New to DIS Boards! Which WDW Guidebook is best?

[cheshirejb]

Hi,
We are learning a lot from these boards! Sorry if this is the wrong forum but hopefully you can help. We are off to WDW and a Disney cruise in June (9 adults, 3 early teens). Which WDW guidebook is the best? Passporter? Birnbaum? Frommer's? Others? We will be buying one soon. Thanks for the advice!!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

As a planner who likes to keep things together and have a built in souvenir of the trip, I like Passporter. But if you really want the best one for info I have used Frommers and liked it.

 

[ransom]

For learning all about what to do and when to do it, plus lots of sage advice, in my opinion you can't beat the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney world.

For keeping everything organized and having nice maps and thumbnail sketches of the attractions, restaurants, resorts, and more in WDW, IMO the best is the Passporter Deluxe (the ring bound version).

We used both for our December trip, and they both helped a lot!

Have fun!

 

[stargrazer]

I'm a local and still use the Unofficial Guide. I found it to be spot-on for both Epcot and Magic Kingdom. The info didn't work for us for Animal Kingdom, but the book was written prior to the opening of Expedition Everest and our visit was after it opened so I can see how it would change things A LOT! Otherwise, I've used it for hotel, restaurant and ride reviews but the big help to me is the crowd level calendar and the touring plan. I'm going to buy my 2007 guide today so I can prepare this year!

 

[laura001]

If I was you I would head to the library and take a bunch of them out, use them and get the info you want....then I would buy The Passporter, it is good for your actual trip planning!!!

 

[hvivona]

You have to get The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2007. It has everything you would possibly want/need to know! I just bought mine a few days ago at Barnes and Noble. Its about $20.

 

[themudd4]

the Unofficial Guide #1
Passporter #2...

I buy them both.

 

[LadyGracey]

My Unofficial Guide is indispensable to me...I go to WDW often and use it every time. It is very objective in the information it presents--the Birnbaum guide is pretty and glossy, but isn't the most "honest" or informative (after all, it is published by Disney). When I'm going to a new resort I also read a lot of information on these boards and on allearsnet.com.

 

[drag n' fly]

I took some books out from the library and bought a few for our first trip. I have to say the one I liked was the Unofficial Guide. No flowers here it is straightforward advice!

 

[deekaypee]

My fave is the Unofficial Guide to WDW because it's bit snarky, just like me! And this Passporter is good for collecting materials.

 

[mike&amy1508]

I agree with pretty much everyone else here. The Unofficial Guide by Sehlinger has the most detail about everything and is indispensable. The Passporter is awesome for planning, and I wouldn't go without it, either. I also enjoy reading Birnbaum's, but could go without it (they have coupons for wdw on the back cover).

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

We're TourGuideMike fans, but we also have a copy of the Unofficial Guide.

 

[Minniespal]

 

[pickles]

We just own the Passporter...got the leatherbound one with the 3 ring type binder. I really enjoy it, as I keep notes in it, keep my ressies and plans for the trip. We took that book with us to Disney and referred to it(in the room) for plans as we went along.

The best preplanning resource for us was debs at www.allearsnet.com

and that one is FREE and very current!

 

[dzorn]

I prefer passporters.

Denise in MI

 

[cheshirejb]

Thanks everyone!!!!

 

[McKiggan]

Unofficial Guide!!!

 

[MAGGIED]

We like Tour Guide MIke, then Passporter.

 

[byoung]

Unofficial Guide gets my vote. Welcome to the DIS!!!