Planning guide books...

[Kev IOW]

Hi, going to Disney in march 2006 (4th-18th) and staying in Disney Movies and can't wait. Anyway I was wondering if anyone one can advise on which is the best guide book to get. I have heard of the 'The Brits Guide' and 'The Unofficial Guide' but not sure which one is best. Can anyone help please?

I have also heard alot about Chef Mickey, where abouts is this and do you need to book? While we are out there it will be my daughters 5th birthday and we would like to plan something really special for her, has anyone got any good ideas? ie best place to eat for that day etc....


Many thanks.....

[Breeze]

I'm not sure which guidebook is the best for someone from the Uk, but I'm sure someone from your side of the pond will be along shortly to answer that question.

Chef Mickey is in the Contemporary and it would be perfect for a birthday celebration :thumbs: PS seating is almost a MUST for CM as it is very popular. The Crystal Palace is another character resturant and you'll meet tigger and pooh and all the rest there. To be honest with you, I do prefer CM as it's not as big as the CP and you do seem to get more time with the characters there.

[Vikki]

I think the Unofficial Guide is brilliant, I would always recommend it :D

And Chef Mickeys is brilliant! Just make sure you make a PS to avoid disappointment.

[Keith]

I recommend the unofficial guide too.. it's not as sickly sweet as some of the other books but it gives you the proper lowdown on what's hot and erm what's not ;-)

I didn't like cm at all.. much prefer liberty tree tavern or crystal palace

[Jenna]

We used the Brit's Guide on our trip last Sept and found it excellent, really helpful.

[Isafari]

Another vote for the Unofficial Guide :thumbs:
I also read the Dummies Guide to Orlando :blush:

[snapdragon]

Hi. I would also recommend the unofficial guide, which I studied for months before our trip!! But, there were a few UK specific things in the Brit's guide which were useful too - I got one out of the library.

If you decide to buy the unofficial guide it's worth waiting till the updated 2005 version comes out - not sure when that's going to be but soon I think - as that will have all the info about the new tickets and extra magic hours.



Happy reading :)

[Whitequeen]

I haven't got any planning books. :shrug:

I get all my information from here and I get it 'as it happens'. :D

[Isafari]

I have in the past read about a dozen books from the library on Orlando/WDW...it is worth trying there Kev ...the money you save, you can buy dd something extra for her birthday :unsure:

[marivigi]

I haven't got any planning books. :shrug:

I get all my information from here and I get it 'as it happens'. :D

Same here!!

Of course, I did check the Disney website, so I knew the park distribution sort of.... :wacko:

[adam_goodger]

I found both the Unofficial guide and also the brits guide useful. Brits Guide is easy to get from W H Smiths. You can get the unofficial guide from borders or Waterstones or Amazon. Another, slightly more expensive, option is the Passporter. You can get it through Amazon and from their Website . It comes as a ring binder and has loads of really useful stuff in it as well as bit you can use on your holiday (a good place for keepsakes). Hope this is useful

[JuniorMickey]

I bought a passporter for my past trip just to keep notes and stuff. The elastic band that holds it closed snapped before I even left home - ended up being a huge waste of money

[triciacarole]

I had an older version of the Brits guide and liked it so much I bought the lastest one for my next trip. It is well written and easy to follow.

I loved Chef Mickeys Breakfast Buffet for my kids, it has a real party mood and as its buffet there is something there that everyone will like, my youngest used to be a real fussy eater

[Mike0629]

We have used two different guide books in the past Birnbaums and the Passporter. I favor the Passporter because it is more functional and has pockets, pre-made itinerary pages and resort info written in a concise, no nonsense manner. It also has an elastic band that lets you hold the book shut . Be careful though, the band will break easily.

[Ad.]

All my initial background knowledge was based around the Unoffical Guide, and I must say what an excellent book it is.

And for just £9 you don't even have to leave your house to get a copy:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764559729/qid%3D1109576081/026-0737192-5610006

After reading the book cover to cover I then found my way to this web-site where all the wonderful members have answered no end of questions for me :D

[mom of four]

We used the Unofficial Guide on our two trips to Disney. Loved it for planning the trip, especially when deciding where to eat. We also followed the touring plans, which worked great. I agree that you should wait for the next edition; I think the 2006 one will be out in August. Also agree that these message boards are a wonderful source for help. :)

[ninabean]

:hehe: I would say both are essential buys!!

Brits guide is wonderfully succinct but full of tips. Unofficial guide is very longwinded but is also full of very detailed facts

[Kevin]

Another vote for the unofficial guide :thumbs: love to sit out in the garden in the spring and summer reading all the useful tips and info. Then when the sun goes down it's indoors to this site for some more great tips and advice :lol: Do you think I am a bit obsessed? :eek:

[simbo]

Unofficial Guide everytime!! It tell it as it is. The good and the bad. Well worth the money.

[plutomad]

I used this site which is brill, the unoffical guide books and the orlando for dummies which is good.

[Vikki]

Another vote for the unofficial guide :thumbs: love to sit out in the garden in the spring and summer reading all the useful tips and info. Then when the sun goes down it's indoors to this site for some more great tips and advice :lol: Do you think I am a bit obsessed? :eek:

Nope, not at all. I think many of us are like that, me included :rotfl:

[Dizneemad]

Another book that you may find useful is Disneyworld with Kids, this is pretty useful if you have youngsters.

[eyeore's tail]

We're going in 13 days and have both (read both cover to cover many times over) plus the Frommers guide. If you have a year to wait it's a lot of reading and planning time so get both. Layout info on rides is clearer in Unofficial Guide though but Brit tips in Brits Guide also very useful. Happy Planning!!