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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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So, I just booked a 4 day Bahamian cruise for me, my mother and 15 year old brother, and need advice...
We're going from July 5-9. I kind of booked it on a whim, and now, while I am busy at work, am trying to see what all I need to book or figure out as soon as possible. What are the best things for first timers to try to fit in, to do or see? Things that are incredibly over exerting are not the greatest choice, as my mother does get tired somewhat easily. Any suggestions would be of great help!!!
I would skip getting off in Nassau, or just roam the city on your own. The ship empties out, and you'd have plenty of room to explore. We enjoyed the galley tour. Try to get a meal at Palo (either dinner or brunch).
In general, unless you have a burning desire to "commando cruise," DCL will provide more than enough for you to do on your first cruise without any add-ons. Check the list of Nassau shore excursions, and if something really appeals to you, great! If not, strolling the port for a couple of hours may be all you need (our Disney Cruise Line guidebook includes a self-directed walking tour). A lot of cruisers spend much or all of their time in Nassau on board the ship, so you won't be alone if nothing ashore attracts your interest. It's a good time to book a spa treatment if that interests you.
You'll probably have a fine time at Castaway Cay without booking extras there, either, but the Stingray adventure, parasailing, and snorkel and/or bike rentals are all popular add-ons.
Get your brother into the teen program (I'm assuming your 18 or older), and you and your mom can enjoy the adults-only facilities on board and at Castaway Cay.
Of course, if you don't have our book, it might be a good idea....
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We are booked for our first DCL cruise. We will be strolling around Nassau and then getting back on board to enjoy what the ship has to offer. Castaway Cay will be fun too, but we're not booking anything, maybe a banana boat ride. That looks fun!
I hear Palo is really good, might want to get in for dinner or brunch.
Good luck planning and have lots of fun! Hope you got a good deal for the last minute booking!
We went on our first DCL cruise last November for a 4 nighter. We did Atlantis in Nassau and it was great. Your brother would enjoy all the water slides. I would suggest booking a room at the Comfort Inn to get your Atlantis armbands. On CC we just enjoyed the beach and it was great. I would enjoy the shows which we didn't take advantage of last time because my boys loved the clubs so much. This time around I am not giving them the choice. We are doing the shows. The spa is great and you should have at least 1 treatment to see how beautiful it is. I would do Palo on the night you do Parrot Cay for dinner as it was my least favorite. Still wonderful but not as good as the other 2. You will have a great time. Don't forget to take your pirate attire for Pirate Night. They will give you bandanas but we took some costume jewelry as well. Have fun as I know you will.
I'm totally looking forward to pirate night. I've been going back and forth on whether we want to take the time to do Atlantis or just walk the town, then explore the ship... decisions, decisions...
Order the DCL Passporter from this website and have it delivered right to your home within a few days. It is an a must have, especially for a first timer, in my opinion. We have not been to Nassau, so I can't advise on that, but as has been said, you will probably have the ship almost to yourselves if you stay onboard. Try to get Palo brunch if you can for your Mom and you... it's the bestest!!
I'm going to go with the "stay on the ship" idea for Nassau. Not my favorite port, so that's part of my bias. Plenty to do if you stay on board, and you can frequently get spa treatments at reduced prices, especially if you book as soon as you board. It's been my personal, but limited, experience, that cruisers on 3 & 4 night Bahamas cruises are first timers, with most not having access to the wealth of info we have here.
The one mistake first timers make (waves hand) is to try to "do everything". Forget it. That's why you cruise again. And again. (continue, you know the drill) Look at the Navigator every night and pick "the top three things we just have to do". Then find two others, because all three of your picks are at the same time.
I'm totally looking forward to pirate night. I've been going back and forth on whether we want to take the time to do Atlantis or just walk the town, then explore the ship... decisions, decisions...
Atlantis is pretty and I am sure the waterpark is fun but it is also pricey. I say enjoy the ship and just stroll around Nassau. The clubs on board at night are lots of fun.
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If you haven't already, I'd get hold of a Disney Cruise Line PassPorter - it will be invaluable in planning your cruise. 
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