What's the best WDW Guide (book form)?

[GADISNEYGIRL]

We have the PassPorter, but saw a WDW Guide for Cheapskates, or something like that. What are the best ones for your money?

 

[KristiKelly]

I bought Birnbaum & PassPorter, I really like the PassPorter. I bought a new one this year I liked last year's so much.

 

[poohnpiglet3]

I like Passporter alot, and Birnbaum has great pics and tips, but by far, hands down the best is the Unofficial Guide to WDW.

Just the most comprehensive one IMO. Get a couple of them from the library and take a few weeks to look through them, then buy one if you want. Maybe that will help save a few $$.

The Birnbaum one is an easy read and then you won't have to buy it.

Sherri

 

[punkin]

Unofficial Guide. No Question.

 

[DWatWDW]

I bought the cheapskate book and was greatly dissapointed.

I vote for Birnbaum and Passporter also.

 

[disneyatl]

My vote is the Unofficial Guide.....LOVE IT!!!

 

[mrsboz]

Unofficial guide. Hands down!!!!

 

[JayCT]

Another vote for the Unoffical Guide to WDW. It has a LOT of great tips and is very honest in their ratings and opinions. Brinbaum's is biased IMHO. Our first trip I read several and bought both Birnbaums and Unoffical. This time I just bought the Unoffical. Good luck. Jay

 

[pjlla]

One more BIG vote for the Unofficial Guide. Insightful, funny, sophomoric at times, irreverant, but painfully honest and VERY HELPFUL!!! But I also like the Birnbaum's , WDW for Dummies, and WDW with Kids (cannot remember who wrote it and it is currently on loan!). I also read the Idiots Guide to Orlando and WDW, and the Econoguide to Orlando and WDW. I have thoroughly "browsed" the Passporter while at Barnes and Nobles and just didn't think it was worth the $$.

So my first vote is for the Unofficial with Birnbaum's second. BUY BOTH in my opinion.................P

 

[Liz]

Another vote for the Unofficial Guide!

 

[bballmom56]

Originally posted by pjlla
So my first vote is for the Unofficial with Birnbaum's second.

I agree!

 

[lentesta]

Pjlla, I think 'sophomoric' is a first - not that I'm denying it. You should see what doesn't make it into the book.

GADISNEYGIRL, let me know if you have any questions on the Unofficial Guide. If I don't know the answer, I know someone that does.

Thanks to everyone who recommended the Guide.

Sincerely,

Len

 

[crisi]

It depends on what you are looking for....

I like the Birnbaums for first timers, and alway give it to anyone we take as guests. Its easy to read, very positive, has lot of photos.

I like the Passporter for planning trips for myself. I don't really need in depth looks on every ride.

I've never been fond of the Unofficial Guide - though I haven't read one in a few years (sorry, Len, although I loved your stuff on queuing theory and Disney over on the SDMB - and I'm going to buy an Unofficial Guide just because of it). I find it too judgemental. i.e. just because the people that write the Unofficial Guide don't like something, doesn't mean it might not be your very favorite thing if you tried it. I don't think it gives enough room for variation in opinion. Passporter rates things, but the combination of Jennifer's rating, Dave's rating and reader ratings gives you an idea that their may be more than one opinion on something.

I had a Disney with Kids or something that was really good for traveling with the twelve and under set. I'm not sure which one it was, but I'd recommend it. It had some good advice like "Don't ride Snow White first" and "do your character meal after your figure out if your kid is going to scream in terror every time a character comes close or not"

 

[Alice28]

Love Passporter; love it!

But if I was brand new to WDW, I would probably get both Birnbaum's and the Unofficial Guide. Birnbaum's I like cause it has fun pictures, and it's a "pretty" book to look at (colorful). But the Unofficial Guide is great cause it has detailed touring plans, opinions on lots of the restaurants and can give a humorous, if at times cynical way to tour the World. It definitely will give you good plans on how to tour the parks & maximize the amount of attractions you see.

 

[hhender102]

Count me in for the Unofficial Guide...We used it for our first trip to WDW in Feb. Loved it. It was great to read before the trip and we used the maps and suggestions during the trip. It helped a lot! The suggestions were right on!

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I have the Unofficial Guide which I LOVE! I also have Fodor's for Kids, which is a lot like the Unofficial Guide. I thumbed through PassPorter last weekend while I was at the bookstore and I wasn't that impressed. I may pick it up though.

 

[LuvTigger]

I have probably at least one version of every guide out there!

My favorite is the Passporter because it has glimpses of everything in it, and it's easy to read. It has maps of each resort and park, and I like that it has ratings of the attractions from the authors and a child. It's also very practical with spaces to write confirmations and pockets to put itineraries and tickets. It's also nice that they have a website with updated information.

I like the Unofficial Guide too, but it is a bit wordy for some people (not as visually appealing as some other guides). I've heard of people who've followed their touring plans and thought they worked well, but I personally haven't used them.

I bought Birnbaums a couple of times, but since it is the "Official" guide, you won't find the "brutally honest" opinions you'll find in the other guides. I do agree that it's good for pictures and to get a good idea of what's in the parks if you've never been or haven't been for a long time.

I had one guide a while ago, WDW for Couples, which I really liked, but it looks like it hasn't been updated in a long time. I mostly liked that one for the restaurant reviews.

If you can afford it, I'd pick up 2-3 guides since they all have different things to offer.

 

[HaleyB]

In book form- Unofficial Guide, taken with a grain of salt. I think a new one is about to come out (2005 comes out sometime this summer, I think).
But my favorite guide is Tourguidemike, which is not a book but a website. I think it is around $25 or so to join and it was fantastic.