Unoffical guide

[fanofdisney]

I've been reading the unofficial guide to wdw, and it is the best! Tons of advice. If anyone's interested:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...=glance&s=books
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

[jimmiej]

You'll find quite a few fans of the UG on these boards. I read it every year for fun. I thought this year's contained a lot of new info. It always makes me laugh.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I love the UG as well! Loaned my 04 to a friend, so I guess I'll have to buy a new one for our next trip...ya know that kills me!

 

[musicmom3]

Only thing that bothers me--and it is certainly no fault of the authors--is that the 2005 Guide is already obsolete. I was looking at the park attendance charts yesterday and realized that since all that info was computed when the extra magic hours were in the morning only, it is probably of little use now. Seems to me that with the late magic hours there will be an impact on park attendance. Still, I love that guide and buy it every year. I look forward to the 2006 Guide, which should be great, given the authors seem to love a challenge!

 

[safetymom]

They have updates on their site that you can download to update the UG.

 

[fanofdisney]

Where do you find the attendance charts and other updated info. at?

 

[trappednabox]

i love the unofficial guide, but it has made me a little scared to go!!!!!

 

[mbcary]

i love the unofficial guide, but it has made me a little scared to go!!!!!

Scared to go to WDW?? NEVER!! I don't care what the crowds, I would never be scared. It is the happiest place on earth!! I lovethe UG too. I haven't bought the 2005 but was wondering about all of the changes and whether they were incorporated in the new book.

 

[Docsknotinn]

The new changes are not in the '05 book. The new version is a waste of $$$ if you have one from recent years. It was outdated on January 1. Pretty poor planning on the UG's part.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Over a year ago it was announced that the UG was going to be a site sponsor for the Dis-Boards. I wonder what happened to that?

HBC

 

[Sandi]

I didn't find the 2005 UG to be a big waste of money. I've bought several over the years and enjoyed 2005 as much as any. The updates website (www.touringplans.com) was very good and included all the updated info you could want. It did state that when they do their next printing (later this month) they would include the updated information. So, if you aren't going to WDW soon, you might want to wait for the next printing.

I keep my UG by my bedside so I have something fun to dream about each night.

 

[DMRick]

They have updates on their site that you can download to update the UG.
************

Thank you safetymom! I didn't realize that. I love my book, although my grown up kids have had possesion of it more than I have! They figure I don't need it LOL!

 

[Bon Bon]

I keep my UG by my bedside so I have something fun to dream about each night.

Too funny! My UG is the last thing I see before I turn the lights out at night and the first thing I see in the AM (beside my hubby). I keep it and my highlighter on my nightstand. We're going in September and hubby thinks it's a riot. He always enjoys our trips to the world though and thanks me for my extensive research and planning.

 

[Docsknotinn]

I didn't realize they were doing another printing so soon. Waiting just a bit for the second '05 printing is good advice. I bought my '05 edetion the third week of Dec. and it was really dated Jan 1. That's a bit dissapointing.

 

[musicmom3]

I do the highlighter thing, too! Glad I am not the only dreamer.

 

[Selket]

The UG is written a bit "toungue in cheek" - and it does seem to have a sarcastic tone when it comes to vacationing at WDW. I have used it often in the past and was never able to stick to the touring plans but found the other info helpful.

My favorite guide is Tour Guide Mike (http://www.tourguidemike.com). It is like an online tourguide that you pay for just like a book but he keeps it very up-to-date with last minute info so it will never seem obsolete (he runs a professional tour guide service for clients wanting help touring WDW). His tips and touring plans are dead-on. I just print out the pages I need to take along once the planning is done and I'm all set!

 

[Jalva22]

The new changes are not in the '05 book. The new version is a waste of $$$ if you have one from recent years. It was outdated on January 1. Pretty poor planning on the UG's part.

Well, to be fair, nobody knew that Disney was going to totally change their entire ticketing, packaging and EMH structure on January 1 until just a month ago. That hasn't happened in years and there was no reason to expect it to happen this year. Plus, for a 2005 guide to be on the shelves by the beginning of the year, they would have to be ready for press quite some time before that. IMHO, The UG's doing all it can for us by posting updates on the web and by revamping the book for its next printing. Actually, I think it's very generous of them to make the web updates available to everybody, not just those who have already purchased the book. I also read baseball guides each spring and some of them put an access code in the book for their online updates.

 

[Docsknotinn]

I'm glad someone else noticed the sarcasm as well. The authors almost seem jaded or anti-Disney in some areas. I also do not appreciate their suggestions to make a PS and then go to a park from the resort. This used to be a great guide but after buying the '05 version I will avoid it in the future. I'm glad it works for others but there are a lot of guide books with less pointed views available. I'm sure others find it humorous.
Just my view. YMMV

 

[sotoalf]

I'm glad someone else noticed the sarcasm as well. The authors almost seem jaded or anti-Disney in some areas.

"Jaded" isn't the right word - more like "skeptical," which is how one should always be when confronted by Disney's brand of relentless and faintly exhausting positivity and happiness. I love Disney as much as anyone on this board (note how many times I've posted), but the "official" line can be hard to swallow. The UG's snarkiness is funny, yes, but its restaurant critics know what they're talking about and their standards are as high as anyone's.

 

[Docsknotinn]

I would Agree in general, but not at all on the restaurant reviews. That's just my opinion of course. I don't really care for the books that make every thing sound just peachy either. I think the UG lost me when I read about their "tips" for makeing a PS to park at resorts etc. Some of their views seem a bit more than just skeptical. Of course, there is something for everyone and that's the beauty of haveing a choice.