Unoffical Guide

[ely3857]

Hello,

Does anybody here have to UG as their Disney bible?

I have always used Brits guide for DLP & WDW but DF dad has the UG and seems to be taking it to the letter, Should I try to steer him away a little bearing in mind that it seems 95% of americans use it to plan thier day or is it a good stratagy for first timers in a large group with 3 kids?



Jodie

 

[Dimplenose]

I love that book it's got a lot of detailed info in it, but I don't use the touring plans. They are far too intense for me! I think they're more geared to a US audience who might only have 4 or 5 days in WDW and want to do "everything".

Libby

 

[Mumof2]

I love that book too and use it in conjunction with the Brits Guide. I plan to adapt their touring plans in an attempt to help me stay one step ahead

 

[Frances999]

I love the Unofficial guide too, but agree that the touring plans are a little too intense. The Brit's guide is good, but for me it seems a little "bare" especially for repeat visitors. I find the UG to go into much more detail, especially about resorts, dicounts etc.

 

[ely3857]

He has borrowed my Brits guide but I think he prefers the UG.

I think I will leave him to make his own misakes. DF & I have our own car & our own plans, Everyone else is sticking together so there will be 6 adults & 3 kids (12,8,6) in thier group. I suspect after 1 or 2 days using the UG plans he may cave in and take things a bit slower.



Jodie

 

[arieliwish]

I used the UG along with the brits guide last year, I found the UG very helpful describing the rides, etc. so that we could judge if they were too intense for DS 6, however I personally prefer the brits guide as I think a lot of the info is specifically aimed at us brits, and the UG to the americans.

 

[KayleeUK]

I never take any notice of the touring plans But I do read every guide book going

 

[englishman]

My first trip to WDW was in 1998 & I was advised to check out the UG.
I read & re read it...when I arrived at MK on Easter Saturday at 7.30am & was admitted thru the turnstyles, I felt I had already been there.
The buzz I got from doing the whole park by 10am & leaving then, just as everyone was arriving, was great. That book knows what it is talking about but you have to be a control freak or so hot on time management to make it work. I used it in 2000 & 2002 with the same success.

However, this year we are only doing US for 2 wks coz the kids are 16 &18 & staying on site so with FOTL, there is no need to be a commando!"

In my experience at WDW, because our USA friends have so little holiday, when they are on vacation they are verry chilled. Consiquently, they don't hit the parks till 10am, after they have had breakfast, & few are therefore in commando mode.

The fundamental rule, which all boards advise is, get there very early & have a plan.....it works!!

 

[Claire L]

Always have the UG and it is my bible! Must admit to making up my own plans though from a combination of best days and previous experiences for favorite rides/attractions.
Claire

 

[slinky101]

hi, I bouht thr 2005 edition when it came out last sept, didn't like it at all, i am a control freak but it was too american, as I had been before I thought it was telling me too much I alreaby knew, it might be good for first timers but its a bit intense, sold it on ebay a month later for what I paid for it!

 

[disneyholic family]

I don't use any guide as my bible. I read them all, and make use of the ideas that work for us.
After 30 years and something in the vicinity of 40 trips (which at an average of 16 days, is 640 days - geez....i've never calculated that before), we don't really get too commando about anything...

we're there to vacation.....if we don't get to see something or if we're not in the best seat for the show, it's not the end of the world....

as for the UG, one thing i dislike is the way he makes you run all over the park...back and forth.....it's a waste of energy, especially if you're there is the hell days of summer (actually, i doubt hell could be as bad as the weather gets in orlando in July).

 

[ely3857]

as for the UG, one thing i dislike is the way he makes you run all over the park...back and forth.....it's a waste of energy, especially if you're there is the hell days of summer (actually, i doubt hell could be as bad as the weather gets in orlando in July).

This is the bit I am afraid of and can see it all somehow been my fault they had a bad day! seen as I am the one with all the dis knowledge & the only person to have been before.

I have decided to keep out of thier plans then I cannot be held responsible for thier mistakes!



Jodie

 

[Goofyish]

I think it's a good idea to get as much information from as many varied sources as possible in order to succesfully plan a trip to WDW. Each book or website offers a slightly different angle and in the case of guide books, a different personal perspective from the individual authors.

 

[daveyoghurt]

I think there's the temptation to follow these books a little too thoroughly - I like to see whether there are any new rides or attractions, get an idea of how heavy the parks are going to be on a given day, see who in the family wants to do what and take it from there. WDW is about fun and family time - not steaming from one side of the park to the other, oblivious to everything around you with your nose stuck in a book (and you do see these people)! Guide books can be be a good compliment to your holiday, but when they become the be-all and end-all that's when your holiday enjoyment level starts to slide.

 

[TinkTatoo]

I love the UG - I have the 2004 one but didn't get the 2005 as there was not that much different. I will get the 2006 one though and will have great fun reading it.

 

[Hilary]

I don't use any guide as my bible. I read them all, and make use of the ideas that work for us.

My view exactly!

 

[ely3857]

I love the UG - I have the 2004 one but didn't get the 2005 as there was not that much different. I will get the 2006 one though and will have great fun reading it.

Do you follow the touring plans or just make your own with the information given?



Jodie

 

[disneyholic family]

I should have been more specific. There are great things about the UG, just not the touring plans. Other information he has in there is excellent. Ever since I noticed that he has the room numbers of preferred rooms, I make a point of reserving whatever he recommends. So far his advice has been quite good in that area. Just not the touring plans.

But you're plan to not get involved with their plans is a good one. Otherwise you will certainly be blamed.

The only thing I'm willing to do for my friends is provide them with a list of all the rides in the 4 parks, with our family ratings (telling them which are must sees, which they can pass up if the line is too long, etc.)...It's useful to them since they all go for only 2 or 3 days (!!), so they need to know what they have to see and what they can pass up (and i have descriptions in as well).

It's quite popular and has been passed around the neighborhood for years. But I won't tell them what order to do anything and I won't give them any fastpass strategies. Just a list with ratings and descriptions (and I certainly don't tell them any of our tricks

 

[Scottish-Helen]

The Unofficial Guide is my bible when I go. I have been at times of the year when it has not been busy and haven't had to follow the touring plans but at busier times I really believe they save you hours. Yes you have to criss-cross about the park sometimes but the whole point is to save you as much time in queues as possible.

Out of all the guide books I have had on WDW this one is my favourite by a mile. I work in a travel agents and make sure all my customers buy a copy....I should be on commission for them.

 

[disneyholic family]

Yes you have to criss-cross about the park sometimes but the whole point is to save you as much time in queues as possible.

I do the crisscrossing, rather than the whole family. I'm the fastpass commando, running around to get fastpasses at the appropriate times.

but as a family we tend to stick in a particular land before continuing on to the next one.