Does anyone NOT like the Passporter guide and...

[novafan]

what is the difference between the regular edition and the deluxe eddition besides $12.50?

I had this in my hands today at Barnes and Noble, but wanted to hold off so I could ask some more questions of you expert Disney planners. I know lots of you rave about this book, but I want to hear from anyone who does NOT like this guide and why. Who knows, maybe no one will say that they don't like it. I already have the Walk Disney World with Kids 2003 and I really like it, but I love the fact that the passporter is a planner and a keepsake too.

 

[timbud1]

I was given the "Deluxe Version" as a gift before our trip. It was nice-looking, and I thought at the time that all the worksheets, memory sheets, etc. were going to be great. I really didn't use it all that much - we stayed off-site, and the book caters to on-sight folks. In fact, I got the feeling "Off-sight" for anything was a dirty word in the author's opinion! My main interest in guide books is info and reviews on restaurants and attractions - this book didn't offer as much as several others I read. My favorites are "The Unofficial Guide to WDW" and "Birnbaum's Guide for Kids by Kids". We used both of those extensively.

If you think you will really sit down and "fill in the blanks" of your vacation, the Passporter may be terrific for you! Unfortunately, I didn't quite get around to doing that in mine! I did like their website!

 

[SarahAndMike]

I'm one of the ones who raves about the book, but it definately caters to those staying on site. I never realized it until you said it. I've also owned the unofficial guide and although it's 100% honest and has a bunch of information, it is not my favorite.

 

[cleo]

I just don't find the Passporter useful. I suppose if it's your first trip it's a very handy guide, but I didn't think it had the content that other guides have, in a practical, useful way. I'm sure it's a matter of opinion and that many people will find it suits their needs perfectly. That's why there are so many guide books available.

 

[peachgirl]

I'm a fan of the Passporter, but not for the information and guidebook. What I find it most useful for is that it's got lots of pockets and storage space. It's really convenient to have one place to put all out tickets, confirmation papers and receipts in.

I know that as long as I remember to bring the Passporter on vacation, everything else I need will be in there! I'm not much for recording every detail of what we did on our trips, but we do have somewhat of a schedule we go by. It's very good for jotting down where we're going each day and where we have reservations for. On each pocket, I write down the date and what we'll be doing. Any confirmation numbers or receipts I'll need for that day are placed in that pocket.

We've never stayed offsite and I really never noticed that it catered to people who stay onsite, but as I said the guide isn't what we use it for. We've been to WDW enough that we pretty much know already know the type of information that you're going to find in guidebooks.

I have the Deluxe version and for each trip I just use replacement pockets that you can order through their website.

 

[suevee]

I bought the deluxe edition and like another poster said it looked great. BUT I found the room alloted for notes etc to be inadequate. For me it was not a good organizer.

 

[Maridw]

peachgirl,
You sound alot like me. I do love my Passporter and invested in the deluxe edition last year.
(For Novafan - difference beside cost: regular version is spiral bound and the deluxe is a 3-ring leather look binder that you can purchase refills yearly instead of a full version.)

We received a free refill this year and use it to put all our travel information in. My DH knows that I keep track of everything for our trip and this is the safest place to keep it all. Our seasonal passes are in it, our recently purchased MVMCP tickets are there, plus all our confirmation numbers for hotels and PS's.

My DD replaced the pockets for our next trip and since we had duplicates of 5th-10th day pockets, we made them for the first 4 days, plus lodging instead. I made stickers to cover up the original title for the pocket.

When we arrive at the resort, we usually grab a map of each park and we put them in the pocket for the day we plan on going to that park. This way we have an unused map as a souvenier. Then I put any receipts in the pocket for that day.

When we were deciding to whether to splurge and go to a moderate for our Nov trip, we checked all the info in the book plus looked at photos online on Deb's page to make our decision. When we couldn't get our first choice, we had already decided on a second choice and it was possible with the description & Map of the resort, plus ratings that were given.

 

[beachbunny]

I have both an early edition (maybe the first) and the latest edition. The early edition did not have much useful information, the pockets were too tiny to hold all my stuff (maps and receipts), and the pages did not have enough space to accomodate my type-A planning. But, I always give everthing a second chance so I got the latest edition. The latest edition has a lot more pages of information - and to give credit where it's due, it does get better every year - still, it is a work in progress, and for my money, I'd go with the Unofficial Guide - which is like 2 or 3 times the size and packed with more information than anyone could hope to digest. Also, in the latest edition, the pockets and planning pages haven't really changed in the amount of information/stuff they can accomodate. Moreover, in the spiral bound edition, the planning pages aren't removable. And the authors recommend you carry the book in the park with you so you have your planning information and can store your receipts in the pockets -- When I do Disney, I'm already loaded down with a full backpack. And they're asking me to carry a large book? No way! And no, I'm not willing to pay $12 more to remove my pages. Finally, this is minor but both my editions are the cheap spiral bound editions - I can't read the book without the spiral falling halfway out every time - it's a pain to spin it in again.

 

[TreeOfLife]

I bought the Passporter the year it sold overstock for $5, the 2000 edition I think.

It was fun to read, but designed (and encouraging) to carry around like something I definitely would not. In those parks with the heat, carying presents, drinks cameras and watching kids there is no way on earth I want to add a few pounds worth of a book to my bag! The way I felt, the aggravation would only serve as a free promo service.

When TourGuideMike came out I paid about as much for this online version of a planner. Better yet, it is written by a professional tour planner rather than Disney fans who like to tour the resorts. Everything is updated, no need to download and print added pages, etc... You just get what you'll need and it caters to your level of expertise. Meaning, you bring only what you need.

So, I am not a fan of fat books where over 50% of the written material won't even apply to me. I like to print what I want, and off I go.

 

[zulaya]

I love the Passporter and it does cater to more on-site type folks. Authors are people with opinions and Jennifer and Dave are of the opinion - like many people on this board - that staying on-site adds to the experience.

I think it's a great guide and I think it gives a lot of GOOD information, not only on resorts but on the parks and other areas of Disney.

No, it's not a Guide to Greater Orlando.

I too had the WDW for Kids book at first and that's a great guide if it's your first time or your kids' first time and you want to know how they will do on different rides.

I don't like Birnbaum's - it's so out of date. They still list character breakfasts that don't exist the last I looked. And while Passporter does go at it from an on-site point of view, Birnbaum's is so pro-Disney, I don't think you get the whole picture from them.

Go with your gut and get what sounds good. Everyone on this board has a different favorite and will give you a different answer.

 

[caitycaity]

i have quite a few disney guidebooks. i do like the passporter, but it does have limitations as some have mentioned above (focused on on-site, not as comprehensive as the unofficial guide, etc.)

still, i would never carry around the unofficial guide (too heavy) and i do carry around the passporter (non-deluxe).

i've never found a guidebook where i agree 100% with all opinions expressed. i disagree with a lot of the unofficial guide and parts of the passporter. i don't think it's a very realistic expectation to find a guidebook that a person will agree with 100%.

 

[heart4dis]

I, too held it in my hands at B&N but opted not to get it. My rationale was that I am an anal retentive planner/organizer and would rather do my own. So I created my own notebook and will create my own memory book.

 

[Kapp]

I bought 8 different guide books 2 years when we went last and found the Passporter to be almost the least useful. I believed the information was thin, dated and not much of a help (in comparison to the "Unofficial Guide", etc.

I know that some love the Passporter but I just don't see it.

Just my 2 cents.

Kapp

 

[normmo]

Hi - I bought the Passporter this year after reading all the raves and I must say that I was disappointed. I don't find that it's organized very well and didn't give me great info. I much prefer the Unofficial Guide and although I don't carry it around in the parks I do clip out the touring guides. The passporter I found was too limited in it's opinions (the two authors and their child), the planning sheets are too strung out and hard to find and it's simply not a practical book to lug around. I tell everyone going to Disney to get the Unofficial Guide and use it.

 

[doombuggy]

Ah, I believe the Passporter does list readers opinions as well as those of the author's.

I bought the Unoffical Guide and was really disappointed. I have the Passporter and thought it was great. I had already made my reservations prior to buying it, so it did not read much on the hotel section. Taking into consideration that I have been to WDW many times, I found it quite useful in planning a dream vacation from my grama.

There are other books that you can get as well. I would flip thru the ones in the travel section at your local bookstore before choosing one. I really wasted $16 on that Unofficial guide! Good Luck!

 

[PatriciaH]

I don't really buy guide books anymore since I use the web for planning. Sometimes if the library is having their book sale I will get last years eddition of the guide books for 25 cents just to have info from that year and add it to my Disney book collection.

When I was planning my first big trip that I paid for in 1993, I saw The Unoffical Guide and knew I had to have it It really has great info on the rides and how they work. I think is a great book for "type A" planners like me.

 

[disneyatl]

.......is the Unofficial Guide to WDW. It was like my bible the last trip we took. Full of information! I'm waiting for the 2004 version to come out. I'm thinking it will be August.

 

[heart4dis]

I'm sorry doombuggy didn't like the Unofficial Guide. I used it way back for my first trip to WDW and even followed the touring plans! I believed they worked and I liked it.

If no one has seen it, the Unofficial Guide also publishes a version called MiniMickey which is a smaller size. It's not pocket sized but could fit in a purse, backpack or large bellybag. I got it (along with several other guidebooks) for this trip, but I think the MiniMickey is the one I'll bring along.

 

[ScarletIndigo]

I also bought the Passporter because the folks on the DIS seemed to hail it as their favorite guidebook. I bought the Unofficial Guide the same day, and when I got home, I decided to tackle the wealth of information in the Unofficial Guide and save the Passporter for closer to trip-time.

I'm really glad I invested in the Unofficial Guide, because I like the wry humour and the fact that there's just SO MUCH information to digest in its pages. I'm only halfway through, but it's proven to be a very interesting read.

The Passporter, on the other hand, is another story. Since I already had the Birnbaum's guide (which has wonderful pictures and is a really quick and fun read) I quickly learned while scanning a few pages in the Passporter that I'd just bought myself a book full of redundant information. I may even try taking it back to the place I bought it from, simply because I don't think I'm going to have the time or desire to read it after enjoying the Birnbaum's guide and getting through the entire Unofficial Guide.

My advice would be to buy the Birnbaum's for the pictures and quick facts, and the Unofficial Guide for the real meat and bones (mixed with some humor and a dose of reality!) when it comes to WDW. Enjoy!

 

[Texian@WDW]

If you do decide to get it, order from overstock.com for about 1/2 the list price. I did and received it within a week.