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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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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.
Thank you so much, I will use this and Passporter Eworksheet as guidlines. This will be our second trip to the States and first one on any cruise. Coming from a country that does not have a tipping culture I stress before each trip because I am afraid of offending people. I have no idea who or how much to tip and why is it that I read if recommended tip is $20, person only actually gets $5 so have to tip more. Who gets the rest of money?
. We have booked parasailing and swimming with dolphins, do we need to tip too and how much, or just the bus drivers.
. I wanted to book the Palo so who do I tip there and how much, there will 3 of us.
. Do we just put the money with a card and give it to the servers and host on the last night on the ship or do we tip each night?
I am sorry if I sound ignorant but want to get it right (just printed Trip Advisor sheet on tipping guidelines in USA so this should help)
Is this calculator still pretty accurate? I notice the release date is July 2011. Just wondering if the numbers I'm getting for tips is close to what we should budget for.
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Jennifer / Eeyore is my favorite!!
OMG - He's sooooo grown up!!!! And an EAGLE SCOUT!! I can still remember my cute little Tiger Cub! 2016 Reading Goal - 75 books
Why are some of you complaining - When you signed your reservation agreement, one of the stipulations "gratuaties NOT included."
I know what it's like trying to survive on minimum wage, tips and supporting a family. I'm now a senior, on fixed income. BUT from past experience Disney cruise staff deserve at LEAST 15%. They work hard and make our cruise most enjoyable.
I want to thank Disney Cruise Line and staff for their hard work and treating us like royalty.
Looking forward to our Feb 2014 cruise on Disney Dream
I am happy to tip generously. Many of these people are the sole financial supporters of complete families in depressed countries, and they go away from the families to work long shifts at a frantic pace, and keep smiles on their faces for us. They are a blessing to their families, and I consider them a blessing for us. We are fortunate to be able to spend the money we do to take vacations like this.
I did the prepaid tip, and will be tipping more on top of that. If I had to go cheap on tips, I would cut back my vacation. I hope I didn't offend anyone here, but probably 99.9% of the people that cruise on DCL would never ever work doing the jobs these people do for the money they do them for. Enjoy being a blessing to them too. These are people working very hard to make this a Disney experience for you.
We rec'd a predetermined tip summary that had perforated tabs to put in provided envelopes and hand to each cm we were tipping. I gave them these "receipts" along with some extra cash on the morning of debarkation. They really do make a remarkable difference on our trips and it was really nice getting to know a few of them, where they come from and to give them a chance to tell us about who they were anxious to go home to see.
Even if you don't hand it to them in person it is automatically charged to your account unless you go to guest services to change the amounts in person.
That link was very useful. This will be our first Disney cruise. We did Princess cruise before and always pre-paid out Tips so this will come in handy. Think I will make envelopes prior so it is all saves and ready to transfer over. 428 days left until we cruise. March 2, 2018
That link was very useful. This will be our first Disney cruise. We did Princess cruise before and always pre-paid out Tips so this will come in handy. Think I will make envelopes prior so it is all saves and ready to transfer over. 428 days left until we cruise. March 2, 2018
This is an old thread. Disney does prepaid tips as well. And when you receive your documents they will tell you what the charges are. If you feel these amounts are too much you can go to the desk on the boat and contest the amounts. Also they will leave envelopes in your room the last night if you feel you would like to leave additional tips.