Unofficial 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/tg/detail/-/0764559729/qid=1105204267/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-9297588-5416655?v=glance&s=books

 

[JohnNJ]

Your money would be better spent on Passporter and TourGuideMike.com than UOG. If you must get one, buy an older, discounted version since much of the content will be exactly the same (word for word). You could even use the one at your local library.

 

[rkmassa]

I love my UG. I think it was money well spent. Everyone has a book they prefer. I prefer UG.

 

[chell]

I love it as well. Since the entire book is not changed every year I just wait a few years before buying a new one.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I like the one I have but i would not buy another one since they don't change very much at all. Information wise I have done MUCH better with tourguidemike.com since it is up to the minute information. His plans seem to work great and I love the fact that you can ask him a question and he will answer it for you. He is also on his forums quite often answering questions and posting info. With the mousesavers discount you can get a year of it for the same price as the book and it is interactive!!!!

 

[QuickGold]

Glad to see another happy customer. UG is great

 

[gigi1313]

love my unofficial guide! last trip i tried passporter and tgm as well and still turned to the ug for all my best info! imo the ug can't be beat!!

 

[GrandmaBarb]

The UG is nice reading, BUT it is outdated. For up to date information there is only source. TourGuideMike. Try it and see for yourself

 

[gigi1313]

i tried it, and while i think it's great for some people, i found it to be very time consuming (and only used at the computer, not portable to bed w/me, waiting rooms, in the car, etc) and did not tell me anything i did not know before... again, it just wasn't for me but i do see the value for others...

 

[paigevz]

and the information in the 2005 guide is more comprehensive than those before. I was so surprised, as I have bought it every year since 1998 and was pretty familiar with its usual content.............I bought the new one each year because they do change it, actually more than once a year, to update information. But this time, it had added some very useful sections. I like it soooo much! (nope, I don't work for them, either)

 

[arazamataz]

I get a new UG every 3 years . THe 2005 UG is very good . Alot more info.

 

[fanofdisney]

I get a new UG every 3 years . THe 2005 UG is very good . Alot more info.

That is the one I have. First one I've bought. I enjoy the sarcastic humor in it, but I'm sick and twisted like that. I will also check out the website mentioned above.

 

[chell]

and the information in the 2005 guide is more comprehensive than those before. I was so surprised, as I have bought it every year since 1998 and was pretty familiar with its usual content.............I bought the new one each year because they do change it, actually more than once a year, to update information. But this time, it had added some very useful sections. I like it soooo much! (nope, I don't work for them, either)

Sounds like I will have to go ahead and get this one then. Thanks for the info!

 

[bobcat]

I usually buy the UG every other year. I just can't help myself! I love this book! Looking forward to getting the 2005 version.

One thing about passporter that I really love is they are the last one's published so they will have the mpst up to date info. Even this year with all the changes WDW threw at all of us what isn't already updated in the book, and the changes happened so late in the year so most won't be, they have printable pages that you can get from their web site. These pages fit perfectly in the deluxe version so my book is always updated.

 

[eeyore45]

I have to say I checked it out from the library, then went to B&N to buy my own last year, I had to use a highlighter, there was so much information, between there and here it was so hard just picking one resort to stay in!!

I liked the small size of the touring plans, I liked that I was able to tear them out, highlight them for my use, and keep them in my fannypak to pull out for quick references!

 

[luvtoall]

I love mine and read it even after I return from a trip. I love all the info. and I read it everywhere. To each, their own I guess.

 

[fun & fancy free]

I love the UG. I have loaned it to ptential future guest and they all become entranced by all the enticing info. Something in it for everyone. I also agree it is transportable so easy to take with you for menus etc.. I brought mine with me my first return visit after many years and people were actually reading it with me by the pool or asking me to look up answers to their questions.

 

[mom2rb]

This last trip I used the UG and the Passporter. I felt they worked well together. I would keep all paper work and confirmation numbers in the Passporter. I also would write all the helpful hints and what days to go to what parks from the UG in the Passporter. This way I had only one book to reference while on the trip.

I do love the UG for their brutal honesty.

 

[Disneydreamer315]

I think if you are going to buy an Unofficial Guide, you better wait til the beginnig of Feb. With the substantial changes to the ticket packages, Mary from Mousesavers(dot)com is saying that they are redoing the 2005 UofG, and republishing it for 2005.

Please note: Walt Disney World announced on 12/2/04 that it will be making major changes to its theme park tickets and vacation packages, as well as the Extra Magic Hour, as of 1/2/05. The Unofficial Guide's next printing, scheduled for late January 2005, will be significantly revised to reflect those changes, which will affect touring plans. If you are not traveling until February or later, I'd advise you to hold off and buy the book once the new edition is out

The new EMH schedule will also completely change the daily crowd patterns of the four major parks (according to TourGuideMiKE-- and I admit it, I love tgm and would pick this site over any other source of Disney info) -- and I don't have a 2005 UofG so I am just guessing here--, all of these will have to be changed in the book as well, -- best days of the week for each park, crowd patterns of each park on each day, ect....and a big change in the touring plans.

If you have already bought your 2005, I guess you will have to get another one... Maybe UofG will allow purchasers to exchange their books for free, perhaps you could email and ask... it would seem very unfair if people spent their 20bucks on the guide, and it was completely out of date in a matter of weeks. I have not been on their website either-- just thinking out loud-- they may have better information on what to do for exchange. I don't know their website, but I am sure someone could post it for the UG fans.
***edited to take out a punctuation error -- too bad I cant spell****

 

[tjkraz]

[Passporter has] printable pages that you can get from their web site.

UG does the same thing:

http://www.touringplans.com/GuideUpdates05.html

IMO, the Passporter is OK, but I really don't get any use out of the trip planning stuff. I have my own method of keeping organized. I think the last one I bought was in 2003. I thought about updating this year, but with all of the WDW changes in the last month, I'll probably wait another year.