Other than Passporter (of course) which books have helped you most? - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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Re: Other than Passporter (of course) which books have helped you most?
I guess I'm in the minority here. The Unofficial guide scared me! I read it and there were so many negative comments in it and it overwhelmed me. It also seemed like it was written by people who don't love disney, they just wrote it because they made guides for everywhere else, why not Disney World....thats just my opinion though. I only bought the 2004 and I don't think I'll buy another. I my deluxe passporter, and also Birnbaums. Good luck with whatever you choose.
Re: Other than Passporter (of course) which books have helped you most?
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We used the UG for several years before I didn't need a guide book anymore. Now I use the Deluxe Passporter for keepsaking and general info and use more online resources
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This is exactly what we do now. I especially love all the info on http://www.allearsnet.com
The other books I'd recommend as a supplement to Passporter and the online resources are:
Lou Mongello's Walt Disney Trivia Book
and
Steven Barrett's Hidden Mickeys
Re: Other than Passporter (of course) which books have helped you most?
I used to buy Birnbaum's Guide every year we went, but passed it up last year in favor of UFG. I wasn't sorry. Birnbaum's gives you the "Official" Disney stuff, whereas UFG is much more objective. I especially like the "How long you have to wait per 100 people in line ahead of you" feature...although I don't think I'm going to count how many people there are ...
Unlike a previous poster, I liked the Cheapskate's Guide, but that's probably because I bought it before going to WDW for the first time in over 13 years. I've garnered a lot more info since then on these boards, but it sure helped out before I discovered Passporter!
Re: Other than Passporter (of course) which books have helped you most?
I like Birnbaum's and Birnbaum's Kids books because they are so colorful - the kids book has great extras also like the puzzles, trivia questions and scrapbook section in the back.
However, the Unofficial Guide has been my most heavily used (and heaviest ) guidebook. Talk about being a planaholic - all those maps and time charts are to die for! Yes, a lot of the readers' comments included are negative, but I think it's important to show all views - especially if you're going to be traveling with somebody who doesn't like a particular type of ride.
Most other guidebooks tend to just give basic information that can be picked up elsewhere, with one exception - the lodging. I like to see what other guidebooks have to say about all the resorts. Each author gives different tips, and lists different things to look for at each resort.
Re: Other than Passporter (of course) which books have helped you most?
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I guess I'm in the minority here. The Unofficial guide scared me! I read it and there were so many negative comments in it and it overwhelmed me. It also seemed like it was written by people who don't love disney, they just wrote it because they made guides for everywhere else, why not Disney World....thats just my opinion though. I only bought the 2004 and I don't think I'll buy another.
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You're not alone! LOL I did find some helpful info in there and was basically glad that I'd read it but when I'm reading about Disney World, I want to hear about it from people that love it as much as I do! Before our first trip instead of buying, I had visited my library and checked any and all guidebooks for WDW that I could find - plus I of course, ordered my Passporter! I wanted DH to get involved and my PP hadn't arrived yet, so I found the short version of the Unofficial Guide and figured that he would appreciate a quick read but I was scared to give it to him. I figured after reading it, he'd change his mind about the trip and want to wait til the kids were in high school! LOL
Luckily, he didn't!
I also checked out Kim Wright Wiley's Guide for WDW with Kids and found it helpful as far as the "scare factor" for the kids. I think every book has a little bit of something to get out of it.
I've been buying updates of the PP for each trip (switched to the Deluxe last year) and I've been buying the Birnbaum Kids Guide for the girls too. If I could, I'd happily buy them all - just to read about my favorite place!!
Re: Other than Passporter (of course) which books have helped you most?
The Unofficial Guide is very thorough, but also quite "jaded" in it's presentation. We've bought it 3 times (1993, 1997, 2002), we have the 2004 Passporter and the 1993 and 2005 Birnbaum's.
Re: Other than Passporter (of course) which books have helped you most?
I also buy a Passporter ofcourse, Birnbaums for myself and WDW for Kids by Kids for my nine year old, she takes it to school for SSR!!! Future Planner in the works, might as well start her off early!!! I also use the UFG I have many editions, and I also enjoy re-reading before each trip Inside Disney, by UFG, I love all the facts and info. This trip I have also purchased the Hidded MickeysField Guide, and Tha Walt Disney World Trivia Book, every night my daughter and I ask each other a question as a way of counting down to our trip, it's a lot of fun. I have checked out a few other books from the library but found them to be so out dated or inaccurate.
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my deluxe passporter, and also Birnbaums. Good luck with whatever you choose.
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) guidebook. Talk about being a planaholic - all those maps and time charts are to die for! Yes, a lot of the readers' comments included are negative, but I think it's important to show all views - especially if you're going to be traveling with somebody who doesn't like a particular type of ride.
Before our first trip instead of buying, I had visited my library and checked any and all guidebooks for WDW that I could find - plus I of course, ordered my Passporter! I wanted DH to get involved and my PP hadn't arrived yet, so I found the short version of the Unofficial Guide and figured that he would appreciate a quick read but I was scared to give it to him. I figured after reading it, he'd change his mind about the trip and want to wait til the kids were in high school! LOL 
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