This is what we use...how about you?

[chip1]

...for years we've relied on Birmbaum's book. However, I wonder if this is really the best for up-to-date information. Considering we usually vacation in December, our book is usually outdated by the end of the year. What resources, besides these boards, do you find useful?

 

[robinb]

I have not bought a WDW travel book in years. I get about 85% percent of my information from these boards and the DIS as a whole. I supliment it with info from the rec.arts.disney.parks newsgroup, Mary's www.mousesavers.com and Deb Will's http://www.wdwig.com/ and occationally Intercot http://www.intercot.com/.

 

[Alexander]

I really like the Passporter. It gives me pockets that I can organize my plane tickets, hotel ressies, rental car coupons, etc.

 

[zulaya]

If you want a guidebook, Passporter in my opinion is the best you can have. I also check wdwig.com for menu updates and Steve Soares site for show updates, but closer to the times I go for that one, not on a regular basis.

 

[SamanthaL]

I think I have them all!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I bought Birnbaum's the first year I went but after that it wasn't very useful. The reason why the Passporter is useful is that it is connected with a website and the authors routinely go to Disney and provide updates on their site.

That said...I go to www.wdwig.com, www.mousesavers.com and this board (www.disboards.com). You would be amazed at the information you can find buried in the Budget Board, Adult & Solo Travelers, Rumors & News etc... I got an Orlando entertainment book for $5.

One thing I've learned recently is that there actually is a reason to go to Disney in the summer beyond scheduling. Disney DOES provide entertainment that begins and ends in the summer.

 

[chip1]

Thanks. As I said, I have been buying Birmbaum for years; however, since we've vacationed in WDW so many times, I find it less and less useful. I will check out the Passport. Now, where do you normally find the best deals on this? On their site or at the book stores, i.e. Borders, etc.?

 

[chip1]

I went to Passporter.com. Now I am wondering what you find easier to use, more helpful, more convenient--the binder you can refill each year, or the one that comes bound for the year it is for.

 

[pwoodham]

I've used Birnbaums, Passporter, WDW with Kids, Everything You Wanted to Know About WDW, and the Unofficial Guide to WDW. In my opinion, the Unofficial Guide is the very best. Most of the other books love Disney a little too much, looking at WDW features only in the most positive light. That's okay, but I'd rather have both sides of the story! I think the Unofficial Guide gives the most objective perspective of any of the books I mentioned. It's also humorous and prints parts of many letters that are not especially complementary of the Unofficial Guide itself! I have to agree with robinb, however. Especially after 9/11, this board and others like it are the best place to get the very latest information.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Originally posted by pwoodham
In my opinion, the Unofficial Guide is the very best.

I agree 100%. I'm in the middle of reading it right now. It is much better than Birnbaums.

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by POOH&PIGLET


I agree 100%. I'm in the middle of reading it right now. It is much better than Birnbaums.

Yes, the Unofficial Guide is the best. It is a lot of fun and the illustrations are humorous. It is great bedtime reading as you look forward to your next trip and mentally plan what to do. One criticism I have of it is the restaurant reviews- they seem to be skewed to the author's personal tastes and do not really reflect mine at all. Birnbaum's is fine, buit it is sanctioned by Disney, so you don't get the real 'poop'. Outside of books, these boards are tremendous sources of up to the minute information, and a must for Disney fans.

 

[jlambrig]

Passporter is the best one to have IMHO. I do enjoy the unofficial guide but that is rarely current and so much of it has never chnaged since i began reading it. They still have no reference to no EE. They are resting on their laurels at this point although I do agree they report the good and bad. However, they have swung too far I believe in that they go overboard in their negative assessmenets to try and be the one true and honest source about Disney. I get their Vegas book too and it isn't even close to being as harsh about that city as they are about Disney.

Passporter is great because they update throughout the year and you can get the updates immediately by going to the website. That is why I like the "day planner" version the best where i get the refills each year. I bought the deluxe binder and get the refills each year and download all of the changes.

I also get Birnbaum's at the Disney STore when it goes on sale, and then save the extra 10% off that, and give to to my daughter who looks at it every day in the car to and from school telling me what we will be doing during our next visit.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Another vote for the Unofficial Guide! I always give it to our guests who are not as familiar to WDW as we are. I always buy the newest addition (comes out in October) and check the restaurant reviews before passing it on to our guests.