What is the best guide book to WDW?

[sajilunni]

I've been trolling tips here and on allears.net for months now and have been dutifully jotting down all the great ideas that I've gotten. But I think I should probably buy a guide book to bring as well, so that the other 16 members of my family won't be asking me questions every few seconds. I can hand them the guide book and tell them to look it up.

Which one is considered the best or most comprehensive? The one issue I was thinking of especially is with counter service meals. I don't know where we're going to eat everyday, but I don't want to stand around for half an hour while everyone hmms and hahs over their selections. Do any of the guidebooks have miniature menus, or is that something I would need to print out from allears?
Also with maps, does one guidebook have clearer or more user-friendly ones than others?

I would love some advice from those of you that have "been there, done that"

Jil

 

[worm761]

my two faves are the unofficial guide. they seem to have more in depth reviews and don't sprinkle pixie dust over everything they say. they also have readers opinions of stuff. they give you the good the bad and the ugly.

 

[bdtracey]

In my opinion, the "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" is the best. There are a few different varieties (...for adults, ...with kids, etc.) but the original is the best. I think it's close to 800 pages or more BUT you're not going to need all of it. It looks quite overwhelming when you first pick it up but it is very comprehensive. Basically, it was written as a guide on how to "beat the system" as I like to say. It rates EVERYTHING!

This was my first Unofficial Guide (UoG) and I won't go back to anything else. I have gone on to buy the Unofficial Guide's to Las Vegas and Hawaii.

Another nice piece of info in the UoG is the sample touring plans outlining which rides to go on in what order. (ie: 1. Space Mountain, 2. Buzz Lightyear, 3. Peter Pan, etc.). Along with this it rates, on a daily basis, what the crowd level is expected to be out of 10. And on top of this you can go to www[dot]touring plans[dot]com (remove the space) to get the updated "crowd level calendar".

Honestly, for the $20 or $25 that it'll cost you (if that) it will GUARANTEED save you time, money, and headaches. But ye be warned: you will be plotting and scheming every day prior to your trip on how to be the most efficient.

TourGuideMiKE (TGM) is also a great resource. He is really good at predicting which parks to go to on which day of the week. The UoG also does this but TGM is much more indepth.

I used both TGM and the UoG for our last trip and it worked out great!

 

[mom2faith]

I just bought Passporter and could not be happier! It was absolutely the best investment I have ever made!!

Amy

 

[sajilunni]

Yes, the Unofficial Guide and Passporter seem to be the most popular ones. Do you know what the differences are between the two?
Thanks

 

[louey]

I just bought Passporter and could not be happier! It was absolutely the best investment I have ever made!!

Amy

I got one for me and one for my friend, the Passporter is great to have It has places to write important info down and it has pockets for storing maps, etc...... I would definately recommend it.

 

[Aliceacc]

The Unofficial Guide is great. You asked about counter service places-- it has a comprehensive list of them and what they serve (as well as the same thing w/ full service, resorts, and attractions.)

 

[vellamint]

I have both the Unofficial Guide AND Passporter and love them both...

I also have Birnbaums, Rita Aero's book, The Other Orlando and the Cheapskates guide. I have a need for guidebooks lol.

IS there a book that has actual menus with prices? I would love a pocket guide like that.

 

[thepwa]

Unofficial Guide, definately. Passporter is good too.

 

[tpettie]

Passporter the best I have so far. I have gone on a book buying mission firts trip with the family so wanted to do it right.

I first bought
The Unoficial Guide Walt Disney World 2008. Good lots of info
The Disney World for Dummies
The BrinbaumGuide Walt Disney World For Kids Great love the pictures

Then one day I happen upon the passporters book looked at it a bit bought it too.....

Go the passporter home LOVED it here is why....

easy to find fold out maps of each park. IN COLOR

eg. yellow is atteraction, pink for shop/services, green for eaterys, also marked are the bus stops, ticket gate, atms and more...
on the back of the maps you find a break down of what is in the park and what type of ride/attraction with a simple tour plan for adults and one for with children.

A great reveiw of the hotels easy to compare and find the one that will meet your needs with more maps of their layout too.

Reviews of everything easy to read quick to refence including all the restrants and where their located and the type of eatry (quick, table, buffet, seafood, noise levels ect.

enjoyed the pockets at the back for keeping stuff in and the documenting your trips

Great keep sake book.

Grinbaum Guide for kids too is great. Love the pictures 10 day count down game plan. Easly to read layout for children. Scrap booking style memory pages with key point for the kids to fill in. Autograph pages....

Color coded pages for easy refence to each park.

long but hat is my two cents worth

Have fun planning. I know I am.

 

[DisneyMOM09]

I am not going to Disney til 2009 should I go ahead and pick up the 2008 version or wait and get the 09 version? Is there going to be much of a difference other than rates?

 

[thepwa]

I pick up one every year, but I'm like that. There is not going to be much that is new, but I like to have a new one every year. Thats just me. If you just choose one, I'd wait for 09.

 

[vellamint]

I have a Passporter saved for our trips in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006. They make great keepsakes and the pockets keep a bunch of little souveniers together.......I read through them just a few weeks ago looking for my Dollar Fastbreak Card and it was really cool to remember what we did on what day etc.

I tend to buy the outdated pages when they go on sale at the end of each year and just use the pockets in my Passporter Binder.

I love it.

 

[Mamiamjo]

We've bought all of the ones listed in posts above at some point. I have multiple years of the UG and Birnbaum in the closet somewhere. Since joining the Tour Guide Mike Website (3 years ago), I haven't purchased another WDW book. I do prefer TGM for planning purposes, but if you want a "book", i'd go with the UG. I also prefer the Passporter Guide for the Maps

Have Fun Planning Your Trip

 

[RCharnay]

We started with the Birnbaum book 20 years ago and still use the advice on how to do the parks in combination with afternoon trips to the hotel. (The best piece of advice we ever received!) Over the years we've purchased the Unofficial Guide (a funny read) and others but they are all very similar. The Unofficial Guide can be a bit cynical but I suppose if you read it side-by-side with Birnbaum (very rah rah) they get to the truth of the matter.
The best advice-go early for rope drop, leave in the hot afternoon, make reservations if you want to eat dinner in the parks. Everything else is details about the rides, shops, and restaurants.
They also contain a lot of helpful phone numbers.

 

[kathie859]

I love the format of the UG and reading actual comments from other visitors--it always seems to make me think of things that I might normally not. I agree with the previous poster who likes the UG leveraged against the Birnbaum Guide. The different perspectives are very entertaining.

Have fun planning

 

[IdoBeliveinFairies]

I am a big fan of the unofficial guide, but I did borrow a book only dining from my library. It had short summaries of all the places to eat sit down to counter service. this may be handy for you since you seem to mainly concerned with this it is called Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Dining Guide 2008. I hope you find what you are looking for, and I seriously recommend checking them out at the library first and then buying what is most useful.

 

[HonnyDipp]

I believe that the Passporter and the UG work well as a pair. :

 

[mom2faith]

I went for a "second" book to accompany my Passport, and was going to buy the UoG, but decided to "cheap out" and get the Everything Book - I cannot remember the exact title. DH and I were disappointed to say the least. We have never been, but we have been doing extensive research both online and in books and we may never go again (kind of a 1 time financial opportunity). Anyhow, it is inaccurate in many areas. even the height restrictions differ from what is on the Disney website. The author worked at Disney for 17years, and for some reason has much of the information incorrect. I contradicts so much other information we have received.
I am going to buy UoG and never again cheap out!!

Amy

 

[Happyathome]

will the 2008 guides be good for a Jan 2009 trip?