which Disney vacation book is best..

[immagicfan]

Have not been to Disney in 8 years so I really know nothing, seems everything is different. I want to get a vacation guide bood, any recommendations?? We are a family of 4 with a 6 year old star wars freak and a 13 year old..

Thanks,

Heather
NJ

GOing MArch 3-8th and staying in port orleans RS

 

[kmccartney]

I faithfully buy three books everytime we are planning a trip...

1) the Unofficial Guide to WDW by Bob Sehlinger
2) Birnbaums Guide to WDW
3) Birnbaums Guide to Disney Dining

My kids also like the Birnbaums guide to WDW for Kids. It is written for kids.

Have a great trip!

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

I agree with the PP: my kids love the Birnhaum books. I personally buy the Official Guide each year (I've only been to DL). This year is our first WDW trip. I checked out the full 2010 WDW Official Guide, read is front to back, figured out all the basics, then bought the pocked size version. This doesn't have as full descriptions of hotels and dining, but I had already gathered everything I needed to know from the full one. It does have all full ride descriptions, maps, condensed dining,etc. Perfect size to take in the parks!

 

[littlezar]

Bought the Passporter for our first trip in 2003 and again for our trip in 2009. This year I bought the Unofficial Guide (passporter is still current enough for me!) and LOVE all 850 pages of it! I currently have 5 bookmarks in it! Planning on getting the Hidden Mickey book, too!

 

[PrincessBelle39]

I love the Unofficial Guide. I can read it over and over. But have to say most of the practical information I have received is from here - Disboards.

 

[RMAMom]

When I first started going to Disney I read Birnbaums because I liked the way it was organized. I found the Unofficial guide completely overwhelming. My daughter bought the passporter and we both really liked that one. After my my trip when I had a better understanding of the parks etc I liked the Unofficial Guide. So for a beginner I would recommend Birnbaums, passporter and UG in that order.
Probably the best bet would be to go to the book store when you have time to really look through those three and see which on you think you will read.

 

[couponclary]

I bought the Birnbaum guide (the "official" one) and the Unofficial Guide, both mentioned above and have really enjoyed them both. The Birnbaum guide is great for the facts, but I have enjoyed the opinions shared in the Unofficial Guide (but it is a bit overwhelming!).

 

[Duckyiam71]

I would definitely get the Kids Guide by Birnbaum. My son knew everything he wanted to do before we got there. We also like the hidden Mickey book. I personally I am getting the UG but like PP stated go in the bookstore and look through and find the one right for you. Have fun!

 

[disneylovin24]

Have not been to Disney in 8 years so I really know nothing, seems everything is different. I want to get a vacation guide bood, any recommendations?? We are a family of 4 with a 6 year old star wars freak and a 13 year old..

Thanks,

Heather
NJ

GOing MArch 3-8th and staying in port orleans RS

The only guide book I ever buy is the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. It's really detailed and tells you flat out and honest about everything. Also, readers write in a give great tips.

 

[donac]

I just loaned a book to a couple who had never been and only had a couple of days since they were down there for a wedding.

They took "The Little Black Book of Disney World". They told me that it was small enough to bring with them and use as a reference when they needed it.

 

[justcantwait]

Just bought The Complete Walt Disney World 2010, and so far I really like it. I've had the Unofficial Guide, Birnbaum's, Mouse Junkies, and more, but I'm always looking for new ones I find this one very up to date, with wonderful pictures, nicely organized, good size to take along. Can't wait to get further into it! HTH

Kathy

 

[jstouder]

I get the Birnbaum one every year. Gets me in the mood for a Disney trip. I also have the Unofficial Guide. It is very thorough.

Happy book shopping!!!

 

[momofrrr]

I have read both and find the Official Guide to be a little over whelming. i really prefer the Birnbaums book. We also played the Hidden Mickey game this last trip and had a great time. We really did not play by the rules in the book but we kept score and it became very competative. Have a good time.

 

[Mrs D]

If you want to know everything there is to know about WDW and how to plan a vacation to WDW the Unofficial Guide is a must. I still refer to it.
If you don't that that much info, I love the Passporter guide for the fold out maps, concise info and oh those pockets! I can't live without those pockets now!

 

[grace&philipsmom]

DH calls the unofficial guide my disney bible. He can't understand how I still need to get it every year, and that I should know it all by now.

Unofficial Guide - I look forward to it every year!

 

[julieneal]

Just bought The Complete Walt Disney World 2010, and so far I really like it. I've had the Unofficial Guide, Birnbaum's, Mouse Junkies, and more, but I'm always looking for new ones I find this one very up to date, with wonderful pictures, nicely organized, good size to take along. Can't wait to get further into it! HTH

Kathy

Thanks Kathy! I'm glad you like it

 

[davis65]

I bought disney world with kids 2010 and I like it. It has alot of good information in it. I bought my children the WDW for kids, and they love it. The one my DH just bought is the kicker. I opened my e-mail the other day and saw that Amazon was shipping me something. I asked my DH if he ordered something and he said "yes, everyone has a disney book except me. So I bought one that I think will help me out." I got a little nosey and decided to check out what he bought for himself. I started laughing when i saw that Walt Disney World for Dummies is suppose to arrive at my house in a couple of days. I am interested in seeing what it has in it. I am beginning to wonder if there is anything that isn't covered by the "for dummies" books. lol

 

[jenseib]

I have passporter and Unofficial Guide. I have also bought some of the Birnbaum books as well. They are nice becuase they have nice cloro pictures....but I have found Birnbaum to have some info that is NOT correct in it, and almost always the prices they list for things are wrong. It still is a nice book to learn a bit about Disney. I think I like passporter the best. Unofficial guide talks ALOT about avoiding EMH and getting there at Rope drop. We love evening EMH at MK, and totally disagree with the book with that subject. And my DD is a lte nighter and sleeps in, so rope drop for us is impossible at this point. I persoanlly would love to do it, but it would make for a miserable trip if my DD didn't get enough sleep.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I love the Unofficial Guide. I can read it over and over. But have to say most of the practical information I have received is from here - Disboards.

That's what I was going to say!!

 

[lynnanddbyz]

My favorite book is also The Unofficial Guide however with the exception of the crowd calendar if you look you can find most of the info right here on the DisBoard. But just to let you know. I was in Target yesteday. In their $1 spot they have Frommer's Walt Disney World with Your Family for 2010. I could not believe a Disney guide book for $1. I got one. It looks interesting. I have not done more then glance through yet I have had a sick little one. But for a buck I think it is worth that.