Which Unofficial Guide?

[abinormal]

I've seen the Unofficial Guide recommended many times here and am looking on amazon to buy it. But I see there is a regular one and one With Kids. I'll be going on my first trip, with my husband and kids age 4 and 2. Would I be better off getting the With Kids version or is it inferior to the regular version?

Also, with all the changes coming, and without knowing how they will affect touring at the time of my trip (November), should I even bother with the book?

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

The first Unofficial Guide I bought was the one WITH KIDS. It is just fine. The second one I bought was the regular one and it is about twice as thick for some reason. I guess there is much more info if you aren't focusing on kids. So I would say if you want 100% of the info for the parks, resorts and restaurants I would get the one NOT with kids.

Also if you purchase the newest version of it, you can use your book to save 35% off the cost of subscribing to Touring Plans website and app.

 

[kathy884]

I've seen the Unofficial Guide recommended many times here and am looking on amazon to buy it. But I see there is a regular one and one With Kids. I'll be going on my first trip, with my husband and kids age 4 and 2. Would I be better off getting the With Kids version or is it inferior to the regular version?

Also, with all the changes coming, and without knowing how they will affect touring at the time of my trip (November), should I even bother with the book?

I can't answer your first question, as I've only bought the regular book, and I've actually over the years bought three different versions of it. I'm guessing the two books will be very similar to each other.

The online subscription which is discounted if you buy the book would be great for last minute changes. The full price is somewhere between 12 and 15 for the year. They keep things up to date online, and you can run your touring plans too to see if changes mean any slight changes in those.

As for buying the book, it is a great read and I highly recommend it as a single source that really gives you everything you need to know to plan your WDW vacation (one stop shopping). I recommend it for everyone who has never read it and especially first time visitors. It's a fun read too, lots of cute things that I laugh at. and the only thing really changing are rules for who gets magic bands, FP+, how selections work. Like I've said I've purchased it three different times. And now, even after 35 visits to WDW, I still subscribe to the online site any time I want to visit. // I often purchase it for friends who are first time visitors as a gift, but only if I know they are the type of person who enjoys vacation planning and will read it. // It's actually a pretty addicting book for not being fiction and one you could read cover to cover if you have time.

 

[leeserw]

The regular book, not the one with kids. I've read both. The big one has more information and contains the most important stuff about kids. I have bought 7 or 8 of them. Almost yearly. I still get such good information from them. I highly recommend.

 

[Alesia]

Even the latest edition is already horribly outdated. It's not a bad read, but I would just get the newest on they have from the library. With all the changes that have happened in the last year, I would feel like buying it would be a waste of money.

 

[JandLsMom]

I actually am on my second copy of the regular Unofficial Guide, and I LOVE IT. I have kids, but have not read the "...with Kids" version. I like this edition because...being an OCD Disney planner...I want every tidbit of information I can get on everything. And this book certainly has it, including tons of info and tips if you have young kids. I sit down with it nightly and highlight the important tips that I want to review later. Highly recommend it!!!

The only thing I can't figure out is this. I read that if you bought the book, you get a nice discount on purchasing access to the "touring plans" website. But, how?

 

[JandLsMom]

Even the latest edition is already horribly outdated. It's not a bad read, but I would just get the newest on they have from the library. With all the changes that have happened in the last year, I would feel like buying it would be a waste of money.

Really? I bought the brand new 2014 edition about 6 weeks ago, and it has very current info in it, even Mine Train info that hasn't even opened yet. Considering it went to press months ago, I think it's probably one of the best on the market (besides the Birnbaum book, which is also excellent).

 

[Alesia]

Really? I bought the brand new 2014 edition about 6 weeks ago, and it has very current info in it, even Mine Train info that hasn't even opened yet. Considering it went to press months ago, I think it's probably one of the best on the market (besides the Birnbaum book, which is also excellent).

I'm not saying that it isn't great compared to other books, just that this isn't a great time to rely on a book at all. What you can get for free at Easywdw.com is way more current than anything you'll find in a book. For most people, it's also better than the touring plans website.

 

[disneylovin24]

I can't compare With Kids to the one Without Kids, but I do want to give a thumbs up to the unofficial guide.

I like to think I know a lot about WDW and how I will spend my vacation and so on, but I still enjoy buying and reading the Unofficial Guides. I think they do contain a lot of good information and are entertaining. I love the reader comments!

Even with all the info available on the web it is still nice to have a book you can carry around and refer to and I think the Unofficial Guide is the book with the most to refer to.

 

[abinormal]

As long as the kids version doesn't actually have information that isn't found in the original, I think I'll just go with that one. For fifteen bucks I think it'll be worth it.

 

[bastos]

Don't waste your money on the with kids version. Most of that info is in the regular book.

In 2009, I bought nearly every book out there - including both versions of that book.

I ended up using the Unofficial Guide, the Passporter, and the Julie Neal Disney book. The first two are still being printed. The last one is listed as available - and I have ordered, but still waiting...

 

[GenieCat]

Does anyone know if or when the second edition for 2014 will become available?

In the past, a second edition of the current year's Unofficial Guide has been released sometime in February.

 

[summerskye]

I've seen the Unofficial Guide recommended many times here and am looking on amazon to buy it. But I see there is a regular one and one With Kids. I'll be going on my first trip, with my husband and kids age 4 and 2. Would I be better off getting the With Kids version or is it inferior to the regular version?

Also, with all the changes coming, and without knowing how they will affect touring at the time of my trip (November), should I even bother with the book?

IMO I would just review the info from Josh. (EasyWDW) He has started to update his plans based on the evolving FP+ system. I would guess his data would be more up to date. If your trip is in November close to T-day, then study up. It can get busy and a game plan is a good idea.

Have fun.