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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I just last night booked a 10 night stay at the CBR for January 2009 for myself, DH and DD (3). They told me I can't do a package yet because they haven't been released, but I could book a room only rate, but the rate was not guaranteed. I could add a package later when they were announced. Okay, no big deal. I paid the deposit, and didn't think about it again until this morning.
I just checked our reservation online and the rate for room only at CBR for water view in January has gone from $165.00 in 2008 to $215.00 in 2009. Am I crazy or does that seem like a very large jump in prices for one year? We're still going, but this did make me stop and think for a moment about a value.
Anyone with any experience on booking before the official rates are out? I'd love to have someone else's opinion. Thanks!
When I called to check out the prices for a Jan 2009 trip, they also gave me a crazy, crazy rate! They said the rate could go up or down, but the rate has something like $150/night for POP. I decided I would book a little latter!
I wonder if they just quote the highest price since rates are not official yet!
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Wow! I guess just keep an eye out and when the prices are released for sure, you can make the decision then to stay put or move to a value. From what I hear, they are very easy when it comes to reservation changes, right up till your 45 pay in full date.
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Perhaps they simply give the highest possible rate so as not to cause issues when the true rate is released. After all, most people would be happy to see rates drop but a lot would complain if it went higher than the original quote even tho they knew it wasn't set. Human nature, you know!
Thanks for all the replies. I'm hoping that I was quoted the highest price and maybe it will go down once the "real" prices are known. Fingers crossed!
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Considering that 2007 was one of the busiest on record at WDW, I wouldn't be surprised if the rates skyrocket. Of all the businesses in this world, they are the best at turning a profit. Only when people stop paying those rates and stay elsewhere, will they even think about coming down in cost.
I paid $45.00 a night on my honeymoon in 1977, for a lagoon-view room at the Polynesian. That same room is about 10 times higher now.
When I bought into DVC, I paid $51 per point at Old Key West....guess how much now? Around $100 a point.
Hasn't stopped anyone yet, and I've never seen them lower rates unless it was a special promotion with limited availability.
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That does seem rather steep, but I agree that until they release the rates officially, they may simply be estimating & would rather drop the rate from that and have the customer be happier.
Plus, with the US financial markets in the mess they are in right now, it's very, very possible that there will be specials/discounts/etc. as your trip gets closer. We're also planning to go in 2009, but I'm not even thinking about booking the hotel until August of this year.
Did you check with AAA (we have it, so it's not a consideration for us to buy it just for the discount) or other discount resources? Again, it still is early, so you might want to keep your eyes open for it.
Like you said, you only paid the deposit, so there's still a lot of wiggle room. I'm hoping the increases aren't that bad since I'm hoping to be able to stay at YC!
Considering that 2007 was one of the busiest on record at WDW, I wouldn't be surprised if the rates skyrocket. Of all the businesses in this world, they are the best at turning a profit. Only when people stop paying those rates and stay elsewhere, will they even think about coming down in cost.
I wouldn't expect the prices to skyrocket. There are already many people looking for a "deal", and the economy may be going into a recession.
Yes, you didn't mention your dates. I'm leaving for WDW in a few days & it's value season.
Check the web site mousesavers.com they have a historical discount chart which lists what dates WDW has run discount codes for room only or Pkgs, and when they come out. It's a good help when planing your dates.
We stayed at CBR lst Aug. & loved it. We stayed in Jamacia 42, a short walk to Caribbean Cay which leads you to the food court & gift shops & main pool. Also close to bus stop & Jamacia pool & laundry.
Hi everyone, thanks again for all of your replies. The dates we are going are January 5 - 15, 2009. Firmly in value season I think. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that rates come down.
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