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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
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.
How far out is the optimum time to purchase a cruise?
Last year, while visiting the Beach Club for dinner, I saw a DCL rep sitting all by her lonesome in the lobby with a model of the ship. I'm curious if you can purchase a future date and make payments toward that?
I've never cruised ANYWHERE so it might be something DH and I would be interested in. Thanks in advance for your help!
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Normally, we book about a year ahead. We have been on numerous cruises with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Disney. Disney is definitely the best!!! We just booked today for Oct 2007 and the only thing that is not good about waiting until close is the limited availability of cabins. You have to take what is left and people haven't already chosen.
I know that sometimes you also get a better price by booking a year in advance. I like being able to save and make payments for a while too. Luckily, we had already planned for our October trip so we just did some reshuffling of funds.
I also recommend Disney for crusing with kids. Logan loved the kids clubs and didn't want to leave. It made it relaxing for Scott and I to enjoy a dinner at Palos alone and to go have a drink at one of the lounges. I think you would have a great time!!
I hope this helps. We booked ours Feb 16th 2006 for our Land/Sea Trip in May 9th 2007. Now I checked out trip package has gone up over 1,200.00 big ones. One thing we did was book it way out then figured when we would like it paid off by and put ourselves on a monthly payment plan. It worked great and got it paid off way early and then started planning the rest. Kept up with out payment plan for spending money and air fare. We booked those tickets almost a year out. We got a great rate for that too. I would just keep checking the DCL site and watch for the dates you want and book as soon as you can. Maybe start a small savings for the trip then when dates open you can put more down and you don't hurt your month amount out. I hope that helps.
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
We booked our Disney cruise about 18 months in advance. It helped that it gave us a bunch of time to make payments, as well as we had our pick of the ship as far as a stateroom was concerned!
Just FYI we were on the ship last week and while trying to book for the Mexican cruise in mid June 2008, the early seating for dinner was already sold out... plus the rooms we wanted were already booked... so if your going to do it then don't wait!
Until Disney has more ships in service, the rule-of-thumb is "as early as you can." Rates are based on demand and availability, so as more and more staterooms are booked, the price goes up for those that remain. With high popularity and a limited number of staterooms, Disney's ships often sail at or close to full capacity without Disney having to resort to the last-minute discounting that is more common on larger lines.
All the cruise lines (even Disney occasionally) have excess stateroom capacity that (typically) comes available just after the deadline for full payment (75-90 days prior to sailing, depending on the stateroom category). Folks put down the deposit, but decide not to go at the last minute. This can work out well for people within reasonable driving distance of the port (the lines often limit their advertising to people within that region), but is a bit of a gamble for folks who must fly in, as they may be stuck with high last-minute airfares.
__________________
Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
I did our first one two months in advance, paid out the wazoo. Second time, I did it 16 months in advance and saved a bundle, not to mention that I was able to make payments over the next 12+ months.
You want to book as far as possible in advance for the lowest price. The only exception to this that I know of is the ocassional last minute deal -- and these only seem to happen in low season as far as I can tell. Just to give you an idea -- we booked May 25, 08 Mex Riviera on Jan 31, 07 (the 1st day they were available). The price went up by $400 for the same cat. 9 just 2 days later!!!
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Any cruise is best booked as soon as you can. Prices generally only go up. The prices that drop last-minute are primarily for insides or ocean view. Some exceptions, but rare. If you want the luxury of having your own private oasis from which to watch and listen to the ocean, get that reservation in early. We booked our DCL cruise 14 months out.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
ANGIE
[/url
Linear Mode
