Changes to UG

[LSUDis]

--just reading a thread about people's varying feelings about the usefulness of the Unofficial Guide in planning trips/strategies, etc.

So, just out of idle curiosity after reading these posts of people debating the usefulness of the UG, what would anyone change in the UG?

I'll go first, but let me first say that I do love the UG, and I buy it even if I'm not going to DW that year. (Sick, I know)

Hmmmm, I'm really having to think....I like how 2005 sprinkled new info. throughout, which was nice for veterans of the book. (Those boxes of comments by Jim Hill).

Oh, how about re-doing the dining section so that it includes menus and prices. I don't think that it would add that many pages if it took the place of what was already there. (I know that menus and prices change periodically, but they would not vary by much from year to year of publication). Dining is such an issue now with the MYW Dining plan.

Anyone else?

 

[lentesta]

I love this thread.

Len

 

[the kabuki]

I found the book useful, except for the dining sections, found them hard to navigate. Seemed like info was kind of scattered all over the book.

 

[Rootskate]

LSUDis, that is funny! I thought I was the only one who bought the book every year even when I cant go!

 

[LSUDis]

LSUDis, that is funny! I thought I was the only one who bought the book every year even when I cant go!

We have a sickness, Rootskate, but there are a lot of us. Hmmmmm, when do our numbers begin to indicate that WE are the normal ones and everyone else is .....well, whatever they are.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I like it but then again I get UG, Birnbaums and the passporter and join Tourguidemike.com.......I seem to feel that I need all of these to get ALL the info.
My husband thinks I need help but he seems to be pretty happy when we get there and things run smoothly due to good planning!!!
Hey, a girl needs a hobby doesn't she??

 

[dis-happy]

They need to add a photo of len's tatoo.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

I t would be wonderful to see more tips for parents of children with various ages and interests. For instance, my brother and sil are traveling tomorrow to WDW with a 9 year old and a 19 month old. They were seeking tips on handling situations like this.

I'd like to see the UG not be so hard on Disney Transportation. It is not all bad if you prepare yourself for not getting to places instantaneously.

Overall, while sometimes the UG seems coarse in it's reviews of some things Disney the UG is, in my opinion, a realistic view of 'all things Disney.' If I wanted to read everything's perfect at WDW, I'd ask Disney for some brochures.

 

[aubriee]

I'd like to see a chapter or so devoted solely to solo visitors. I bought the regular UG for my trip in Jan with my son and GD and then the other day bought the UG for Grown-ups for my May trip. It seems to be geared toward adults, but not particularly things for solos to do.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

The first year we went my DH thought I was nuts because I read the UG so much I almost had it memorized. Well after the first couple of days when we saw the difference my planning (thanks to UG) made he became a convert. Now when we get the new guide each year I find him reading it as much as me.

 

[LSUDis]

Bump....anyone else?

 

[SleepingUgly]

This is kind of stupid, but perhaps make it a spiral-bound book so that it's easier to look through, since it's such a thick book. That way, the book spine does not prove to be too constricting when one is reading some of the pages in the middle? And then include tabs on the side to make it easy to quickly flip to certain parts of the book?

Linda

 

[Tippurr_2004]

This December DH, DGS, and I will travel to WDW for the first time. I've purchased the UG every year for the past five years on the off-chance that I would get the chance to go. I feel so much more confident that I'll navigate more smoothly through the World because of all the info I've gotten from the book. I bought other guides, but the only one that I buy faithfully, every year is UG.

I especially like the fact that things aren't sugar coated. I'd rather be on the alert and be pleasantly surprised than going into a situation without a clue and being blind-sided. Just my $.02.

Tippurr

 

[chessie]

I love the UG. I don't remember thinking I wish there were more of ........I love all the maps and charts. I think if I were going to add anything I would add a more detailed flip out street map of the area surrounding WDW. I have put off buying my 2005 because I heard that an updated version was coming out in Feb. Oh Wow! It's February! I'd better get to the book store.

 

[eeyore0062]

I would think, if not already done, that the UG would have to make quite a few changes this year, considering the new ticket system, the the new EMH, and the new attractions. Also, I think they need to re-review some of the restaurants... either some don't live up to the reviews, or others are far better than they are given credit.

 

[Unofficial Fan]

I would rearrange the hotel listing. I find it impossible to find the hotel I'm currently looking for based on the "area" that they are in. And I've been to DW many times! As a first time reader, I would think that would be near impossible. I would change it to a least expensive to most expensive (or vv) listing, or alpahabetical listing.

Second the idea of a better map of the entire WDW area.

Love love love love love the UG, hence my signin name

 

[goofy4tink]

Hmmm, interesting thread. I think that I would also regroup the resorts by price. But I do love the info that's included about them already. I think it might be nice to have more complete listing of the types of food that are available at each restaurant. Not a full menu but I sometimes have a hard time discerning what I can actually get at a particular restuarant. I wish somebody could put a really good/decent road type map of the area in their book. Yes, I realize that the roads do change over the years but man, it sure would be nice to have so I could invision exactly where/how I needed to go.

But, otherwise, I love the UG the way it is....well, there was that idea of the shot of Len's tattoo!!!

 

[LSUDis]

The UG is very useful. I remember my first year going to DW...I had my children, DH, and my parents. I had studied the UG diligently...I had that thing memorized...I knew what time to get there, what order to ride the rides, how to use fastpass, etc. Boy, was I psyched!
Well, we went after 9/11 and I did not realize that tourism had been affected that much.
We got to MK at about 10:00 and I was panicking b/c we were not there on time for my tour schedule....using the UG, of course.
Flew to Fantasyland and got in our first line...while in line, I was detailing to my family where we would go next and next and next. The line was for IASW, and we walked quickly zigzagging through the metal dividers of the line. After waiting for 3 minutes, we boarded. The lady in front of us muttered, "It is NEVER like this!" Not really comprehending what she meant, we then rushed to the next scheduled ride..Peter Pan...zigzagged through the dividers and hopped on in about 2 minutes. At this point, my parents were thrilled with my "planning."

Well, I had to confess to them that it was not my planning. Thrilled as I was by the short lines, I was soooo disappointed because I couldn't use my memorized plans

I kept wailing, "It's NOT supposed to be like this. We are supposed to go ride Dumbo next" as we strolled around and hopped on Peter Pan two more times without waiting. By the time we stepped on Jungle Cruise (the very next boat), I was pouting like a 3 year old. I wanted my crowds!!! I know....crazy, but what can I say? It was my first trip and I was SO ready to be Commando Queen.

 

[lentesta]

I'm going to forward this thread to Bob....except for the part about the tattoo. My wife's still trying to get over the whole "tube sock" thing from the NY Times.

Thanks very much for the feedback!

Len

 

[Musky]

Len, I hope you're not forwarding it just yet cause I have a couple of suggestions. With the dining reviews, when you give the percentage of readers who give thumbs up/down, I think it would be very helpful to know exactly how many people are making up that percentage. For instance, if only 1 person has sent in a review of, let's say, Hollywood and Vine, and they give it a thumbs up, that 100% means a lot less to me than say, the 90 out of 100 people who give Ohana a thumbs up. Knowing the actual numbers involved would be very helpful in deciding how much weight to give the reader's verdicts. I would also like to see more updating - not of things that have changed necessarily, but just general updating. For instance, my 2004 version (and probably the 2005 version, but I don't know since I haven't bought it yet) still had a letter from someone in it complaining because Horizons and River Country were closed during her visit. Well, Horizons and River Country have both been closed for years, so surely there is a more recent letter that could be included that would get the same message across. A newbie might read that letter and pore through the book thinking, "Why can't I find anything about this Horizons attraction?" It also mentions the air guns in it's description of TSI; those have also been gone for years. Also, judging by my 2004 edition, you need a new proofreader, or if you don't have one you need to hire one. I love the UG, but I have never seen a book with the Guide's circulation that has the number of typos/errors in it that this book does. I counted 48 errors/omissions/contradictions/typos in my 2004 edition, and I did not read every chapter! BTW, I'm available for the job!

Becky