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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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.
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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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Now that we're FINALLY DVC members (yay!! ) we're trying to figure out how to best use our "bonus" pts, as well as some of next year's pts. Our rep told us about the member cruise, which will be in Oct next year. Here are my questions...
Approx how many points does it "cost" to go on this cruise? We'd be 2 adults and 1 child/13 yr old.
What is the length of the member cruise, and where does it usually go?
Are there any kids on this one, or is it mostly adults?
What are some of the fun, extra things you've done on these cruises? And how different are they from the regular cruises?
How far in advance do they announce the next year's member cruise, and how far in advance can you book it?
Thanks!!
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Looking forward to another Christmas with The Mouse!!
The 2012 member cruise is a 4 night sailing in october. Points haven't been published yet but look at the point charts for other October 4-night cruises and add about 10%. That will give you a good ballpark.
4 night cruises typically go to Nassau and Castaway Cay.
There will be children but giving the timing (during school year, hurricane season), probably not as many as other times of the year.
There are usually special guests and events but details are never released very far in advance. They are usually C/D-list celebrities with ties to Disney. Joey Fatone was on the 2011 cruise. Imagineer Marty Sklar was on past cruises, Richard Sherman, I believe Tony Baxter.
Cruises are announced each fall. By September / October 2012 they will release some details on the '13 cruise (assuming there is one.) Reservations are usually taken sometime in November for the following year's cruise. A word of warning that they usually sell-out the same day. DVC warns those interested in booking to plan to spend several hours on the phone. There will be hundreds--perhaps thousands--of interested members and Member Services only has about 150 agents. Each booking can take 30 minutes or more so waits are to be expected.
Also be prepared with numerous cabin classes you are willing to accept. It's all first-come, first-served. If you want Cat-11 and find out they are gone after waiting on hold for 2 hours, you either need to book something that is available or chalk it up to time wasted.
If any portion of the cruise is to be paid for with cash, full payment is due at the time of booking.
Personally I've never done a member cruise mostly because of the timing. September / October isn't exactly my ideal time to cruise. They've had some interesting guests over the years but nothing that's made me regret not booking. And the cache of it being a "Member Cruise" is lost on me.
If I'm going to spend several thousand dollars--or a bucketload of points--I'd rather pick a cruise with the date, duration and destination(s) which better suit my schedule and tastes.
I have to agree with the above points. We are using our DVC points to go on a cruise in April for 7 nights and now that the points are "spent" I kind of wish I had just paid cash. The amount of points DVC requires to book a cruise, no matter how many nights, is outrageous. In my opinion, you're better off using your points to go somewhere else and paying cash for the cruise if you're really interested in going. Another big point to consider is that September/October is still hurricane season and that can make for a rocky sailing!
I did the member cruise in 2006, and can't wait to do another! We had 2 stops at CC, and a day at see - no Nassau! And not only was the entertainment amazing - Jodi Bensen, Jennifer Hudson & Roy Disney- but we also got the most amazing gifts! I needed an extra suitcase to bring it all home!
The amount of points DVC requires to book a cruise, no matter how many nights, is outrageous. !
The number of points varies from cruise to cruise. Also cash rates are subject to change (increase.) In general I agree that cruises are not the best use of points. But it's worth comparing points / cash for all cruises being considered because some will be a better points value than others.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
I did the member cruise in 2006, and can't wait to do another! We had 2 stops at CC, and a day at see - no Nassau! And not only was the entertainment amazing - Jodi Bensen, Jennifer Hudson & Roy Disney- but we also got the most amazing gifts! I needed an extra suitcase to bring it all home!
FWIW, most of the comments I've read suggest that the quality has steadily declined. On the 2011 cruise the big name guests were Joey Fatone and Don "Ducky" Williams. Not exactly up to par with some of the other names I've read from years past.
And the real shame is that you're booking it blind. Reservations will likely be accepted sometime in November but you'll be lucky to know much about the cruise beyond the itinerary by mid-2012.
I've heard the gifts have steadily declined in quality, too. One person mentioned getting a mini suitcase during 2011 cruise...and someone else pointed out that it was the second or third year they've given out the same mini suitcase.
We did the members cruise in 2008 and we loved it!! Loved the 2 stops at Castaway Cay, and loved all the DVC touches on the ship!!
There was not too many children on board, in fact, Serenity Bay was packed and the family beach was empty. I'm not sure if this had to do with the time of year (September) or the fact that it was a members cruise and they didn't want to use their points.
The thing we loved the most about our cruise was sailing with 1800 or so other DVC members. Everyone had the same level of love and interest in Disney, and it was so much fun to have that common thread. Our table mates were awesome, and we even cancelled a Palo dinner so that we wouldn't miss a night with them.
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) we're trying to figure out how to best use our "bonus" pts, as well as some of next year's pts. Our rep told us about the member cruise, which will be in Oct next year. Here are my questions...
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