Which guide book to purchase?

[LisaDougKaylee]

I'm thinking of buying a guide book. I've narrowed it down to two choices. Anyone have opinions on which is better?

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2003

or

Passporter Walt Disney World Resort 2003: The unique travel guide, planner, organizer, journal and keepsake.

Thanks for your opinions in advance

 

[MommaluvsDis]

I personally like the Passporter because of the info and tips inside as well as the planning pockets in the back. Just MHO!

 

[Belle0101]

I vote for the Passporter!

Last year I bought the Unofficial Guide and it was okay.

This year, today as a matter of fact, I bought the Passporter 2003 Deluxe Edition. I love it! It's well laid out, pockets to keep all your papers in, room for notes ...

 

[Shells9]

I have all of them, except the Passporter, and I believe those who say to get that one or the Unofficial Guide are right on the money. Save your money by not buying Fodor's or Birnbaum's, or whatever that other main travel one out there is.

Also, if you get the Unoffical one, don't bother buying the supplemental books (Unofficial Guide for Kids, etc), because it is 97% the same stuff.

I like the Unofficial Guide, but like I said, I don't have the Passporter. I think I will pick it up next, and maybe be a convert!

 

[worm761]

mine are all for 2001,the last time i went. anyway here is what i think.
Birnbaums~ really just an expensive brochure. has pretty pictures but no real info.

Passporter~i wanted more info but love the pockets.

Unofficial Guide~ i love this one. it is a little harsh on disney at times so you have to take some of it with a grain of salt. but the info on the parks cant be beat. they have a list of every attraction and a pretty good description of each. i am an information freak, i have to know everything there is before i get there. so this book was really geared to my personality.

good luck in your decision. and have a great trip!!

 

[cinmell]

I prefer the Passporter. It has a good deal of information, maps of the parks and resorts, pockets for you to put information into and worksheets.

 

[DVC-LEROY]

We've more recently become fans of the Passporter - mostly because it allows us to keep better records of our trips. We've purchased Birnbaums in the past - though my best suggestion would be to spend some time in your local bookstore in the travel section to get a better idea of which book works best for you. Of course we've always received the best information from the internet - this site in particular.

 

[TiggerInNY]

I would have to agree with DVC-Leroy. This website beats any book that you can buy. If you have a particular question, the book can't tell you certain things. Like where to get the cheap ponchos (Target or Wal-Mart), whether or not to bring your own stroller. I love this site. I tell everyone who is even thinking about going to "The World" to check it out. I found out about it by a woman in the Disney Store.

I have the Birnbaums book but am going to check out the Passporter. I'm not too crazy about Birnbaum's either.

Good luck.

TTFN,
Maria

 

[phorsenuf]

I have them both! LOL I just picked up the unofficial guide with kids supplemental today. I'm an information geek and I suppose my OCD makes me need to know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING! LOL
But, that's just me....I'd buy them all, but my husband would probably have a stroke!

Cathy

 

[4greatboys]

I have Passporter, Offical Guide (but I wouldnt buy a new every yr) and the Unoffical guide. I really like all of them.

 

[Nysie]

I first bought he unofficial guide back in 2000!! I loved it! It had a section in the back where you could rip out park planning info. so you didn't have to carry a big thick book around!! It was like our "bible" for our first visit with kids 4 and 7!!

 

[mad4themouse]

For first-time visitors, I recommend Birnbaum's; nice pictures, good maps and enough info to get you started. It won't give you any info. about anything outside of the World, which can be pretty frustrating for someone looking for an outside restaurant, info. on Universal studios, or a good off-site hotel.

The Unofficial Guide can be at little overwhelming and pretty harsh. I don't recommend it for a first-time visitor. To the WDW veteran, it's a great source of info. I especially like the attractions info. about length of ride time and seating capacity of shows.

I also love the Passporter and I'm kicking myself for not buying it for previous trips. I really love the planning pockets and since I bought the Deluxe edition, I don't have to buy a brand-new book every year. I can just buy the updated pages and place them in my Passporter. If you plan to return to WDW in the future, this is a great feature.

 

[TiggerInNY]

Does anyone know how much the Passported costs? I hope to get out to Barnes & Noble today.

Thanks.

TTFN,
Maria

 

[off2disney]

TiggerinNY
I got my Passporter at Barnes and Noble for $21.95 (less my reader's advantage discount), which was a little pricier than some of the others, but it has a lot of info on various web sites - I love the pockets and planning pages. Even though I'm not ging to Disney until December, I've already got my budget pretty well planned out.

 

[blessedby3]

I have the Unofficial Guide and I just love it. I checked out quite a few books from my local library before I bought one and went with the Unofficial Guide. It is chocked full of info and the more the better for me. I have not seen this Passporter so I can't compare them, but I have been very happy with the Unofficial Guide.

 

[doombuggy]

I have to say that I picked up the unoffical Guide last week, and feel it was the worst $18 I ever spent. While it does have quite a bit of info in it, the condecending attitude of the editor gets to you (or it did to me) after awhile. i should have picked up the Frommer's, I did not see Passport (which is what I really wanted) at this B & N.

 

[kcarp]

doombuggy,

I'm not saying that the Unoffical guide is the best book, but I think it is a great book for planning a Disney trip. Maybe it didn't satisfy your taste, but that doesn't make it a bad book. For you to put Frommer's before the Unoffical guide, that is real funny......lol

 

[doombuggy]

I bought a Frommer's guidebook last year when i went to Las Vegas for the first time and thought it was GREAT. It came with pull out maps that really helped me get around. Even thought I was staying with family, I rented a car and went out on my own a bit. I took 2 of my teen cousisn to DL from there too.

We also got a Frommer's for Ireland about 8 years ago, but that trip got cancelled. The book was borrowed by at least 2 of my firends who felt it was quite helpful.

I found the "unofficial guide book" to be full of info, but some of the info was incorrect. For example, it incorrectly states the denominations of Disney Dollars; it states you can buy/order one day/one park passes from TDS (you cannot/could not). Those are just two examples.

The condecending attitude that I experienced by reading this book surprises me. The book should be giving me advise on visiting this (or any other) place, and leave the sarcasm out of it. I felt like the editor and his staff were really belitting people like me (for wanting to go to WDW) - yet they mack $$$$$$$$$$ off publishing these books. Go figure!

PS: Read the section/paragraph regarding the buy-abrick walkway at the MK. Talk about sarcasm! This book was a waste of my hard earned cash!

 

[kcarp]

Well, as far as the book being dated, show me a book that is not dated. That's alot of info to try and keep current. Sarcasm, that's the best part, I have been reading this book since 89' Yeah, I beleive this book is not for everyone, but if everything in the book was positive then the Unoffical guide would be like Disney's Offical guide. Please, we don't need another book like that one. I think every guide book is special in it's own way.

Good Day

 

[doombuggy]

kcarp,

I did not say the book was dated (true, WDW recently reinstated early entry, but this book was published in August, I think), I said there were incorrect comments. The one about buying or ordering on day/one park passes from the Disney Store is incorrect. I have worked there for nearly 7 years, and you have never been able to purchase these passes at TDS. This is one example of what I was speaking of when i said "some of the info was incorrect."