Best Books for Planning?

[Sweet Pea Reed]

I'm sure there are many Disney World books out there for folks planning a trip to WDW. I'm curious to know which ones are the most recommended, or which ones to avoid. I've already booked my package and made ADRs for my upcoming trip in February 2013. I'm looking for a book to show me all that's new (it's my first trip back in 20 years!!!!) and one that will also help me pass the time until then.

Thanks!

 

[ghtx]

Unofficial Guide. The 2013 edition just came out. Enjoy!

 

[siskaren]

PassPorter. I think they're taking pre-orders for the 2013 edition.

 

[OKW Lover]

None. Print books are out of date before they hit the streets. You need to get the latest, real-life info for your planning purposes.

You'll find the best info right here on the DIS or its associated site, www.wdwinfo.com.

 

[Hoopfamily]

While I agree with OKW that some of the info in books might be bad, books like the Unofficial guide contain LOADS of good info. I've read Unofficial Guide, Passporter, Birnbaums, little black book to name a few and Unofficial is by far the best. They give you honest opinions, backed up with science and snippets of what real people say when they travel to the World. Birnbaums is cool, but is towing the line, Passporter also cool but mostly I like the passpockets. If you are buying one, go Unofficial, it will get you there. Then when you have questions the book does not answer come here and all your dreams will come true.

 

[GraceMonica]

None. Print books are out of date before they hit the streets. You need to get the latest, real-life info for your planning purposes.

You'll find the best info right here on the DIS or its associated site, www.wdwinfo.com.

They're amazing for someone like me who does not have access to internet at work.

 

[Hootch]

want a book both Unofficial Guide and Passporters provide updates on their sites.

Uofficial Guide

http://touringplans.com/unofficial-guide/walt-disney-world-updates-2012

Passporters

http://www.passporter.com/customs/bookupdates.htm

 

[Leona Fishback]

I'm with...well just about everyone. I LOVE the unofficial guide. I have a pretty decent share of my total disney fun many miles and weeks away from Orlando, when I'm kicked back reading that book with a notepad. My after-the-kids-are-asleep Disney planning treat.

 

[jenndisney]

I love the Passporter. I spend the time to put all my information on each page. It is also a great thing to have as a backup.

 

[ellie05]

I read many of the guides and I think the unofficial guide is the best. It gives you great general information. If there is some big changes coming like the fantasy land expansion they will mention and where you can find the updated information .

 

[wdwislife]

I read many of the guides and I think the unofficial guide is the best. It gives you great general information. If there is some big changes coming like the fantasy land expansion they will mention and where you can find the updated information .

I agree

 

[ZoZo]

Unofficial Guide. My hands-down favorite. It has tons of information about just about everything you might need, plus gives you opinions/reviews about things like restaurants, etc. I find this very helpful, because I think they do a lot of research to back up their opinions. I might not agree with them every time, but I've found their recommendations pretty accurate.

 

[bookgirl2632]

I'll chime in about the Unofficial Guide. They are completely unbiased in their guidance and opinions. I don't always agree with it, but it is the most thorough guide I read. The Passporter is great as well. You can't go wrong with either one.

 

[goofy78]

Another Unofficial vote here! But I do love my Passporter especially for those handy pockets and being able to write down some important information or special memories on the individual pages for the days in the back of the book. I have also gotten Birnbaums and enjoyed it. Usually I get all three!

 

[baldy6060]

My "Disney bible" is the Unofficial Guide to WDW but the Passporter helped keep my papers organized last trip.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My 2 favorites are the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and the Passporter Walt Disney World.

 

[graueMaus]

When we first went I used the following:

Passporter (used this as my Disney Planner)
Fodors WDW with Kids (kim Wright Kelley)
Unoffiicial Guide
and primarily this site and another that had a lot of Dining Menu Information (I don't know if I can mention it on this site although it had ALL the information I could stuff between my EARS on the .NET at the time )

The way I did it was that I absorbed all the info in WDW with Kids (Great book for families with kids) and Unoffical Guide and merged it with the Passport info (great kid info too), relying on the Web sites for up to date info.

Today I pretty much rely on the Web Sites and get a passporter about every other visit to update my planner.

 

[andyman8]

I prefer websites to books. I hate to post to promote my own site, BUT you really ought to check it out at disneyparksplanning.com (@displanning) on Twitter. That being said, DISboards and wdwinfo.com are also great sources of info. EasyWDW is good also.

 

[Sweet Pea Reed]

OP here, thanks everyone for your input! I think i'll be headed out to buy the unofficial guide and the passporter. Ive been religiously reading posts on this website and others, but there's nothing like a good book too!

 

[Lucky626]

I used the Unofficial Guide for our trip in 2010 and it was very good but nothing compares to the info you can get on here.