and why
i have in the past used passporter...unnoffical guide...offical guide and WDW for cheapskates
i have in the past used passporter...unnoffical guide...offical guide and WDW for cheapskates
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what is your favourite WDW guidebook?
- Thread starter twoweirdos
- Start date
TopOfTheWorld
Member
Try Julie and Mike Neal's Complete Guide to Walt Disney World. There are some different tips in there, and lots of information that you won't find elsewhere (i.e., other books).
ahhh
thank you!!!
disney dharling
Active Member
Those are my favorites. Followed by Mousejunkies (It's an amusing read but more tips and insights than guidelines)
zurgandfriend
Well-Known Member
It has to be the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World (the complete edition)
wolf359
Well-Known Member
The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World is a fantastic book. Tons of color pictures, well laid out, and a nice balance of background history and helpful information. I also really like the tone of the book, it is obvious the authors really love Disney, yet keep the rose colored glasses and pixy dust to a minimum. It is everything the Birnbaum's books should be, but aren't.
Less flashy, but probably easier to use in vacation planning, the Passporter is another great book. No other book has the amount of detailed prices, floor plans, and nuts and bolts planning advice as the Passporter.
I've tried the Unofficial Guide in the past and found it to be an overstuffed, random mess. It's more like WDW brain dump than an actual travel guide, in my opinion. I couldn't help but notice they're recently come out with an "all color" version of the Unofficial Guide that is a very close copy of the Neal's Complete Guide. They should be very flattered.
Less flashy, but probably easier to use in vacation planning, the Passporter is another great book. No other book has the amount of detailed prices, floor plans, and nuts and bolts planning advice as the Passporter.
I've tried the Unofficial Guide in the past and found it to be an overstuffed, random mess. It's more like WDW brain dump than an actual travel guide, in my opinion. I couldn't help but notice they're recently come out with an "all color" version of the Unofficial Guide that is a very close copy of the Neal's Complete Guide. They should be very flattered.
mike10
New Member
Unofficial Guide is great but the biggest downfall is how thick the book is and not exactly a carry around book.
Plus don't know about anyone else but that's too much reading about Disney/Orlando if you leaving soon. My favorite book was PassPorter great for carry around and you can write some memories and things done in it.
Something that Unofficial guide doesn't offer.
Plus don't know about anyone else but that's too much reading about Disney/Orlando if you leaving soon. My favorite book was PassPorter great for carry around and you can write some memories and things done in it.
Something that Unofficial guide doesn't offer.
Susan Savia
Well-Known Member
Birnbaums is my favorite. I buy one every other year.
Tomi-Rocket
Well-Known Member
Passporter.....
I bought the Passporter in early '09 for our trip last year in Sept. I absolutely loved it, it was the first time I ever bought a guide book and even though we had been to WDW twice before I found it to be very useful. I will most likely get the Passporter again although I saw another book I thought looked interesting but I can't remember the name of it, lol. :hammer:
I bought the Passporter in early '09 for our trip last year in Sept. I absolutely loved it, it was the first time I ever bought a guide book and even though we had been to WDW twice before I found it to be very useful. I will most likely get the Passporter again although I saw another book I thought looked interesting but I can't remember the name of it, lol. :hammer:
SeaCastle
Well-Known Member
When I first bough the Unofficial Guide, I was a bit turned off by its "negativity". But once you sit through and read it, there is alot of really good information in there, stuff you can't find elsewhere. It also happens to be mildly amusing, making it an interesting (and informative read).
I've also used the PassPorter and have found that to be a great help, colorful, and informative. I find the Birnbaum guide only adequate; since it's an official publication it is not necessarily honest, and does not provide [constructive] reader input/opinions to help you when making decisions like where to eat, sleep, or ride.
I've also used the PassPorter and have found that to be a great help, colorful, and informative. I find the Birnbaum guide only adequate; since it's an official publication it is not necessarily honest, and does not provide [constructive] reader input/opinions to help you when making decisions like where to eat, sleep, or ride.
DDPGambit
Member
My favorite is the Unofficial Guide. I'm the kind of person that wants all the information at once. However, I'm also a big fan of The Complete Guide. Very flashy and very informative. It's best suited to someone who has never been or has not been in a while as it shows just as much as it tells. I also pick up the Birnbaum guide on occasion, although that's probably more of a nostalgia thing.
I also love the Unofficial guide and buy one ever few years. I have been carrying around the 2010 edition (with kids version) like a bible for the last few weeks. I always take the advice with a grain of salt but do plan on using some of their touring guides next week since I have never been to WDW during the busy season, have never needed to use fast pass, and need all the help I can get since I am not used to big crowds and large, possibly annoying tour groups.
Cosmic Commando
Well-Known Member
A Passporter disciple here. I feel like it has lots of info, but is laid out well so everything is easy to find. Also, you get a poor man's scrapbook. The back of the book has pages for each day of your trip and pockets for mementos. Just today, I was looking up square footage for rooms of some different hotels we're considering for Feb. I started looking in back and reminiscing about our last trip... MNSSHP wristbands, receipts, Dream Fastpasses from DHS, Magical Express envelope from the door...
My only nitpick with the book is the small photos. There are maps galore, but many of the photos are only about one inch square and the authors' family is often the subject. Nothing against them, but I really want pictures of the rides, queues, and buildings instead of their family in my guidebook. Especially when there is so little photo space to begin with. Sorry, Marxes. I still read your newsletter every week.
My only nitpick with the book is the small photos. There are maps galore, but many of the photos are only about one inch square and the authors' family is often the subject. Nothing against them, but I really want pictures of the rides, queues, and buildings instead of their family in my guidebook. Especially when there is so little photo space to begin with. Sorry, Marxes. I still read your newsletter every week.
stlbobby
Well-Known Member
I was referring to the Birnbaum Guide: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Bi...ides/e/9781423117001/?itm=5&USRI=disney+guide
It is the Disney sanctioned "insiders" guide and the cover is stamped Official Guide. Over the years they have also published additional versions--a dining guide, WDW for kids, WDW without kids, a pocket guide--in the past I have found that 95% of the information in the specialized guides is cut and pasted from the general WDW version.
Cosmic Commando
Well-Known Member
All true, although now the Birnbaum's guides are actually published by Disney.
