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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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This will be our first time on any cruise. My husband refuses to go (will meet us at Disney World after), so my mom and dad are going with us on the cruise. Since we are going to Disney World for a few days after the cruise, is 3 days enough or should we do 4? We can probably spend an extra day in DW if we do 3, but just want to make sure we have a good experience. Also nervous I will be stuck on a boat with my 4 children without my husband....I might go crazy! Any advice? They will be 9,8,7 and 5 when we cruise in March 2017.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
4 days! Our first cruise was 4 and I didn't want to get off the ship when arrive back in Port C. The ships will keep everyone busy if you will allow that. I believe their ages will allow them to be in the same kids clubs, maybe someone else will verify that, so they will have a great time. I've always said a DCL cruise give families time together, kids time together w/o parents and parents time without their kiddos. You'll have to grandparents along to help if needed. Sorry hubs won't do the cruise, they're awesome!
The cruise is a different experience from WDW and both have their merits but I'd do an extra day on board anytime over an extra day in the parks.
Completely agree with that! There will be plenty to do on the ship, and the extra night gives you a chance to experience more, as well as do Castaway Cay. Even though my kids were too old to do the kids' clubs when we went on our first cruise, I have read a lot about them. Most kids are thrilled to be able to hang out with their new friends, which gives you a great opportunity to do "you-time." That won't happen in the parks...
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
As much as I prefer 4 to 3, considering your family dynamic... if choosing a 4-night cruise means one day less at WDW, would your husband mind?
Overall, for those cruising, 4 nights feels much longer than 3 nights (that's a good thing). The cruise will seem much more relaxing - you'll feel less pressured to "do everything," and days at sea are great.
The kids clubs take a huge amount of pressure off you. Some kids want to spend every waking minute there. Others might prefer an hour or two at a time - either way, you're going to love that it's there.
Also, cruises make it easier for the family to break into smaller groupings (maybe Grandpa and your eldest may want to do something together while you and Mom do something else, while the other kids are hanging out at the kids club). In other words, except when getting everyone out in the morning and ready for meals, there can be less kid-wrangling than ashore. And maybe Grandma and/or Grandpa will keep an eye on the kids while you go out for a few hours one evening, and the kids clubs have slumber parties, too.
Also, thanks to the closed, supervised environment on board and at Castaway Cay, your eldest can help ride herd on the younger ones in ways that they won't be able to do at the parks.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
Thank you for the advice! I wish hubby would go too, but he is freaked out by cruise ships. Not airplanes though...hmmmmm. Oh well. I will start looking at 4 night cruises and then he can meet us back in Orlando
My hubby refuses to go on the cruise too. So my girls and I go without him. I would go with 4 nights, 3 seems a bit too short like you are getting off right after you get on. You will be fine with your kids especially that age, you might hardly ever see them since they will love the kids club. My kids go straight to the clubs as soon as I let them, so right after breakfast, then I have to go get them for lunch and after they are off again. I am not complaining since I get to relax at the adult area. Then we get ready for dinner and then see the show together. Have a great time! You will get addicted to Disney cruising and will want to go over and over.
Have a great time! You will get addicted to Disney cruising and will want to go over and over.
SO true! We went on our very first cruise in Mar 2012. We just finished our 4th in Jan. They have all been Disney, they have all been fabulous. I've suggested another cruise line to DH but he's convinced any others will be a step down from Disney, and refuses to even consider them!
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