Passporter or Unofficial guide???

[Minnie116]

Which book would you all recommend, the Pasporter or the Unofficial Guide? This is not our first trip, but I am always looking for new tips.

 

[Kaycee]

Depends on what you want in a guidebook. My favorite is Passporter because what I want is something to help me organize my plans. Passporter is perfect for that. There are tons of lists and short descriptions of all the attractions and restaurants in a compact, easy to scan format. The maps are great too. And the pockets in the back let you keep track of your plans for each day as well as store park guides and other papers you'll need for your trip. Then, after the trip the Passporter is a great scrapbook.

If you are looking for tons of information about WDW and like to follow other's touring plans, the Unofficial Guide would be your choice. Be aware that many people (including me) find the tone of the Unofficial Guide to be a bit too critical of Disney. Even so, you can't beat it for pure information.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Passporter ALL THE WAY!! The OG guide reads like "You're kidding me. You really want to go to Disney? Ok, whatever. Read here about it."

It's a very cynical read.

 

[swilphil]

The Unofficial Guide is great for lots of information and ideas. It also is very well written and easy to read.

 

[Mermaid02]

Both

 

[golfgal]

I just picked up the Unofficial Guide yesterday and although it says 2005, they don't have MYW information in the book. The Passporter might have more current information.

 

[toystoryduo]

I say both too! The UG is packed with information and the Passporter is amazing at helping plan your trip.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I really like the Unofficial Guide. I have a 2003 copy and it is very well worn, I refer to it a lot.

 

[tikkipoo]

I'd say both. However...there IS a new version of UG out in stores...just have to hunt for it. It includes the new Magic info in it. The passporter does not. But both have their websites with new and updated info.

 

[sprite]

Both.

I love the passporter for keeping tracking of all the planning details. I love the Unofficial Guide for sheer volume of information. It does lean to the cynical side, but it is very funny in some of the descriptions and an enjoyable read.

I also love the touring plan guides in the UG. We had the 2004 last year and I tore the touring plans out and carried them around all day. They were great. I bought the 2005 UG this year and plan on doing the same thing - only now I'll have my passporter pocket for each day, too.

 

[cocowum]

Another vote for both. I buy a new UG every year and I have the deluxe passporter so I just buy new pocket refills.

 

[becka]

I would say the Passporter because it gives great information and gives you a great way to organize all your trip "stuff". The UG just gives you great information.

Between the Passporter and the DIS you should have all the info you would need to plan a GREAT trip!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I love the Passporter, we got the UG last year and a lot of it was just people's opinions of things. We love Sci-Fi but if we had never been, judging from the opinions of the people in the book we would've probably never have gone because it got such bad reviews.

 

[tomerin]

this year i bought passporter for the first time and well as UG again. the style of writing in the passporter is more relaxed and enjoyable, like it was written by a fan and not a critic. the UG seems to be more of a guide written without any fears of who will agree or disagree with its contents. this is good also. sometimes you need straight info when planning an expensive trip like one to WDW is.

i enjoy reading both of them and reccomend getting them both.

but the passporter is the book that will travel to WDW with us.

i use these books as much for enjoyment ans info. the only thing i didint really agree on was many of the resturant reviews especially in the UG. as a previous poster mentioned about Sci-Fi, which is panned in UG, we really enjoyed eating there multiple times and will do it again but if we listened to the UG we would have never eaten there and would have missed a good time..

 

[ValerieK]

Both!

 

[Kapp]

This was our first guide book and still the favorite. We have had a PassPorter before but found the information lacking and old (even from a suppossedly current edition).

I just got the 2005 Unofficial yesterday and it does have MYW information in it.

I usually get more than one guidebook for any trip but if you must only get one, I recommend the Unofficial without a doubt!

 

[keishashadow]

I agree, both are invaluable. IMHO the Unofficial is more detailed and comprehensive, their recommended ride itineries are excellent.

However, the Passporter made the trip with us. It's much smaller and easier to tote with you. I enjoyed the folders for preplanning. They also offer updates from year to year on their site.

As another recommendation, on the All-Ears site, they have information on ordering a 3rd book, Aronda Park (sp?). There is a large & a small book available plus bonus DVD/CD. I enjoyed reading both books. The smaller one is similar to the Passporter with envelopes, but it is slightly larger than a deck of cards and it fit nicely into the fanny pack I wore into the parks.