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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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My brother and family are currently on the Disney Wonder touring Europe.....OH how I wish I were with them!!! This is their 2nd Disney Cruise and have said they get the "regular" stateroom with a terrace. They are a family of 3 and we are a family of 4 so we were looking more toward the "Family" Stateroom (I hate to be crowded!!).
Is there much difference between the two rooms??? Which have any of you used and what do you prefer???
All suggestions will be helpful as we have never cruised before.........THANKS!!
We are a family of 4. The first cruise we did a Cst 6 (room 6562). The last cruise we did a Cat 4 (8066) mainly because we were offered to upgrade from our Cat 6 for $300. The extra space was nice, but what was even better was the location (aft, near the stairs that led up to the drink station). You can't go wrong with either, but if money is an issue, you'll be fine in the Cat 6.
The only significant difference on the Magic and Wonder is the extra space and the extra single bed - the stateroom is about 36 sq. ft. larger - that works out to be about four feet deeper than the Cat 5-10 staterooms. Also, they're all located on deck 8, which is very convenient for accessing the pools and food on deck 9.
On the Dream, the Family staterooms have about the same size advantage they have on the Magic and Wonder, and the bathroom also has a circular tub/shower enclosure, while the lower categories have a somewhat smaller, rectangular tub. The Family Staterooms are located on several decks, and rates will reflect which deck the room is on.
There are far more Family staterooms on the Dream (and Fantasy) than on the Magic and Wonder. That may affect demand-driven pricing over the long haul (for the better, one hopes).
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
On the Dream, the Family staterooms have about the same size advantage they have on the Magic and Wonder, and the bathroom also has a circular tub/shower enclosure, while the lower categories have a somewhat smaller, rectangular tub. The Family Staterooms are located on several decks, and rates will reflect which deck the room is on.
There are far more Family staterooms on the Dream (and Fantasy) than on the Magic and Wonder. That may affect demand-driven pricing over the long haul (for the better, one hopes).
Thanks Dave, I should have mentioned we are looking at the Dream for our trip. It won't happen this next year but perhaps 2012. It is never to early to start planning, right? At the moment I am just trying to understand the different catagories, decks, ect ect and reading alot on Passporters. All a bit overwhelming for a cruise ship newbie!!
OK, as you aren't familiar with the Magic/Wonder either...
For a family of four, I'm not sure I'd spend the extra money for the extra space (or the round tub). I'd rather spend the money in different ways - shore excursions, spa, etc. Not everyone else feels the same way, of course. I'm very used to the space in the Cat 5-10 staterooms, and don't feel very limited by it. Since the extra space is all in the area the kids will be occupying (at least, for most of the time), it may or may not be a big deal to Mom and Dad as they get dressed, and makes no difference to you at all once the kids are tucked in.
Stateroom space all comes down to how much time you spend in the stateroom. The more space you have, the more likely you are to spend your time in the room. The less space you have, the more likely you'll spend time using the ship's public facilities. There's no right or wrong in that regard, since there are some fabulous public spaces.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
Thanks again Dave!! Good points to think about as I know we will be booking a verandah room either way and if there isn't that much difference between a Deluxe and a Family Deluxe, we may as well just look at the Deluxe rooms and save a bit money for other things.
We will, I am sure, not be in our rooms much as there are so many things to take in and do!!! We are also looking at a Cat. 5, 6 or 7 and just can't decide yet if it is better to be closer to the dining or the pools?? DD will be 15 and DS will be 12. So many things to consider........I am glad I am beginning the investigating early!!
The Dream will not have Category 7 staterooms so you will not have to worry about that
Since this is your first trip I wouldn't worry about a Family Stateroom and would save the money for souvenirs or tips.
Thanks...you can tell I am truly a newbie at this cruise planning!! I ment that we are looking at staterooms on DECKS 5,6 and 7 (not Categories) OOOPS!!
Do you know if the Passporter Cruise book has information about the DREAM or would it be better to wait until next year for more info to be available?? We won't be taking the cruise until 2012.