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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
View Poll Results: What was your experience with the 2009 Disney Dining Plans?
I used the Quick Service Dining Plan and it!
17
8.17%
I used the Quick Service Dining Plan and would not do it again.
0
0%
I used the Basic Dining Plan and give it a thumbs up.
92
44.23%
I used the Basic Dining Plan and won't do it next time.
11
5.29%
I used the Deluxe Dining Plan and was very happy with it.
41
19.71%
I used the Deluxe Dining Plan and it was just too much food.
10
4.81%
I didn't do a Dining Plan and that was the right decision for our family.
25
12.02%
I didn't do a Dining Plan on this trip but wish I had.
With the changes to the Dining Plans for 2009 I am starting a new Poll. Please only vote once you've taken a trip in 2009 - whether you've used the plans or not. Also be sure to add a post regarding your experience - including how many people were in your party and their ages. Those posts really help other travellers make their own decision as to whether to use any of the plans or not.
Thanks for your input!
Edited to add: There have not been many changes to the plans for 2010 (other than a price increase and the seasonal dining pricing) so we'll keep this thread open. Please continue to give your honest feedback. Everyone's opinions are valuable and the comments help others to decide what will work best for their party.
We used the Deluxe plan this year ... our first time using a dining plan (the last time I was at WDW, there was no such thing as a dining plan). And, sadly, we found it to be just a bit too much food.
We rarely ever had more than just the entree-and-side, even at most of our table service meals ... let alone appetisers and desserts. We also finished with about two unused meal credits apiece ...!
Likely we won't be heading back to WDW sooner than 4-6 years from now - we just aren't financially able to go more often than that. But we've already resolved that, for our next trip, we'll be scaling back to the Basic Dining Plan, or whatever the equivalent is then.
We especially found that making two Table Service reservations for the same day was a BIG mistake - even if they were as far apart as possible (Breakfast and Dinner); we ended up not being hungry enough for more than a light snack come lunchtime, if we ate at ALL.
The refillable mugs were also of questionable value, as we were not close to the drink stations (we were in Building #9, one of the 80's buildings, at Pop Century), AND, every meal we got in the food court CAME with a drink, anyway.
(Speaking of the distance to the refil station - I'd love to see a drink refil station in every building ... right in the T-junction, perhaps, in the Values. If you had to use your KttW card to dispense the drinks ... well, they could record "infinite drink credits" for those that bought the souvenir mug, and make everyone else pay normal costs for a 12oz soda. Then at least, the refillable mugs would ALWAYS be useful, no matter how far you were from the food court / restaurant of yoru resort.)
Anyway ... yes, we've changed our tune, and even "big eaters" like us feel that the Deluxe plan is just too much food. Not to a degree where we feel we didn't get our dollars' worth, but ... too much, nonetheless.
we arent going until christmas (hopefully) but i am leaning toward the QS....although if i can wrangle a pin code like i did this year for free dining at christmas.....then we will definatly do the regular dining plan.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
I keep hoping they will institute a 1 table service meal a day only plan. That would be the right fit for us in general. Quick service is cheap anyway, and we hate feeling obligated to eat a lot of food just because it's included. We really only have the stamina (and digestive capabilities) to enjoy one really great sit down meal a day anyway.
Ok... So I haven't used it this year yet... (Next trip we are doing is in November). But my husband and I used it on our honeymoon last year after much debate, actually changed to it the week before we left! It ended up being a godsend since a lot of places we went were table service. We happen to enjoy sitting down through a nice meal without worrying about finding a place to sit like with the QS meals. For us it rocked. So when I booked our vacation for my birthday I chose it again! Yes it was a lot of food and we didn't always get the offered appetizers... it worked out wonderfully.
Great idea for a poll! I look forward to casting my vote when we get back from our April trip We'll be on the basic dining plan.
We've done the basic ddp twice before and liked it. If I could make one wish list change to it, it would be this--have the quick service meal include entree (or combo meal) and a drink but no dessert, then instead give 2 snack credits a day instead of just one. I don't always want dessert with both my CS and TS meal, so it'd be great to be able to get a snack at some other point in the day.
We're using the DDP (basic) in April and I'll let you know how it goes!
We had it in December 2003 and it worked out really well. At the time, tax and gratuity and an appetizer were included and 2 of my 3 kids were still 'kids'. This time, no appetizer (which is ok with me really), and all of my kids are considered 'adults' (DD is 10 and still eats mostly chicken and fries when we go out!) and I have to remember to save for Tax and Tip before we get there.
I do like knowing it's already paid for though!
We used the quick service dining plan and we absolutely it! We are a family of 4, two adults and two children under 9. We were there for 6 nights, arriving very late the first night so we only used 1 credit each that evening.
It was a great choice for our family because we enjoy eating at some of the more expensive counter service places, ie. Wolfgang Puck express, Tangeriene Cafe. We are not hot dog and hamburger type of eaters. If this is your type of food, then the quick service plan may not be for you. We got the least bang for the buck when we ate at Earl of Sandwich (which I do love by the way) because their meals are very reasonable anyway and they don't really offer any type of combo meal on the menu.
This plan also includes dessert with each meal and to be honest, we just don't eat that much dessert. We ended up getting things that were well packaged and could travel well and now they are in my fridge/pantry. I have a couple of brownies and a couple of chocolate cakes left. When I factored how much the dessert cost and took that off the total price of the meal, we still came out ahead of what we actually spent.
This plan also includes the resort refillable mug and it was the exact same mug design as last year. I don't know if they are trying to sell through the old before unveiling a new design. We really did not use the mug very often, only in the mornings for our coffee, which we made in the room. The drink station at Goods to go at Old Key West was just not convenient for us to swing by very often and they didn't have the hot chocolate machine like at Saratoga Springs, so we didn't have much use for that. However, the mugs we had at home were looking shabby so we were able to replace them. Yippee!
You get 2 snack credits for each person each day and we ended up with 22 unused credits on the last day. I went to the confectionary at MK and used some on cookies and fudge and the rest were used at the general store at Old Key West on cokes, candy bars, and chips for the drive home.
Each meal I wrote the meal total on the bottom of the receipt and I added them up each evening. We averaged $115 each day (including snacks) and the quick service plan was $78 a day, so we saved approx. $200 this trip on food.
We will definitely be using this plan again.
Dora - Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with the QSDP. I know your comments will help many PPers make up their minds on whether the plan will work for them.
I will go stand in the corner after posting this because I know it is supposed to be about this year, but I just can't resist. The last two trips were at opposite ends of the spectrum, one was the Deluxe Plan, which then had the 3 sit down meals/day with everything included- which left me stuffed and feeling like I spent 10 days seeing nothing but the inside of restaurants and the next trip I thought, well, whatever....we'll just pay-as-we-go,not a good idea at all. WDW tends to bring out the latent accountant tendencies in me, so I can usually tell you how much I am spending per minute- the mere thought of a $5 bagel at breakfast can ruin my entire day, so knowing how much I'm spending on food and paying it in advance eases my mind- so I am hoping that the Basic Plan will still be around in the fall!
__________________
Suzanne, in Rochester,NY
Remember the Magic!
Picture is of DD,Pam, as Constance, in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
We used the Deluxe Plan ten days in December. There were three adults and one infant. We were very happy with the way it worked. Instead of forcing three TS meals a day, we had a snack in the morning, then a sit-down lunch and Signature dinner. Using the plan in this manner, we were able to have California Grill twice, Citricos, Narcoossee's, Artist Point, jiko, Flying Fish twice, Brown Derby, and the Luau.... that was just dinners. I ran the numbers once we got home using the receipts. Assuming the things we probably wouldn't have ordered if it wasn't included, we still saved over $1000. We didn't have any problem enjoying an App, Entree, and Dessert twice a day, even my mom who normally eats like a bird.
__________________
Share the Magic,
Jym
_____________________________________________
Old chefs never die, they just roux the world.
You get 2 snack credits for each person each day and we ended up with 22 unused credits on the last day. I went to the confectionary at MK and used some on cookies and fudge and the rest were used at the general store at Old Key West on cokes, candy bars, and chips for the drive home.
We had a bunch of snacks left last month too and did the same thing. It was like going on a free shopping spree. We got all we wanted and then got cookies and cupcakes for the family that waited behind us in line while we picked. What a blast.
__________________
Share the Magic,
Jym
_____________________________________________
Old chefs never die, they just roux the world.
We used basic plan in November 5 adults. We had the issue with the snacks at the end too but snacks from WDW for the grandkids were good when we got home. Fudge at confectionary we will try next time.
January trip DH and I were celebrating early anniversary and did deluxe plan. LOVED IT!!!! Even with paying 20% (more than that for a couple of meals) for tips we still saved over $250 for the 3 nights we were there. Besides that we received a certificate for a complimentary picture frame ($25) from Crystal Palace breakfast and cards from The Wave and Artist Pointe restaurants. Oh, and the complimentary champagne from the Wave.
We too used the snack for breakfast and 2 table services at Artist Pointe. We were also offered an option to go back to receive our dessert later (which I was told you can request from any of the restaurants) I found in general there were small apps and desert options that could be used and I didn't always finish my entree. The first night dinner I brought back part of the entry and the entire dessert because we had reserved early and I tend to stay up late so it was a 1am snack.
We plan to use the deluxe plan for Lindsey's coming of age women's getaway in March but will use the basic in sept. when all 18 of us go as most of the grandchildren do not eat a lot at home. If we can book the two rooms as two different reservations though we may do one room as deluxe.
We have done visits in the past without the dining plan but decided in 07 that it really is not worth the hassle of carrying the money, or putting on debit card (as we don't carry regular credit cards) and figuring out what you are spending and how much you have to scrimp or spend the rest of the time. But it is fun to go into a restaurant and be able to look at the menu and try something you wouldn't necessarily do because of price. I especially liked this part because Buffalo short ribs were terrific at Artist Pointe and I know I would not have tried that if we weren't on the plan.
About This Page: 
it!
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
GEAUX SAINTS!!
(DD is 10 and still eats mostly chicken and fries when we go out!) and I have to remember to save for Tax and Tip before we get there. 
Dora
PassPorter Guide Author
, but I just can't resist. The last two trips were at opposite ends of the spectrum, one was the Deluxe Plan, which then had the 3 sit down meals/day with everything included- which left me stuffed and feeling like I spent 10 days seeing nothing but the inside of restaurants
- the mere thought of a $5 bagel at breakfast can ruin my entire day, so knowing how much I'm spending on food and paying it in advance eases my mind- so I am hoping that the Basic Plan will still be around in the fall!
Go Deluxe Plan!
Linear Mode
