Best guidebook for the "casual" WDW traveler....

jpeka65844

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IMHO, the best guidebook is www.wdwinfo.com and the Boards BUT what is considered (among true Disney fans) to be the best guidebook out there?

I have a friend who will be going with family in Summer 2014 and I'd like to get her a book to share with her DS's.
 
I would definitely say Passporter...especially for the more casual traveler. I buy the new one every year...of course I get the best info her on the DIS, but I still enjoy reading my Passporter. I usually get a copy for family members too if they are going to WDW.
 
As far as printed books go, I always used Birnbaum's. I really liked how they were laid out and organized. Plus, they were fun to look at. :)
 
Birnbaum's is now a Disney publication and is Disney Propaganda. We point folks to Wdwinfo, the boards, and for print, Passporter.
 

Birnbaum's is Disney's book and is obviously very pro-Disney. It has the best pictures, is the cutest one and does the best job of getting you all pepped up for your trip. It has very little planning advice and most of what it does have is poor advice.

The Unofficial Guide is the best for good, solid information. There is no better or more comprehensive planning book out there. You also get a discount on the touringplans.com service...but that is pretty cheap to start with. But it is big...well indexed, but big. They have a smaller version, The Mini Mickey, that boils it all down and gives you the basics. If you want good info, but not a large book, that's the best one.

The Passporter lacks the adorableness of the Birnbaum book and doesn't have the good, unbiased info that the UG has. The Passporter peeps are obviously trying to stay on Disney's good side and do not point out all the bad stuff you should avoid. I do like their hotel info a lot.
 
Birnbaum's is now a Disney publication and is Disney Propaganda. We point folks to Wdwinfo, the boards, and for print, Passporter.

Really? I didn't know Disney took over Birnbaum's. Huh. Birnbaum's was the first WDW Guide book I ever bought...in 1998, I think I even still have it. It had nice pictures, but not a whole lot of useful info...which is perfect, Disney doesn't have to change a thing! :rotfl:
 
Really? I didn't know Disney took over Birnbaum's. Huh. Birnbaum's was the first WDW Guide book I ever bought...in 1998, I think I even still have it. It had nice pictures, but not a whole lot of useful info...which is perfect, Disney doesn't have to change a thing! :rotfl:

It was Disney's book then, too. Disney copyrights, publishes and sells this book. They may pretend that the authors are totally independent of the WDO, but it's Disney's book.
 
As far as printed books go, I always used Birnbaum's. I really liked how they were laid out and organized. Plus, they were fun to look at. :)
I buy a new Birnbaum's almost every year, and I keep the ones I have - going back to 1991. :) It's great for the visitor who just wants to know what's at WDW, and who appreciates the lovely photos.
Birnbaum's is Disney's book and is obviously very pro-Disney. It has the best pictures, is the cutest one and does the best job of getting you all pepped up for your trip. It has very little planning advice and most of what it does have is poor advice.

The Unofficial Guide is the best for good, solid information. There is no better or more comprehensive planning book out there. You also get a discount on the touringplans.com service...but that is pretty cheap to start with. But it is big...well indexed, but big. They have a smaller version, The Mini Mickey, that boils it all down and gives you the basics. If you want good info, but not a large book, that's the best one.

The Passporter lacks the adorableness of the Birnbaum book and doesn't have the good, unbiased info that the UG has. The Passporter peeps are obviously trying to stay on Disney's good side and do not point out all the bad stuff you should avoid. I do like their hotel info a lot.

I think the Unofficial Guide is the best book for learning how to make the best use of limited time at WDW. However, there's a lot of info to wade through, and lots of people would rather "wing it" than plan. I bought my first one in 1996 - before our first multi-day visit to WDW. The last one I bought was in 2010.

I really like Passporter's cruise guide, but was not that fond of their WDW guide. I don't need planning calendars or pockets to save little Disney souvenirs.
 
kaligal said:
Birnbaum's is Disney's book and is obviously very pro-Disney. It has the best pictures, is the cutest one and does the best job of getting you all pepped up for your trip. It has very little planning advice and most of what it does have is poor advice.

The Unofficial Guide is the best for good, solid information. There is no better or more comprehensive planning book out there. You also get a discount on the touringplans.com service...but that is pretty cheap to start with. But it is big...well indexed, but big. They have a smaller version, The Mini Mickey, that boils it all down and gives you the basics. If you want good info, but not a large book, that's the best one.

The Passporter lacks the adorableness of the Birnbaum book and doesn't have the good, unbiased info that the UG has. The Passporter peeps are obviously trying to stay on Disney's good side and do not point out all the bad stuff you should avoid. I do like their hotel info a lot.

Absolutely agree. I have some Birnbaum books but they just gloss over things -although I can see it as helpful to get a lay of the land(s) for guests with no background at all. As far as a planning tool it is pretty weak.
 
I'd get either the Unofficial Guide or Passporter for the parents, and a Birnbaum's for Kids for the kids.
Birnbaums has great photos (as has been said) and the kids version helps the kids get excited.

I agree the Unofficial Guide is terrific and comprehensive- but I also think it can be overwhelming for a novice. It can make planning a visit to WDW seem like preparing for the bar exam!!

Passport has just enough info, good maps and handy pockets to organize and collect things before and after the vacation. I still have all my Passporter Pockets from years ago. I don't plan that way anymore, but I did use them for many years when the kids were little.

I understand that you want to give them something they can hold and review- but also refer them to wdwinfo.com for as much info as they can stand!! :thumbsup2
 
I always recommend the Unofficial Guide. It is a lot to wade through, but they have an excellent table of contents and you can just go to the area you're interested in. It was that book that led me to the DIS! I, too, bought a Birnbaum guide for my first trip. It was 1990 I believe. Since it was the "Official" guide, it was understood that Disney had a heavy hand in it. But I also got my first Unofficial guide that same year and found between them both I had plenty of information. Been using Unoffical Guide ever since.
 
I'd get either the Unofficial Guide or Passporter for the parents, and a Birnbaum's for Kids for the kids.
Birnbaums has great photos (as has been said) and the kids version helps the kids get excited.

I agree the Unofficial Guide is terrific and comprehensive- but I also think it can be overwhelming for a novice. It can make planning a visit to WDW seem like preparing for the bar exam!!

Passport has just enough info, good maps and handy pockets to organize and collect things before and after the vacation. I still have all my Passporter Pockets from years ago. I don't plan that way anymore, but I did use them for many years when the kids were little.

I understand that you want to give them something they can hold and review- but also refer them to wdwinfo.com for as much info as they can stand!! :thumbsup2


Thank god I've already been to Disney! Just seeing the phrase "bar exam" still makes me panic...trying to banish those memories from my head! haha

I've been to DisneyWorld 3 times and have been researching this trip for a year-and I still have a year to go! Since I'm not a total newbie, I think I'll be fine with the Unofficial Guide. Thanks for the tip :)
 
... the Unofficial Guide ... but I also think it can be overwhelming for a novice. It can make planning a visit to WDW seem like preparing for the bar exam!!

I've been to DisneyWorld 3 times and have been researching this trip for a year-and I still have a year to go! Since I'm not a total newbie, I think I'll be fine with the Unofficial Guide. Thanks for the tip :)

I completely agree. When you have been to WDW at least once or twice and understand the scope, have an idea about what you want to try next time and are looking for the way to make the best decisions- the Unofficial Guide is the way to go.

But, for someone who has never been- I just think it's a little intimidating! :goodvibes
 
My first book...

5108qPcblaL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


I was in the 4th grade and wore the book down. It is still around. This is back when this book was the gold standard before Disney took over and while Steve Birnbaum was still alive.
 
My first book...

5108qPcblaL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


I was in the 4th grade and wore the book down. It is still around. This is back when this book was the gold standard before Disney took over and while Steve Birnbaum was still alive.

How fortunate you are to still have that book! My 1991 Birnbaum book (the first one I bought) was still written by Steve Birnbaum. (He died in Dec. 1991: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Birnbaum). A one-day adult ticket was $31, and a five-day super pass was $135!
 
I love the Unofficial Guide (UG) and the PassPorter (PP) and have purchased multiple versions. The PP is great for getting you excited for your trip and has a ton of pictures and great snippets - I love the ease of use and how fast you can look general info up. The UG is great for us uber-planners who have to know every little detail!

But - the best news is that they are all in electronic form! HUZZAH! (The UG was 800+ pages when I last looked! Imagine that in your carry on!) Rather than schlepping that big ol' tome around - you can get it for $10 and it weighs nothing. I have mine on my Kindle, but I know it exists for Nook as well. I also believe you can read the electronic version on the Kindle Fire. Not sure how the book translates to the iPad, but the Kindle app is free, so it would probably work there!

http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Gu...ds=unofficial+guide+to+walt+disney+world+2012

The PassPorter is also offered as an electronic book. However, it is in PDF version only. That means it will look poopy on a Kindle, but would probably be really nice on an iPad or other color tablet.

http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587711087.aspx

Hope the info helps!
 
I like the Unofficial Guide for reference and detail. However, my new favorite guide is The Complete Walt Disney World by Mike and Julie Neal. It has good detail with lots of pictures for a "casual" vistor, and it is small enough to take on the trip with you.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Walt-Disney-World-2012/dp/0970959664

I have no need for another WDW guide book, but this one looks great. I just ordered it from Amazon, so thanks for the recommendation and link!
 
The problem I have with a lot of guidebooks is that Tomorrowland turns into Yesterdayland quicker than the publishing dates can keep up. So the DIS is actually providing more up-to-date accuracy.

That being said, both Passporter and the Unofficial Guide do constantly update their info. UG has a team of people test driving their touring plans and data, so they seem to be the more proactive in keeping up to date.

I remember the first guidebook I ever bought was my Birnbaum's 1987. I loved reading all those wonderful ad copy flowery prose sections! And I admit that I've read copies of Passporter and Unofficial Guides cover to cover, as well. And UG has a snarky sense of humor I just love!

Passporter is terrific for a couple things. The resort sections with the maps and such, and just as an overall combo of guidebook and pseudo-scrapbook of trip memories. They were unique in that way from the beginning.

The worst guides? The ones that were "For Dummies" or "Idiot's Guide...". Let's just say I thought they were written BY...ahem...intelligence challenged people. And just leave it at that.
 
I like the Unofficial Guide for reference and detail. However, my new favorite guide is The Complete Walt Disney World by Mike and Julie Neal. It has good detail with lots of pictures for a "casual" vistor, and it is small enough to take on the trip with you.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Walt-Disney-World-2012/dp/0970959664

The Complete Guide is my favorite one, too. I buy it every year, even though I don't really feel like I need it. The Unofficial Guide is great, but it can be very overwhelming to a novice (even to a seasoned WDW vet).
 





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