Which "Unoffical Guide"?

[deltachi8]

Hi, DS (7) and I are headed off ffor a Late August visit and I am thinking of buying one of the unoffical guides.

My question is should i buy the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World or the Unofficial Guide with Kids?

Any feedback is appreciated!

THANKS

 

[laceemouse]

I have read most of the guide books and the general "UG" is my favorite. It is very thick but quick reading. It is so funny to me that I literally laughed out loud the first time I read it. The only thing I do not like about it is that they are very cynical about some things. They seem to dislike every restaurant at WDW, and we enjoy many of them. It is a good information source though, the readers comments are priceless!!!!

 

[dina7]

I agree. The regular Unofficial Guide is extremely helpful if you have kids. They give a lot of tips for touring with children and their touring plans are great! They even have one called Dumbo Or Die in a Day Touring Plan that only concentrates on the "kiddie rides". Anyway the original one is a great resource.

 

[Sunkissed]

Along with several other books, I used the general "UG", which was fantastic! My other fave is the WDW Passporter, but you might have to be neurotic, like myself, in order to truly appreciate it We're talking the queen of spreadsheets, here! LOL!

 

[Micca]

Sehlinger is the bible of UG

 

[Soupermom]

The UG is the best...as is Len, one of their researchers who frequents these boards!

 

[sugermouse]

The passporter is the best one. (Blue book) the UG was just too ant iDisney. it was like they hated the place. The passporter is everything the UG is, but minues the anti Disney remarks

 

[Gabrielle]

The Unofficial Guide is the best. I've read every word in it. I hope some new stuff gets added with the next edition.

Birnbaum's is good, for its organization.

 

[juliegirl]

I have used both and found that, as the preface states, the UG for Children is a supplement to the UG. The UG has more complete information, while the UG for Children duplicates some of the UG (ride ratings, etc).

If you are only getting one, I would get the UG. Birnbaum's is good too, in a different sort of way. Birnbaum's tells you what you want to hear (all goodness at WDW) while UG tells you what you want to know (strategies, background info, why some rides are bottlenecks, etc) I didn't read it so much as anti Disney, as let's tell you about how things are and let you decide.

O have to say, reading the UG did not leave me jaded at all!

 

[jaysue]

I would just get the UG and skip the kids version - the UG has all the same material and more

The UG is great!

thanks
jaysue

 

[lentesta]

Gabrielle, there'll be lots of new stuff in the next edition. Hysterical, laugh-coffee-out-your-nose funny stuff. An insanely detailed piece on saving money. Updated touring plans. Brand new restaurant reviews and lots more.

As soon as Bob gives the word, I'll post a detailed list of the changes here. But to give you an idea of how it's going, we've already got a quote from Homer Simpson, a reference to Woodrow Wilson, and a quick nod to Pee Wee Herman's cinematic difficulties in the next edition.

Sadly, our debate on whether Mel Brooks wrote the script for Israel's entry in the Millenium Village didn't make it. (But for those of you who saw it, didn't you get halfway through it and think it was something out of Spaceballs? )

Really, I should tape the conversations we've been having on the next edition. You folks would love them.

Sincerely,

Len

 

[lentesta]

Hi sugermouse,

We love Disney. Really. I have the Mickey Mouse tattoo to prove it. (IMHO, You haven't really pledged devotion until you've affixed the corporate logo to your leg.)

That being said, the Guide is, and always has been, strongly consumer-oriented. If an attraction isn't worth your time, or a restaurant isn't worth your money, we have an obligation to say so. To be sure, that rubs some people the wrong way, but it's something we take very seriously. If you have an issue with a particular section of the Guide, drop me a line (testa@ncat.edu) and I'll see if we can explain what we were thinking.

Sincerely,

Len Testa

 

[KristaTX]

Originally posted by lentesta
Really, I should tape the conversations we've been having on the next edition. You folks would love them.

LOL, Len - I might pay to hear some of those conversations!!

Krista

 

[crow11ad]

UG and passporter are really cool.

 

[Kristina]

I've just ordered the 2004 issue of the Unofficial Guide and can't wait! It should come in the post today actually! It's a great guide book, the very one that finally got my boyfriend interested in a vacation when I very wisely placed a copy by the toilet one fine day Before that he thought a WDW vacation far to expensive and wasn't interested really.

WDW is so big, and the Unofficial Guide is a huge, chock full book of information and tips to help you plan just the vacation you've always been dreaming of. It really seems like they have thought about just everything.

 

[moinab]

finally got my boyfriend interested in a vacation when I very wisely placed a copy by the toilet one fine day

Brilliant!

 

[crow11ad]

Tell DB that yes WDW is huge. I mean it's its own city. You don't have to be a big kid...but it doesn't hurt. Don't be judgemental as far as "it's a kids place"... It's really nice... What month are you going in laceemouse?

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

The UG was wonderful! I bought it and was up til 3am reading it. DH wasn't too appreciative when I kept poking him to tell him about another funny part...it's a blast to read. And I wouldn't say it's anti-Disney...it just gives an honest assessment of every attraction and restaurant...now keep in mind that its honest for whoever experienced it! If I really, really want to try something, nothing anyone else says will dissuade me. However, if I am iffy about something, sometimes reading lukewarm reactions will save me valuable time and money.

The chapter on bringing children (The Agony and the Ecstasy) was such a brilliant read, I pored over it even though I have no children. I loved this book and was sad that it wasn't even longer (its about 600 pages!)

 

[Jen D]

LOVE the Unofficial Guide. It rocks! It is such great reading.

Hope the next one comes out before my trip (September 18). I know it usually comes out Sept or Oct.

 

[crow11ad]

Originally posted by Jen D
LOVE the Unofficial Guide. It rocks! It is such great reading.

Hope the next one comes out before my trip (September 18). I know it usually comes out Sept or Oct.

So the new year...2005 comes out in Sep or Oct.?