Tour guide books

[mickekmania]

Hi there,

I am looking for different tour guide books to help plan our Dec. trip. I already have Birnbaum's 2006, but I would like to pick up one or two more. I've heard mention of the UG, but not sure what that stands for I would love your suggestions

Thanks,
Julie

 

[ntink]

These two are my favorite:

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, 2006 (Paperback) by Bob Sehlinger

PassPorter Walt Disney World 2006 : The unique travel guide, planner, organizer, and keepsake! (Passporter Walt Disney World Resort) (Spiral-bound) by Jennifer Marx

 

[wasabi girl]

I second both of the above! I used the Unnofficial Guide for the best days to visit each park and toruing plans, the passporter for keeping track of dining ADRs, and receipts and so on.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I would definitely say Unnoficial Guide first... Passporter next.
The only thing I don't like about Passporter is the fact that the ratings on all the rides are so low by the reviewers...it's as if they don't like any of the rides all that much! (at least in the 2006 version) So why make the book? Regardless, Unofficial Guide 2006 is the way to go (plus check out the length...there's an incredible amount of information)

 

[purpliequeen]

The Unofficial Guide is so useful. I use it like my bible. It helped plan our trips and made everything run so smooth. Passporter is also great. It helps to use online resources too sometimes for pictures and more details (All Ears).

Raina

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

Unoffical Guide is the best guide book to WDW. It is commical and offers tons and tons of Disney information. Even the most seasoned Disney traveler is bound to learn something new in the UG.

 

[ChristyJ]

I also like Passporter & the Unofficial Guide, but in addition, if you want some great planning info you could get a subscription to TourGuideMike. I'm a planning junkie and am addicted to his website!!

 

[ryley26]

another vote for the UG We use it and now my kids have the plans memorized pretty funny.

 

[eeyoregirl]

Call me a traditionalist, but for straight-up useful information, I think that the Birnbaum's guide is an excellent choice, especially for first-timers.

But for seasoned veterans (like me--hehe), the Unofficial Guide is a great "read." It gives you real-life opinions, not just sanctioned and sanitized reviews like the Birnbaum guide does.

I have never bought the PassPorter, but I have looked through it at my favorite bookstore. Get the Unofficial Guide, in my opinion. Don't pay for an agenda or an itinerary that you will make yourself anyway. At least in the UG, you'll get plenty of laughs and you'll relate to the scenarios and guest interviews.

Good luck planning!

 

[helens042266]

I LOVE the UG! Very useful information and great tour plans. I have also signed up to TourGuideMike. He also has great information, but, as it is a website, you can't take it with you! (unless you print all the articles!)

Helen

 

[eeyoregirl]

TourGuideMike? Do tell, please!

 

[ougrad86]

I haven't tried Tour Guide Mike since it is a subscription. I may in the future.
http://www.tourguidemike.com/
Heard a lot of good things about him tho.
The Unofficial Guide (UG) is the best. Gives you everything you want to know. Passporter I love for the maps.
Birmbaum I bought and read once...it gives you the basic facts. UG goes WAY deeper, and not the company line. And it goes beyond it helping you plan your vacation, crowd levels, etc.

 

[elan]

Just wondering...are the touring plans the same on UG website (6.95) as what are in the book? and tourguidemike's are more tailored?

OP...I love the UG. Lots of good info.

 

[mill4023]

Just wondering...are the touring plans the same on UG website (6.95) as what are in the book? and tourguidemike's are more tailored?

OP...I love the UG. Lots of good info.

I wouldn't say TGM's plans are more tailored. He has a couple different plans for each park. For instance, one for those with young kids and one for adults and teens. They aren't customized plans, but what I like about TGM is that he gives a very thorough explanation of the reasoning behind the plans. This makes it easy to customize the plans to meet your needs, while still using his advice and philosophy. I'd also say that TGM's plans are a little more relaxed and less "commando" than some of the UG plans. TGM believes that a vacation should be relaxing, not stressful and rushed.

I also love the UG. I've read both the DL and WDW books cover to cover and they have a ton of great information that helped us a lot. We used one of the UG's plans for our last trip to DL and it was great for getting us on lots of attractions with very minimal waits.

 

[loopner67]

Call me a traditionalist, but for straight-up useful information, I think that the Birnbaum's guide is an excellent choice, especially for first-timers.

But for seasoned veterans (like me--hehe), the Unofficial Guide is a great "read." It gives you real-life opinions, not just sanctioned and sanitized reviews like the Birnbaum guide does.

I have never bought the PassPorter, but I have looked through it at my favorite bookstore. Get the Unofficial Guide, in my opinion. Don't pay for an agenda or an itinerary that you will make yourself anyway. At least in the UG, you'll get plenty of laughs and you'll relate to the scenarios and guest interviews.

Good luck planning!

I think the Birnbaum guide is the EASIEST guide to read and has all the info you need to get started. For reference reasons, I go to the Birnbaum guide first because I know it the best and it's easiest to find stuff in. The print is also bigger, it's in color, has pictures, etc.... I love it.

I just bought the UG for the very first time and I've had a great time reading it . BUT it can be daunting. It's very large and has sooooooo much info to weed through. It could be scary to someone new to the whole planning aspect of Disney. I haven't read all of the touring plans yet and really need to check out that portion of this guide.

I have the Passporter Guide, too. I agree that it's really weird how low the scores seem to be by the authors for almost everything. I bought this book on a recommendation simply for the "packet pages" in the back to write down all my info, have a place to stick receipts, write notes about the trip, etc... It *IS* a little expensive to buy JUST for that reason, though, but I had to buy it since it's a DISNEY thing (Couldn't just buy a regular ole book to write the info in and save stuff in)

I think that ANY guide you get will give you an edge to the parks. This board has given me more info than any book could, too.

 

[SeattleMark]

Tour Guide Mike (www.tourguidemike.com) is a former Walt Disney World VIP Host. He now runs his own VIP tour service, plus his extremely informative Web site. We've used his advice and were amazed at how well it works, even during peak seasons. We never waited more than 10 minutes for any ride at Disney World when we followed his plans! I'm a believer and have renewed for this year as well.

The good thing about him is that he's in the parks every single day giving tours, so you get constant updates about crowds, changes, etc.

If you go to his Automated Vacation Planner (AVP) Preview Tour at http://tourguidemike.com/tour/index.asp, you can type "HE7KD-8GA" in the Promotional Code section of the purchase page. You'll save $3 off the normal purchase price of $21.95!


From his site:

"Who is 'TourGuideMiKE,' and how does he know so much about Walt Disney World?

Founder and President of MICHAEL'S VIPS (1999), the first VIP service of it's kind in Central Florida. I'm now able to provide the 'true' level of VIP service I always wanted to, and our Private Guides can escort our guests anywhere in Central Florida.

Private Custom Itinerary Planner through MICHAEL'S VIPS for two years. This service is no longer available, but when it was, it was an average of $240 per vacation and provided a day-to-day 'optimal' itinerary with prearranged dining and activity reservations for the best possible vacation to Walt Disney World. (The need for this service was the inspiration behind TourGuideMiKE.com.)

A Walt Disney World VIP Host for over five years. I was in charge of selecting and planning every attraction, dining, and activity choice while I personally escorted world famous celebrities, executives, and their families around the Resort. (That they were famous is not what's important; that I was trusted by the Walt Disney Company with this responsibility is!)

Guided Tour Host for the Resort's most popular tours including Keys to the Kingdom, Hidden Treasures, Backstage Magic, and more

Charged with training new cast members to the Magic Kingdom Guest Relations department

Magic Kingdom Guest Relations cast member for over five years. These are the cast members who solve guest challenges, answer questions on every possible topic, help with daily itinerary plans, make dining and activity reservations, sell and advise ticket options, and provide guided tours for adults and families.

Trainer of new cast members for the Haunted Mansion and Hall of Presidents

Operations cast member at the Haunted Mansion, Hall of Presidents, Jungle Cruise, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain attractions "

 

[airtime]

The UG is definitely indispensible for the hard-core WDW planner or anyone who wants to make their first (or only - horrors!) WDW trip as memorable and fun-filled as possible. It is not, however, recommended for those who would say nothing bad about Disney, as it pulls no punches. Where they feel criticism is warranted, they let it fly.

Another warning about the UG: It's easy to get caught up in it's "go, go, go" spirit and run your family ragged with following your plans. Beware!

Tim, who agrees with the UG about a visit to WDW: "Have a plan, or have a frontal lobotomy!"

 

[Mainebound]

Just wondering...are the touring plans the same on UG website (6.95) as what are in the book? and tourguidemike's are more tailored?

OP...I love the UG. Lots of good info.

I just subscribed to touringplans.com. It offers nearly 100 touring plans. I have two boys, and I love the plans designed for "boys age 4-8" (they have the same for girls). They also have plans for 'tweens, seniors, 1 day and 2 day plans, afternoon plans, cruise plans, late arrival to the parks plans, you name it. I believe that it offers the most customized plans, if that is what you are looking for.

You pick the plan you want and punch in your date. It spits out this amazing one page document with a park map at the top, crucial park info along the right side (park hours, parade times, etc.) and the touring plan at the bottom with loads of other info.

I never realized what a great thing this was, and I have been a die hard UG supporter for years.