Birnbaum vs. Frommers

L

luvJC4saken

New Member
I was wondering which guide is better as far as analyzing crowd patterns and deciding the best time or day to visit each park/attraction. I've used Birnbaums sample itineraries and they've always worked great, even in the crowded summer! Seriously, a couple years ago I went with my friend. The park was really crowded, yet I don't remember ever waiting in line for more than 20 minutes. It was just great timing! I've never used Frommer's Unofficial Guide, but I've heard some good things. What do you think?

P.S. I realize that in the case of reviewing rides, Frommers is better for its unbiased opinion. I've ridden everything to devolop my own review, my concern is the crowd patterns and how to exploit them.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
David

David

Active Member
I always buy the Birnbaum book. Even though it changes very little each year, a fun part to me is buying the book and beginning plannina all over, as if it were my first trip. In addition, I enjoy , all the pictures of the characters and the parks, and as I recall, the Frommer's does not have that or at least not as many. And the information consistantly proves to be accurate along with giving really good suggestions.
One side note, I usually protest the cover of the book with clear shelving paper, use a highlighter for times, days, hints, etc, and put ithe bookin my backpack to carry in the parks for easy reference if I need it.
 
Upvote 0
CAPTAIN HOOK

CAPTAIN HOOK

Well-Known Member
Sorry folks - I'm choosing the Unofficial Guide - simply because I think its a better "all round" book. Crowd patterns - I think that if its going to be busy you just take a chance - there's no science to it :)
 
Upvote 0
cherrynegra

cherrynegra

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by CAPTAIN HOOK
Sorry folks - I'm choosing the Unofficial Guide - simply because I think its a better "all round" book. Crowd patterns - I think that if its going to be busy you just take a chance - there's no science to it :)
Click to expand...

I agree one hundred percent with the Hook. Unofficial Guide all the way. They have the most detailed plans as far as what times to hit the parks, and which rides first. Their day plans always take into consideration the amount of crowds. And you can even send away for your own personalized plan. Tell them the dates and which park you'll be hitting and they will send you your own day plan. I could not have gotten through the parks if it were not for this book. I recommend it highly!!!
 
Upvote 0
JBSLJames

JBSLJames

New Member
I've got the Birnbaums 2004 and the 'For Kids By Kids' 2004 from Birnbaums as well. We heard good things about the unofficial guide and picked it up too. As far as daily plans, I like the unofficial guide best. As far as good maps, they all fail.
 
Upvote 0
tigsmom

tigsmom

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by JBSLJames
I've got the Birnbaums 2004 and the 'For Kids By Kids' 2004 from Birnbaums as well. We heard good things about the unofficial guide and picked it up too. As far as daily plans, I like the unofficial guide best. As far as good maps, they all fail.
Click to expand...

I have to agree...we have all three also. (but i prefer Birnbaum's)
I'm not into the detailed daily plans because after all the trips we've taken we have our own system that works for us.
The Unofficial Guide has great detailed info.
 
Upvote 0
Disneyfalcon

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Unofficial Guide is awesome. I reccomend it to everyone taking a trip to Disney. I buy it every year even though it doesn't change much. It helps me remember the magic!

Birnbaum's is fun for the pictures. The kids like looking at it.

As a side note the Passporter is great too.

I'm a disney-guide-aholic.:D
 
Upvote 0
J

johnvree

Member
Here are my top three picks:

1. Unofficial Guide
2. Passporter
3. Birnbaums

I personally did not find Frommers that helpful for WDW. Just my opinion.

BTW, another good publication is the Econoguide to WDW. I forget the author's name, but his descriptions of the attractions are very detailed.
 
Upvote 0
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Sehlinger's Unofficial Guide is by far the most informative and helpful for all kinds of information, especially trip planning. Birnbaum's is also good, with lot's of pictures and graphics that are just plain fun. It's a big trip, get em both!
Ricky
 
Upvote 0
celticdog

celticdog

Well-Known Member
I was recently at the bookstore and I was reading through The Unofficial Guide and Frommers, (they didn't have any Birnbuam, can you beleive that?). I found The Unofficail Guide to contain too many negative comments and quotes. So, I choose Frommers, which i have been very pleased with. Plus, it gives quite a lot information outside the world. Many of the Birnbaum guides don't venture beyond the WDW border.

I would have chosen a Birnbaum guide had it been available. I have several that are older which need to be upgraded.
 
Upvote 0
Dwarful

Dwarful

Well-Known Member
Can anyone really be happy with just ONE guidebook for Disney??? ;)
I love to read them all. I find the one by Kim Wright Wiley esp. helpful for tips with kids. I did buy the "for kids by kids" for the kids for this years trip. Passporter is nice, in that you can write and keep notes, momento's etc., organized for creating a great scrapbook when you get home!
 
Upvote 0
JBSLJames

JBSLJames

New Member
Originally posted by JBSLJames
We have the 2004 "Hassle-Free Walt Disney World Vacation" book by Steven M Barrett.

Least crowded bathroom tips to follow.
Click to expand...

Animal Kingdom Least Crowded Potties:

*Next to Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures in Dinoland U.S.A.
* Along the trail to the right, before the bridge to Dinoland U.S.A.
* At the rear of Tusker House Restaurant in Africa

Is he right???
 
Upvote 0
lebernadin

lebernadin

New Member
When i was a kid and first went with my parents they bought Birnbaum's and it was great, i'd read it like Ulysses. That was the mid 80's. But once we became familar with everything we stopped buying any guides.

I'd suggest checking them out in person at your local bookstore and seeing which caters more to your interests.

I actually think if i was a kid now and my parents were planning our first visit that i'd just tell them to grab info off of sites like this that can answer more questions than a dated book. Info is ever changing and i think the web offers the best info.
 
Upvote 0
JBSLJames

JBSLJames

New Member
Originally posted by JBSLJames
We have the 2004 "Hassle-Free Walt Disney World Vacation" book by Steven M Barrett.

Least crowded bathroom tips to follow.
Click to expand...

Least Crowded Potties at Disney/MGM:

* To the left of the entrance to the Hollywood Brown Derbey Restaurant is a door that leads to inside restrooms not noted on the Guidemap.
* Walk into the Tune-In Lounge and turn left to some usually uncrowded restrooms (also not noted on the guidemap)
 
Upvote 0
tigger1968

tigger1968

Well-Known Member
I think the reason I swear my allegiance to The Unofficial Guide to WDW by Bob Sehlinger is that it DOES have negative comments. If there is something I won't like on my trip, I want to know about it before I get there. I buy one every year, even though I know the place by heart. However, I use the reviews for both resort options, which dial down to specific ROOMS to ask for, and also for the dining options, because if the food is bad, I want to know about it before I shell out a bunch of money for it. Birnbaum's is the OFFICIAL guide for WDW, which means you won't see anything but the positive in it. If that's what you like, great. I don't even bother with Frommers. I did pick up a Passporter for our last trip, and liked it for the way it helped me stay organized.

It all boils down to what you want in a book. There are TONS of them out there these days, many of them for narrow segments of the market. I just feel that if you plan to spend the kind of money a trip to WDW can take, you really want to get the most out of it, and I feel I get that better from the Unofficial Guide than any other book.
 
Upvote 0

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom