unofficial guides...

[iheartdisney]

I've always been a Birnbaum girl, but wanted something more in-depth, so I picked up the Unofficial Guide with Kids. Will this be comprehensive enough, or do i still need to pick up the real Unofficial Guide? What am I missing if I don't?
Any and all opinions welcome!

 

[Babbletrish]

The Unofficial Guides are AMAZING! Once you use one, you'll never give Birnbaum a second thought. They're enormous, but they are packed with information you never knew you needed.

The big difference is that Birnbaum is paid by Disney to make the guidebooks. This... makes him a little biased. Every restaurant is worth the money, every ride is worth the wait, and make sure you linger in the gift shop after the "Lion King" show; everything in there is "Lion King", so you're sure to find something you like! (No, seriously, that was in one of the older editions. Wow.)

The Guide (aka, "The Good Book" when we're visiting the World, LOL) is written by ordinary folks like you and I, who haven't got infinite funds or infinite time. It'll help you decide what to skip, where to head first, and even inform you of attractions you may have never considered.

 

[Micca]

Birnbaum was about the only thing out there when it was first published in the 70s. There wasn't much competition for it until the Official Guide came along. The UG is much more of a practical/useful guide to a WDW vacation, while the Birbaum book is more like an extended brochure produced by Disney.
If you're a book person, I'd highly recommend the UG. However there is so much info on the web--a ton right here on the Dis--that I don't know that a book by anyone could compete.

 

[LittleKittyMarie]

I don't have extensive knowledge about Birnbaum or UG, but if you are still looking for a good WDW guide book, please allow me to suggest checking out Passporter's Walt Disney World. I find it to be very comprehensive. They even have digital copies of the book that can be downloaded off their website in pdf form. They are frequently updated too, and the updates can also be downloaded.

http://www.passporter.com/home-of-disney-world-cruise-travel-tips-planning-articles-photos.html