New PassPorter Disney Cruise Guide

[TeamMom011]

doctorrick, you are just a party pooper!
I'm stickin' to my "Woo-Hoo" anyway. Even it doesn't arrive until the first of February, given my tried and true Type-A personality, I'll have plenty of time to fill it up.

 

[DOCTORRICK]

oh me too!!
I just didn't want people to be huddled by their mailboxes!!
Actually, based on what a could people on this thread said, I cancelled by amazon order, and ordered directly with passporter.
Might make a few days difference!

 

[Padre Disney]

odered ours for my in laws. They have never cruised and have so many questions.

 

[TeamMom011]

After I received a very polite e-mail from Amazon.com telling me subtlely (is that a word?) that I might want to cancel my order because of the delayed delivery, I went ahead and ordered directly from Passporter this morning. - - Yes, I bow to you, Doctorick, my fellow Category 3 shipmate.
When the order-taker-lady asked if 3-5 day shipping would be soon enough, I questioned her about delivery time. I was told that the Cruise book is scheduled for release this month . . . as in December!!
I love a pleasant surprise Just passing on the information.

 

[Samsma]

Just checked my status at BN.com, and it says it will ship on Jan. 28, 2003.

 

[Entropy]

It great that some folks are getting excited about the new Passporter and it's not even ready yet. Jennifer, Dave and a whole lot of people are still working on it.
As for the release date, Amazon and other sellers seem to make wild guesses about when they'll be able to ship it based on what? I don't know.
The only official source of information about the guide is at
http://www.passporter.com/dcl/guidebook.htm -- this page indicates the official release time. When Jennifer has an exact release date, she'll post it there.
In fact, orders placed on that board will be the first to be filled.
Thanks for your interest. You won't be disappointed.

 

[welovepoohbear]

I know this is probably a silly question. What new information will be in the passporter that is not in the 73 page wdwcruise guide that I downloaded from the internet?

 

[Entropy]

I can answer that because I wrote the Magical Disney Cruise Guide and I'm contributing and reviewing the Passporter's Guide.

A lot.
Jennifer has put a lot of information in the Passporter that I never thought to include like graphs approximating fares. The Passporter has worksheets, photos and more detail on many things.

Don't worry, It's worth it. Read both and by the time that you're done, you'll be completely up to speed.

 

[inkkognito]

Having had the great pleasure of reviewing this book, I'll throw in my two cents worth on the difference between Passporter and the online resources.
The Passporter Guide is something that you can take with you. It allows you to organize your papers, make lists, fill out workssheets, etc. that will be invaluable on your journey. Online resources are a great way to do research beforehand, but it would be a pain to carry all sorts of printouts. The Passporter gives you a place to consolidate your information (as well as being a super source of information by itself...it has all sorts of excellent insider tips and will most likely become your "cruise bible"). It is well organized and contains virtually anything you'd want to know. And the writing style is friendly and conversational...it's an easy read packed with great info. Everyone who is ordering it is in for a real treat.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I need to ask this....is this worth it if I am only doing a 4 day cruise? I love the passporters for my park trips although I depend on them less and less as I go back more often. If the bulk of the book is info on the 7 day, it won't be worth it for me.
Robin M.

 

[Jeanny]

I was just in Barnes & Noble Saturday night and looked for anything on Disney Cruise's... Now you just answered my question as to why I couldn't find one... I thought they may have just run out of them.

I'm going to order it and can't wait to pour through it!!

Thanks everyone for your help..

 

[inkkognito]

Robin, it is definitely worth it for the 4 and 3 days cruises. They are given just as much attention as the 7 day itineraries, with all the details you could possibly want. I sure wish the guide had existed before we took our first Disney cruise, but that was back in Sept. 1998, and the only resource at the time was the old AOL message boards. Thankfully, the first cruisers were very helpful and we were as prepared as it was possible to be. Seems so long ago! I am sure you will find the Passporter to be a great help for any of the Disney itineraries.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Entropy]

Greetings,
There is more information in the book on the seven night cruise than on the 3/4 night cruises simply because there are more activities and ports on the long cruise.
However, the activities on the 3/4 night cruises are covered as well as Nassau.
The bulk of the book has information that is common to all cruises. Planning, embarkation, staterooms, dining, some activities, kids programs, Castaway Cay and debarkation are covered just to name a few off of the top of my head.
If you liked the Passporter WDW books, you'll like this book also. It follows a similar and familiar format.

 

[gometros]

I just checked out the Passporter Web site. Two quick questions:

1) Is the deluxe edition really worth it at twice the price? Is it just that the book has removable pages and a few pockets to hold things to make it worth it at twice the price, or am I missing something?

2) What does it offer for an experienced DCL cruiser who already is an incessant planner and can't get from following these boards?

3) Will buying the Passporter get me guaranteed reservations at Palos? (Just kidding about that one )

(Btw, if anybody has any experience with the WDW PasPorter, I wouldn't mind their input as well.)

 

[inkkognito]

I can make some comments on the WDW Passporter from the viewpoint of an experienced visitor to WDW who only recently read it for the first time. In the past, I had read the Birnbaum guides, and I felt like I was reading press releases for Disney. It was all "official party line." Maybe that's okay for newbies, but I felt like I didn't learn anything. There were no insider hints, which is what I look for...I was not impressed by Birnbaums at all.
In contrast, Passporter has a "familiar" writing style, like friends talking to you, and it tells things like they are. There is also a lot of "insider" information like the kind of things you would find on the internet. I think that makes it good for intermediate Disney travelers as well as newbies. The cruise line guide is similar, and even after 27 Disney cruises, I still learned a couple of things! It has the sort of hints like the secret porthole rooms and the deck 7 aft verandah that will be very useful. You can find the same things here and on various websites, but the Passporter puts it all in one handy place. I think it's nice to have one reference place.l
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[mattjs]

Was preordering the 2003 WDW PassPorter and saw a couple of notes about cruise guide ordering at PassPorter's Online Store.

One was a reminder that, for those cruising in late January to mid Ferbruary, they ask you to note you're exact departure date and they'll ship those out right away when the book arrives. Also, they ask folks to let em know (either when you order or by e-mail through the store later) whether you would still like the book after your departure date. If not, they will cancel the order for you after that date.

Also, for anybody cruising around the expected late January to mid February book availability date there's this note about Amazon and B&N pre-orders.

For those ordering from Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com: Please be aware that they won't get their copies until several weeks after we begin shipping as it takes a while for them to receive them from their warehouse, which in turn takes a while to receive them from us (normal shipping/stocking time). Expect online bookstores to lag behind by about 3-4 weeks, and offline bookstores to have books in about 4-6 weeks.

For pre-orders, sounds like you're deffinitely better off ordering direct through the PassPorter store site. Especially if you're cruise date is now through mid march. And PassPorter offers a 15% discount on pre-orders and they're throwing in a free water bottle strap to boot! Can't beat that anyhow. Happy Cruising!

 

[Bellewish]

I can't say enough about the PassPorter Series of books (and not just because, like Dadtojbj and iloverages2, I guide one of the forums ). I love my Deluxe PassPorter because come trip time, rather than taking my whole book to the parks with me, I simply take that days PassPocket! It fits pefectly in a waistpack or even camera bag and then I have all my PS numbers and itinerary with me not to mention a place to store things like receipts, etc. You can order the Cruise Guide both in paperback form and as an insert for your Deluxe PassPorter.

PassPorter also offers a message board: www.passporterboards.com, and a Planning Your Disney Cruise Forum, http://www.passporterboards.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=22 . I use the DIS board as a resource ALL the time as well as Dave and Barb's sites. I have seen a number of people from this board (inkognito, Entropy, etc) drop in and answer questions - Thanks Guys!! I would like to encourage all you cruise planners to stop by and see if you can't help out or participate. Look forward to seeing you!

 

[Tink2002]

I can't say enough good things about PassPorter.

It is, without a doubt, the best guidebook available. I started using PassPorter to prepare for my first trip to WDW, and have purchased each issue since then. It's a perfect, all-inclusive resource.

I've had both the regular and deluxe editions. The deluxe is, as Belle said, terrific because you can remove pages and only take what you need to the parks. But either edition is great to use as you plan, during your trip, and as a wonderful place to store memories and souvenirs after the trip. It's such fun to go back to one from a previous trip, go to a particular day and look thru my notes, receipts and souvenirs -- like taking my trip all over again!

As I said, PassPorter Rocks!

Rose

 

[atigeg]

Hubby recently discovered the Passporter boards and likes to pop over there whenever he has some time (of course, the DIS boards take up the majority of our online hours). But they seem like a really friendly bunch, and as I've said before, everyone who orders this book is in for a real treat! While reviewing it, I actually learned many things, even after so many cruises. The port section was great.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[jfis1020]

I am so psyched! I love my Passporter and am thrilled that there is now one just in time for our FIRST DCL in June!