Best source for complete guides for the parks?

[brifraz]

As if you haven't heard it enough already...the Unofficial Guide is an excellent read and tells you everything you might need to know.

Plus, we find the Passporter to be a little more convenient and easier to navigate whilst in the parks.

Both are books we enjoy reading repeatedly even though we know them cover to cover!!

 

[luv]

I'll tell you what the WDWlines app from touring plans folks is worth it's weight in gold. Right now it's what My Disney Experience App wishes it could be.

Agreed!

I deleted all other apps except the Disney one...but I never use the Disney one.

Lines is wonderful. It is easy to use, gives you what you want and is more accurate than Disney. The app alone is worth the subscription cost for touringplans.com.

 

[mharrington]

TouringPlans doesn't appear to list shops, only attractions and restaurants. At least Birnbaum mentions shops.

 

[Mark In KY]

I get both The Unofficial Guide and Birnbaum's (RIP Steve) and do a little enjoyable cross referencing. As I only get to go once a year I have time to enjoy both books in detail.

 

[lentesta]

TouringPlans doesn't appear to list shops, only attractions and restaurants. At least Birnbaum mentions shops.

There's an entire chapter at the end of the book devoted to shopping. It lists the best places in the parks, and off-site, for unique items. Let me know if we've missed someplace special, though, and we'll get it in the next edition.

 

[tare]

Unofficial guide and all ears are pretty good.

 

[lilclerk]

TouringPlans doesn't appear to list shops, only attractions and restaurants. At least Birnbaum mentions shops.

Are you looking for a guide map with all the shops listed, not so much just a list of shops? I don't really think they need to make anything like that anymore since all the shops sell pretty much the same things.

The official Disney website has a complete list of the shops, and if you click on the shop to view the details, you can see where it is on an interactive map.

Here's Magic Kingdom for example.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I'm not really a big Unofficial fan, there isn't anything wrong with it but just the style bothers me for some reason. I really like the Passporter for both WDW and DL.

 

[mharrington]

Just out of curiosity, I would also like to see a complete list of all the character meet-n-greet locations at the parks. I saw it listed perfectly in the latest Unofficial book, all laid out in an organized pattern. But the library doesn't appear to have it yet, so I tried the 2013 book. However, they don't seem to list the locations and characters there, except for character meals. I tried looking online at the official website and here at this site, but I can't seem to find anything as organized as the 2014 book had been. WDWMagic's list has not been updated since September, so it may be different now.