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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Newbie here! I'm planning a Dec. 08 trip for myself, DH, and will-be 4.5 year old son, hoping to stay at Wilderness Lodge. This is my first time planning a Disney vacation, and my head is spinning! I'm planning to join AAA for the discount, and just applied for a Disney Visa. My question is, can I book a room-only using the AAA discount, and charge that to the Disney Visa to take advantage of the 6 month 0% financing? I'm unsure if you have to book an entire package or if a room only will work. I'm thinking of adding tickets (of course) later and 75% sure we will add the dining package, but I want to wait a little while and see how people like the '08 dining plan. I'm most anxious to get the room booked b/c that is the thing I could 'miss out' on if I wait too long. Another reason is that I'm not sure if we could actually get an entire package paid off in the 6 month time frame and want to avoid paying interest (room-only shouldn't be too hard to pay off.) Lastly, should I go through a AAA agent to book or attempt it myself? Thanks so much for any tips or information!
June
I'm almost positive you have to book a package, but I could be wrong. I know I got the 6 month 0% interest on my downpayment on Disney Vacation club, so maybe it's more than just packages--- but I don't think so. Hopefully someone will come along and know for sure.
You have to book the package to get the six month 0 % from Visa. The following is from the Visa site.
Enjoy 0% APR vacation financing for 6 months from the date of purchase on select Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts vacation packages, all Disney Cruise Line® packages and Adventures by Disney packages when you pay with your Disney Rewards Visa Card. You can take advantage of this anytime you travel when you or your travel agent book through the Walt Disney Travel Company and purchase a ticket inclusive Disney vacation package.
For the AAA discount on packages you will need to use a AAA travel agent,
June,
Welcome! Myself, DH and our 3 1/2 yo DS just got back from WDW a couple of weeks ago. We had initially planned to go when DS was 4 1/2, but just couldn't help ourselves. You will all have a GREAT time. Passporter (both the travel book and the forumns) is a great way to learn what you need to know!
Just an FYI - on the Disney Visa. We booked our package (12/5-12/14 at the Beach Club) in June of '07. You only have to put down $200 as a deposit on the package within 14 days and then you can pay a little here and a little there as you wish. (You must pay off entire balance by 45 days prior to your arrival.) If you use the Disney Visa to put your deposit and subsequest payments on, you'll have 6 months to pay off each of the individual charges. So, if you put the $200 down, you'll have 6 months from the date you charge it to pay it off. So, you can chip away at your balance a little here and there while you wait for your trip and then pay it off with the Disney Visa a little before your due date and have 6 more months to finish paying it off with Chase.
Also, a benefit of getting a package with the Disney Visa is that they come out with exclusive discount codes for certain dates. On 8/13/07, we got a code that saved us $500 off our package. At first, it didn't look like it applied to our dates/resort, but I called anyway, the CM put in the code, and it knocked off $500 - so definately worth calling anytime you find a code - even if you think it doesn't apply!
Anyway - just thought I would share my experiences with you - I was in the same position trying to figure out the best way to go and this seemed to work for us. Good Luck and enjoy your planning!
Heather
__________________
Countdown to April/May 2014 Boardwalk Inn.....3 Generations trip with my mom (first trip) and DS9 (fourth trip). DS's gonna show his Gramma the world!
I'm planning to join AAA for the discount, and just applied for a Disney Visa. My question is, can I book a room-only using the AAA discount, and charge that to the Disney Visa to take advantage of the 6 month 0% financing? I'm unsure if you have to book an entire package or if a room only will work. I'm thinking of adding tickets (of course) later and 75% sure we will add the dining package, but I want to wait a little while and see how people like the '08 dining plan. I'm most anxious to get the room booked b/c that is the thing I could 'miss out' on if I wait too long. Another reason is that I'm not sure if we could actually get an entire package paid off in the 6 month time frame and want to avoid paying interest (room-only shouldn't be too hard to pay off.) Lastly, should I go through a AAA agent to book or attempt it myself? Thanks so much for any tips or information!
June
Welcome to the boards June!
I don't work for Chase Visa, but I'm pretty sure that offer is for packages only, not Room-Only reservations.
I DO work for AAA though...and if you're joining AAA just to get the Disney discount and member only benefits, you'll get a discount on the package and the only way to do it is w/ a AAA travel agent. When you book a package you pay a $200 deposit w/ the final balance being due about 45-60 days prior to travel.
If you book it on your own as a Room-Only and later want to convert it to a package w/ tickets and dining and STILL get the AAA discount, you'll have to call AAA so the agent can work on "taking over" the reservation from Disney to make it a qualified AAA booking for the discount and member benefits. The "taking over" (transferring the reservation) only takes a few days.
If you jump right in and book the package plus dining, and wish to change it, you can do so until you make your final payment. Once your final payment has been made, it's very close to travel time and any changes that will downgrade the package will possibly be assesed a change fee from Disney.
I think the 2008 dining plan is still a great deal. I personally cannot eat an appetizer, entree and dessert in one sitting, so for someone like me, it's a better plan.
Heather: You made my day by telling me the Disney Visa info about each individual charge having the 6 month 0% interest BTW, we also got married in 1999 and my DS will turn 4 in July!
Jennifer2003: I've been meaning to join AAA for awhile (esp. after my DH totalled his vehicle a couple of months ago...we could have paid for a Plus membership for the 2 of us TWICE for what it cost to have him towed!) But yes, I do definitely want it also for the Disney discount. Soooo, do you know if I booked a package through a AAA agent, could I both get the discount and use the Disney Visa with the plan above? I'm really hoping this is the case! I'll book as soon as my Visa arrives if so.
ETA: I joined AAA today
Even if you join AAA still keep an eye out for those discounts that Disney offers. Most times those discounts can be even better than the discount you get by going through AAA. You can try to have that discount applied to your current reservation. You would just need to contact your AAA agent and ask them to do it for you.
If you book a package now with just the room and the park tickets, you can add the dining plan at a later date. You just need to be sure to do it 7 days prior to arrival.
__________________
Cheryl
************
Off Property '72, '84, '89, '91, '95, Polynesian '79, Grand Floridian '90, Disney Village Resort '94, Caribbean Beach March '04, French Quarter November '04, Wilderness Lodge October '05, Pop Century - October '06, Boardwalk Inn - November '06, 4-Night Cruise, Disney Wonder - April '07, Yacht Club - May '07, Disneyland - April '08 UPCOMING TRIP: 3-Night Cruise, Disney Wonder & the Polynesian - December '08
Jennifer2003: I've been meaning to join AAA for awhile (esp. after my DH totalled his vehicle a couple of months ago...we could have paid for a Plus membership for the 2 of us TWICE for what it cost to have him towed!) But yes, I do definitely want it also for the Disney discount. Soooo, do you know if I booked a package through a AAA agent, could I both get the discount and use the Disney Visa with the plan above? I'm really hoping this is the case! I'll book as soon as my Visa arrives if so.
ETA: I joined AAA today
Yes, you can book w/ AAA and still take advantage of the Visa offer. They're not related and they don't cancel each other out. When you pay for your trip, it will appear on your Visa statement as a transaction with The Walt Disney Travel Company. All the codes Visa and Disney need are electronic and encrypted in the transaction so there is no extra step on your part or the AAA agent...you never even have to mention you have a Disney Visa.
I'm sure the AAA Club you joined with will be glad to have you!!
Even if you join AAA still keep an eye out for those discounts that Disney offers. Most times those discounts can be even better than the discount you get by going through AAA. You can try to have that discount applied to your current reservation. You would just need to contact your AAA agent and ask them to do it for you.
I called several of my clients when the Jan-March promo came out to get them to switch. And when Free Dining rolls around, our phones are off the hook!
Newbie here! I'm planning a Dec. 08 trip for myself, DH, and will-be 4.5 year old son, hoping to stay at Wilderness Lodge. This is my first time planning a Disney vacation, and my head is spinning! I'm planning to join AAA for the discount, and just applied for a Disney Visa. My question is, can I book a room-only using the AAA discount, and charge that to the Disney Visa to take advantage of the 6 month 0% financing? I'm unsure if you have to book an entire package or if a room only will work. I'm thinking of adding tickets (of course) later and 75% sure we will add the dining package, but I want to wait a little while and see how people like the '08 dining plan. I'm most anxious to get the room booked b/c that is the thing I could 'miss out' on if I wait too long. Another reason is that I'm not sure if we could actually get an entire package paid off in the 6 month time frame and want to avoid paying interest (room-only shouldn't be too hard to pay off.) Lastly, should I go through a AAA agent to book or attempt it myself? Thanks so much for any tips or information!
June
Unless this has changed since April 07, you don't need to go through AAA to book your package. I called the Central Reservation line and set it up myself and asked for the AAA discount. They told me I'd have to show my AAA card when I checked in (which I actually forgot to do). I still got the discount without a problem - I showed them the card before I checked out just in case.
[quote=June Mommy;1875566]Thank you, everyone! You've been most helpful!
Heather: You made my day by telling me the Disney Visa info about each individual charge having the 6 month 0% interest BTW, we also got married in 1999 and my DS will turn 4 in July!
quote]
Glad to share the information June! It's definately a benefit to spread out the charges and extend the time it takes to pay it off - we intended to do it that way, but then I just couldn't help myself and kept paying off a little here and there and it was paid off even before the trip. Good luck on the discounts. Once you get your Disney Visa, make sure you're signed up to get e-mail offers from them - that's how you'll find out about the discount codes coming out - also keep an eye out on all the different message boards and information site for announcements. They are really limited and you have to be fast. If you are 100% determined to stay at WL, definately make your reservation as soon as you get a rate you can live with. Once the codes come out - you can give it a try and and hope for availability. If you are flexible about being willing to stay at a few different spots, you have a greater chance at being able to use the code to get a great rate somewhere.
I know that you and your family will have an amazing time at WDW in December just like we did. I often thought on our trip - if only DS was a year older he'd be enjoying it even more!
One last thing - enjoy earning your Disney rewards dollers on the visa - we used ours on everything for about a year and it covered quite a bit of our souvenirs.
__________________
Countdown to April/May 2014 Boardwalk Inn.....3 Generations trip with my mom (first trip) and DS9 (fourth trip). DS's gonna show his Gramma the world!
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BTW, we also got married in 1999 and my DS will turn 4 in July!
I called several of my clients when the Jan-March promo came out to get them to switch. And when Free Dining rolls around, our phones are off the hook! 
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