Best park touring guides?

[bigcrit]

Here's what I have.......

Unofficial Guide - Great read and seems to be well written but I'm not sure of the accuracy. Any thoughts? I also bought the UG /w kids

Pasporter - I just got it so I haven't read to much.

Tourguidemikes.com - I really like the articles but still find the site a little confusing.

I know I am obsessed with all of this. I mean how many books and tour guides does one need? Has anyone found these books and or web-sites to be dead on? If you follow their suggestions do you really avoid the lines? or has everyone gotten this info therefore making it common knowledge and not much help.

Thanks

 

[ncbyrne]

A lot of us on these boards are also big planners. I have all the guides too! Yes, the touring plans do work, especially if you are going at a busy time. Aside from the tour plans, I have found that the best WDW advice comes right from the DIS posts! You can ask just about anything related to the parks and will get your answer post haste!

 

[bigcrit]

A lot of us on these boards are also big planners. I have all the guides too! Yes, the touring plans do work, especially if you are going at a busy time. Aside from the tour plans, I have found that the best WDW advice comes right from the DIS posts! You can ask just about anything related to the parks and will get your answer post haste!

Indeed you guys have been nothing short of terrific! DO you have a preference. If you could only use 1 tour guide (and you were a noob like me) which would you choose?

Thanks again

 

[jaysue]

I have always stuck by the Unofficial Guide - they maintain a web site full of updates from the book publication date and are very helpful as well. Tried passporter and found UG to be more valuable to me and useful

cheers
jaysue

 

[ncbyrne]

Each one has it's own merits and I like reading all of them. However, for touring plans, I like UG the best.

 

[GarrettJD]

I'll second the UG-- they have the best, most efficent touring plans around. This is mainly due to the staggering amount of data collection and computer modeling they use to detemine the best plans.

The book "Hassle-Free Walt Disney World" has good touring plans also.

 

[bigcrit]

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

 

[lentesta]

Other than (ahem) the fantastic plans in the Unofficial Guide, collected and maintained by an amazing collection of researchers both knowledgeable and almost preternaturally good-looking, I like Steve Barrett's Hassle-Free touring plans, too.

Len

 

[bigcrit]

Other than (ahem) the fantastic plans in the Unofficial Guide, collected and maintained by an amazing collection of researchers both knowledgeable and almost preternaturally good-looking, I like Steve Barrett's Hassle-Free touring plans, too.

Len

I may go with amazing researchers Thanks for the tip regarding Steve Barretts stuff. I May as well find every possible piece of material ever written on WDW touring and "How To's' and purchase them in bulk so at least this pretrip addiction won't break me before I get there.

 

[missypie]

I'm disappointed in the Passporter. I had heard that the 2005 version was delayed because of all of the changes. Fine. So I got mine last week, and they still talk about Parkhoppers and not MYW tickets, etc. etc. They have updated a little but not on major things like tickets. It makes me distrust the rest of the info in there.

 

[ncbyrne]

I'm disappointed in the Passporter. I had heard that the 2005 version was delayed because of all of the changes. Fine. So I got mine last week, and they still talk about Parkhoppers and not MYW tickets, etc. etc. They have updated a little but not on major things like tickets. It makes me distrust the rest of the info in there.

If you have the 2005 book, you can log onto the Passporter website and download the pages with all the new information.

 

[barbaraann]

I read all of the guidebooks. I have the passporter. This time when I go to WDW, I am going to pack my passporter, but not carry it every day. At night, when we are done touring for the day, the passporter is a handy place to store souvenirs and receipts from each day. I am instead going to carry a small spiral notebook. In it will be all my important info and numbers. I plan on jotting down in it any and everything that comes to mind while touring. A witty phrase. A special moment. When I return to Chicago after my trip, I can then transfer it all to my passporter, which has become my yearly vacation souvenir. I amalso going to carry a pocket folder, the expandable kind. I found it at walgreens and it is just perfect. It is as long and narrow as a folded park map. It is perfect for park maps and my important info can be kept dry inside of it. It will fit perfectly in my shoulder bag I carry to the park. Back to touring. I found it best to not try to plan too much. Just decide on a park for the day, do your must sees first and let the magic happen. Fill in your days with some restful things like character meals and swimming, minigolf, fishing, and end each day with perhaps a parade or fireworks. Too much scurrying around at Disney is not a good idea. It makes for tired feet and cranky people. Don't mean to preach, but I won't be the one you hear yelling at a crying child or teen who wants to just chill, when mom or dad is saying but we must do this or that.

 

[jswalker1981]

Why don't all of us come up with a book? Huh? Sounds good?

 

[bigcrit]

Why don't all of us come up with a book? Huh? Sounds good?

But would it sell? I think we would have to give it away here. Thanks everyone you guys have been great.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

Here's what I have.......


Tourguidemikes.com - I really like the articles but still find the site a little confusing.


Thanks

If you are confused by the site, go to the forums and ask for help. There are lots of people there who have used TGM for many trips, they're all really nice and willing to answer any questions you might have.

 

[ms.ojo]

an update from UG or TourGuide MIke talking about Best Days now that EMH has been around for a few mths. Seems to me I'm hearing more of people deciding to do the evening EMH..and therefore parks in the morning are even better!!! But there are also a lot of folks that still avoid EMH parks no matter what. And since MYW tickets make you pay more for a hopper option....are people still hopping as much??? I'd really like to see an update on park flow from someone.

 

[hugsquared]

So, we're going in Sept...after school is in (taking DD out for a week). Since crowds will be low, do you think I should make an "plan" for the 8 days we're there, or wing it?

 

[Forevryoung]

Will too many people ever follow the same mass produced touring plan and make it ineffective (like UG)? Would it be possible

hmm just an entertaining thought

 

[bigcrit]

Will too many people ever follow the same mass produced touring plan and make it ineffective (like UG)? Would it be possible

hmm just an entertaining thought

Indeed my thoughts exactly.