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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Getting super excited.....only 11 more days until I'm in the Sunshine State! I have a few random questions before I go.
Do most take a travel iron? I was told by a friend to take one.
I drink lots of water.....would I be better off buying a water bottle that has the filter in it? How is the tap water?
Do we eat at our assigned time on the first night or is it just buffet stuff?
Has anyone had any experience with "Park N Cruise" ?
I like to plan ahead as much as possible so I can relax while I'm there...I am traveling with just my husband (no kids ) with that in mind what would you pack in your day bag for Nassau (we are doing the sea lion thing) and then what about Castaway Cay?
Whew! Sorry!
Thanks guys! Don't know what I would have done without my Passporter book and this message board!
Getting super excited.....only 11 more days until I'm in the Sunshine State! I have a few random questions before I go.
Do most take a travel iron? I was told by a friend to take one.
I drink lots of water.....would I be better off buying a water bottle that has the filter in it? How is the tap water?
Do we eat at our assigned time on the first night or is it just buffet stuff?
Has anyone had any experience with "Park N Cruise" ?
I like to plan ahead as much as possible so I can relax while I'm there...I am traveling with just my husband (no kids ) with that in mind what would you pack in your day bag for Nassau (we are doing the sea lion thing) and then what about Castaway Cay?
Whew! Sorry!
Thanks guys! Don't know what I would have done without my Passporter book and this message board!
I'll answer what I can...
Skip the travel iron. Unless they've changed the rules, you are not allowed to use an iron in your stateroom. There are irons available (free) in the laundry rooms.
I know many people bring bottled water or filters on board, but the tap water is filtered and purified on-board and I think is as good (if not better) as any bottled water.
Your regular dining rotation starts on the first night.
For port days I brought some cash, credit card, Room Key, ID (passport), camera. Depending on the requirements of your excursion you may need sunscreen, bathing suit, swim shoes, etc.
For Castaway Cay you'll need your Room Key, ID, camera, swim shoes (you can wear them instead of packing them if you like), maybe a book to read on the beach. I bought one of those small plastic waterproof boxes you wear around your neck and fit everything I needed except the book into that. They give you towels as you exit the ship (regular bath size), but if you prefer a larger beach towel you'll need that.
If I've given you out-dated info (it's been too long since my last cruise!) someone will correct me. Sorry, I don't know about the parking, but someone else will!
Laurie has already nailed most of it. I will note that to re-board the ship you can use any government-issued photo ID. Most folks prefer to leave their passports in their room safe, as it's not needed ashore. Since (other than passports) most government ID is sealed in plastic these days, why risk water damage to that passport?
For cash in Nassau, be sure to have a supply of small-denomination bills for tips and for anything you might buy from street vendors - if they have to make change, you'll probably get Bahamian currency, and you don't need that bother.
One nice thing about Castaway Cay is that you can travel with a very light day bag - it's very easy to return to your stateroom if you happen to need something. Plus, the less you carry, the less you have to worry about when you go into the water. Your Key to the World card and most photo ID is waterproof these days, so you may not need a waterproof case for it (I never use one).
I don't have direct experience with Park N Cruise, but I've seen some good reports, and no bad ones.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
Thank you Dave and Laurie!
One other thing.....I'm staying a couple of days at CSR before the cruise....Although I've been to Disney several times, I've never been at Christmas time.....any "must see" "must dos" ? Oh or "must eat" lol
If you can swing it, attend Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - the Holiday Wishes fireworks and the Christmas parade don't start running at MK during regular park hours until after the last MVMCP, so that's your only chance to see them.
Take the time to visit the Deluxe resorts to view the decorations (decorations at moderates and value resorts are OK, but not quite going out of the way for, in my opinion).
Epcot's IllumiNations is in its holiday extended version - a definite must-see. The Candlelight Processional is high on most lists. It's the most religious of Disney's holiday activities, so if you're looking for something more than the secularized version of the holidays, it's a definite must-see. It's free to all Epcot guests, but seating can be hard to come by. Some folks book the Candlelight Processional dinner package to be assured of a seat.
Osborne Family Festival of Dancing Lights at Studios.
Allow yourself extra time in your park itineraries to "smell the poinsettia" - decorations, holiday-themed street entertainment, etc.
Special foods? I know you'll find Christmas cookies, gingerbread, and the like - check the bakeries. If you attend MVMCP, they serve "free" hot chocolate and cookies. Otherwise, there's not a lot of seasonal stuff. Swing by Sleepy Hollow at MK, as their snack offerings vary seasonally.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
I just wanted to add that the adult only pool onboard, as well as Serenity Bay on Castaway Cay are fabulous if you want to get away from little people for a while. Have a great time! DH was so impressed after our first cruise, and he told everyone we know that DCL is the best, even if you don't have kids with you!
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Looking forward to another Christmas with The Mouse!!
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) with that in mind what would you pack in your day bag for Nassau (we are doing the sea lion thing) and then what about Castaway Cay?
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