Best Guide Book for WDW???

[thatchicktrish]

Hi all! Our first family trip to WDW is less than 40 days away now and I've seen many people mention guidebooks that were useful, some that have tips and secret info about making the most out of our stay at WDW....can someone tell me about the good ones and if any are ones specifically for a family with children under 10, we have a 7 year old DS. Thanks in advance!!!

 

[cheerdaddy]

our family really doesn't use the guidebooks any longer, but, when we did, we used the "Unofficial guidebook to WDW"...it was great! lots and lots of great, useful info...I would highly recommend it...I remember one called "wdw with kids" I believe from Birmbaum's...we purchased that one when dd was little and it was a decent guide as well, but, not nearly as in-depth as the "unofficial" guide...there are others out...your local bookstore probably has them....or they can be purchased on-line just about anywhere...

 

[TLinden16]

I have about five or six guide books (not all current editions). There are three that I really like, and recomment to people for different reasons.

Birnbaum's Official Guide to Walt Disney World--This is a great guide for people who have never been before. There are detailed descriptions of the hotels and rides with lots of pictures. It's really sugar coated though--don't expect to see anything negative in it. It's a great guidebook for people who have never been before to get an overview of what to expect.

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World--This book gives the best information to help you maximize your time in the park. It gives you a better understanding of how the rides work, and how long you are going to wait. This guide is very honest--they will tell you if something isn't worth a long wait. There is lots of information on the hotels, and restaurants in this guide. They have touring plans in this book, although I've never used any of them.

Passporter--I like this guide to help me stay organized for my trip. It has pockets to store intineraries, tickets, and receipts. It has spaces to write down confirmation numbers for priority seating and tours. It also has space where you can jot down notes about your trip, and that helps if you are going to write a trip report when you get back.

You might want to invest in the For Kids By Kids Guide to Walt Disney World by the Birnbaum people for your son. It has puzzles and gives descriptions of the rides by kids, so your son will know what to expect. My nieces and nephews love reading this guide.

Have a great trip!

Karen

 

[Vanryan]

I agree with TLinden16, I have purchased and read cover to cover all three. If you're only going to get one I'd say go with the unofficial guide.

 

[Kaycee]

It depends on what you're using it for.

If you want touring plans, Unofficial Guide is the one everyone recommends. They put a lot of effort into researching their plans and putting them together.

IF you want something to help you organize and keep track of things as you're planning, and that you can refer back to while you're there (and even after your trip!) then the Passporter would be perfect. That's the one I still buy every trip because I can use it to keep track of my plans.

If you want something that your kids can use to plan what they want to do, get Birnbaum's WDW For Kids By Kids. My guys had so much fun planning with this book.

If you want all the latest information, inside tips and secrets, and quick answers to all your planning questions, you don't need a book. You've got the best possible resource right in front of you - these boards!! No book can compare to the latest up-to-date info you'll find right here.

 

[Bill Foster]

Hi! Welcome to the board, if this is your first time.
12 yrs. ago our family planned our second trip to D W. It was our first big trip, 10 days(4 traveling), all 3 parks plus a water park and Universal for 1 day.
We used the Unofficial Guilde to plan what day for each park and it's tour guides for each park. If you don't get any other guide make it this one. I can't recomend it enough. It works.
We had 3 boys, 10, 12, & 13. Visited in early June. Hot and crouds. We didn't wait over 10 mins. on average for any ride at any park, but we did follow the guides to the letter.
The day we took the boat to MK, another man with his familly was complaining about Brinbaum's touring plans. They were not doing to well and he said that his guide had not warned him about certain things and had been quite inaccurate about others. He used the word "lied" at times.
When I told him about the Unofficial Guide and what we had been experiencing, he cursed a couple of times and just about threw his book over the side. He had never heard of the UG. I gave him a copy of the touring plan for MG that I had on a 3 by 5 card and I am sure he and his family had a much better time.
Oh, and btw, the guide at that time was the size of a Readers Digest. WOW!!! Any way, get the book, do a little planning, and have a great time.
Oh, yes. Pay particular attention to the part that tells you when to take a break and go to Tom Sawyar Island in MK. With kids, this is a life saver.

 

[Shooby doo]

We bought a copy of the unofficial guide last time around ,& found it both funny & imformative-would get my vote-we don't use the touring plans though but then we've done "it" a few times.Also the "Brits guide" by Simon Veness is also a good choice & it also covers the other big 4 in similar detail.
SD

 

[Micca]

A combination of the "UG" and the Dis should get you all the info for a great trip.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I have bought some of these in the past. Now I get the current one out of the library. They have all of them and it saves $$.

 

[r3ngels]

I asked this question a couple of months ago and most everyone said unoffical or passporter so I had free shipping at amazon so I got both (their marketing worked on me) I like both of them. They are a little different the passporter is like a information guide/ keepsake journal and the UN is an excellent reference book. So I can't pick which is best

 

[danny1649]

Are the two that I've used and still do,lots of good information and good toring plans.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

If this is your first trip start with Birnbaum's. It is like a big glossy brochure with wonderful color pictures.

After that it is a tie between the UG and Passporter's. I just love them both. My DH got me the 2004 editions for Valentines day just because I really enjoy reading them and they've helped tremendously.

I made copies of the touring plans and taped them to a 3x5 index paper that I covered with scotch tape just to keep them kinda clean. It made all the difference in the world!

 

[Atotty]

For our first trip I read at least 15 diff guidebooks (thanks to Interlibrary loan) and found out all I needed was a good forum to ask questions, Deb's site (allearsnet.com) and Tourguidemike.com. We didn't stand in any line longer than 15 mins...that one time was for Dumbos.

I print out the itenararies for each park; which park is best for each day for AM and PM; the rides for each park to ride in AM, afternoon, PM, or anytime with no lines; the best palces to see parades and when to get there; and any other info I think I need and take it to the park with me...no big book...just a few sheets of paper for each park.

My Passporter is good for reference in the hotel room and I like the planning pages and pockets. The maps are much better this year, too, but if you can only get one...TGM is it.

I know others swear by the Unofficial Guide and it is good; I've gotten lots of good planning info from it. But because WDW changes so frequently there's no way a guidebook can be totally up to date. TGM dates the pages and so you can tell how old the info is; he seems to be updating something on his website just about every day.

Passporter is the most up to date guidebook out there because they wait to put out the 2004 edition in 2004...not late 2003 like the others. But I've already had to download Passporter updates for changes WDW has made since it went to press.


JMHO,