slo’s FRIDAY 2/16 poll - Birnbaum Books 📚

[slo]

Birrnbaum books used to be my WDW bibles. I couldn’t imagine going to WDW without it. I’d carefully read every page and highlight important information like I was studying for a test - LOL! These books are great for planning your WDW or DL trip. I’m curious today…..

Do you or did you use Birnbaum books?
If yes….which one(s)?
(multiple choice)



For Me….,I used to, but don’t anymore. I only used the WDW ones since we’ve never been to DL.

 

[Wood Nymph]

My WDW Birnbaum book is really old. I haven't needed one in a very long time. But I might consider checking it out for Disneyland. We are going there in April and it will be our first time there.

 

[MamaMermaid]

Never used one but they're fun to look at!

 

[jo-jo]

Used one way way way back in the mid 80's. And was like you, I took in every word, like I was going to have to recite it to get into park. It was so long ago, we stayed at the golf resort that trip.

 

[Kitty 34]

I used one on our first trip in 1997. But then in 2000 I found this site.

 

[RedAngie]

I used them in the past for Disney, like 30+ years ago, but I preferred those “Unofficial Guides” that another author published.

The Birnbaum guides read more like a paid Disney advertisement where every moment would be a dream come true, while the unofficial guides dealt more with reality, including negative aspects like large crowds, long lines, difficulty in getting restaurant reservations, etc.

 

[mamamary]

I used them in the past for my WDW trip. I haven’t used them in years. I believe that was the one I had for the Caribbean when I planned some trips back in the ‘90s.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

YES, I did use them. My first book was borrowed from the library. I didn't realize at the time how lucky I was to snag a current edition (it had to be 2000).
I bought my kids their book to share around 2002 (Dd12 and Ds 9 then).
I've been reminded how fortunate we were to visit WDW 5 years in a row when they were young!!

 

[ronandannette]

I think I had both DLR and WDW versions for our earliest trips (early 2000’s) and gave them as gifts to several first-timers over the years. Nowadays I probably wouldn’t even consider an actual guidebook because so much real-time information is available on-line.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I used them in the past as well as the unofficial books. I would get them from from the library. I did buy the kids version for my kids for their first trip. I loved reading them. Today’s poll brought back some good memories @slo

 

[The Mayor]

Used them in the way way past but once the Unofficial Guide by John Sehlinger came out I started buying that. I call it the Bible for WDW and recommend it to anyone going the first time.

I did however buy the Birnbaum book for kids for my grandchildren when we did our big family trip in 2022.

 

[Skywalker3]

Our Disney/Universal planning in the early 2000s, involved a lot of research and reading the Fodor's, Frommer's, and Birnbaum books. We checked them out from the library.
Somewhere around here, I still have a Disney Fodor's from 2001, that I"d bought at a book sale.

 

[lanejudy]

We have many years worth of Birnbaum books around here, both WDW and a few DL. DH used to collect them. They were used for planning several trips years ago, but in the past 10-15 years online has always been more up-to-date than any printed book. They are still cute to look at, but not always accurate.

I also used to like Passporter's books, we have a few different ones around as well.

 

[CynBeth]

I always get travel books for Disney and any non travel trip Birnbaum and others.

 

[Micca]

I had Birnbaum and UOG books, but the internet gradually made them obsolete.

 

[MGMmjl]

We bought a Birnbaum book for our trip in 1996. I think my parents still have it at their house somewhere. For trips after that, I remember checking out some Birnbaum and Unofficial Guides at the library, but I think the 1996 Birnbaum edition is the only one we bought.

 

[Chirple]

Used to get the Birnbaum books years ago; they gave me a mini-Disney fix between trips. I got the Unofficial Guide one year and took away several tips. I haven't read either in a long time.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I used the Birnbaum book (a new one each year) for a few early trips. Then the Unofficial and also Passporter (new each year also). The dis, Deb's Allears, Mary's Mousesaver, Len's Touring Plans, Josh's EasyWDW (in the past ), Shannon's WDW Prep School, Steve Soares WDW Entertainment and similar supplanted the physical books and I would still reference those before a trip to freshen up on what is current at WDW. Physical Disney books are outdated on a daily basis today, with the very dynamic vacation destinations that WDW, and to a lesser degree, DL are. I did enjoy them in the past.

 

[BayouQueen]

I really enjoyed planning trips with the Passporter books -- was sad when they discontinued.

 

[GAN]

I've had multiple Birnbaum books, and the Kids Edition. But the Unofficial Guide changed everything!