What's your favorite WDW planning book?

[TheVBs]

We always buy Birnbaums before a trip. What's your favorite (if you buy one) and why?

[MNNHFLTX]

Honestly, I don't use a guide book anymore as much of the information is outdated by the time it goes to print. IMO, the best place to get information is right here on INTERCOT (and I'm not just saying that because I'm on staff!)

[Darbylew]

We have been so many times that we don't
even need a map anymore. We just pick up a
times guide as we enter the parks. I have had
friends buy the books then come to me for
advice. They have told me that I help more than
the books. I love helping.
FIRST TRIP 1972
LAST TRIP MARCH 2009
NEXT TRIP NOVEMBER 2009
SPRING IN THE PLANNING STAGES 2010
AND MANY TRIPS IN BETWEEN
º0º

[TheVBs]

I have to say, there was so much that I found out here on Intercot before our last trip, that was nowhere to be found in the books!

[TennesseeTink]

I love The Complete Walt Disney World by Julie Neal. But honestly I don't use it as a guide book. It's more of a tool to get a small Disney fix between trips. It has gorgeous pics and lots of trivia about the attractions. Don't get me wrong, it has lots of great tips and info, but after you've been 20+ times you've pretty much got it figured out. Plus I have Intercot!

[scoot241]

I love The Complete Walt Disney World by Julie Neal. But honestly I don't use it as a guide book. It's more of a tool to get a small Disney fix between trips. It has gorgeous pics and lots of trivia about the attractions. Don't get me wrong, it has lots of great tips and info, but after you've been 20+ times you've pretty much got it figured out. Plus I have Intercot!

I second this, but I use it to quickly look up things without getting online. The 2009 edition is about as up to date as a book can get.

The book I do not like is the Unofficial Guide. I bought the Disneyland book in an airport. It has some good information, but the writing style makes it sound like everyone is foolish for going. Not the tone I want when I'm planning a vacation.

[JPL]

I haven't used a guide book in years. I used to buy Birnbaums but as more of a keepsake than a planning tool. With all the information available here on Intercot and the ability to ask sepcific questions that suit your needs I am surprised there is still a market for guide books at all.

[Strmchsr]

I haven't used a guide book in years. I used to buy Birnbaums but as more of a keepsake than a planning tool. With all the information available here on Intercot and the ability to ask sepcific questions that suit your needs I am surprised there is still a market for guide books at all.

[Bellerella]

We bought the Passporter's Walt Disney World journal for our most recent trip and loved it! It is very interactive- there are places to write all of you reservation info, budget planning, and our favorite: trip memories! Before we left for WDW, we wrote in our daily plans, and each night, we went to the flip page of each day, and wrote in the best and worst part of each day, what we did, how the weather was, etc. Now it is so much fun to look back on and remember little things that happened! It also has lots of info on all of the different lodges, food, parks, etc. I highly recommend it!

[TheVBs]

I think I bought a book last time only because it gave me that feeling that the trip is really going to happen. Just for kicks, I got some of the other guidebooks through the library to see what they were like. I remember one had an awful layout and was basically unreadable. But, one of them had Intercot listed and that's how I ended up here!

[Tygger7]

We bought the Passporter's Walt Disney World journal for our most recent trip and loved it! It is very interactive- there are places to write all of you reservation info, budget planning, and our favorite: trip memories! Before we left for WDW, we wrote in our daily plans, and each night, we went to the flip page of each day, and wrote in the best and worst part of each day, what we did, how the weather was, etc. Now it is so much fun to look back on and remember little things that happened! It also has lots of info on all of the different lodges, food, parks, etc. I highly recommend it!

I agree totally...while I really don't "need" a guide book, I love the Passporter for all the little things that help me organize my trip...especially the pockets. It was so handy to have one central place to put my receipts each day, and there are spots to write notes about your experiences. It's a great keepsake for remembering your trip and I plan to take one every time I go.

[RBrooksC]

My wife and I don't need a guide book anymore but it is nice to get to build anticipation for the trip.

We usually get the Passporter as a keepsake for the trip. We write in the book what we did a keep some information in there.

The Unofficial Guide I have from 2004 is crazy. I think it is PACKED with information. However, they print letters from people who act like some of the things at Disney have never been seen before. I have read notes about Kali River Rapids and how you get just too wet on that and they had better advise their readers about this. Or, "'It's Tough To Be a Bug' is not for children. I took my children there and they got so scared they didn't want to tour the parks for the rest of the day. How could Disney create something that would scare children." It almost reads like a comedy book and it would be even funnier if it wasn't so sad that it is real people writing those notes.

[Mousemates]

The Unofficial Guide I have from 2004 is crazy. I think it is PACKED with information. However, they print letters from people who act like some of the things at Disney have never been seen before. I have read notes about Kali River Rapids and how you get just too wet on that and they had better advise their readers about this. Or, "'It's Tough To Be a Bug' is not for children. I took my children there and they got so scared they didn't want to tour the parks for the rest of the day. How could Disney create something that would scare children." It almost reads like a comedy book and it would be even funnier if it wasn't so sad that it is real people writing those notes.

The crazy letters are the very reason we enjoy the unofficial guide...for whatever reason I get a good deal of amusement "listening" to the people who freak out and ask questions like "why does disney have to try so hard to terrify children" when talking about the snow white ride.

[tinksmom02]

I agree totally...while I really don't "need" a guide book, I love the Passporter for all the little things that help me organize my trip...especially the pockets. It was so handy to have one central place to put my receipts each day, and there are spots to write notes about your experiences. It's a great keepsake for remembering your trip and I plan to take one every time I go.

[2Epcot]

I haven't used a guide book in years. I used to buy Birnbaums but as more of a keepsake than a planning tool. W

I did the same ... It became more of a tradition as a trip was getting close.

[steamboat willy]

I haven't used a guide book in years. I used to buy Birnbaums but as more of a keepsake than a planning tool. With all the information available here on Intercot and the ability to ask sepcific questions that suit your needs I am surprised there is still a market for guide books at all.

DOUBLE Maybe for folks that don't know about INTERCOT?

[sonayo74]

I love The Complete Walt Disney World by Julie Neal. But honestly I don't use it as a guide book. It's more of a tool to get a small Disney fix between trips. It has gorgeous pics and lots of trivia about the attractions. Don't get me wrong, it has lots of great tips and info, but after you've been 20+ times you've pretty much got it figured out. Plus I have Intercot!

I fell in love with this book last year, and was on my to loving the 2009 version when I got to one little line in the book that ruined it for me.

In the "Accommodations" section, she says, "Typically, the Value resorts crowd includes guests who clearly can't afford to be there".

That really turned me off. How in the world can one tell if someone can or cannot afford to be at WDW? Did they look homeless? Did they turn their empty pockets out? Did they loudly proclaim that they were broke? I mean, what the heck? It sounded so elitist. Maybe I'm just overly sensitive.

[rjmdds]

While Intercot is always my first source , I love The Unofficial Guide. It not a book I read cover to cover but it is very useful as a reference work. I am a big fan of it.

[Tinkerfreak]

I haven't used a guide book in years. I used to buy Birnbaums but as more of a keepsake than a planning tool. With all the information available here on Intercot and the ability to ask sepcific questions that suit your needs I am surprised there is still a market for guide books at all.

I bought it the last few years mostly out of habit but found alot of incorrect or outdated info in there. Last year I also bought The Complete Walt Disney World 2009 and loved it. I am waiting for the 2010 version.
anyone know when it will be out?

[wire0monkey]

I like the Unofficial Guide, because it includes access to their on-line crowd calendar.