Should I buy an unoffical guide book?

[2cute4u]

I leave to go to WDW, on March 12. We are staying off site at a time share and already got a great code from budget, to rent a mid-size SUV, from this wonderful forum! I order our tickets from mapleleaftickets.com last week and they were sent last Wed, and arrived Monday, pretty could for Canada!!
We are travelling, with our 2 oldest boys 10, and 7, and us (2 adults). I've promised to bring home a buzz and woody, will I be able to find??
We also are going with another family, 2 adults, and 6,8,11,13 (girls). They get to go on a 7 day Disney cruise after the week, but we get to go home! So, I know for them and us, we won't most likely do any character meals.
Is it worth it to buy an unofficial guide, the library has too long of a wait to get one before we leave, or can all of you, be my official internet guide! For our family, we were planning to go to Seaworld on Saturday, and then to DisneyQuest on Sunday, or visa versa, since we get in late afternoon Friday. Then we all have 5 day park hopper plus passes for Mon-Friday.Give me your suggestions, what day, when?? Help?! I'm getting frazzled!
Thanks in Advance, Christina

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, buy the UnOfficial Guide. It is incredibly usefull especially if this is a first trip. Read it and then make a list of the things you really 'have' to do/see. Bring the book with you. And hang out on these boards. You'll get a lot of gread advice and info.

 

[vicnmickey]

If I wouldn't have bought the book for our first trip, I probably would have been lost. It has amazing tips for time saving and money saving!!! Enjoy your trip to WDW

 

[debkorb1]

It is amazing. Completely 100% amazing. It has touring plans which can cut hours off standing in line! Just be warned, if you have a compulsive personality this book can become the focus of your holiday rather than having fun (it actually has amusing stories about this in the book itself)

Also be aware that if there are determined 'free spirits' in your party they may reject the advice of the book (fools!), which can cause rows. Still, buy it now.

 

[HANDYMOM]

I really like the Unofficial Guide. I also find the online guide TourguideMike.com helpful too!

 

[lentesta]

Wow! Thanks very much for those recommendations, folks.

2cute4u, I work for the Unofficial Guide, and I wrote the computer software the Guide uses to create its touring plans. If you have specific questions about the book or the plans, feel free to send me an e-mail: testa@ncat.edu.

Thanks debkorb1, vicnmickey and (again!) goofy4tink. I'm headed to WDW this weekend to meet with the entire Guide research team. If there's anything special you'd like us to check out for you, let me know.

Sincerely,

Len

 

[gailelle]

I suggest picking up a copy of the 2003 book on half.com or ebay. You can save on the full price 2004 edition and there are not that many changes. I found my book very helpful when I was there last year. Gailelle

 

[brown eyed girl]

I just bought the book yesterday for a first time trip and the book is over 700 pages of "amazing"! It gives very detailed info of things you didn't think of but will be glad you did once you are there. I have just skimmed thru the book so far and I am exceedingly happy with my purchase.

 

[Dory41]

I've read four different books on WDW and I think the Unofficial Guide is the best for information and tips.

 

[DrTomorrow]

YES!
YES!
YES!

Buy it now - there is so much helpful information in it I can't imagine a trip without it - and we've been going for years.

While the DIS family can answer a lot of your questions, you can't beat the UG touring plans; and for those times when your plans change but you can't 'ask DIS' - just pull out your UG!

Len - please pass along my compliments to the team. They do a great job! (oh, and any confirmation/denial of the rumors of a DVC resort at the Contemporary would be nice. )

 

[litlpixie]

2cute4u, In regards to your question on finding Woody & Buzz toys-try MGM Studios. That's where I'll be on the look-out for a Jesse doll for my 5yr old. Have fun!

 

[dcmbshafe]

In terms of the Unofficial Guide, it will be the best investment with respect to your WDW trip that you'll ever make!

Regarding finding buzz and woody, I would recommend going to Downtown Disney market place - there is a store there called "World of Disney" that has everything imaginable.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hey Len...have a great time and my compliments to the group. How about checking on how the new Stitch attraction is coming. We're going down in late Nov and hoping it will be up and functioning.

 

[jimmiej]

Our six trips can be classified into two groups-before the UG & after the UG. The difference in our level of enjoyment & understanding of WDW after reading the UG is like night & day. I'm currently on about page 600 of the 2004 guide as I'm preparing for our June trip. Should you buy one? Absolutely!!!

You also might consider looking into a personalized touring plan for your group. http://www.touringplans.com/ I just received my MK touring plan & it was put together with our specific family & plans in mind. It's really cool!

 

[ushkina]

I will have to disagree - I bought the book after reading this forum, allearsnet, wdisneyw.com and a whole bunch of other Disney info on the web and I did not find it much more useful than these websites.
The only section I would consider really useful for me is tours in the end of the book, but then again, I am not sure how they will work for us since we may not be able to wake up and get to the parks as early as the guide suggests.

We are staying off-site at a hotel that is not even reviewed by Unofficial guide (but from tripadvisor.com and this forum I know it is a very good and affordable hotel!), we are not going to dine at Disney - so these two sections are not useful for me.

As for the description of the attractions, it is very useful, yes, but he wastes too much space on citing what other people thought of the attraction (and sometimes they are really not helpful), while I would prefer just very very thorough description of the attraction.

I bought this book cheaply for around 10$, so it was worth it after all, but it certainly did not answer a lot of my questions and the many of the ones it answered I already knew from online. Honestly I found this site, allearsnet and wdisneyw to be more useful than the book for me.

Just my 2 cents..

 

[karmic]

I agree with the majority here. I have been using the unofficial guide for at least 10 years and would never plan a trip without the most up to date version. The touring plans are great and it is the most comprehensive guide out there. That being said I also love my Passporter

 

[G&J's Mom]

I was really overwhelmed when I first started planning our "first" trip in June. I bought the guide a couple of weeks ago. It is fantastic! Between the book and the wonderful posters on this site, I feel I have really valuable information and I am feeling much more at ease, I think! Definitley buy it!

Have a great trip!

Denise

 

[DizBelle]

BUY THE BOOK!!!! BUY THE BOOK!!!! BUY THE BOOK!!!!

I get the most current edition for each of my trips. This book is a necessity for me. It is well worth the investment.

 

[CanadaPT]

... the Unofficial Guide WILL save you countless hours of waiting time and allow you to literally walk on most of the rides if you follow their touring plans. I love it!! (but, as stated above, it only works if you arrive at the parks early!)

 

[jaysue]

With that size of a crew with diverse tastes, buy the Guidebook, it is a great investment

(yes we own the 2003 and 2004 versions)

thanks
jaysue