What's your favorite Disney planning book?

[Lovemy3babes]

I only have the funds to buy one new book this year. Which one is your favorite? Unofficial Guide? Passporter? Any recommendations are mucho appreciated.

 

[alyssa810]

Prior to my first trip (as an adult), I was recommended "Disney Like a Pro" and loved it. It was updated to "Orlando Like a Pro" but I'm not sure if there's been any recent updates since around 1998 They were written by Rick Namey and they have tips that we still use over 10 years later!

 

[GoinToDisney]

Not a book, but a membership to Tour Guide Mike because you can have access to tons of info and the forum to have others give you input on your plans.

 

[meanmom121]

passporter is fabulous.!!!!:

 

[srwarden1928]

We couldnt do it without the Unofficial Guide and the accompanying website. They make touring Disney so much easier.

 

[jgazda]

I second Passporter. Get the deluxe addition and that way for your next trip all you have to get is the refills. They have lots of great info and the pockets in the back are a must have for me.

 

[h518may]

Another Passporter fan. I feel that it is easier to read, and easier to find what I want. I bought both last year and this year Passporter is the only one I bought new. I also loved using the pockets in the back for little stuff I picked up during our trip like maps, bracelets and ticket.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

Our first book was one by Rita Aero & we LOVED it! We bought her second one also & then it seems she stopped putting them out. I still use those two even though they are years out of print!

 

[momofrrr]

I like Birnbaums Guide best. Have a great trip!

 

[las3888]

Try your local library--I just went there the other day and since spring break is over, they had every type of Disney manual known to man on the shelf. You can check them out for yourself before buying...if I had to pick a favorite, I would probably pick Unofficial Guide...

 

[adventure_woman]

I bought the Unofficial guide a while ago. I liked it. Recently I bought "The Complete Walt Disney World 2009" by Julie and Mike Neal. My DD2 LOVES this book. She can look at it page by page for hours. It has pictures of every ride and tells a little about each ride (fun finds, hidden mickey's, etc). It isn't like the Unofficial guide in information (a different kind of book), but it is awesome to see pictures of everything. I recommend it, especially for those with kids, it is more fun for them.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Passporter by far! Gave me the most information in an organized way that I could follow and use to my advantage, plus the option of online book updates makes me like it even more. If, during the year things change, the authors of the book post it online for FREE. The other authors will make you wait for the next edition to come out.

 

[3boymthr]

Okay, I admit it I'm scary. I have 5 WDW tour guides and I've read about 10.

That said the best guide really depends on what you are looking for information wise.

For pure plethora of information the UG is the best. It contains every fact you ever wanted to know about WDW plus has the great touring plans and if you buy the 2009 you get free access to the crowd calendar and the online touring plans (of which there are many which are grouped by "family" type). The big negative for this book is it is overwhelming in it's scope and is not well organized. The rating systems are thorough but take a while to understand. They rate tons of places -restaurants and resorts - both on and off site. If you want the touring plans then this is the book to get. If you are considering staying off-site this is the guide to get. If you are considering going to other Orlando locales get this book. If you like charts and details, details, details this is the book for you. If you know you want to stay on-site, want casual/unscheduled touring then skip it.

For ease of use and reference the passporter was the best. Very well organized. Descriptions are brief but thorough and it is a planner's dream. Good rating system for rides and resorts and restaurants that are easy to understand. Information is easy to find. Great Maps of the resorts and parks(colorful, easy to read with estimated walking times). Includes two basic touring plans for each park. I could flip to and find information about a topic in an instant - as long as I wasn't looking for information about anything outside of WDW. Basically they only skim other areas.

I'll be taking the passporter with me to WDW but I found the UG an invaluable tool for planning my trip. My recommendation is to buy the passporter and then pick up the UG from your library.

 

[Connorsmom0]

THis is the second trip we are taking using the Unofficial Guide and website. I love that book. So easy and funny even.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Another vote for the Unofficial Guide. Their website has planning pages you can print out, plus directions on how to make your own pockets. So you can use your planning notebook (don't we all have one of those?) to hold everything.

Personally, I like the organization part of the Passporter, but find the WDW information superficial. And they talk way too much about themselves, have way too many pictures of themselves, etc. That would be fine fo rtheir own planning book, but I really don't care to see a picture of their kid on the Boardwalk lawn, sitting on a couch in a vacation home, etc.

 

[Doogan]

Another book that I didn't see mentioned that was a big help once I switched from non-parent to parent is Disney with Kids by Kim Wright Wiley. I wouldn't use it in place of UG or Passporter, but she has some useful information like "scare factor" on rides and "kid friendliness" on restaurants that I found very useful. In other words, the "with kids" slant to the book makes it a good read, especially if you haven't taken kids before.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I'll be taking the passporter with me to WDW but I found the UG an invaluable tool for planning my trip. My recommendation is to buy the passporter and then pick up the UG from your library.

Great idea! Ok, so where is the best place to buy the Passporter? Is there more than one "kind". I feel way out of the loop so would appreciate any help.

 

[harpo1856]

My vote is for TourGuideMike.com...it gives you up to date info on which park to go to and which to avoid...

Adam

 

[CyndiLooWho]

I bought the UG and the UG WDW with Kids. I am finding the info in them to be invaluable and a great planning tool. The with Kids version is a "complement", meaning it doesn't repeat too much of what's in the big book, but it has scare factor, tips, and other things that have made it useful to me.

The big drawback is that both of these books are too darn big to take into the park and they don't have pockets to put add'l info in. Their maps are not very detailed or large and cannot be removed from the book. I think the Passporter is probably better in those areas.

So it really depends on what you want out of your book. For a newbie like me (haven't been in 20 yrs), the UG is the way to go.