Best Disney Tour book?

[Catie.Hiltz]

I want to buy a 2011 disney tour book but am unsure which one to buy-

I know Birnbaums is the 'official' book, but I am worried that since it IS official that it won't be as honest about things that aren't so good at Disney...

I read the 2010 "unofficial guide" which was very good but not sure how much it would really change for 2011...

Mostly hesitant as the books cost $20-25 a piece for books that are pretty small!


Any advice is appreciated

 

[JoShan1719]

I've got three planning books, including Birnbaum's I believe, and my favorite, hands down, is the passporter. The books are so informative but they're also fun to read. And you can't beat the planning sections included in the back. I upgraded this year to the binder instead of the spiral book. HTH

 

[Rekenna]

The Complete Walt Disney World by Julie & Mike Neal. For whatever reason the 2011 edition has not been published yet. It's a real bummer b/c I was really looking forward to it. It has beautiful colored, glossy pages and has (what I feel are) honest reviews.

 

[Jazcat]

I like the unofficial and the passporters. sign up for for and they send you 20 to 40percent off on books. If you have the 2010 get the passpoeters for something new .

 

[guarn3md]

I have bought almost every book out there and my favorite is the Passporter. Best organized and very helpful information. AND as PP said - love the trip organizer that doubles as a trip journal.

Debbie

 

[Wings3496]

I absolutely love the Unofficial Guide - while long, it contains pretty much every detail and question you could possibly wish to know. Pair it with touringplans.com and the WDW Today podcast, and all your Disney needs will be complete!

 

[Hootch]

reading the different guides for their different perspectives.

The UG was the first guide I read and bought another four years later to see what new insights were available. Some details were different but really the content hadn't changed much so I can't recommend getting the same guide a year later. The details that changed are available here and are more up to date. The guides usually go the printers in early Fall.

Two others I think are well done, but for different reasons, are Passporter and The Complete Guide. Passporter is the best of the guides I have seen for taking with you on the trip. It has great itinerary pages, maps, pockets for holding paper items, etc. One benefit is that the Passporter site provides a list of updates that are easy to access.

The Complete Guide provides great ride information. That is not only general wait times by hours of the day but also a lot details about the rides stories and levels of detail. If you're interested in some of the smaller details in rides and throughout the parks, this is a good guide.

 

[evilqueenmindy]

I want to buy a 2011 disney tour book but am unsure which one to buy-

I know Birnbaums is the 'official' book, but I am worried that since it IS official that it won't be as honest about things that aren't so good at Disney...

I read the 2010 "unofficial guide" which was very good but not sure how much it would really change for 2011...

Mostly hesitant as the books cost $20-25 a piece for books that are pretty small!


Any advice is appreciated

I have the 2011 UG, and it's not all that different from the 2009 one except mentioning a lot of things that have been cut back with the economy (It should say 15% sadder on the front I think)

 

[jdubs44]

download some aps for the iphone

 

[Lyric]

Hands down, the Passporter! I splurged on the deluxe edition a few years ago and now just buy the inserts. It's so worth the investment-- an easy read, engaging, informative, comprehensive and 110% USEFUL! There are some great eBooks and worksheets available on the passporter site that are excellent additions as well.

 

[Catie.Hiltz]

download some aps for the iphone

Any specific apps you would recommend? I have a droid but they might have them for that too...

 

[Catie.Hiltz]

I have the 2011 UG, and it's not all that different from the 2009 one except mentioning a lot of things that have been cut back with the economy (It should say 15% sadder on the front I think)

LOL that is so funny about the 15% sadder....its nice to have that reality check though, its helpful

 

[FredinFL]

I gave up buying the books and get them from the library. My favorite is The Unofficial Guide...it used to be funnier, it's gotten a little dry the last few years. I also like the Passporter's Guide, but you have to buy that one. It was great for holding all my info tho!

 

[wingedjojo]

I recently got the Unofficial Guide's color companion and while it's a little outdated, you can't beat all the pretty pictures. Most of the basic information is still good and the authors are funny. It's a good basic book to have around and I'm sure kids would just enjoy looking at all the pictures.

 

[Plaid Princess]

I'd go with Passporter or Unofficial Guide. I've found Birnbaums is just too thin. Even if it's an old version of the book, nearly everything will be the same. A 2011 Guide will only be updated for any new attractions, and there isn't a drastic difference between 2011 and 2010.

Personally, I'd buy a new Passporter (because it has a lot of trip planning write in space etc) and check Amazon or Ebay for a used Unofficial. If you're only going to go with one, buy the Passporter!

 

[Plaid Princess]

Any specific apps you would recommend? I have a droid but they might have them for that too...

I love my park maps. They have saved me in the past many times, and are much more convenient that unfolding the big paper map. Plus, unlike the paper map, they can use GPS to tell you exactly where you are in the park (handy if you get lost easily).

I also have a Dining App that lists every restaurant menu on property. Along with the Dining Reservations Mobile site, this is great for figuring out where to eat, and seeing what has availability before you drag your butt from one end of Epcot to the other.

I've had mixed success with various wait time apps, they all rely on live human input, so they're very hit or miss.

 

[Chrisvee]

Love that dining app. I use the wait time app as well. It was fairly accurate.

Love the tip on the map app!

 

[iluvdoombuggies]

I love the unofficial guide. I buy the new edition for every trip.

 

[uteach]

I would always choose the Complete Walt Disney World by Julie Neal. It has wonderful color pictures, a times guide for the best times to ride the rides with no wait, where to find characters in each park, descriptions of the rides and parks. It has everything and it's just about Disney World. It also has in-depth information on each hotel as well as events happening in the World.

 

[julieneal]

Thanks to all our loyal readers who have been waiting patiently for the 2011 edition of The Complete Walt Disney World. It will be available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and everywhere else starting next week. We had to delay the production of the book when both my mom and then my husband's mom died. It's been a rough year. One upside is the book is more current than ever before, including the new castle show and Wild Africa Trek, for example. This edition also has a stronger family focus, with creative ways to involve kids in planning a Disney vacation, Fear Factors for every ride and show, a new Character Guide and many Family Matters theme-park tips. About a third of our 530 color photos are brand new. Here's the Amazon link if you want to take a look: www.amazon.com/gp/product/0970959621/ref