This will be our second trip but still feel a bit like rookies, LOL. We've already booked, and although I'm not an organized planner by nature, I think to get the most out of the experience I need to for WDW. So what are the best guidebooks? Right now I'm looking at Passporter, The Complete Guide (Neal), & Unofficial Guide by Sehlinger. Are any of those a no no? Too much? Also, how important do you think it is to get the very latest version 08 vs. 07?
When we first started our Disney addiction, we used the Birnbaum book. Not sure if I spelled that correctly or not. I have seen other people post about the ones you mentioned. I would say there is not going to be that much difference between the 08 vs 07. I would get the 07 books. Hope that helps some.
I love the UG! That book combined with the DIS & TGM give me all the info I think I need. I keep re-reading the UG. It's funny and informative at the same time.
The Unofficial Guide is the one I found the best while planning for our trip in the Summer last year. The guide really helped us plan what rides to hit first get FP for etc so that we could ride everything we wanted really in a relatively short time
The Official book (Birnbaum) is good if you never have been to Disney before. The second time around though I have really enjoyed reading the Unofficial Guide which has a TON more of information and access to touring plans online.
I vote for the Unofficial Guide for sure. I've been to disney world tons of times and I still read things in there that I had no idea about. It helped me a lot last year!
I used the Unofficial Guide in 2007, and bought one for 2008. Love them. I also bought the Complete Walt Disney World 2008. The CWDW does not have as much information as the UG, but the info it does have is great... Plus it has lots of color photo that our kids love looking at and reading about.
The UG is the BEST!!! I do also use TGM & have tried Passporter. I am however a huge planner & love to get anything I can get my hands on. Actually, the DIS boards is where you can get the most info!
The Complete Walt Disney World Book avilable on amazon dot com. Great book it has everthing about disney.
Birnbaum's for Kids is fun. Buy them their own copy and let them loose on it. I LOVE my Passporter and my Unofficial Guide. I've always said that planning for our Disney trips are almost as fun as being there. I've found that planning for the trip is key. There is so much to learn and do. I'm learning new things every time we go and that's exciting. We definitely don't want to be unprepared. Personally, I don't think that it's necessary to get the latest version, eventhough recently, I've thought of a couple of newer things I wanted to look up and realized that I don't have a 2008 book.
Another Vote for Binbaums! The adult version is great as is the "for Kids" version. I think it reads easily and keeps yor attetion. I am big on pictures. Its always nice to have an idea of what things are like, because opinions and decriptions can me tainted. I am also a visual learner and retaining things photogrpahically! I just picked up the Passporter and find it OK, not my favorite, but I havent finished it yet either. We also have Fodor's Walt Disney World WITH KIDS. Its great because it goes beyond WDW -Universal and Seaworld is in there and has gret infor for all things not Disney.
I do not even attempt to plan a trip to Disney without a current Passporter! It's a wonderful guide book/planner/scrapbook/journal/keepsake all in one. It is filled with places to make lists, organize ADR #'s, reservation #'s etc. It has pockets to keep bits of this or that...I put my Pirate and Princess Party tickets in the pocket for that day. I am able to keep our whole trip organized with this one interactive book. I can't say enough about how useful it is each year! Especially in regards to the Disney Dining Plan. Each restaurant is broken down by location. It's Dining Plan status is right on top, as well as what the average cost for each meal would be out of pocket. I found this feature totally indispensable!!! I love it b/c the authors have stayed in every resort, eaten in every restaurant and ridden every ride...and they give the pros and cons for each place and activity. There are layout pictures of each resort, with room pictures and a rating system based on who would like each resort best and why...the resorts all also rated according to Quality, Accessibility,Affordability, and overall Value...as well as Theme, Amenities, Fun Factor and Overall "Magic"!! The Passporters have suggested touring plans if you are with kids and a touring plan more geared towards adults for each park. It contains tear out maps for each park. It gives suggestions for best places to stand for best viewing of night time shows etc. There are "Toddler Tips", "Kid Tips" and "Tween Tips", given by the author's two children. It really is a user friendly, comprehensive guidebook/planner. I end every trip with a journal of our trip. They are wonderful keepsakes and very useful. It is full of inside tips and ideas. Plus the Passporter has a wonderful online site as well. Check one out at Borders. You'll love it!!!
