What book is best?

[JoshMom5]

I am looking at getting a book to start planning my June 2004 trip. There are so many out there. Can anybody give me some pros and cons of the books they bought and let me know which they think is best?

Thanks!:)

[PhotobearSam]

If you are a first timer, I would suggest the Unofficial Guide to WDW.

It's a blunt in your face, wake up and smell the mouse type of book. It tells thetruth about WDW.

It talks about the great things and the not-so-great things. It explains budget options and staying off-site also as an option. It gives ride description rated by age group.


Before our first trip, I read it cover to cover with a highlighter and it was perfect for us. We learned a lot. It gives you an appreciation for the size and scope of the Walt Disney World Resort and really makes you think about how to plan each day.


The BEST part is the touring plans for each park at the back of the book. There are several to choose from and they help you do the attractions with the least amount of waiting...A great time saver and stops the endless "What do you want to do now...?" questions.


I hope this helped!

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

I like Passporter, it has pockets for things and pages where you can write things down.

[lasmickey]

Being a WDW Trip Planning Book Aholic (I own at least 8 different ones), I strongly recommend The PassPorter. It has a ton of useful info as well as pockets to keep all your receipts, etc. in order. I also like the UnOfficial Guide, but it almost has "too much" (if that's possible). It's massive in size, and requires hours of in depth reading. If you're looking for something easy to use, with helpful and needed info, and a few extras ~ get The PassPorter! (JMHO!)

[lentesta]

Hi JoshMom5,

I work for the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have about the Guide. Planning is half the fun, too, so enjoy!

Sincerely,

Len

[JoshMom5]

Thanks everyone!

When do the 2004 editions of the books come out? Is there much difference between the 2003 and 2004 books?

[chuckf6823]

Definitly buy The Unofficial Guide. ::MickeyMo

[lentesta]

The 2004 edition of the Unofficial Guide and also the Birnbaum official guide are both out. I'm not sure what differences the 2004 Birnbaum book has from 2003, but the Unofficial Guide has a couple of major changes:

1) Completely updated Epcot touring plans, created using our unique touring plan software, and tips for efficient touring of the Animal Kingdom.

2) New "touring plan companion" pages for each park, with compact ride reviews, restaurant ratings and summaries, and a list of quiet rest spots in each park. Each companion is one page, so you can carry it around in your pocket for easy reference. I wanted to call it "Bob in a box." Maybe next year.

3) A comprehensive listing of the travel times from more than 200 off-site hotels to the parks. While many hotels will say they're "only minutes from Disney," your actual driving time varies comsiderably, often for hotels very close to each other. The new information will tell you what to expect in actual driving conditions.

Like the 2003 edition, the 2004 edition also contains a list of the best rooms to request at each Disney resort.

That's just a quick list. Let me know if there's something specific you're looking for, and I'll see how the Guide covers it.

Sincerely,

Len

[lasmickey]

The 2004 PassPorter will be available in January (I think).

[nikitta28]

the unoffical guide

[JoshMom5]

<font color=maroon>Thank you all very much for the advice. I got my 2004 Unofficial guide yesterday and am already into part 3. It is a bit daunting reading some of the information and I am sometimes wondering what I am getting myself into. I am a planner by nature so I am loving the book.

[webprinter]

Good choice. The Unofficial Guide is very definately our favorite. It is worth it's weight in gold for the touring plans alone. Debby

[Gutto]

Just my opinion...

I bought many books and many guides about WDW, they are great and i think that it is really indispensable, My vote is:

Unnoficial 2003 and 2004 : Great book, good ranking of each attraction, resort, restaurant, shopping etc....they also include reader comments which are very interesting, funny and helpful . You wiil find many tips.

to lentesta > Even " ectasy and agony" i will be there with my little 5, Could you give me an autograph in Mousesavers meeting ? :-))

Tour Guide Mike: Very very good, yes, it is difficult to navigate, but Mike really know many things about WDW !!

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2003: The park maps helps a lot, great pictures.

Walt Disney World with Kids 2003 : This book helps alot if you are travelling with kids, how to choose the rides, parks, recreation and resorts, great guide !

I know that it isn t in question but i would like to recommend Street Finder, it is great for who doesn t know how to drive in Orlando

Please, take a look to my travel kit:
<img height=300 src=http://fotos.aol.com.br/adAlbumFotoSizeShow.aspx?Album=3518&Item=DSC00076.JPG&Largura=446&Altura=297>


The worst part is that i spend a LOT of money, but it really worth, i think now i will be ready

[JoshMom5]

<font color=teal> Wow! I guess you are a planner too! I can't believe how many different books you have.

I am truly enjoying the Unofficial Guide. I am highlighting items I think are important as I go along so it will be easier to find info once my trip gets closer.

Thanks again everyone for the great advice!

[jeankeri]

Hello! I have been planning for about 6 months now, and have bought all books mentioned above! The three tops I would mention are 1st: Unofficial Guide. Really gives in depth info and doesn't make you giddy with glossy pictures (you need a clear head to plan this stuff)! Geting closer to my traveling, I am using the Passporter to organize all my maps and tickets and plan my day to day. I really didn't use it to learn about each park or make budgets (although it does have that info, I just found the Unofficial guide more objective, with lots of comments from Disney travelers)- I did those as I looked through the Unofficial guide. Tour Guide Mike has been a great resource, because unlike the books which can outdate in a day thanks to WDW sudden changes in PS and Fastpass (which both occurred in the middle of my planning! LOL), TGM updates major changes daily and incorporates that into his touring/park info. The site COULD be more user friendly. So, that's my two cents! It was all I could do NOT to buy the new editions last week in the bookstore!!

[lentesta]

Hey Gutto,

I'll be happy to sign your book - maybe the touring plan pages, since most of my contributions are there. We'll get Bob to autograph your book, too.

jeankeri, don't forget we update the Unofficial Guide (including the touring plans) online, too. My sig below has the URL for both the 2003 and 2004 editions. If we've missed anything, please let me know! If there's anything I can help with for your trip, feel free to drop me a line.

JoshMom5, same thing. If you have a question about something in the Unofficial Guide, feel free to contact me. If I don't know the answer, I know someone that does.

Sincerely,

Len

[jeankeri]

Len- Thanks for the reply! I'll take a look at the updates and see what the new advice is! My DS6 and DS8 are finishing up their must see lists (I promised them 3 rides/shows per park- any more will be icing on the cake!). If I am stumped you'll be hearing back from me! Jeankeri

[JoshMom5]

Thanks Len! I really appreciate all your help. I am about half-way through the first read. I am reading the entire thing since it has been ages since I have been to WDW. It is amazing how much has changed. I have bookmarked your update website and will probably have questions as we get closer to our trip.

I am so excited now that I will probably burst before June! Haha-not a pretty site!:eek:

[mudnuri]

The Walt Disney World For Kids By Kids...

I hope thats the correct name, DD7 has it under her pillow, she was plotting AK tonight before bed.

It is great for kids, especially if you have a child who can read. DD7 reads it to DD6 (though I think DD6 is reading along shhh dont tell dd7, she thinks she's doing her big sister job)...the girls then write down what they think they want to see and do in each park...I compare that with what I've gotten from the Unofficial guide, and we'll go from there...

One thing I have noticed, when looking over "The Planner" at the local Boarders its really not "full of info" as compared to the UOG...Maybe I'm missing something, however being a compulsive organizer, I don't need a $20.00 to hold my tickets and a place to write down my info...I also found from reading it it's not really a planning tool, so to speak...more than half of it is recording your info...well, if your planning, you probably dont have that info yet.

Len- great job on the Unofficial guide...I've REALLY enjoyed it, over and over again in the past 3 weeks.

Also - WDW for Dummies is good,if you like the format of their books

Brandy

[lentesta]

JoshMom5, I'm barely aware of my upcoming December and January trips. Bless you for starting so early. Feel free to send in those questions whenever you want.

Thanks mudnuri! It's a lot of fun to write (even the little bit I do). I hope it's a lot of fun to read. I've been badgering Bob to talk to someone at the Travel Channel to do a special on how we research the book. Some of the stories are spit-your-soda-out funny. Too bad we've all got faces made for radio.

Len

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

I personally don't like the Passporter. I do however love my Walt Disney World with Kids 2002, now they have 2004. I thought it was packed with great info. If you are going with kids I would really recommend it!

[Kapp]

go with the Unofficial. We use it everytime. Other books are good to glance at while at the bookstore but the Unofficial has the best information and most practical (IMHO).

[Ashleigh]

I like the Passporter because of the fact it can serve as your Disney trip journal. I think for some people that is what they are looking for. But that's just my opinion.:sunny:

[Tjkane28]

This is one of my favorite topics. While planning isn't really "half the fun" of going to Disney, it does bring certain planning types a great deal of enjoyment.

The resources we use to help us "planning types" scratch our itches are varied.

With no disrespect to the print media, the best resources for planning a trip exist on-line. The DIS, MouseSavers, All Ears, WDW Magic, etc., have the advantage of offering up to the minute coverage due to the amount of contributors "working as researchers."

In terms of print media, Unofficial Guide is #1 as a textual resource, Passporter is THE book you bring WITH you (along with the touring plan pages from Unofficial Guide , that is if you haven't yet memorized them), and to get that Disney feel, I suggest Birnbaum's WDW. The photos are tops.

Think of the Unofficial Guide as the textbook, Passporter as the workbook, and Birnbaum's as "mind-candy."

Maybe it is time for someone to write a "DIS"sertation on Disney trip planning?

I still believe that the "ultimate planning tool" has not yet been written or posted. However, those that have gotten us this far have done a superb job!

[tripletvan]

i just bought the birnbaum's WDW 2004 official guide.I give major kudos dude!!!:cool: