Do you still use guidebooks for Disney World?

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SpaceAce's picture
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Do you still use guidebooks for Disney World?

It's been a while since we've lugged a guidebook with us to Disney World. We've been there enough to know the old stuff well, and keep up to date on the new stuff here on WDWFG. Do any of you still bring or read guidebooks? If so, which ones do you find to be the best at updating you on new topics and giving you a fresh perspective on old stuff?

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Vettelover's picture
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Nope!! stopped using those after the second trip, but I think we still have them hanging around on our bookcase somewhere I can't eve remember whose they were, Birnbaums or what. Needless to say they are WAY out of date.

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Every coupla years I buy a new one if I see something I really want. Last year I got The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 book. I needed something to read when we were driving back and forth between Minneapolis and Charlotte, and this drew me for the amazing color pictures and all the Fun Facts for every single attraction, resort, restaurant, etc. Oh, and it has ALOT of tips for TSM!

I'm still a newbie, so I got tons of great info out of this one. Last one I bought was the 2008 Unofficial Guide. You can get soooo much info online these days, but sometimes I just need a book.

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We've used the "Brits Guide to Orlando and Walt Disney World". It includes details of the other parks and attractions on I-drive and the best places to shop and eat in the area.

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Bella's picture
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No..i used to love The Unofficial Guide but I stopped buying it once things became available online..

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Brad's picture
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We usually buy one or two guidebooks the first time we go someplace, but there's usually not quite enough information in subsequent editions to justify buying one again.

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I will still buy the Unofficial Guide next time we go. It is such a great resource!

dsoup's picture
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caitiesus wrote:
I will still buy the Unofficial Guide next time we go. It is such a great resource!

We've actually bought a couple of them. Oddly we don't actually use them when we go. Only in our preparations.

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I buy one when I'm going with someone who's never gone before... but my last trip, I admit, I DID bring an old one.. and I did use it because I didnt know where a restaurant was! soooo embarassed!

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DonaldDork wrote:
I buy one when I'm going with someone who's never gone before... but my last trip, I admit, I DID bring an old one.. and I did use it because I didnt know where a restaurant was! soooo embarassed!

Lol..well that's OK if you don't know where everything is! A lot of resort restaurants still confuse me!

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I have Unofficial Guides laying around the house just for fun laugh I like reading them and reminding myself of attractions I haven't done in a while. We get in ruts when we go, so sometimes it's good to read up on the stuff we've been missing mickey

I'm often surprised at how many BAD guidebooks there are out there!

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Me too!!
I have been to the World several times and I'm pretty familiar with everything there.
But I love reading about Disney SO MUCH, this year I bought the Unofficial Guide, just for leisure!

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Hello, my name is Shawn and I have OCD, so yes I get the guidebooks, even on the years that we are not going, ( I like to stay in the know lol).
I love the Unofficial guide and the colour companion (trying to find the adult guide)
and Passporter.

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My Dad gets them I think every other year. I usually look at them, and try to remember to do some of the things it says... but always forget to do them.. lol

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I think that's what guidebooks are for: Looking at them afterward to realize what you forgot to do!

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Brad wrote:
I think that's what guidebooks are for: Looking at them afterward to realize what you forgot to do!

laugh

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I don't take guidebooks on vacation with me. I will buy them every once in awhile if there has been some sort of significant change at the world. I love looking at all the pictures in them.

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The deluxe Passporter is nice actually and we are taking that this year and filling out stuff every night, we are doing each park at least 2 times so we can go back to what we missed.

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I bought the Unofficial Guide for 2011 and the Color Companion but I don't plan on taking them to the parks with me.. I'll leave them at the hotel, LoL. I like to have them to brush up on things about the attractions, entertainment and all that but I can't imagine lugging it around the park... it's huge!

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Last time I bought the dining guide but not an actual park guide book. I think at this point any of us could probably write our own.

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Anyone else have a fun time looking for an adult Disney guide book?

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Doesn't the unofficial guide make one.

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Winnie wrote:
Doesn't the unofficial guide make one.

They do, it's even called the same thing as this message board I believe.

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Where do I find this elusive book.

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I typically don't need a guidebook, but, I keep the newest versions around so when I am helping someone plan, and they ask me a question I may not have an answer to, I pull out the book. (i.e., how much does a locker cost to rent for a day? I never use the lockers and I didn't know. I trust the "Birnbaum's Guide to Walt Disney World." The 2011 addition is very nice!

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I am addicted to the Birnbaum guidebooks. I have several of them. Even if they don't really update the book I still buy it. I think I like to buy them so I can constantly look at them before I go to help with my excitement. The first time I ever went it was a great tool because I had no idea about anything for WDW so it helped me plan and know which hotel to choose and stuff like that. Last year I bought the Disney Cruise guidebook and also the Unofficial Disney Guide. You can never have too many books about your favorite place on earth Smile

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I am totally with you, you just never know what you'll find.

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I found this book review. I know how many of you are fans of epcot here but had never heard of this one before and it looks pretty interesting so I thought i'd share

http://thedisneyblog.com/2011/05/08/book-review-the-epcot-explorers-encyclopedia-by-r-a-pedersen/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDisneyBlog+%28The+Disney+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

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I bought Birnmaum's 2010 Official Guide to Walt Disney World last year since it was my first trip to WDW in ages. I bought it towards the end of the year so I got a discount on it a AAA. I won't buy one this year. I did buy a Hidden Mickey book last month.

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