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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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So I just received the cruise documents for my honeymoon and much to my delight we were upgraded from a Cat 9 room on deck 2 to a Cat 6 room with the verandah on deck 5!
We were both giddy but when I went to check the stateroom reports for our room on the Magic only one person rated the room and gave it a 1 complaining of noise and water on the balcony! I've been unable to find anything else online about this room and I've been wondering if I should try and get the room changed before I board or if it's possible to get the room changed after we check in if it's really a problem. Of course the review sounds "complainy" pointing out the stewards lack of English and could be someone with an axe to grind and it's really nothing to be concerned about.
Since it's our honeymoon and I want things to be perfect for her I'm worrying
So, advice? And has anyone ever stayed in 5124 on the Magic? Thanks!
I haven't stayed in that room (we were on Deck 6) but did the person say where the water was coming from? Was it condensation or was it from something like the crew cleaning a deck and it washing down onto that verandah?
I hope someone can comment who has sailed in that room....because a verandah is a "can't miss" opportunity (especially with no additional money)! Remember to always take reviews with a grain of salt (which it sounds like you're doing).
I haven't stayed in this stateroom, but looked at the reviews. You're right that the one negative one just sounds like a complainer. The other two reviews were positive and being near the aft elevators is very convenient for Topsiders, the beverage station, Animators Palate and Parrot Cay.
I was waiting and waiting to hear about an upgrade for my trip.... well today they let me know that one was available.... to go from a cat3 to a cat 2 would cost $4k... I think i'll stay in my cat 3 and love it....
go for the verandah.... it'll be so romantic to have your own private balcony.... if you stay in your room the whole time.... you may hear noise... I'm just in my room to sleep, and shower.... I'm sure the water on the balcony was from them cleaning the deck or maybe it could have even been rain or mist from the waves....
I would take the category 6 for sure! There is nothing as romantic as a balcony stateroom, especially for a honeymoon. Order a pot of coffee (or even your breakfast!) in the morning and have it on the verandah. Or evening drinks before dinner as the sun goes down. Or a late night snack, looking out at the dark water. . .as you can tell, I am a big fan of a balcony. DH and I had one on our honeymoon and it was wonderful. We used it quite a bit since we were on a 10 night cruise. We may downgrade to a category 9 for our next cruise after the one coming up (which is a category 6) due to finances, but I would ALWAYS choose a category 6 or better if I could.
I saw that there were two other reviews for that stateroom number, though on the Wonder and the negative one was for the same stateroom on the Magic.
I would think even though the reports were for same stateroom on two different ships, that the stateroom would be in exactly the same location on both ships, so things like location, noise, etc. would likely be comparable (if not things like how well maintained the bathroom is, etc.).
So, I would focus on the positive reviews. I agree the negative one sounds sour grapey.
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I would say go for it. The last cruise I was on, my sister and I wished our room had a Verandah (we had an inside room across the hall from our dad and stepmom's room), and their view was excellent (mind you we were on Celebrity Cruiseline). Really most people on cruises only are in their rooms to sleep, and clean up before Dinner time, unless you have a Verandah than that is quite a romantic spot as others have mentioned especially on your Honeymoon I say stick with the Free Upgrade and hope you have a Magical Honeymoon Cruise
Deck 5....don't think the waves could cause the water, and the outdoor deck is on deck 4 below. There really is no reason for the water on your level deck since the next 3 decks above are all staterooms. If no one else commented on that, I would suggest that the Negative Commenter is just a fluke.
Congrats on the upgrade -- free??? You must have made quite an impression on Disney in your booking. I realize it's your honeymoon, but we've gone during special times (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) and haven't been upgraded in advance.
As for noise -- the walls contain only so much noise. We were on Deck 7 and we could hear everything going on outside the hallway (running, talking). Just remember that when you are enjoying your honeymoon "activities".
We've never gone on a Disney Cruise, but on our RCL cruise, we had a verandah, and I wouldn't cruise without having one. Nice to sit out in the morning or late evening just watching the water. You will love the verandah.
Deck 5....don't think the waves could cause the water, and the outdoor deck is on deck 4 below. There really is no reason for the water on your level deck since the next 3 decks above are all staterooms. If no one else commented on that, I would suggest that the Negative Commenter is just a fluke.
Congrats on the upgrade -- free??? You must have made quite an impression on Disney in your booking. I realize it's your honeymoon, but we've gone during special times (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) and haven't been upgraded in advance.
As for noise -- the walls contain only so much noise. We were on Deck 7 and we could hear everything going on outside the hallway (running, talking). Just remember that when you are enjoying your honeymoon "activities".
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.