DVCers what GUIDE BOOKS do you use?

[DizGirl20]

Just curious what Guide Books you purchase? For those of you who go so often, do you use them? Are they useful or just something fun to look at (or both!)? I have the Unofficial Guide and Passporter but they are a few years old and I was thinking about buying new ones.

Now that we joined DVC I will be going so often... someday I might be able to write my own Guide Book!

 

[keishashadow]

i never met a travel book i didn't like& have most of them for different places we want to visit. Im not a particular fan of the disney birnbaum books, very biased

i contribute to Aronda Parks, know several others have posted here that they do too more of a fun read/opinion type. i do enjoy reading The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World Resort by cara goldsbury

I have several copies of the books u mention (UG has several versions, one for kids). I haven't updated either for years...just borrow a copy of newest editions from local library & check out the touring guides w/new attractions, hotel rankings & few other things. They really just keep updating it vs totally new re-write. Passporter typically has a big clearance sale before a new edition comes out. I have the binder & update via the refills.

Foders & Frommers have good general Florida guidebooks w/Orlando editions available too.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

My son really enjoys the Birnbaum Guide. He gets the new edition each year.

 

[cogero]

My son really enjoys the Birnbaum Guide. He gets the new edition each year.

My daughter too.

 

[rutgers1]

I love the unofficial guide. Although it is different, I like the Imagineer's Guide to each park, as it really gives the Disney expert more things to look at.

We are taking a year or two off after a ton of trips in recent years, but when we come back, I am going to stock up on the Imagineer's Guides, or whatever insider source is selling at that point.

 

[backyardponder]

I like Birnbaum's "Walt Disney World Without Kids".

 

[ToddyLu]

DH usually requests a PassPorter for his birthday. I review it from time to time. I also purchased the PassPorter DVC Guide and downloaded it to my computer for occasional questions and review of rules related to DVC ownership. I like Passporter becasue of the way it is organized.

 

[DVC Mike]

My absolute favorite is The Complete Walt Disney World by Julie and Mike Neal.

After that, it would be PassPorter's Walt Disney World and the Unofficial Guide to WDW.

 

[nolanboys]

I like Unofficial Guide. I have used it twice and found some really helpful info. I like there web site even better - touringplans.com. Love the crowd calendar and best park and worst park to see each day. It has really worked for us.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We used to always do the "Unoffical Guide", but I haven't bought one for a few years. I figure I could write my own by now!

 

[schewy]

I don't use them. We go so often, and I check these boards, so we really don't need the guides. If I was going to use one though, I would check one out of the local library if it was relatively new. Sometime the library only has the guides that are really old and no longer up to date.

 

[smjj]

We use to buy only Birmbaums but the last several years I suspect WDW bought them. We now buy the Unofficial Guide. I don't even know why we buy it. We go so often we really don't need them..smjj

 

[iloveokw]

Used to buy guidebooks. They are often outdated by the time they are published. My best guidebook is right here online at the Disboards.

 

[rutgers1]

Have any of you bought/read the Imagineer's Guide? That seems to be the guidebook for people who know everything about Disney and are looking for some inside info, or the scoop on things you normally wouldn't think about.

 

[edk35]

but TOUR GUIDE MIKE.....won't leave home to go to Disney without him. Have been using his website for years.

 

[robertdangelo]

I have a collection of WDW and DL books. However, I often sign out the latest books from our public library. I usually am done with a book in a few nights... as much of the info from year to year is similar. I never grow tired reading them... It sometimes is like a refresher course!

 

[BEANTOWNDR7]

Disney Unofficial (DIS) website; Passporter, Allears.com and The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide

happy Hunting, all these guides are good and the other ones everyone mentioned

 

[Micca]

We used to always do the "Unoffical Guide", but I haven't bought one for a few years. I figure I could write my own by now!

I used to love WDW guidebooks and would by them every year in the pre-internet era(UG was my favorite). Fast forward to the age of the computer, the Dis, and with 40+ WDW visits under our belts I just don't feel the need for books anymore. I did enjoy the Mousejunkies book, but it's more about the WDW experience than actual details and strategies.

 

[Kuzco]

My absolute favorite is The Complete Walt Disney World by Julie and Mike Neal.

Thanks for mentioning this book. I checked it out and absolutely love it. The pictures are great, and it contains a lot of information I haven't found in other books.

 

[lark]

I'm kind of curious to see the new Unofficial Guide Color Companion -- it's supposed to be kind of quirky companion to the UG, with lots of color pictures like the Complete Walt Disney by the Neals.

I'm waiting to flip through it at the local bookstore before buying it, but if anyone has it, I'd be curious to hear about it.