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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Right now we are booked on a 4 day cruise in Category 6 leaving September 20. I was really looking forward to the Veranda.
But after watching the DCL DVD, we thought we would check in to the 7 day leaving a day earlier. It would be a little more, but would probably equal out in cost to being at Disney those extra 3 days. But to do the 7 day we would have to book a category 11, or 12 room.
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Well, personally, I'd go for the 7 day; you'll have much more time to enjoy the ship. You really are not in the room that much, so a cat. 11 or 12 would probably be fine. I know people who had veranda rooms and never used them. Crunch the numbers to compare the 4 day + 3 days at DW vs. the 7 day cruise and see what's more cost effective. If you go for the 4 day cruise, I'd suggest you visit DW before the cruise--you'll end up so much more relaxed.
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I believe if you book a Category 12 and have 4 people that you will most likely be given at least an 11 as a Cat 12 is a max of 3 per room. and since you won't be spending a huge amount of time in the room, I would go with the 7 night. I would feel rushed on the 4 day and that won't lead to relaxation to me.
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We are going on our first Disney Cruise in April and opted for the 7 day in a Category 12. I figure you are really never in your room except to sleep and we have two category 12 hopefully adjoining so that the kids can have their own room and we can have ours. I didn't see the need for a bigger cabin.
I'm booked for the 7 night on the 19th in a Cat. 12. I'd go with the 7 night, as 4 is just not long enough! Heck, 7 isn't long enough either, but it's the best I can do right now! I've stayed in a verandah room, and while it's nice, to me, it's not worth the extra money. If I want to be out and watching the water, I'm going to go to the pool, deck 7's aft "secret" verandah, deck 4's comfy chairs, or elsewhere! I figure the only time I'm in the room is to sleep and change clothes, so, for me, I'm sticking with the inside! Good luck with whichever you choose!
I vote for a 7 night (the more, the better) - *with this disclaimer* - if anyone in your party is the least bit claustraphobic, I would go with at least a Cat 9. My DH is, and he HAS to have at least a window, or he goes crazy.
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I'm in the minority here, but we started with a three night cruise in a category 7 room to see if we liked cruising and to get the feel of it. We then did the 11 night Med cruise in a category 11 room and that worked really well for us, so that's why I voted for the four night cruise.
I voted to keep the 4-night cruise. We did that one in a cat. 7 room last spring and felt that it was a great choice for our first cruise! Now we're going on a 7-night cruise this year. Also, having a private verandah for ourselves was heavenly! Since I assume you'll have your kids with you, it'll be nice to be able to sit on your verandah while your kids sleep inside... Good luck deciding!
I too would opt for the 4 night cruise. Our first cruise was a 7 night Western and it didn't go well. My kids were 5 and 7 at the time and I think we were all overwhelmed with the whole thing. My husband wanted off the ship after day 3 mainly because the kids only wanted to hang out with us all day, had not interest in the kids clubs, and considered us their entertainment for the week. We were exhausted and finally forced them to the clubs for an hour one day. We're trying it again (5 years later) this fall and are doing the 3 night cruise, I'm a little gun shy still .
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I'd go for the 7 night. But I'd also try to get a cat 10. The extra room and the split bath is really worth it. For two of us, maybe not. But for the four of you, probably.
"Mommy, I have to go potty, bad!" "Okay, honey, just as soon as Daddy finishes his shower." "Sweetheart, did you go down the drain? <Insert child's name> really needs to go." "La la la la <standing under shower, using all of the hot water on the ship> la la la la."
7 days any day of the week... everyone I know who does the 3 or 4 day always regret it afterwords.... 7 days let you settle in and enjoy it to the fullest!!
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I'd choose, and did choose, the 4 night cruise. If it's a first cruise, I'd do the 4 night...you just don't know how your body is going to respond...it is a natural land lubber...nor do you know if the other people in your group will respond well. Nothing like seasickness for 7 days straight when it could have been 4. If everyone does well, then you can upgrade for your next vacation and have something more to look forward to.
I'd choose, and did choose, the 4 night cruise. If it's a first cruise, I'd do the 4 night...you just don't know how your body is going to respond...it is a natural land lubber...nor do you know if the other people in your group will respond well. Nothing like seasickness for 7 days straight when it could have been 4. If everyone does well, then you can upgrade for your next vacation and have something more to look forward to.
Plus...the VERANDAH!!! I would't miss it!
I concur about the verandah. Unfortunately, this year, we're in a cat 10 because I banked and borrowed to bring the whole family onboard, and I was 12 points shy of getting myself a cat 6. Aw well...the important thing is that my whole family will be there!!!!! Our next cruise will be in 2011, on the new ship...and definitely going with the verandah!
If it was my first cruise, I'd probably go with a 4 or 5 day, as you just don't know if you're a cruiser. Of course, after you find out that you love it, you then wish it was a 7 day!!!!
It was a tough choice, because I wouldn't cruise without a verandah. But everyone I've talked to (including my kids and in-laws) all say they wished they'd taken a 7 day because the short one are so, well, short. So, I voted for the 7 day. However, I've done three 4 day cruises, so I'm certainly ready for a long one!
It's all about priorities and knowing your family. Are your kids the type that will like the kids center? Are you prone to motion sickness? How high up does a balcony rate vs. days at sea and longer experience (perhaps quantity vs. quality). Are you the type who can relax or do you need to be doing busy work (days at sea could prove a challenge)?
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