Best WDW Guide book?

[becfehr]

Has anyone used any of the guide books on their trips lately? If so, which ones and which do you prefer? Did they pay off? Thanks!

 

[Jim5150]

For a beginner they would probably be worth the purchase although I have recently bought the nofficial Guide just to look at. It seems to have good info.

 

[fanofdisney]

I LOVE the Unofficial Guide to WDW. It's been very helpful. They release a new one every year.

 

[princesstommi]

I love the Unofficial Guide.

 

[goofy4tink]

The UnOfficial Guide and Passporter are my two favorites. I buy them almost every year...just to have on hand!!!

 

[laura001]

My vote goes to Passporter and the Unofficial Guide! They are worth having.

 

[Micca]

UG rules!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

My Top 2:
Unofficial Guide
Passporter

Okay but not great:
Birnbaum's Official Guide
Fodor's Guide to Orlando

Not worth the paper it's printed on:
Rita Aero's Guide (hasn't been updated in years)
Cheapskate's Guide (contains absolutely false or misleading info.)

 

[dis-happy]

Definitely the UG.

 

[PKS44]

Tour Guide Mike LINK is an online guide book continuously updated....the problem with the print books is that Disney keeps changing things on them...The UG does have a website that updates things like their best days. Mike seems to do a very good job of keeping guests updated on changes in EMH schedule, ADR windows, crowd patterns, etc...his website is challenging for some but with time most moderately intelligent people get used to it and he is always trying to improve it, too... for the best guide--his site -for which you do have to pay a subscription fee about the same price as a book----has to be mentioned....

Paul

 

[kima86]

I love the Unofficial Guide and the Passporter. The UG is great because of all the info you get about anything there is to know about vacationing in the World and they update it with new info each year.

The Passporter is great - I make sure to pack it on my trips because it has pockets in the back for all your ressie info, trip receipts, journaling, etc. I think I'd be lost (and unorganized) if I didn't have that one book! It even has current maps of the parks.

Kim

 

[Wendy1953]

I personally like the Birnbaum's book ( have every version for the past 4 years!)

 

[KittieKat]

man birnbaum isnt getting any respect. its my favorite. i like it because its bright and colorful with pictures!

 

[erikthewise]

I love the Unofficial Guide; it's great for people who must know everything there is to know, if not more. But it's not much to look at.

For beginners I suggest the Passporter Guide for a good format, good page layout, and great maps. Although the ratings in the Passporter Guide are just the opinions of the two authors, they seem to have pretty good taste.

If you want basic information with great photos and color layout, by all means get the Birnbaum guide.

 

[theflowerladee]

another vote for birnbaum, i buy one every year even though we go every year. love the brightness and the easy listings of character restaurants, etc.

 

[madgomez]

Another vote for Tour Guide Mike as the best. I also like Passporter for the maps and pockets - the info is OK too. I love UG for the style - lots of great info and humor. I use TGM and Passporter, and buy UG for the entertainment value. All worth it for their own reasons - but if I had to choose one - TGM.

 

[crisi]

I like different ones for differnt things.

Birnbaums for first timers. It isn't overwhelming. Pretty pictures, nice maps.

Passporter for compusive planning.

I like the queing theory things in the UoG, but I don't really like the book. I think its overwhelming and too negative, and too often just plain wrong.

TourGuide Mike was OK. The website needs a lot of help with navigation.

There are some nice "with kids" books out, which can be useful if you don't know which rides are dark/loud/scary

Allearsnet.com is really nice for a free planning site. Along with this BBS it will probably be all you really need, but it isn't portable.

My advice is to check some out at a library or spend some time at a bookstore looking through them. Read a few pages, look at them for portability if you will be bringing them into the park (if not, that's a moot point). See how they are organized and if that fits your style.

 

[whacked]

I have UG and Birnbaum's.

UG is the best Disney guide by far.

Someone gave me a copy of Birnbaum's. It tells you a little about the park, and has maps, but is USELESS as far as how to tour the parks.

Birnbaum's all has to be approved by Disney before publication, so they can't offer any strong opinions about food, rooms, touring the parks, etc.

Look at the actual amount of written info and actual research in UG vs Birnbaum's. NO comparison.

Passporter is more of a planning tool. I would get the UG in addition to the passporter if I were buying the passporter. Your trip costs enough that the price of two guide books is no big deal.

I also have TGM, and I would only suggest that as an adjunct to the UG. TGM can be confusing. The layout of UG makes it much easier for planning, and you can take it with you. There are some good suggestions that are not in the UG for things like parade viewing, but I would start with the big UG. If you think it's too big to take to the park, get Mini Mickey too.

So I would start with UG. Get the passporter if the organizer part of it appeals to you. Then I would get Mini Mickey if you want something smaller to take to the parks.

If you actually read and absorb the information in the UG, then get TGM if you want some additional tips.

If at that point you still really need some color pictures and a coupon for a pin, then spend the money for Birnbaum's.

 

[karen l]

I'm one of the many who love UG & Passporter. Waiting for the new Passporter - hopefully by early December!!

 

[mickey0216]

I prefer the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. In my house it is known as "the book". It contains an unbelievable amount of info. Most importantly, you read about the good and the bad. It doesn't seem to be biased like the Birnbaum book seems to be.