Unofficial Guide? Tour Guide Mike? Passporter?

[weregoingtodw]

UGH! This is enough to drive a woman insane (provided she's not there already! ).

I know that they all are different but each supposedly has the best premise. My goal? Planning help. The specifics? May 7-14. The cast? My mom, sister, BIL, 2 nephews, niece, my DD and me. The questions? How to hit MK & AK together as a family of 8 without spending all day in lines. How to plan out the day well? None of us are first-timers, this will be second time for my mom, third time for my DD & me, and who knows what trip for my sister & BIL.

I'm willing to shell out $20-25, but I'm not willing to spend $100+ just buying guidebooks and software! Which one is good, cuts through the extra stuff, and just tells you the best way to attack the parks? Better yet, can I hear what you DON'T like about each of them?

 

[sweetpeakaris]

I may be in the Minority here, but I think the Passporter is over rated. I really like the unofficial guide.

 

[rileyroosmom]

I also vote for the Unofficial Guide. And of course these boards. Ask question or just lurk around and you get tons of great and free info!!

 

[ncbyrne]

I have used them all and they are all good in their own way. However, I personally feel that the DIS is every bit as good, if not better, for planning a WDW trip. The books are nice to have, but with us answering your questions as fast as you can ask - you really don't need any of them.

 

[Dismom63]

At one point, I have done all of them (every guide book), passporter and tour guide Mike...I think you can get it all on the DIS Boards! I did use Tour guide Mike for the last trip and I did find that helpful but the others are definitely not better than these boards!

 

[MinnieM21]

I love the unofficial guide. There's so much information. I've found the DIS boards to be the most helpful though. I've learned about AP codes for hotel discounts, the transportion boards have helped me get big discounts on my rental car, I've learned about the Disney Dining Experience card. Everything on the DIS is up to date and I love that!
The passporter is good for keeping your info all in one place.
I tried TGM and I think it's not what it's cracked up to be. I honestly felt like I learned nothing new.

 

[Carol Ann]

I fourth the recommendation for the unofficial guide - I think it is the one true must have and I have planned many successful trips using it....however, for this trip I've decided to try tour guide mike - I love the content that he does have, and I think it's a great supplement plannig guide. I am not a fan of the passporter...

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I have them all because I'm a planning NUT. But.... I would say I have learned the most on this board. I have, however, gotten some VERY good tips on tour guide Mike that was worth every penny that I spent .
Go to your local library and see if you can find any of the books there. I have heard of people having very good luck with this.

 

[DrTomorrow]

While the DIS is your best place to get questions answered, I feel that the Unofficial Guide has so much useful information in it that it's the best place to start - particularly given your goals.

I've started thinking of the UG as the FAQ for the DIS .

 

[becobscot]

I use and like all three. I like TGM because the info is up to date. I like the passporter and take it with me for quick reference. I like to read the UG but usually just rip the sample tours out of the back and take them with me. I would go with TGM.

 

[mikesluss]

Although I really like the unofficial guide I found the Hassle-free Walt disney world vacation book . By Steven M. Barret to be really easy to read it just seems to flow very well not a lot of other filler really just what you need to know like where are the least crowded restrooms for each park or a nice place to rest in each park check it out at borders or barnes and nobel before you buy

 

[Minerva]

UGH! This is enough to drive a woman insane (provided she's not there already! ).

I know that they all are different but each supposedly has the best premise. My goal? Planning help. The specifics? May 7-14. The cast? My mom, sister, BIL, 2 nephews, niece, my DD and me. The questions? How to hit MK & AK together as a family of 8 without spending all day in lines. How to plan out the day well? None of us are first-timers, this will be second time for my mom, third time for my DD & me, and who knows what trip for my sister & BIL.

I'm willing to shell out $20-25, but I'm not willing to spend $100+ just buying guidebooks and software! Which one is good, cuts through the extra stuff, and just tells you the best way to attack the parks? Better yet, can I hear what you DON'T like about each of them?

I don't have any experience with TGM but I was given a Passporter and I have two versions of the UG, the huge one and the pocket version. If I was only going to have one thing it would be the big UG. The passporter is nice for organizing but I could keep track of everything in a notebook with pockets on my own. I plan to take both versions of the UG with me, as well as the passporter, but only carry the smaller version of the UG into the parks with me. I love the big one for planning but I can't imagine dragging it around all day. If I was only going to have one thing though it would be the big UG.

 

[bdrex95]

I don't have a lot of experience with the UG, but it does have alot of real good sample touring plans for the parks, and oodles of information.

I'm using Tour Guide Mike for this trip - this is the first one I have REALLY planned. We used to just "wing" it. TGM has a TON of information, but you really have to take the time to go through it all. He does have some great tips buried in the info which I have not seen anywhere else. He is a WDW tour guide and he comes at it from that perspective.

I have never used passporter so I can't comment on that.

I don't think you could go wrong with either TGM or UG.

Have a great trip!

 

[capenor]

Note - if you go with the UG, be sure you get the second printing of the 2005 edition or better yet, be sure to check the touringplans.com website for revised "best/worst" days info - the charts in the first printing of the 2005 UG went to print before the new EMH went into effect, so the website is the most up to date as far as how they can tell that affects traffic patterns.

Good luck!

AV

 

[disneyeveryyear]

I am a TGM convert. We went at a very busy time (Christmas week) and never spent more than 10 minutes in line anywhere.

 

[Liz]

Love the Unofficial Guide! I liked the maps in the Passporter but wouldn't purchase it again.

I recently joined Tour Guide Mike due to so many positive recommendations on the DIS. I feel like I need to take a blood pressure pill every time I enter that site. Its like searching for a needle in a haystack to find the great tips (my opinion). I spent a lot of time setting up my e-mail reminders for my PS and when I went back the next day they were all gone. And as for it being constantly updated, I still read things on there about Alien Encounter, the silver plan, etc. I'll continue to use it till my trip but its doubtful I'd do it again.

 

[weregoingtodw]

Love the Unofficial Guide! I liked the maps in the Passporter but wouldn't purchase it again.

I recently joined Tour Guide Mike due to so many positive recommendations on the DIS. I feel like I need to take a blood pressure pill every time I enter that site. Its like searching for a needle in a haystack to find the great tips (my opinion). I spent a lot of time setting up my e-mail reminders for my PS and when I went back the next day they were all gone. And as for it being constantly updated, I still read things on there about Alien Encounter, the silver plan, etc. I'll continue to use it till my trip but its doubtful I'd do it again.

Thank you for your honest opinion - I appreciate it!

I'm definitely getting the Unofficial Guide - now trying to decide whether I need a Passporter in addition to that (I have current park maps), or should I get the Birnbaum for Kids Disney book? Or all 3? LOL

 

[MinnieM21]

Love the Unofficial Guide! I liked the maps in the Passporter but wouldn't purchase it again.

I recently joined Tour Guide Mike due to so many positive recommendations on the DIS. I feel like I need to take a blood pressure pill every time I enter that site. Its like searching for a needle in a haystack to find the great tips (my opinion). I spent a lot of time setting up my e-mail reminders for my PS and when I went back the next day they were all gone. And as for it being constantly updated, I still read things on there about Alien Encounter, the silver plan, etc. I'll continue to use it till my trip but its doubtful I'd do it again.

I totally agree with you about TGM!

 

[LBS]

I wholeheartedly recommend using TGM for your itenerary planning. He gives information that just isn't found anywhere else. I also would buy the latest UG if you haven't yet. Combined price for both is around $35 which is money well worth spending to ensure the best possible Disney experience.

 

[Turner5]

Love the Unofficial Guide. Got it first and then tried TGM. I felt that I had already read everything in the UG and was repetitive (mostly), so it was a waste of money. Both are good though.