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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
Okay, bear with my bit of back-story here - I could really use some help! We are flying down to Orlando on a Saturday. We had planned to stay at the Hyatt at the airport, and get Quicksilver transfers to the port on Sunday, then to Universal after the cruise (3 nights there) then back to the airport. Well, DH has decided that he would like to stay close to the port the first night. I priced out a car rental using every car rental discount code out there (Mousesavers, Walmart, Discover, etc) and renting a car would only save us about $20 when all is said and done (even with a park and stay near the port), so DH said no way on a car rental. We want to do a towncar transfer to the hotel near the port the first night (I am assuming they will do that), then take the hotel shuttle to the port in the morning, then continue as planned.
SO. Do we do the Radisson or the Country Inn and Suites? I priced them and they are exactly the same. Even on the same website, I noticed. Which one is better? We will be arriving around 7 PM or so and will need some dinner (remember, no rental car). The pool isn't a factor since it will be late by the time we eat, and we will be there in late November. Which one will be better for two boys, 11 and 6? Admittedly, we won't be doing much besides eating and going to bed, but is there one you prefer, and why? If one was cheaper, I would go with that, but since they are the same, well . . .
We are staying at the Radisson the night before our cruise on 5/9/09. Never stayed before but will post how it was when I get back if it will help you out.
I have both reserved at this point for our cruise in August. Still not sure which one I'm going to go with. Country Inn is newer, but Radisson has a nicer pool!
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 don't know about the Country Inn and Suites, but the Radisson has a cute little Italian place across the parking lot.....We ate there instead of in the hotel. It was inexpensive and decent food.
I don't know about the Country Inn and Suites, but the Radisson has a cute little Italian place across the parking lot.....We ate there instead of in the hotel. It was inexpensive and decent food.
I was wondering the same thing. We also have the Radisson reserved for the night before our cruise (5/9), but I was thinking about checking out the Comfort Inn too. I heard that the pool is very nice at the Radisson though. Is there a cost for the shuttle from the Comfort Inn and Suites?
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
We are leaving our car at the Radisson for free because it costs $105.00 to park at the cruise terminal. We have booked the shuttle already and it is free. Call them now to reserve your pickup time.
Country Inn is brand new, and a block closer to the port. I am sure it offers shuttle service to the Port (< 1 mile away).
3 years ago, we stayed at the Radisson which was about the same scenario you have (late November, arrived late, there just to sleep). We had rented a car, one-way from Orlando to Port Canaveral and the Radisson shuttle driver picked me up at the National Car Rental place -- about 4 miles away (I think the National office has since closed) and was very accomodating.
Budget Car Rental is right next to the Radisson, so about a block from the Country Inn. For our cruise last week, we rented a minivan one-way from Port Canaveral to the airport for $105 total (including tax & car seat), since our flight wasn't until later on Saturday when we disembarked (spent day at Downtown Disney). We used the Disney bus service going from airport to the port since they handled the luggage and the cost savings wasn't that much (rental minivan ~$150 plus gas/hassle vs. $210 for 6 passengers on bus).
The Italian restaurant next door is very good.
I don't think you can lose with either choice. Do you belong to a club where you get points at either location?
Nope, no points. I think I am leaning towards the Country Inn and Suites, since it is newer and I haven't heard ANYTHING bad about it. Radisson seems to be a mix. I also saw that CI&S has a 24 hour snack bar in the lobby, and a "deluxe" continental breakfast. I may have to scoot over to Trip Advisor and check it out. I just hate that site because you KNOW some of the reviews are posted by the hotels themselves, or by their competitors. It's obvious.
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.
Okay, I called the hotel to get two questions answered.
#1 - can you reserve the shuttle ahead of time, since we won't be arriving until about 7 PM and we want to get to the port early. The clerk said we can call the day before (they don't start getting the sheets ready until then).
#2 - Is there someplace quick and easy within walking distance where we can get a late dinner. She said there is a Burger King right next door - the kids love BK, and it is quick and cheap.
CI&S was rated #2 on Trip Advisor (Radisson was #3). So I think we will go with it. Thanks to everyone who helped me. I am always so afraid of making the wrong decision!
Thanks for the info Jennifer!! I too am leaning toward the CI&S (we stayed at the Residence Inn the last time but got a great rate.....not so great anymore)!!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
We stay at the CI&S in Lake City, Florida every year on our drive down to Disney. It is spotlessly clean and has super comfortable beds. Can't speak for the one in Orlando, but they seem to have a pretty good reputation as a whole.
I really liked the Radisson's pool and the king rooms with the whirlpool tub, but I wasn't wowed by the on site restaurant. The breakfast buffet was mediocre without much selection and the dinner choice were expensive and not too good. I'm a definate foodie and will happily pay for any meal that's worth it no matter price, but this was not good.
We did LOVE the Greek restaurant next door to the hotel....can't remember the name of it though, (I'm sure someone here will know it). The food was great, service was wonderful, and atmosphere very relaxing. I will definately return there!
Back to the Radisson....shuttle service was good: organized and smooth running, worth it just for that. Sometime those shuttles to cruises can be a big nightmare
About This Page: 
Which one is better? We will be arriving around 7 PM or so and will need some dinner (remember, no rental car). The pool isn't a factor since it will be late by the time we eat, and we will be there in late November. Which one will be better for two boys, 11 and 6? Admittedly, we won't be doing much besides eating and going to bed, but is there one you prefer, and why? If one was cheaper, I would go with that, but since they are the same, well . . . 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Linear Mode
