Is a Passporter worth it?

[erinz]

I see it mentioned on other threads, but I'm not sure what it is....I'm assuming its a book that helps you organize your trip.

For those who have used it, how does it work? And how did it help?

 

[MelodyMack]

It breaks down everything about WDW, and then in the back it has lots of pockets for organizing everything and keeping reservation numbers, etc. It has a lot of useful information and tons great tips.

I have used mine for reference a lot, but do not take it into the parks with me. One more thing to hold onto.

Definitely worth flipping through at your local bookstore and see if its right for you.

HTH!
Mel

 

[LindaBabe]

Yes, especially if you are a first timer. The passporter walks you through things, explains very throroughly, and helps you keep your 'stuff' organized. And, they have an edition now for families with special needs, too, if you happen to have the need.

 

[tjevans]

Yes, especially if you are a first timer. The passporter walks you through things, explains very throroughly, and helps you keep your 'stuff' organized. And, they have an edition now for families with special needs, too, if you happen to have the need.

I couldn't disagree more. I know I'm in the minority, but I am not a passporter fan. Granted, I am by nature a very organized person and can't imagine using the little envelopes in the passporter for organization. Maybe it's because I had been to WDW 15+ times before I ever saw the passporter, but I think its description of attractions are far too brief. It does do a good job walking you through how to plan a vacation, so if you've never done that before, it might be useful.

It does have the most detailed park maps of any "unofficial" guidebook I've seen, though.

 

[pyrxtc]

I LOVE my passporter. I like it more than the other guide books becausde it does help you stay organized with the pockets and places to write down all your confirmation numbers and phone numbers you'll need. I have the plus edition and I took out everything I'm not doing (extra hotel, disneyquest, thins like that) and then organized the book so that the first park I'm visiting is first with the pocket at the end, the second park is second, and so on. I'm already using the pockets for my confirmation letters and have my park and MNSSHP tickets in the front smaller pockets. I'll have mine in the park with me and I'm gonna follow the touring plan it suggests. (or try to anyways) I'm not commando in local parks so I'm not sure I'll be able to do everything I want but I'm hopeful.

 

[chipmunkfan]

The passporter is really to help you keep things organized. WDW sends about a million confirmation letters to you, so I keep the latest in my hotels folder in the passporter. I have all my tips from the DIS board written down in one spot in the passporter, along with all my ADR confirmation #'s. It really helps from papers getting lost. It does provide some resort and park info but the best part is the detailed colorful maps of each park.

I think if you need an organizer for your trip, I would recommend the passporter.

 

[BrerMama]

To me, Passporter's value isn't as much as a guide book. If you want something to tell you what ride to ride when, or just to give you an in-depth description of the rides, it's not for you. The value in Passporter is the information on helping to choose a resort (which I think it does far better than the other 2 popular guidebooks) and helping to organize to make ADRs and plan your trip. I personally love the pockets... we save all our receipts and put them in the pockets at the end of the day. We still have our filled Passporters from 2000 and 2004... what a memory keeper! If you're on a tight budget and don't need the organizational tools, it may not be your first choice for a Disney book, but I plan to have it be my only book this trip.

 

[pearlieq]

I'm not a fan. It's way too big and bulky to drag through the parks, and I don't really buy into it's function as an organizer. The resort can print you a list of ADRs or you can just write it on a piece of paper. What else is there to keep organized?

Also, I think the pictures are small and grainy, the attraction descriptions too brief and vague, and some of the writing, especially the KidTips, is wayyy too cutesey and not specific enough to be helpful.

For a first timer, I would recommend just the Birnbaums guide--it's got the best pictures/descriptions and will give you a feel for what to expect. That, coupled with the info you get here, at allears.net and at mousesavers.com should cover anything you'd need to know.

 

[Debbie Jean]

To me, Passporter's value isn't as much as a guide book. If you want something to tell you what ride to ride when, or just to give you an in-depth description of the rides, it's not for you. The value in Passporter is the information on helping to choose a resort (which I think it does far better than the other 2 popular guidebooks) and helping to organize to make ADRs and plan your trip. I personally love the pockets... we save all our receipts and put them in the pockets at the end of the day. We still have our filled Passporters from 2000 and 2004... what a memory keeper! If you're on a tight budget and don't need the organizational tools, it may not be your first choice for a Disney book, but I plan to have it be my only book this trip.

I buy the Passporter for my DD(18) who absolutely loves them!
She uses the pockets to collect ticket stubs, brochures, restraurant receipts, etc. and writes out in detail at the end of each day everything that we've done. She loves scrapbooking so when we get home she uses the contents of the Passporter to create a very personalized disney trip book.

I agreee it is quite bulky and if you use it to collect stuff then it gets even bulkier. Not a problem for us, since we never actually bring it to the park. It's neat to go through the day picking up things to put in it... one of us is always saying "oooo, let's keep this for the Passporter"!

 

[DVC-Don]

I was a big fan of the Passporter guide for years, but after many, many trips I found I was only using the pocket feature of the guide. So now I just make up my own pockets to keep organized.

 

[aubriee]

Personally I prefer Sehlinger's Unofficial Guide with the PassPorter running a close second. I bought a small divided file folder thingy at Office Max that I label the tabs in and use to organize all my stuff (airline, resort, DME, itinerary, ADRs, copies of AP and DDE cards, etc). The ADR #s I type with a small font then cut out and laminate keeping a copy in the file folder and other copies in backpacks or messenger bags (whichever I'm carrying).

The PassPorter and Unofficial Guide do work well together though for planning your trip. I did not care for the Birenbaum's guide as it is the official WDW guidebook and too sugar coated. I did buy it last year, but gave it to my D-I-L.

 

[INdisbound]

I did not find it helpful at all. The Unofficial Guide,however, I could not do without. There's just not enough real information or room to actually organize everything. I must admit that I am an over-organizer, though.

 

[disgram]

I have quite a collection of Guide Books and there are two that I swear by.
The Unofficial Guide and then the Passporter. The Passporter has the most information that I need for our next trip. I am taking teens this time.
I like the pockets in the back for keeping reciepts, tickets, ADRs etc. I keep track of what we do on each day there and when I get home I put it in the jounral. To me, this is the best book.

 

[umaangel00]

I personally use the UG and then have a file folder and the 3 ring binder to keep me organized.

 

[rantnnravin]

I had heard so many rave reviews about the passporter, I just had to have it for my first trip to WDW (along with Birnbaums, WDW w/kids, Unofficial Guide and Tourguidemike.

I preordered the passporter in novermber (i think) and anxiously awaited its arrival in february.
When the package came, i was so excited!!! here was this marvelous organizing, informational planning book so many simply couldn't live without.
I torn into the plastic packaging and began thumbing through the pages!! and BAM!! it was drab and very dry. Oh, and not to mention woefully outdated.
The only thing useful was the pockets (a place to keep track of your itinerary for each day). The maps were just ok.
IMHO, the $30 i spent on it was an absolute waste of money.

 

[pyrxtc]

I nly paid $15 for my copy and I also have the UG and these boards. I love having a brief "reminder" description. Full ones would make it too heavy. I had a 3 ring binder but condensed my info onto Passporter size pages and it's now all on the book. Even copies of our e-tickets and reservation e-mails for Sheraton and Alamo.

 

[andrabell]

I LOVE! my WDW PassPorter. It's is an excellent planning and organzing tool. I love the pockets, it's fabulous for containing all the "documentation" associated with planning a trip to WDW.

I ordered mine from Amazon and it arrived with some imperfections in the ring binding. When I registered my PassPorter on the official site, I had added this to the comment section. A few days later a brand new perfect PassPorter arrived on my doorstep. They are lovely people!

That said, I don't lug my book around the parks with me, but it certainly comes on the trip and is great for holding all the mementos collected for later use in scrapbooking.

Worth.Every.Penny.

 

[erinz]

Very helpful! Thanks everyone!

 

[CindyT]

I love the Passporter because I scrapbook, it is a great way to journal our trip and keep small mementos. I met the authors one day at Animal Kingdom, they are really nice people.

 

[Debbie Jean]

I love the Passporter because I scrapbook, it is a great way to journal our trip and keep small mementos. I met the authors one day at Animal Kingdom, they are really nice people.

And you can cut it up and use the pieces to make really niftly additions to the scrapbook!