Best Guidebook

[keahgirl8]

Which WDW guidebook is the best? I want to get one for my trip this spring, and I have no clue which one to get! Help?

 

[momrek06]

I just bought "The Passporter" due to recommendations on these Posts! I love it! They cover everything. I actually bought both their cruise version as well as their parks version. I have only had the books a short time but the data in there is fabulous. Good Luck and be sure to check it out.

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

I really like the Unofficial Guide and also the Walt Disney World Passporter. I think they both provide very useful information and they are both very thorough.

 

[jcriket]

I'd say the Unofficial guide, we went to the library and took it out and didnt want to bring it back. I've never seen the passporter but I highly recommend the Unofficial guide.

 

[dbarker]

There are several very good books out there. It depends on what you are looking for in the way of a guide book. Also, you will get lots of different opinions here. My first suggestion: go to your local library and check out what they have. Even if it is a few years old. That will give you a better idea of what you are looking for.

My opinion: The most comprehensive - The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
A great organizer - The Passporter
An easier read w/ lots of pictures - Birnbaum's Official Guide to Wald Disney World

Like I said, it all depends on what kind of book you want as to what is best for you.

 

[mantysk8coach]

I have the Unofficial Guide, and Birnbaum's Guide and I like them both for different reasons. The Unofficial Guide is very, very thorough, and can tell you just about anything you want to know. But it's really long, and all black and white text. The Birnbaum guide is more fun, and is almost like a souvenier in itself. It tells you the basic things you need to know, and has lots of fun pictures. It is good for someone staying on-site. Unofficial Guide would be good for someone who wants to see more of Orlando besides WDW, or stay off site.

I collect the Birnbaum books for every year that I go on a WDW trip. I have all but one...anyone have a 1984 version they want to get rid of?

Both books are good...get them both!

I have never seen the Passporter that everyone else mentioned, so can't tell you about that.

 

[mickeyluv]

i have purchased Passporter now two years in a row. it is a wonderful book. i think you will get a lot of use out of that one!

 

[Amirah95]

I can't choose between Passporter and UOG, so I buy both. If I HAD to choose I'd go for the UOG.

If you're a newbie to the World then Birnbaum's is the best book for you. After the first visit...you will graduate to either Passporter or UOG...or both!

 

[SorcererDonald16]

I have the Unofficial Guide as well as a book I'm not sure of the name of... it's a dark red color and had a picture of Cinderella's Castle and fireworks at night on the cover. You can tell by which name I remember which one I prefer. I love the UG. Great info and some hilarious jokes throughout. I find myself reading it even when I'm not planning a trip just because it's a fun read.

 

[Shells9]

I like the Unofficial Guide myself. The humor in it cracks me up. I buy one every year, even though it doesn't change much.

 

[goofy4tink]

I buy a Passporter for every trip....I use it as a trip diary. I buy the old ones for my dd, 12, so that she can have her own trip diary (you can buy the out of date ones on-line for quite a bit less). I also buy the UoG every year, just to compliment my Passporter. And sometimes I will even buy Birnbaum's. I do buy the Birmbaum's for Kids for my dd also....you can't beat the photos in the Birnbaum books, since they are the 'Official' book for Disney.

You will have a much more successful trip if you get at least one guidebook before you go. Otherwise, you won't be fully prepared for the huge energy sucking thing that WDW is! It is so worth the cost of those books....you will know what you want to do, what you don't want to do, and the best way to get done most of your must-do's. Happy planning!!!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'd splurge and get both the UG and the Passporter. They are very different book and compliment each other.

Birmbaum's is a distant third which I would only get to rev up the younger kids.

 

[Pedler]

Tour Guide Mike for the best ways to tour the parks and have a great vacation.

 

[QuickGold]

Unofficial Guide gets my vote

 

[Kimberly815]

I like the Unofficial Guide. . . .However, I have heard fantastic things about the Possporter and it seems like it would be great to keep track of memories as you go. I might have to get it for my next trip!

 

[labdogs42]

I have the Unofficial Guide 2006 (upgraded from my 2004 version for my last trip) and this trip I added the passporter. I just got it yesterday and I am in love with it!! I wish I had gotten it sooner! I also subscribed to TourGuideMike.com and touringplans.com (did you see I mentione tourguide overdose in my subject?). I haven't decided which touring plans I'll be following, but I love all the options I have! If I had to choose only one book, I think it would be the Passporter. But, i'd really just buy them all!!

 

[dumby]

I have the Passporter, which is absolutely great. I also have the UOG and still have not finished reading it. It is a good book but is very big (has too much info for me). I also have a book called Making Walt Disney World Vacation Memories by Aronda. This is a real easy book to read and is very informative. I have several others that I have read.

I love guide books as you can tell. LOL

 

[ntengwall]

I have the Unofficial Guide, the Passporter and a few others, but what I found most helpful was joining Tour Guide Mike's site and using his advice. I like that he does your itinerary based on the exact days you will be there--not a generalization of when you will be there. www.tourguidemike.com

 

[ZoZo]

The Unofficial Guide. Has tons of information, and provides opinions/reviews/ratings for everything - very helpful! It also provides comments from readers (which I really like!) about different things. Well worth the money.

Birnbaum's Official Guide is nice, but it doesn't have the reviews of things. I might not always agree with every single thing in the Unofficial Guide, but at least it gives me useful information!

 

[mickeyluv]

I have the Unofficial Guide, the Passporter and a few others, but what I found most helpful was joining Tour Guide Mike's site and using his advice. I like that he does your itinerary based on the exact days you will be there--not a generalization of when you will be there. www.tourguidemike.com

I have thought about subscribing to TourGuide Mike. This will be our 3rd trip to WDW. Do you think it will still be helpful? Also, how hard is to navigate and understand TourGuide Mike? I've read that some people couldn't really understand it.