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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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As some of you know We're thinking about a land and sea vacation and being a first time cruiser I have many questions. The next one being, I was wondering if we needed passports for the three or four day Disney Dream Bahama cruise. It's DS 16 & 13, DH and me?
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For a closed-circuit cruise (cruise that starts and ends at the same port), legally you do not need a passport. However, should you have a passport, that's been debated over and over again here. The main argument for getting passports, is if you have an emergency and have to leave the ship early, for any reason, you would need a passport to fly back into the U.S.
I was able to find the official government ID requirements for a cruise:
Most cruises beginning and ending in the U.S. are considered "Closed Loop," meaning they begin and end at the same port in the U.S. For instance, if you board a cruise ship at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and after visiting at least one foreign port of call, such as Bermuda, or Cancun, return back to Fort Lauderdale, you have taken a closed loop cruise.
If, on the other hand, you - say - board a cruise ship in San Diego, California, sail through the Panama Canal (stopping at a foreign port during the cruise), and end the cruise in Miami, Florida, you have not taken a closed loop cruise and the following information does not apply to you. As of June 1, 2009 you need a passport (including infants).
U.S. Citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country on the cruise with proof of citizenship, such as an original or copy of his or her birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) and, if 16 or older, a government issued photo ID. If the child is a newborn and the actual birth certificate has not arrived from the Vital Records Department, we will accept a Hospital issued birth certificate. The United States does not require you to have a passport. (A Consular report of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State or a Certificate of Naturalization is also acceptable.)
Yes, like Bob said, since it is a closed loop cruise you are not legally required to have passports. I would say do what makes you comfortable. The problem with not having a passport is that if something unexpected comes up (medical emergency, missing the boat when you get off in port, etc.) and you need to leave the cruise early you will not be able to fly back to the states without one. I was on the fence with getting them for our short cruise but ultimately decided to get them rather than stressing over the "what ifs".
Thank you for the information provided. Now I have another question. I'm remarried so my DS who is 16 year's old traveling with us and my DH Son 13 traveling with us do we need some kind of paper giving permission from the "other" parent to go to Bahamas even though both the children live full time with us? If so, what do I need, notary note?
There is a Minor Child Authorization form on the DCL website but that's more for kids who aren't traveling with a parent or legal guardian.
We are in a split home situation with my step-son and I always travel with the custody agreement stating we have legal and physical joint custody just to be safe. There was a time we were worried about his Mom causing problems during travel but she always refused to sign anything so we just traveled with the court documents and a note from our attorney. We were never asked for anything. TSA will sometimes ask children "who is this you're traveling with?" but that's about all we've encountered.
If you have documentation for who you all are that should be all you need. If you are concerned that someone will make a fraudulent claim that you are leaving the country with the kids, etc. then get the notarized document.
Passports are good for a really long time, so even though it's a pain and the initial expense isn't fun they are good to have for emergency situations and just for additional safety.
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You do not need the other parents permission to take your child with you.(my hubby will not cruise and I take my girls solo all the time) But if you do get the kids a passport both parents do need to be at the passport office with their info to get a passport for your kids. Btw kids passports are good for only 5 years .
You do not need the other parents permission to take your child with you.(my hubby will not cruise and I take my girls solo all the time) But if you do get the kids a passport both parents do need to be at the passport office with their info to get a passport for your kids. Btw kids passports are good for only 5 years .
Kids passport: if under the age of 15 as of the date of issuance-5 years
If 16 or over, then 10 years and 16 year old must appear at application office, just like the parents.
Proof of custody/permission is needed to get the passport issued.
I am a true believer in getting that passport. Remember they are needed for most travel to Mexico and Canada. So more options for future travel open up.
We opted to not get a passport/passbook but got the enhanced drivers license when we went on the Western Caribbean DC.
The enhanced drivers license are also used to enter and exit Mexico and Canada from US. Not every state issues them, we're in NY.
We opted to not get a passport/passbook but got the enhanced drivers license when we went on the Western Caribbean DC.
The enhanced drivers license are also used to enter and exit Mexico and Canada from US. Not every state issues them, we're in NY.
Hmmm I've never even heard of an enhanced drivers license. I wonder if NJ offers them
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Enhanced licenses are only helpful if driving over the border though, can't use them to fly. We had them in WA.
Right, not to fly into another country, BUT can be used on closed circuit cruises. The only problem would be flying out someplace in an emergency.
"State-issued enhanced drivers licenses (EDLs) provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship, are issued in a secure process, and include technology that makes travel easier. They provide travelers with a low-cost, convenient alternative for entering the United States from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean through a land or sea port of entry, in addition to serving as a permit to drive."
I believe there is a good reason why DCL (and every travel agent I know) STRONGLY recommends a Passport for any type of cruise.
Like--what if your Birth Certificate is questioned by somebody along the way?? It can happen---
Mrs U and my birth certificates were deemed "unacceptable" when we first applied for a Passport. The older you are the more likely your birth certificate won't meet what they require today.
So if you go that route--be CERTAIN yours does!!
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60 trips to WDW since 1975!! And DVC member since 1992. First Disney meal at Papeete Bay Verandah Sept. 1975.
Right, not to fly into another country, BUT can be used on closed circuit cruises. The only problem would be flying out someplace in an emergency.
"State-issued enhanced drivers licenses (EDLs) provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship, are issued in a secure process, and include technology that makes travel easier. They provide travelers with a low-cost, convenient alternative for entering the United States from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean through a land or sea port of entry, in addition to serving as a permit to drive."
Actually, EDLs and Passport Cards can also be used for open-ended cruises like the Florida-to-California repos. Per the quote, they're good for land and sea entry. They were created before the closed-loop exception was introduced. Lawmakers in border states demanded something cheaper than a passport book for those residents who routinely cross the border to work, shop, visit family, etc. Also considered were the needs of pleasure boats and their crews - a fishing trip down Baja, a ferry ride between Maine and Nova Scotia, etc. No requirement for the travel to be closed-loop.
The EDLs have been an interesting case. In order to function as valid U.S. passports, it meant the participating states have to run their licensing agencies like passport agencies, and are required to tie their computers and databases into the Federal system. That last part has prevented a fair number of states from participating, either due to cost, or principles regarding the relationship between the states and Federal government.
Closed-loop was an after-thought, for which the cruise industry lobbied - they didn't want even a $40 per-person fee to stand between them and making a sale.
There are fundamental differences between the photo ID-plus-proof-of-citizenship method, and the use of passport or EDL... Once you have the passport, it's proof of citizenship for which the federal government takes responsibility, and is accepted by other nations under international treaty. "This person is our citizen." Your proof of citizenship goes from state-, county-, or city-issued (birth certificate), to federal. With the closed-loop exception, it's the cruise line that takes responsibility. They're in effect telling the federal government that "this person departed with us from this port, and has returned with us to this port." When it comes to international security, with a passport your identity can be validated from a federal database. Closed-loop exception, it is not.
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