's Club, so we feel they will love it. WE HOPE!?!
And my husband reminded me of my own advice, that the stateroom does not matter so much, because we are not in it that much. He shocked me with wanting to do the 7 day, because I surprised him last November, by telling him I had booked the 4 day, and was worried about that reaction, but he was very excited about it.
I am also excited about going to Key West and I have been to Grand Cayman and loved it. Cozumel I will probably stay on the ship, no desire to go back there again.
Thanks for everyone's input and if we had not already been on a 7 day and enjoyed we probably would have stayed with the 4 day.
Congratulations on changing your cruise to the 7 day! I'm sure you won't regret it, sounds like you're kids will enjoy the club. Have a great trip and be sure to give us a trip report when you return!
I prefer the 7 day cruise but again this is the only one we have taken so far. With the 7 day cruise we were not rushed and we were able to enjoy most of what the ship had to offer with time to relax with my family, play board games in our room and to sit on the verandah with my son watching the beautiful sea while relaxing. My son at his age was able to keep up with the DCL schhedule of events. It was even a bit overwhelming for me at times in regards to what you could do and the activities planned by the activity cruise director but we did have so much fun and I would not change a thing. There is just so much to do, so much fun to be had, so many desserts to eat Bottom line, just being able to go on a DCL cruise 4 day or 7 day is a gift.
we always booked the 7 day,if I had the choice between a 7day inside cabin or a 4 day with a verandah I would go with the 7 day. as much as we like the verandah the extra 3 days is well worth it.
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I'm sure you won't regret it, sounds like you're kids will enjoy the club. Have a great trip and be sure to give us a trip report when you return!
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