What disney guide book to buy???please help!

[daisy1234]

I would like to buy one Disney guide book. I have been several times but haven't been to the world since before kids! If you had to buy 1 book today...which one???
Passporter? UG? others????

 

[AMaloy314]

Wow. Just one, huh? That's a toughie.

I guess that I'd go with the PassPorter just because it is so versatile. I love the PassPockets and the ease of use with this book. The maps are the best to be had, and their dining reviews actually give 3 ratings for each place. I think that is much more accurate if you know what the reviewer prefers! If you do get the book, invest in the Deluxe version. The pages can easily be moved around in the ringed binder, or even removed to take to the parks. Besides, I'm a sucker for the 'Pixie Dust' Factor, which my other choice would be decidedly lacking.

If you let me choose 2, I'd add the UG for the more detailed information. It doesn't have the Disney entertainment enjoyment element that I get from the PassPorter, but is a more realistic (Read: jaded) view of the WDW Resorts.

The combination of these two books can't be beat, imo.

 

[jimmiej]

Unofficial Guide to Disney World by Bob Sehlinger. Everything you need to know.

 

[Minniemouse07]

If only one... Passporter hands down. It is a true "planner" for your trip.

 

[dbmarie]

The passporter deluxe edition is great and you can buy refills for new editions.

 

[MaryD73]

I second the Unofficial Guide to Disney World by Bob Sehlinger.

 

[daisy1234]

Ok...MAybe I need more than one book! It seems they are both great books...I am wonderng if I should spring for the 08 UG then when the 08 passporter comes out...spring for that ???? How does that sound? I have no clue when I am going....I am just hooked on these boards geting ready to book a trip at some point! Can'y wait to read a book!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Put down the UG. You definitley need the Passporter because it is great for keeping all travel details together and it even has spaces in it where you can write down your ADRs and confirmation numbers, and other areas to write notes, as well as pull out maps and it even shows you a standard room layout picture for each resort and the new one comes out next month.

I am also reading a new one called The Complete Walt Disney World, it is great, it talks about the rides in detail, plus tells about some behind the scenes for those rides and gives some fun facts about each ride. I don't like it for the info about the resorts, it doesn't give much, but the info about the parks is different than the other guides. It has trivia questions and has a FAQ section.

I was getting bored with the UG and Birnbaums. UG was just a waste of that much money, and Birnbaums doesn't give enough info.

Suzanne

 

[ZoZo]

I love the UG. It's the best one for me. I looked at the Passporter at a bookstore, but since I don't carry a guidebook around with me at the parks, it wasn't the right one for me. I like to do research ahead of time, but dont' bring a guidebook along with me on the trip.

My suggestion is to check out some guidebooks at your local library. You can "test drive" them to see which one works best for you. Or go to your local bookstore, like I did, and look through them.

 

[romac]

We have Birnbaums (05 ed) and it's been very informative.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

ya...I would go for passporters also, one of my friends got me hooked on it too!!

 

[hddanis]

Passporter. I like the Deluxe Edition in the binder. I just buy a refill for it.

I LOVE the maps in the Passporter. I actually took them out and used them in the parks in June. They were much easier to read than the ones you get in the parks.

The PassPockets are great for keeping each days receipts, ADRs, information, budget, etc.

My DDs gymnastics team is going in Jan and I've already recommended the Passporter to the parents. I even went this afternoon and bought a copy for one of the moms.

 

[AMaloy314]

If you are seriously considering the PassPorter, I have a couple of tips for buying it.

1. Check out the PassPorter web site. If you join their community, you can get a discount coupon code to order through their 'store'. In addition, it is a really nice bunch of people.
http://www.passporter.com/default.asp (Am I allowed to post this?)

2. The 2008 version of PassPorter should be released sometime in Nov (15?). If you pre-order it, it will be among the first shipped out.

3. Invest in the deluxe version if you can afford it. I believe that the spiral version is the only one available in any of the major bookstores, but the deluxe is totally worth it. (Check out the discussion thread on the PassPorter boards regarding which to buy.)

4. There is a PassPorter Club that you can join for $4.95 per month (or about $45 per year) that will give you access to all kinds of interactive worksheets and e-books that are wonderful for obsessive planners.



Both the UG and PassPorter are great resources, but I think the PassPorter is the way to go.

Disclaimer: I do not work for or represent the PassPorter, blah,blah,blah....

 

[KKB]

I have read everything in our library AND looked at a dozen or so at Barnes & Noble. NOTHING else gives you any new info.

Passporter was my first purchase. I disagree...do NOT spend so much on the deluxe, UNLESS you plan to haul it to WDW. I am just taking maps & my spreadsheet of plans.

I love my Passporter; I did get ONE month of online for additional info. Not worth it for more than than, IMO. UG was a GREAT addition...I think the 2 books give quite complete information, and complement each other nicely. Passporter is warm & fuzzy (but honest), while UG is more straightforward.

I did buck up $20 for TourGuideMike. Tons of info, a bit tricky to navigate, some things I wish it had, like interactive plans. I did it mostly for his park recommendations (and to compare his plans to the other 2). Each set of plans is slightly different. I created my own based on all the plans and what is important to us.

The part I am having the most difficulty with is that while UG & TGM agree for the most part on which parks are best on a certain day, there were a couple days where one recommended a park, and the other said to completely avoid it!!!!!! I took it all with a grain of salt, did none of TGM's red days, worked it with our needs.

Have had a blast planning for the last 9 months! Have fun!

 

[dismorgh]

We have the UG for the reading book type of information, and the Deluxe PassPorter for actual trip usage. Love the refills. I would highly recommend both.

 

[Sorsha]

I am also reading a new one called The Complete Walt Disney World, it is great, it talks about the rides in detail, plus tells about some behind the scenes for those rides and gives some fun facts about each ride. I don't like it for the info about the resorts, it doesn't give much, but the info about the parks is different than the other guides. It has trivia questions and has a FAQ section.

I was getting bored with the UG and Birnbaums. UG was just a waste of that much money, and Birnbaums doesn't give enough info.

Suzanne

I second the recommendation for The Complete Walt Disney World! We purchased this one before our trip last month and I really enjoyed reading it. As PrincessSuzanne says, it doesn't give great info on the resorts, but I had a Passporter as well (LOVED the pockets, they were a life saver for organizational purposes) and it has awesome resort info. The Complete WDW is such fun to read... I thought I knew just about everything there was to know about WDW, and I still learned a lot of fun new trivia and info from this book. It has great pictures too. The authors are Julie and Mike Neal.
I would say get yourself a PassPorter for the organization, maps, and general info.. I would never travel without one.. then get the Complete Guide for fun.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I second the recommendation for The Complete Walt Disney World! We purchased this one before our trip last month and I really enjoyed reading it. As PrincessSuzanne says, it doesn't give great info on the resorts, but I had a Passporter as well (LOVED the pockets, they were a life saver for organizational purposes) and it has awesome resort info. The Complete WDW is such fun to read... I thought I knew just about everything there was to know about WDW, and I still learned a lot of fun new trivia and info from this book. It has great pictures too. The authors are Julie and Mike Neal.
I would say get yourself a PassPorter for the organization, maps, and general info.. I would never travel without one.. then get the Complete Guide for fun.

Thank you, I feel so special . I was glad to see someone new had put out a different book. It really is different. It helped me make the decision to ride BTMRR, because it tells about the fear factor for each ride, it tells how long it lasts and how long of a wait you might have in the morning versus afternoon. It also has some different background info that the other guides just don't give.

I don't take my Passporter to the parks, but I do take it on the trip with me, but it was great reading and I liked that the authors included their children in the ratings of rides and restaurants. I need a guide with pockets because I put thing in my special, safe place and lose them, but with Passporter, I didn't lose a thing. They even have a guide for travaler's with disabilities and that helped me make a more enjoyable trip for my mother who has disabilities.

Suzanne

 

[LaDolce]

I'm a big fan of the Unofficial Guide myself, especially if you haven't read it before or are a first-timer. It has tons of information and can be a true lifesaver. But any guide book is only as good as its last printing. Web sites and especially the DISboards offer the most up to the minute, detailed information - and they're much more fun!

 

[DisneyBarlans]

I would buy the passporter and check the unofficial guide out at the library. I have both, plus a couple more, and I use my passporter most often.

 

[jennilearn]

I recommend purchasing the UG along with the Deluxe Passporter. They are both very helpful during the trip and also while planning. I have gone to my local library and checked out some of the other books referred to in this thread for review however I still find myself going back to the UG & Deluxe PassPorter again & again.

Good websites to check out that will augment the UG & Passporter:
www.passporter.com

Happy Planning/Touring!!