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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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Haven't been on the boards since sometime last year so a huge HELLO and a little background is in order.
We have reservations for DisneyWorld for the end of August 09. As I was getting the restaurant list ready for our dining plan, all of a sudden I wasn't interested in getting Le Cellier and I knew something was up. Gave up for a while thinking the "feeling" would come back and it hasn't.
Last week hubby and I talked about vacation and what we will do since in a few weeks the balance is due on our WDW stay. All of a sudden, due to some "perks" the thought of a cruise has seeped into our lives and we want to give it a shot. Although, it is sudden, and a few hundred more than I have saved for the WDW stay it is doable....... so........ here are my questions:
What are people wearing these days for the formal and semi-formal dinners? Hubby is not in any way, shape. or form going to put on a tux in 90 degree weather. We want to be in shorts and very casual wear.... Do we have to skip the semi-formal and formal affairs?????
We will be on the Magic: Are there buffet stations throughout the ship at all hours of the day or just in the morning??
How much does bottled water cost on the ship?
Is soda extra? The soda that you can get, is it fountain or canned?
We don't drink alcohol so what else does one need to pay for on the ship other than souvenirs and excursions?
What is the $$ range for the spa treatments?
Sorry I have so many questions, but I have never been on a cruise and would like to know more about it from people that have gone.
We are not "foodies" so the food, and the formal wear is skippable for us..... but the desserts, can we get them, even if we don't go to the dinners??
Since you will be on the Magic, I am presuming you are doing a week (or longer ) cruise.
You will see a large range of dress, even on formal nights. I am a shorts and t-shirt type of person. That being said, I usually work some Khakis and a collered polo shirt to most dinners (So far I have only done 4 day cruises). For the 7 day, I am going to pack 2 shirts, ties. dark wash and wear slacks and one dark sports coat. The only really dressy meal is for separate Palo reservations. My coat and tie go on just before dinner, and are promptly returned to the closet in my room afterward, and I return to my usual shorts. A couple of pairs of pants is also nice in case you get a cool evening.
Sodas with your meal and at the deck 9 beverage station(fountain drinks) are free. You can buy bottled water and canned sodas for your room. They will have a boarding special to get a case of water. Remember Disney is one of the few cruiselines that lets you bring your own on board. It has to be carried on (and carried around until your room is ready at 1:30. My memory is that bottled water and canned sodas were about $1.50 each (plus tip)
The buffets are usually open 7-10:30 for breakfast, noon-2 for lunch. Dinner, when served, is usually 6:30-8:30
The biggest expenses for me were excursions, photos, and souvenirs.
Room service is free, but you ought to tip. The room service menu is limited.
You've got quite a list of questions that we can hopefully address. If something is missed or not answered in as much detail as you'd like, try posting separate threads that deal with the same subjects (dining; dress, etc.)
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What are people wearing these days for the formal and semi-formal dinners? Hubby is not in any way, shape. or form going to put on a tux in 90 degree weather. We want to be in shorts and very casual wear.... Do we have to skip the semi-formal and formal affairs?????
You'll see all levels of dress, from formal (long dress and tux) to business casual (shirt and tie, cocktail dress) to resort casual (khakis and polo shirt, sundress) to, well, "maybe you'd be better off staying in your room and ordering room service"
While they don't enforce a dress code for the most part, you've got to at least have on shirt and shoes. Shorts should be avoided at dinner in the restaurants but jeans are okay pretty much everywhere but at Palo and formal night.
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We will be on the Magic: Are there buffet stations throughout the ship at all hours of the day or just in the morning??
Both ships offer a buffet at Topsiders (Magic) or Beach Blanket Buffet (Wonder) during breakfast and lunch. There are set hours for both and a brief period in between when they change over from one meal to another.
There are quick service places available (hours vary) that include pizza, hot dogs/burgers/chicken strips, sandwiches/fruit, etc. Room service is available 24-hours per day.
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How much does bottled water cost on the ship?
Don't remember the individual price but they offer cases for sale. It's pricey at over $30-something per case. Sometimes they have smaller packages available - 6 bottles for a different price that escapes me. The water on board tastes fine to me, except that it's tepid in temperature. I keep a couple bottles filled in the beverage cooler so I always have cold water available.
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Is soda extra? The soda that you can get, is it fountain or canned?
Fountain soda is included with your cruise fare. It's available at the drink station up on deck nine, and available at meals in the restaurants (and on Castaway Cay) at no charge. If you order from room service, from the bar or a beverage server, you will be charged and an automatic gratuity added.
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We don't drink alcohol so what else does one need to pay for on the ship other than souvenirs and excursions?
Photographs, spa, gratuities, and internet access (if desired) make the short list of other items.
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What is the $$ range for the spa treatments?
Depends on what you want. Experiences at the Villas start at $199 and go up to $589. They are fabulous! Individual treatments are available and range in price. My favorite is the hot stone massage, indulgent but worth it at $175 plus gratuity.... ahhhh!!
We are not "foodies" so the food, and the formal wear is skippable for us..... but the desserts, can we get them, even if we don't go to the dinners??
Many desserts are available thru room service, or check up at Cove Cafe. If you wanted to go to the dining room for just desserts, I would throw on something nice and enjoy the restaurant. The meals at the restaurants are part of the whole wonderful Disney Cruise experience, in my opinion.
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What about room service??? Does one pay???
24-hour room service is available at no-charge (although a $1 or $2 cash tip is greatly appreciated!) We like to order chocolate milk, chocolate chip cookies to keep on hand.
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Lynn
Yes, I am a Disney Addict... and I'd rather be cruising!.
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Yup, 7 day cruise and quick planning as we are looking at the 27Jun09 sailing in 6 1/2 weeks. My son will be easy (one pair of dark slacks and a button down shirt, plus a polo shirt for the semi formal).
Already have the ties for hubby lol.....
I don't know about the water and how that works. Would you explain further? Can each person bring in a case? For example my hubby bring in a case of water and I bring in a case of soda? We carry it all over the boat with us?? Can we have them in a bag??
I don't know about the water and how that works. Would you explain further? Can each person bring in a case? For example my hubby bring in a case of water and I bring in a case of soda? We carry it all over the boat with us?? Can we have them in a bag??
I am a weakling! (lol)......
Maria
They are the reverse of the airlines. On the airlines, you put bottles in your checked luggage, and none (almost none) in your carryon.
For the cruise, you cannot put bottles in your checked luggage. You put them with your carryon. (I saw a couple of people with a case of soda or water 'strapped' to their carryon that the wheeled with them as they ate lunch and then waited for their rooms. Of course, I you don't board till 1:30 you can go straight to your room with them. Most of us, however, can't wait to get on the ship and have to lug it around with us since we 'have' to get on board as soon as possible.
I know some folks must have their bottled water, but all the water on board is filtered water - produced by an on-board reverse-osmosis water treatment facility. It tastes as good as any decent bottled water. Consider that the most commonly-sold bottled waters these days, like Dasani (a Coca Cola product), come from municipal water systems, which the bottler may or may not run through another set of filters. Save the muscle strain, and save your money.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
You have received great answers. I would only note that we ordered chocolate chip cookies and an All Hands on Deck cheese and fruit plate each evening (we had late seating for dinner) and if you really like dessert go ahead and tell your dinner server that you just can not decide between two choices and see what happens!
The Cove, previously mentioned, has coffee for sale but the desserts are free and fabulous. I would stop up each day and get chocolate covered strawberries and other yummies and then cart them back to the family pool area where I was sitting. Along the way people would stop and ask me where these wonderful looking desserts came from!
I just went on the 3 night on the Wonder back in March. It was great. There is always food on the boat to eat. The drink stations on Deck 9 are great. I would suggest bringing a large refillable mug, because the cups at the drink station are small, but free. I wore Capri pants each night to dinner nothing too fancy. I have cruised on another line before and I think Disney is awsome. Lots of entertainment.
Have a great cruise! You can carry your water on board, but Dave is right, the water on board is just as good. We didn't like the bottled water, we purchased a six pack when we boarded, but the tap water was good.
Room service is included, so don't hesitate to order a pot of coffee anytime! We did that morning and night. But you will have to pay for canned soda.
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