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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Can anyone tell me how to pre-pay those tips? I read in the Passporter that this can be done online but I don't see where that is an option when I sign in.
Thank you so much!
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If you were on a 7 night cruise and only ate at the restaurants for 3 nights. ( to try them each out) would you divide the tip out or still pay the full amount for the dining staff?
We just came back from a 3 day. I paid full tips even though I didnt feel the ser vice was that great. Maybe it was because the ship was full? Our drink orders got mixed up, the bar tab for our table was given to my husband and I, ( and we were drinking tea-the asst waiter was very confused when my husband tried to explain it to him, rather than make a big deal about it we paid 66.00), and on more than 1 occasion forgot to bring out someones salad. Didnt get anthing special like I hear others talk about. I guess it was just not the above and beyond I was expecting.
I booked a 7 day but think the other food on the ship is better ( dont know if its the new menus or just that I am a meat and potatoes kind of gal, but there wasnt anything I had at the restaurants I would have to have again) so only plan to go to the restaurants so others in our group can check them out. It will be their first time.
FYI
We paid 5.00 cash at the door when we ordered room service . That food was great. Try the steak sandwich!
My tipping question has to do with room service... PP recommends $1 - 2 per person; I am assuming that means per person in the room, not per person bringing the room service? For example, if I order room service for 2 people, I would tip $2 - 4, whereas if I order room service for 4 people, I would tip $4 - 8? Is that right? This is our first ever cruise!
We had 2 adults in our room, if I was in the room alone it was $1-$2 depending on speed of delivery and service over all. If both of us were in the room then $3-$4 was given.
Its all how you feel about the service given, and what your comfortable with but that is what I did.
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I thought everyone might benefit from knowing where to find out how much is recommended for tipping on cruises. While most cruise Disney and you can find out what is recommended in the Passporter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line sometimes if the cruise is longer then the normal 3,4,7 day cruises or on a Different Cruise line all together how much to tip can be a little confusing.
I found this website that will calculate how much to tip all you do is input the # of days, the # of adults , # of children. Then choose what cruise line your taking and it will do the math for you!
The tips seem like more than 20%. Just how expensive are these meals on the cruise? Also, what is the difference between checking the box labeled "full tip" and not checking it? I see the amounts differ but why the different amounts... what is a "full tip"? Does this mean 20%? How do you know the cost of the food?
Listen, I hate to come across as cheap, because I definitely am not. I am looking into a Disney Cruise, so obviously I'm not.
BUT, to me giving out envelopes for tips seems a little tacky to me. I mean, I know that just makes it easier for the guests and what not. But, a tip is supposed to be "optional," though nowadays, it isn't. And to give out envelopes seems to make it mandatory.
Furthermore, I was under the impression with all-inclusive, that it includes gratuities, etc. My real beef however is with the sheer amount. According to the calculator, my family of four would be tipping somewhere in the area of $45 a meal. So, we are basically paying for a meal with that tip. So, to say that meals are included is kind of shady, as you will be tipping what it would cost to just eat a meal.
Think about it. Let's assume that the meal itself is worth $80, that is still an over 50% tip. I do not mind tipping, I honestly don't. I just do not like the idea that it is "expected" or that there is a standard amount.
I totally agree with you!!!!!!! ICAM in fact!! It IS like just buying the meal outright. I'm sorry but that just is not fair considering that they sell you this bill of goods that ALL is inclusive... except you will be paying for you meals via a huge tip. So far, while I am excited to go on a cruise, it has been nothing but nickel/dimeing the whole way. There is nothing included...it is ALL EXTRAS!!!
The tips seem like more than 20%. Just how expensive are these meals on the cruise? Also, what is the difference between checking the box labeled "full tip" and not checking it? I see the amounts differ but why the different amounts... what is a "full tip"? Does this mean 20%? How do you know the cost of the food?
The Full Tip box is pertaining to the children. sometimes the kids don't always eat in the dining room, or they eat a bit then head to the kids' place. so if you check the Full Tip box, it would be 20% for the children.
Quote:
Originally Posted by turtlnsite
I totally agree with you!!!!!!! ICAM in fact!! It IS like just buying the meal outright. I'm sorry but that just is not fair considering that they sell you this bill of goods that ALL is inclusive... except you will be paying for you meals via a huge tip. So far, while I am excited to go on a cruise, it has been nothing but nickel/dimeing the whole way. There is nothing included...it is ALL EXTRAS!!!
ALL inclusive except for shore excursions, taxes, and gratuities, and that info can be found usually after the * or in the fine print. When I went on my cruise(royal caribbean) I first balked at the idea of the tip, but then I watched what these workers had to do and I'm sorry, but if I had the extra cash, I'd give them 30% and not bat an eye and I certainly wouldn't complain about it!
Can anyone tell me how to pre-pay those tips? I read in the Passporter that this can be done online but I don't see where that is an option when I sign in.
Thank you so much!
I totally agree with you!!!!!!! ICAM in fact!! It IS like just buying the meal outright. I'm sorry but that just is not fair considering that they sell you this bill of goods that ALL is inclusive... except you will be paying for you meals via a huge tip. So far, while I am excited to go on a cruise, it has been nothing but nickel/dimeing the whole way. There is nothing included...it is ALL EXTRAS!!!
All is included in your quote.
You don't HAVE to tip your servers(you don't even have to eat in the dining rooms). You don't HAVE to tip your room steward. If you don't give tips you won't be sent a bill. The recommended amounts are just that, recommended, you don't HAVE to give that much. They are simply guidelines for you to go by to give you an idea of what most people give in gratuities. You don't HAVE to order room service(and if you do, you don't HAVE to tip the server).
You don't HAVE to go to PALO. You don't HAVE to take an excursion. You don't HAVE to buy canned drinks or bottled water or booze. You don't HAVE to go to the Spa. And you don't HAVE to take Disney transportation to the Port, nor get travel insurance through Disney.
You don't HAVE to tip your servers(you don't even have to eat in the dining rooms). You don't HAVE to tip your room steward. If you don't give tips you won't be sent a bill. The recommended amounts are just that, recommended, you don't HAVE to give that much. They are simply guidelines for you to go by to give you an idea of what most people give in gratuities. You don't HAVE to order room service(and if you do, you don't HAVE to tip the server).
You don't HAVE to go to PALO. You don't HAVE to take an excursion. You don't HAVE to buy canned drinks or bottled water or booze. You don't HAVE to go to the Spa. And you don't HAVE to take Disney transportation to the Port, nor get travel insurance through Disney.
Amy, I am so glad you posted the link, thank you. I can't wait otake a DCL Cruise, an thetip calculatorhelps me add that intoour cruise budget.
I have been on other cruiselines as a child and had my parents to thank for leaving our tips. Our last cruise there were 10 of us all at the same table, and we had my dad & uncle to factor and split the tipping between both of our families of 5. If you really think of how hard the wait staff work and the other service providers on the ship work to make your cruise special and memorable that you want to come back, I think they more than deserve the tips.
Thanks for the link! As someone looking forward to her first cruise ever, it helps to have an idea of what to budget for. Even if we don't all agree 100% with the amounts, it provides a ballpark range and I appreciate that. It will help me a great deal with my planning!
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As someone looking forward to her first cruise ever, it helps to have an idea of what to budget for. Even if we don't all agree 100% with the amounts, it provides a ballpark range and I appreciate that. It will help me a great deal with my planning!
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