Do you use Unofficial Guide?

[traveljunkie]

I have used the Unofficial Guide and TGM to plan my commando touring for WDW. I am wondering if you find the Unofficial DLR guide to be very accurate for creating a touring plan.
Thanks!

 

[pixiewings71]

The only guide I've used is the Disboards. Seriously, no Ridemax, no official guides, no unofficial guides...nothing, just the tips I get from this board.

 

[Canyon girl]

Just thought I would interject that according to David Michael's column today on MiceAge, Zagat has just released a Disneyland version. I can't wait to get my hands on it. DH is going to pick it up at B&N after work.

 

[hlbrink]

I have used the touring guides and have found them to be really helpful! They work as long as you don't mind criss-crossing the park several times instead of staying in one "land" and exploring it thoroughly before moving to the next.

 

[dmked]

I borrowed the unofficial guide from the library and read through it to get ideas. It has plans for different situations and depending how long your stay it. I loved the book. I started with their 3 day plan and then altered it to fit what we wanted to do. It worked great for us. I wouldn't buy the book though, but if you can get it from the library it is great.

 

[PinkBudgie]

It is a fun book to read through. I borrowed it first from the library, then got my own 2009 copy. I like to refer back to it. It has all the resaurants (DL, DCA, DTD, and Anaheim).I didn't use the touring plan because we had our own ideas, but we did sort of follow the first part of the morning minus the Peter Pan ride.

 

[fairykin]

I used the unoffical guide for WDW .. so when we were going on our first trip to WDL.. i went and bought the guide.

Waste of money.
Read it in an afternoon and then gave it to a friend.

Simply read the DIS boards boards!

 

[Jennifer03]

I read the Unofficial Guide but didn't follow any of the plans. I wasn't that impressed with the book overall and actually found the Disboards to be much more helpful.

 

[Canyon girl]

I will say that I have read Zagat's new guide. It has too many errors and incomplete info for my tastes.

 

[Cinderella_68]

The touring plans from UG have been a good use of our time when we have used them!
Nowadays, we just see what we feel like, and don't worry too much about not "seeing everything," but we do use them when out of towners come to visit and plan on going to DLR. The only problem is getting everyone to cooperate with the plan! They just don't understand that you cannot possibly see and do EVERYthing in three days during the summer!
They want to **gasp** sleep late on vacation! After one trip not using the plan, they will ask me to use it when they return again!
And characters and shows can throw off the plan, so everyone has to be in aggreement and have a say in what they most want to see.
The kids and I make a big game out of it, and use the lists to get excited about the trip.
After the initial morning, things die down and you can take it easy, and you'll have many rides and attractions under your belt and can enjoy shows, additional rides, and fastpass attractions.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

One shortcoming of the Unofficial Guide is that its touring plans do not include Park Hopping. Here's a good thread about Park Hopping:

"Why I ParkHop at DLR" by Hound 109 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961

I really liked using TourGuideMike.com to plan my WDW trip last summer. MiKE's "touring tips" are really helpful, as they include the best times to see each attraction.

There is no TGM for DLR (although the HydroGuy Tips Compilation stickie is excellent). For touring info, IMO RideMax.com comes pretty close to TGM. RideMax is $14.95 for a 3-month subscription, with a money-back guarantee. IMO the information from RM will be worth it.

HTH

 

[SeansMom]

The latest release is MUCH better than the older ones. Has some good information all around. I've never actually used the touring plans, though. I used Ridemaxx and we thought that went well.

 

[traveljunkie]

Thanks for all the replies. I hadn't even thought of using Ridemax. I think I will use a little of this and a little of that to formulate a plan. I hate the deer in headlight feeling when you walk in on a busy day! Thanks again everyone.