Best book for WDW planning

[marinejjh]

What is the best book for planning a trip?

 

[Alesia]

The unofficial guide is great, but overwhelming. For a first trip, this: http://www.amazon.com/Guide-First-D...de+to+your+first+walt+disney+world+visit+2015 is the best choice.

 

[dres40]

I agree with Alisia, for a first visit:
The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit 2015
is absolutely the best book out there.....

 

[marinejjh]

Thanks

 

[Rosebud123]

If you like to read, then Unofficial Guide can't be beat!

 

[soniam]

If you really like planning and a lot of detailed and inside information, then do the Unofficial Guide. I used it for our first trip and loved it. However, I am a little masochistic in that way

 

[baldy6060]

If you want to really plan and have time and patience to read it all, definitely the Unofficial Guide to WDW. My Disney Bible!

 

[sara1215]

Passporters and Birnbaum's are both on my nightstand. It's my first trip, so I can't give you an Opinion on which is best.

 

[marinejjh]

Thanks

 

[cjparker0110]

I grew up with the Birnbaum's book. My parents bought a new one each time we planned a trip and I just got the 2015 one to start looking at stuff for our 2017 trip. I'll buy the 17 one when it comes out, of course, but I figured it couldn't hurt to plan early, especially since my wife has never been before. That said, I find it easy to use, well organized and with just enough detail. It gives tips and suggestions of what rides to FP, what restaurants you absolutely must make reservations for, talks about different hotels, etc. There is a section for each park as well as all the many extras you can do. There is also a Birnbaum book designed for planning a trip with kids! (The main book does have kids stuff listed, but the kids one really caters toward them).

 

[ArwenMarie]

The Unofficial Guide is still the best one. It has a lot of info, but you can still pick and choose the chapters, it's not hard to navigate.

 

[Flamingeaux]

Another vote for the Unofficial Guide.

 

[bball15fan]

I personally like the Birnbaum's book. Also grew up on them!

 

[MasterGracey84]

The Mini Mickey It's a pocket sized version of the Unofficial Guide

 

[PantherPete]

If you are looking for an easy to use list of the resorts, attractions, & restaurants, you cannot beat the Birnbaum's book. Nicely organized with loads of pictures. The first time we went, my older son was a beginner reader and my younger son couldn't read at all, but they both spent hours with that book, including part of the plane ride. Now as far as great tips go, the Birnbaum's is poor. Mostly outdated info (the 2015 still talks about Maelstrom). I wouldn't use any of the guides for anything other than a general idea of what the parks have to offer and would instead read the informed posts from the experts on this and other Disney boards, especially mine.

 

[2manypets]

I love the Passporter. It has great information in it that is color coded per park for easy cross referencing. It also has pockets in the back to collect your receipts or put in you itinerary per day. Their website also lists any updates to the book throughout the year.

 

[Masonmj84]

I agree with Alisia, for a first visit:
The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit 2015
is absolutely the best book out there.....

I have not read this book but I am very familiar with the authors' respective websites (EasyWDW and YourFirst Visit), which, IMO, are two of the very best sites out there. So I'd have to assume that this would be a good read.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I used to like the Unofficial Guide but now I just find it to have way too much in it, and a lot of stuff that isn't relevant to our needs.

I grew up on Birnbaum's as well but haven't had a WDW book since early 90's. I have bought for trips to DL though as I'm not as familiar with that park. I think I'm going to get a Birnbaum's for our upcoming trip in the fall to check it out.

Many years ago (early 2000's) I used Passporter and loved that book. The trip journal part was awesome as well as the various pockets inside it. But I have since started a regular travel journal for all trips so I don't need those feature of the Passport anymore.

 

[cjparker0110]

Now as far as great tips go, the Birnbaum's is poor. Mostly outdated info (the 2015 still talks about Maelstrom).

One thing to keep in mind is that the book was printed during the summer of 14 (necessary for people to utilize it for 15). At that time they had not made any announcement of closing Maelstrom. This is not an uncommon issue with any guide book. Birnbaum has often mentioned within the book that tips, pricing, etc, was all current at press time and subject to change, closure, etc.

 

[cjparker0110]

I may need to check out this unofficial guide just to see what it's like since it is so highly talked about.