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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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I am a first time cruiser and wanted to try both a Palo dinner and brunch on our upcoming trip. When I logged on to make the reservations this week everything was completely booked with the exception of dinner for the first night of the cruise. I booked it just so I had something planned but we are disappointed b/c it is our 15 year anniversary mid-week during the cruise and we were hoping for some fine dining on that day. The brunch was completely sold out. I know I can request to get on a waiting./cancellation list once I get to the port but is there anything else I can do to improve our chances of getting these dining experiences?
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They don't allow every single spot to be reserved online. They do reserve spots for people who may not have internet access or do not know about booking online and these spots can be booked your first afternoon. Take a look at your Navigator and see where they are taking Palo reservations and make that one of your first stops. You should have a pretty good chance of getting close to what you want if not exactly!
Oh that is fantastic news! That is exactly what happened to me-computer problems prevented me from getting on right at the moment when the window opened to make the ressies so it was about 3 1/2 hours in that I finally got to book from a relative's house. Since we aren't Castaway members (yet!) we didn't have the advantage of booking early so I will definitely look into making a request soon after we board. Thanks so much for the information Belle!
When we booked our first cruise, I made reservations for Palo's for dinner. I went to make reservations for brunch and there were none available. I kept going back to the site daily and a week or so later, there were reservations available. So, maybe you wanna check on it periodically? Just a thought.
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Great suggestions everyone! I feel so much better now. I'll keep checking before we go online and if no luck there, will definitely talk to someone on board. Although it doesn't have to be on our actual anniversary date (which would certainly be nice), I was most concerned about trying to squeeze it in on the first night since it is unknown if my kids will take to the children's clubs right away. If I can somehow manage to get the brunch in addition, that will just be an added bonus. It's getting so real now that we are 10 weeks away-the anticipation is killing me!!!!
....these spots can be booked your first afternoon. Take a look at your Navigator and see where they are taking Palo reservations and make that one of your first stops.
We did just that in June, we were on a tour of the ship when we passed Route 66. They were taking reservations in one of the clubs. We just ran in there really quick, got our reservation and joined up with our tour. They had a bunch of spots open! Good Luck!!!
When we were on the Magic in December, we were late arrivals (they held the ship) and I thought all chances of Palo reservations were gone. But we spoke to them by going straight to Palo's and they gave us a reservation for the following night! Then we also booked our brunch as well!!! They were absolutely wonderful and accommodating. The manager also told us that they only book about 30% of their reservations online and people are constantly rebooking once they get on board anyway. Your chances of getting a reservation on a 7 nighter is better than on one of the shorter cruises. Enjoy!
__________________
DVC Member BWV- 6/08
WDW -lost count!
Disneyland 2X
Disney Magic 11/04 Eastern
Disney Magic 12/06 Western, 08/15/09
Disney Wonder 01/08, 02/09, 08/10
Disney Dream B2B 08/11
This is how we celebrated our 25th Anniversary, our first Disney Cruise('04).
If you'll stop at Guest Services and let them know that your there for your anniversary,they'll give you a couple of buttons to wear....you'll be surprised at what these might get you! Extra desserts,a drink,a song or two. Oh yeah....Cake!!!!
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4 Day Land/3 Day Disney Cruise June 2004
7 Day Eastern Caribbean and 5 nights POFQ
Stateroom #6058
Sept.1-14,2006
15 Day Eastbound Repossession Cruise 2008
Just wanted to let you know that I called DCL and spoke with a really nice cast member who listened to my concerns and then called me back the next day with some greta news. They were able to move our reservation for Palo from the first night of the cruise to our actual anniversary date which is very cool
She couldn't help me out with booking a brunch but suggested I do what others here have advised- try to do it once on board. I am getting soooooo excited now....
She couldn't help me out with booking a brunch but suggested I do what others here have advised- try to do it once on board. I am getting soooooo excited now....
Vicky,
I have had the same prob. as you with trying to get brunch reservations online (none left) I checked again yesterday and there was a time available! I suggest you keep checking back on a regular basis. I am assuming people are changing their plans and changing/cancelling their reservations so DCL ads them back to the site. Good luck
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They do reserve spots for people who may not have internet access or do not know about booking online and these spots can be booked your first afternoon. 
Take a look at your Navigator and see where they are taking Palo reservations and make that one of your first stops. You should have a pretty good chance of getting close to what you want if not exactly! 
That is exactly what happened to me-computer problems prevented me from getting on right at the moment when the window opened to make the ressies so it was about 3 1/2 hours in that I finally got to book from a relative's house. Since we aren't Castaway members (yet!) we didn't have the advantage of booking early so I will definitely look into making a request soon after we board. Thanks so much for the information Belle!
(they held the ship) and I thought all chances of Palo reservations were gone. But we spoke to them by going straight to Palo's and they gave us a reservation for the following night! Then we also booked our brunch as well!!! They were absolutely wonderful and accommodating. The manager also told us that they only book about 30% of their reservations online and people are constantly rebooking once they get on board anyway. Your chances of getting a reservation on a 7 nighter is better than on one of the shorter cruises. Enjoy!
DVC Member BWV- 6/08
Happy Anniversary!
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