Forums Closed
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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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!
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Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
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03-16-2002, 10:34 PM
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#1
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Community Rank: Trekker 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: South Elgin, IL
Posts: 1,043
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Cruise Questions -- Lots!
Jean, my DH and I are looking at the possibility of a cruise for our 2003 vacation. Am I right in assuming we can get the best price by booking the land and sea portions separately?
We're thinking 4 nights in WDW followed by a 3 night cruise. What time of year gets the best cruise rates? How do those dates match up to the "off season" dates for the parks? If the two don't match up, do we get a better overall price by going with "off season" for the cruise, or "off season" for the resorts?
We have an Annual Pass and are Disney Club members, too. Will either of those give us any additional savings?
The flier we picked up today mentions a discount for early booking. How early, and how much of a discount?
Neither DH nor I have ever been on a cruise ship. How cramped are the category 11 & 12 (184 sq ft) staterooms? Would it make much difference to go up to a Category 8 or 9 room? (214 sq ft) How does that measure up to your basic single room at a Budgetel or Motel 6, or similar hotel?
Last -- is it possible to guarantee that the stateroom we are assigned will have two twin beds, rather than one queen bed?
TIA for all your help.
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Sponsored links
Check out the many e-books by PassPorter. The e-books are free to download if you have a PassPorter's Club pass.
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03-17-2002, 09:30 AM
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#2
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Community Rank: Jetsetter 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Racine, Wisconsin
Posts: 2,003
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Re: Cruise Questions -- Lots!
I see you have a lot of questions, but that is a good thing! Cruises are one of the most cost effective vacations you can have. DCL [Disney Cruise Line] has changed their policy and instead of having seasonal specials, they are doing the early booking savings. However, they have lowered the prices for those seasons up front. You will find the cheapest prices from 1/1-2/15, 4/20-5/31 and 8/31-12/20.
I personally feel the 3 night cruise is too short. You barely go out and you are coming back. I feel the 4 night is perfect, however this is just my personal opinion, and any cruise length is the right cruise length! LOL
I always do a comparison for my clients to determine the cheapest way to go. Sometimes doing DCL land/sea is the most cost effective and sometimes it isn't. One thing to note, DCL determines what resort you stay at tied to your cabin category. For instance they would not allow you to have a category 11 and stay at the Polynesian. Nor could you stay in a category 6 and stay at the All Stars. For that reason alone, doing separately does make sense. Also if you have an AP and could get a resort at a great discount, it does you no good if you are doing the land/sea with DCL.
Currently they have a 50.00 onboard credit if you have Disney Club. It is 25.00 for 3 and 4 night cruises. They also have a first time cruiser onboard credit.
Cabins are smaller than you can imagine, but are laid out in such a way that they make use of every possible space. Disney cabins are among the largest in the cruise industry, however other lines are catching up with them in their new ships. Going from a category 11 to a category 10 makes a big difference, as not only the cabins slightly bigger, but they have a split bathroom, [one room has commode and sink, the other has the tub/shower and sink. That is a real strongpoint. Other cruise lines do not have that.
Your cabin can have 2 twins or a queen. you request it. Last time I sailed with 3 girlfriends and when we got to cabin, it was a queen. We told the cabin steward and while we made ressies at Palo's, he separated our beds.
I love the cruise, and while the food is not the best in the industry, the overall cruise experience is wonderful. Don't hesitate for a moment.
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03-19-2002, 03:07 PM
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#3
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Community Rank: Traveler 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Illinois
Posts: 272
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Re: Cruise Questions -- Lots!
Jean, DH and I are thinking of a DCL cruise in 7/03 to celebrate our 20th anniversary. Your response to verafox help been so helpful to us as well. Thanks for lots of info and great discussion boards. They are the best and friendliest I have found in a year of searching.
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