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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We are planning a Eastern Carib cruise in April/May.....our first one....are there any pros to booking witth a travel agent opposed to booking with disney directly? Is it any cheaper or should I not waist my time?
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I used a TA for my first trip and am using the same TA for my second.
I have never seen it cost more using a TA. Some of the Disney Specialist TA's have blocks of rooms reserved and can get you a better location on the ship, sometimes save you money, and often other little pieces of magic appear.
(I even us a TA for my WDW trips, and they have always matched or beaten the price WDW was quoting on the website)
Particularly for a cruise, and especially for a first cruise, a TA is invaluable. You need to interview a potential TA. Ask lots of questions, but also expect her/him to ask questions. If an agent isn't asking questions, how will she/he know what you want and need?
Well, I'm biased toward using a TA although we do have a lot ot offer. Personalized service - getting to know you and finding out what you want to do and see so we can make recommendations to suit your needs. You get to take advantage of our 'been there, done that' experiences and plan the perfect trip. Many offer lower prices, shipboard stateroom credits - even stateroom gifts so it pays to shop around.
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Lynn
Yes, I am a Disney Addict... and I'd rather be cruising!.
At least give them a fare chance. TA's have been there, they have taken courses, they know what your don't. They can recommend things that you may not even think of....also if you have a problem...do you think a internet sales place will help you like your TA...NO WAY! TA's are the best.
Use a TA! They have so Much info they can share. Prices are about the same. If they book and a special comes up they sometimes can change you? Not always but it sometimes can be done. They may also have a in house special!
Unless your agent adds on fees and stuff you may pay the same as if you looked it up yourself. And you get the benifit of their expertise. Cabins, shore exc.
You should also consider calling Disney Cruise line directly....They were very helpful when I booked my cruise, and answered all of my questions. I also like the fact that I booked with Disney, so if I have any problems, Disney can fix it....Now I did not book on line, but once booked, I can view my reservations on line, make changes, and do anything I could if I called directly.
Unless your agent adds on fees and stuff you may pay the same as if you looked it up yourself. And you get the benifit of their expertise. Cabins, shore exc.
A reputable agent should not charge any fees for their services. We are paid commission from Disney NOT by charging fees our clients. Be very careful of any agency that charges you a fee for their services. None of the agencies that support this board charge fees.
I used a TA for our first cruise but I did not know then what I know now. I would definitely use a TA that is a Disney specialist because by using a TA you cannot make changes directly, they have to do it for you. I do not think our TA was very knowledgable on DCL and certainly wouldn't be up at midnight to make reservations for me. It took days to get a return call and they were not able to make airline reservations for me. I did alot of the calling and planning myself. I will say that I paid less for our accomodations then was quoted on the DCL website and also received a $100 in-room credit which was unexpected, but no real guidance as far as planning or advice. In fact when I asked about a veranda vs other stateroom options, she felt the veranda was not worth the extra money. I choose the veranda because I liked the idea of being able to view the open sea and get fresh air any time I wanted. I have never regretted that decision. The Passporter books are an invaluable tool for those of us who need expert information and tips. I think they make the difference between a great experience and a not so great experience. These boards are also wonderful for learning about things you would not otherwise even think of. So have a wonderful trip and just enjoy!!!
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Cinderella is proof that a pair of shoes can change your life.......
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Travel Agent..to use or not to use
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although we do have a lot ot offer. Personalized service - getting to know you and finding out what you want to do and see so we can make recommendations to suit your needs. You get to take advantage of our 'been there, done that' experiences and plan the perfect trip. Many offer lower prices, shipboard stateroom credits - even stateroom gifts so it pays to shop around.
We are paid commission from Disney NOT by charging fees our clients. Be very careful of any agency that charges you a fee for their services. 
None of the agencies that support this board charge fees. 
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