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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
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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.
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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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Just a few notes about our Eastern Caribeean cruise from Sep 26-Oct 3. I upgraded when we were checking in, going from a Cat 10 to Cat 5 for $650. If purchased originally, it was an additional $987. I was a little upset with the way people were dressing for dinner in the dining rooms. I saw t-shirts, shorts, and baseball hats. Please understand when I say this, I NEVER, EVER WEAR PANTS, even though I live in CT, however, I wore nice pants EVERY night to dinner, not because I like to, but because it seemed like the right thing to do. I tried walking in to Topsider one day without shoes(was passing by and wanted to see the desserts) and was asked to put some on, why can't the dining room be the same way. Do people feel since they're on vacation, they are free to do whatever they want, since they paid their money? I suppose I could have had the same attitude after seeing people's attire the first evening and said "I'll just wear shorts too" but I didn't. Sorry to rant and rave about this, it was just a little upsetting.
People are on vacation and want to relax. Palo is the place to dress up. I wear jeans and hawaiin shirt to the regular dining room, but Palo is wear the jacket and tie come into play. I don't fault anyone for wanting to relax anywhere else.
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Disney wasn't my first cruise so I was more inclined to dress for dinner based on the expectations of my previous cruise, but Disney will tell you in their info that dinner is pretty casual on the ship.
I personally would wear khaki's and a nice shirt - not exactly formal wear but what I would consider appropriate dinner attire. I didn't really pay much attention to other people dining but the families in our immediate area wore similar clothing.
Perhaps there is a subtle difference in the early and late seatings?
Anyways, I'm not concerned if someone wears shorts and a t-shirt to dinner as Disney in an indirect way pushes people away from the stuffy suit and tie of other cruises mentality, although I admit that I would prefer they didn't.
So people are on vacation and want to relax........interesting. So if I was a smoker, I should be able to smoke anywhere on the ship, since I'm on vacation and want to relax. If I wanted to go into Topsider with just a bathing suit on, they shouldn't stop me because I'm on vacation and want to relax. I really shouldn't have to wear a jacket and tie at Palo because it's located on the ship and since I'm on vacation and just want to relax, why should I follow those rules. Did you know that when traveling in Europe, many places(churches) won't let you in with shorts or your shoulders exposed and things like that. They must NOT know that we're just on vacation and want to relax. In this country, we sure have that attitude of "I'll do what I want, when I want, and the heck with anyone else".
So people are on vacation and want to relax........interesting. So if I was a smoker, I should be able to smoke anywhere on the ship, since I'm on vacation and want to relax. If I wanted to go into Topsider with just a bathing suit on, they shouldn't stop me because I'm on vacation and want to relax. I really shouldn't have to wear a jacket and tie at Palo because it's located on the ship and since I'm on vacation and just want to relax, why should I follow those rules. Did you know that when traveling in Europe, many places(churches) won't let you in with shorts or your shoulders exposed and things like that. They must NOT know that we're just on vacation and want to relax. In this country, we sure have that attitude of "I'll do what I want, when I want, and the heck with anyone else".
I really don't think equating smoking to what people wear to dinner is quite the same thing. Also, you're not in Europe...you're on a Disney cruise, a family oriented cruise at that. If they were smoking while wearing just a bathing suit, then yeah, I think you'd be justified in complaining.
I think you could have easily found out what people tend to wear on the Disney cruise to dining with a little research, and then either set your expectations accordingly, or perhaps re-booked on another cruise.
My DH and I like to follow the dress code on cruises. Knowing that DCL is more lenient/casual, DH and the boys will wear khakis and polos or Hawaiian shirts every night (we are going on a 4 night cruise, so no formal nights). I will wear either dress pants or capris with a nice top.
That said, my DBiL who is cruising with us HATES the idea of a dress code. He wants to wear shorts to dinner, and although my DSis has told him no, he will want to when he sees others doing it. Will I let that ruin my cruise?!? Absolutely not. The ship is Disney's, not mine, and I figure if they want the dress code enforced, they will do it.
I can understand where you are coming from, but I couldn't imagine being upset over something that, in the long run, has no bearing on my enjoyment of my vacation. I hope that, with the exception of that, you enjoyed your cruise.
Topsiders is the perfect atmosphere for shirts and tshirts or jeans. Asking people to conform to a very casual but slight dress code in the main dinning rooms is very little to ask to ensure the appropriate dining atmosphere for all cruisers. The dining rooms are more formal than the buffet - the napkin even has its own plate! It is four course elegance! Simple cotten dockers pants and a pull-over polo style shirt (get a DCL Nike shirt onboard!) is not too much to ask. The majority of the cruisers step up to the simple request/standard just fine.
OBTW - full room service is always available, with absolutely no dress code!
We like to dress up in our family so DD and I generally wore dresses to dinner on the Med. Cruise. DH wore a shirt with a collar and jeans (not tattered ones). We had late seating and most people seemed to keep to the dress code for dinner. I would be disappointed to sit at a table with someone in shorts/tank top/hat, etc. It somehow ruins the magic of the cruise for me.
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You're right Moxrox, smoking and what people wear to dinner isn't the same, sorry, I was TRYING to make an exaggerated point. I'm also aware thant we are NOT in Europe, just another point. The whole lack of attire DID NOT ruin my trip, just making an observation. As stated in the my first post, I wear shorts at home and for work 365 days a year, so if I'm able to wear pants(wife was shocked), then anyone can do it. As a society(USA), in maybe ONLY my opinion, people seem to do what THEY want, with little thought to others.
I agree with junior2431. You are on a cruise and it is nice to be able to dress nicely for dinner and having other cruisers thinking along the same. DH and DS (15) on casual nights wear light pants and nice golf shirt/short sleeve collared shirt and they enjoy the opportunity to dress up for formal and semi-formal nights as well. I have been on two four night cruises and on the semi-formal nights the guests were dressed up and the ones I observed when they entered the dining room who did not dress up (shorts) look quite uncomfortable that they had dressed casual..(one commented that the travel agent had said to wear casual all the time but on these cruises everyone had followed the dress code nights and they wished they had followed the guidelines so they did not feel so out of place.. When we observed everyone dressing up it was nice to see the other cruisers enjoying it as well..You don't get to many reasons to dress up anymore. I am glad most cruisers dress appropriately for the dining rooms at dinner. So, those who love the dress nicely for dinner (no shorts)..lets keep together and support dressing appropriately.
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There's always going to be a difference of opinion about when/where the preferences of the community (call it etiquette in this case) begin to take precedence over the preferences of the individual. You find regional differences, national differences, ethnic differences, age differences... So in the end, it all gets back to my favorite "It's A Small World" theme (and no, I don't mean dressing for dinner in doll clothes! ). Disney, more than some other organizations, recognizes and tries to embrace as many differences as possible, which is probably why they're so easy-going about their dress codes.
When in Rome, it's relatively easy to do as the Romans do (not that all that many tourists manage to behave like Romans ). When on a cruise ship where everyone is a visitor... Can you decide whether the individual deserves respect for the way he/she prefers to dress, or whether the individual has to dress to respect the sensibilities of other guests? Sure, in either extreme, it's easy to know which way to go (people can "dress down" way too far, and others can expect far too much of their fellow guests), but then there's that pesky "gray area" - would a pair of neat, new jeans and a buttondown shirt be worse than a pair of tattered old khakis and a tee shirt? What if I'd paid $250 for those pre-distressed khakis and tee shirt in a designer emporium? It's way too complicated, isn't it? That's why I'm such a fan of humming that famous old tune. Over, and over, and over again (do it quietly, so your neighbors won't object to their cruise being too "Disney." ).
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Dave,
Once again, in maybe ONLY MY opinion, the price one pays for their clothes doesn't make them appropriate or not. If someone spent $500 on a pair of jeans, well, they are STILL jeans. You could put a dress on a pig(the animal) but when it's all said and done, it's still a Pig(the animal still). Sometimes I'm not sure that people understand what's appropriate attire, whether it's a cruise or just going to a department or grocery store. Around here(in CT), I'll see people all summer at stores with clothes on that are BARELY appropriate for the beach/in their own houses(haha) let alone in PUBLIC. The person at Topsider had NO problem telling me that I needed shoes to go in. Just my thoughts.
It is wonderful how Disney allows us all to dress the way we want. For the coat & tie night there is Palo. Or if you want to eat in your bathing suit, there are 3 options on deck 9. If you wish to eat in shorts and a t-shirt and/or ballcap, there is always an excellent buffet in Topsiders (don't forget the shoes ;o). You can even eat au natural in your room if you desire. And no one has a problem following the very simple dress code.
When it comes to the dining room, it becomes an issue. It is my dining room, too, with elegent meals and setting. Preparing for dinner was part of the magic as I knew the chefs were preparing magic for dinner. The dining room dress code is not unreasonable and still quite casual. And if one desires to be more casually dressed, then please enjoy other dining options.
I wish the host would quietly say, "Sir, there are no jeans in the dining room. We will hold your table for you!"
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). Disney, more than some other organizations, recognizes and tries to embrace as many differences as possible, which is probably why they're so easy-going about their dress codes.
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