should I buy Birnbaum's or Unofficial Guide 2002 or 2003?

[bananiem]

Here's the thing: We went to WDW in Oct. 2000. We are going again in Dec. 2002. I had bought both of these books for the last trip but I'm wondering if there is enough new info to make it worth my money to get the updated versions?
Also, we are visiting Universal/IOA this time. Should I just get the most recent of these books from the library and save my money for the trip?
Thanks!

[KittieKat]

Lol, personally, I always get the new version..there are some changes..but not many...also depending on how long you're going to be a US, I'd just check out the book fromhe library.

[Dopey Sharon]

I would save the money and borrow them from the library.

[supercarrie]

If you can get the Unofficial Guide 2002 or 2003 from the library, I would say just borrow it and take notes on what you need. Otherwise, I would buy it - I always buy the Unofficial Guide for the touring plans.

[LuvTigger]

I have practically every WDW guidebook there is, and I recently got the Passporter which IMHO is the best WDW guide around. The only thing is there's no Universal info in it.

However, there is a book solely on Universal, which I thought looked very good. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of it. If I was spending a lot of time there and I could afford to, I'd get both of those. If you'd rather get one book, I would try to buy/borrow the updated version because, like some of the other posters said, things can change quite a bit.

[linny172]

I'm with LuvTigger, the passporter is the best. I would always get the new Birdbaum's every year even thoug they said the same thing but this year I got the passporter and it is great

[Dan Murphy]

Passporter, and it gets significantly better each year. I have the first, from '99, and every year since. They have a great product there, IMO.

[Micca]

I just bought the '03 Unofficial over the weekend. It's huge (792 pages). It's the first edition of the book to be issued since EE was cancelled.

[d.kurz]

Another Passporter vote!

[helenabear]

I think I've bought about all the major tour guides over the last 3 years or so. While the Unofficial Guide is nice for some things, I personally will not be buying that one again. It is to negative towards most of Disney in my eyes and I think they are rather picky about the food. So if you are a food lover that one is great. The Birnbaum guide is great if you want a small easily referenced one and I do buy one every year that I go on a trip (more for sentimental value than anything else), but if I would to recommend just one book, I think I'd have to go for the Passporter as well. It has a lot of information and a nice lay out.

[anniet]

Many Disney Trips-


Two words:

PassPorter!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Doctor P]

Another vote for Passporter--the only real guide for a Disney fanatic!