The Unofficial Guide - 1989 Edition

[Catrin]

This is pretty funny....

While cleaning my basement this morning, I found my very first copy of the Unofficial Guide - from 1989!
Some highlights:
1) It is only 226 pages!
2) Tickets to the park - 100 for a 4 day pass
3) Hotel rates - POLY - 155-235 a night...no AllStars ... "Best lodging deal">> the Caribbean beach at 69-95 a night
4) The Hoop De Doo was $30.00 per adult.... and besides a few reviews of the Epcot restaurants, very little mention about dining in WDW.

When we went in the Spring of 1990, my boyfriend and I (ok, now my husband of 13 yrs) stayed at the Quality Inn Plaza on International Drive. We loved Pleasure Island and the new water park "Typhoon Lagoon"..... we really liked MGM, but there wasn't much to do there!!

It is funny looking at this book... as I have my Passporter on hand, my touring plans on the internet... and all my new friends here!
Catrin

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I have a few of the old Birnbaums from the 80's also.
My mother also used to keep everything so we have old info packets etc from old trips to WDW. SO funny to look through!!!!

 

[maxaroni]

Too funny.....I recently found our WDW pamphlets and brochures from '81...we went on our honeymoon and EPCOT wasn't open yet. Hotel Royal Plaza was THE place to stay offsite (now I wish we stayed at Poly) and we walked to what is now DTD every nite. We went back in '01 and what was once our quiet walking spot is now DTD and so changed. I should look up some of the prices from back then.

 

[Simba's Mom]

My unofficial guide doesn't even have a date on it. However, the prices are the same as yours, so I think it's the same one. The oldest Birnbaum I have is 1992, when the Polynesian rates had gone "way" up to $180-$275.

 

[liznboys]

That is funny! I LOVE reading through old WDW guidebooks and maps, etc. The oldest Birnbaum I have is 1994, and even since then, it's just amazing how much has changed, and how dated it is!