What is the best guide book for first-timers?

[CanBeGrumpy]

My brother and his family are planning their first trip to WDW (kids are 13 and 15) and I'd like to get them a good guidebook. Which one would you recommend? I am looking at the Passporter, the Unofficial Guide, Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Disney, etc. Any suggestions? Thanks!!!!

 

[qtwns]

Unofficial Guide gets my vote.

 

[pjtjm]

I know you asked about a book, but I'm (kinda) a first timer, (first time with the kids at least!!!) and I'm enjoying the Tour Guide Mike website!!!

I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys the planning process and likes working online.

Happy planning!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Birnbaum is the *ULTIMATE* guide in my opinion! It is informative and fun to use!

 

[babar41]

The Unofficial Guide is GREAT! I have a number of different books (i.e. Frommers, Passport...) but of all the books I have it is the Unofficial Guide that I keep going back to. I have been to WDW many times and am always surprised at how much more there is to learn. I have recently joined Tour Guide Mike, and while he has many good suggestions and good ideas that I am going to try my next trip, his site can be a bit overwhelming for a first timer.

UG gets my vote! Have a great time!

 

[eeyore45]

The unofficial guide is very comprehensive. He includes touring plans in the back of the book that's easy to tear out and carry with you to follow! Very descriptive of the resorts, the parks, and includes offsites as well.

I reccommend including a highlighter with the book!! Its so much fun to read, and then highlight, and try and absorb it all!! I love the in depth discriptives he has of the parks, the rides, the restaurants, each resort... you get so very much information from that one book!! I just cant imagine going to Disney without it!!

After reading the boards, I thought I was missing something by not having the Passporter, so I've got that... its very colorful, and has cute pockets, but I havent used it near as much as the UG...

 

[Tinkaroo]

The UG gets my vote, too!

 

[llb]

Unofficial Guide, hands down

 

[MrsNick]

Birnbaum's is quite good, but if you can spring for Tour Guide Mike online, that is worth every penny.

 

[onlyoneforme]

The Unofficial Guide is my vote! I have learned so many new things about Disney,even after visiting year after year. I love those website recommendations too! Definately use a highlighter to remind yourself of great ideas and suggestions to bring with you.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Toss the book and give him this website!!! I learned alot from my UG but get so much more one on one information from websites...mousesavers.com, disneyworld.com...and the DISboards. I could research what questions I had and what I could not find I was able to post a question and get an answer. But if just starting and wants basic information I would do UG for a book.

 

[DubC434]

I just got the Unofficial Guide and I would have to give that my vote. There's a lot of stuff that I didn't really know in there like times to try and goto rides and all that jazz. This will be my last post before I leave for WDW an a DC. Good luck finding a book!

 

[Soupermom]

The UG and Len ROCK!!!

 

[SnoweyWhite]

I know a lot of people like the Unofficial Guide, but I prefer Birnbaum's.

 

[jllittle999]

My vote is the Passporter. It is a tremendous help to us. We carry it with us and it has pockets in the back for each day so you can carry any tickets, etc with you. It's like a Disney information guide and organizer in one.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I have always preferred Birnbaum's book. It is fun and easy reading, and I can still read it on a bouncy bus on my morning work commute. The Unofficial book may have more Opinions , but I would much rather decide for myself if I would like certain attractions. The Unofficial book is thick, and the printing is much smaller, and it almost feels like work to study it all.

 

[purplern]

Birnbaum's and Tourguide Mike!!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Give me a Passporter any day!

 

[spinaltap]

the UG has been our bible for our last 7 trips.....we never leave home without it

 

[crisi]

My opinion of the "big three"

I like Birnbaums for first timers. Also for anyone who wants an "easy" trip. Color photos, upbeat descriptions, not overwhelming. Reading Birnbaums is easy and fun and convinces you a Disney trip will be easy and fun.

I like Passporter as a planning guide. I like the pockets and places for notes and the checklists. It has a lot of information in it and I like their rating system - which balances Dave's opinion with Jennifer's with their readers. I like it for repeat visitors and anyone who doesn't think Birnbaums has enough depth, or who wants the planning features.

I don't like the UG (although I like the queuing theory stuff). I think its overwhelming unless you are really going to get into the trip. I don't agree with a lot of the opinions and have a problem anytime opinions are presented as fact (UG insists every small child will return to the hotel room and nap. Hah! Never met mine.) For first timers in particular its a big book without a lot of pictures, a whole lot of detail, and it makes a Disney trip sound like joining the Marines. Had it been my first exposure to WDW, I'd have cancelled the trip and gone to sit on a beach in Mexico. Obviously other people are different (I don't like Boma either, so maybe I'm some sort of mutant freak). It is, however, a great book for someone who really wants depth, and their touring plans are worth the price alone - if you will commando.

As for other resources, TourGuide Mike isn't terribly organized. Some of his content is good, some of it needs work. Allearsnet and wdwinfo are good for a lot of things, but web resources aren't real portable