[wdwspider]

OK, I know Dana shares this passion with me as I am sure other fellow DCers do. We all love to read various Guide Books. Partly to relive the experience through different eyes. Partly to get new slants on tips and tricks. Partly to read the official take on what's new as well as the unofficial take. Also, just to have another medium to help fill that ever increasing Disney appetite that all Disney-holics have.

At any rate... I was in the local book store when inspiration struck.

What do the current guide books have. The Birnbaum's have the official photos and Disney name. The Unofficial books have reader input and a look at both sides of the coin. The passporter has a creative and clever organizer and trip planner built in. Most of the books have various "other" attractions thrown in at varying degress as well. Surely with such diversity in the market all bases are covered. Aren't they? This was my spark of inspiration.

Why do we go to the internet. First and foremost it is for Media/information on particular subjects. In our case, Disney. If we truly love a subject, we want to know it's history, it's future, the inside scoops, the secrets, and to share that love with others who feel the same way. DC, Laughing Place, WDWMagic, Intercot, and many others are proof of this (on Disney terms). We love to relive the history of attractions or parks from our childhood. Discover the origins of rides and parks. Read rumors (true or not) about what is yet to come or currently being looked into.

So, after thinking on it a bit, I realized that a guide book that not only talks about the "now of a park", but also expands into history and the "rumors of the future" is a market yet untouched. Some books do dabble into secrets of a ride, but I don't think they go into such detail as to tell you why an attraction came to be (Great Movie Ride originally planned for EPCOT) or why elements were left out (HatBox Ghost in Haunted Mansion). All of this could potentially make the ultimate guide book that not only appeals to a much deeper understandng and experience during a trip, but a more rewarding and fruitful book to read with no trips planned at all. Sure, it is risky to publish rumors, but they are fun to read and ponder and they spark ideas or push for the realization of them. I feel that if a book like this was made and the distinguish between history, current, and rumor was very apparent it could be successful. For instance, the history of the attraction could be in blue italics. The current ride write up in standard print with special items or interest to the side or in bold. The rumors for it's future in a shaded box with red lettering for instance.

There is a great wealth of resources for rumors and history that is yet untapped (in guide books anyway) and I think this idea has great merit. Think how interesting it would be to have an original map listed next to a current map. (I love doing that type of comparisson anyway) So, the point of this thread. It's as simple as... What do you think? About the idea, the potential, the market, and the possibility.

[daisyd]

My name is daisyd, and I am a guide book junkie. I read guide books for everywhere in the world, and I just love to find an old one at garage sales. I read them for pleasure or for future refrence. I love a guide book that includes a lot of history of the place I am reading about, so your idea appeals to me.

Now, your book wouldn't necessarily be that 'first' travel book one buys because I think when people go looking for a first guide, they want a nuts and bolts, simple book (where to stay, what to eat, what to see). It would be WONDERFUL for someone like the experienced WDW traveler, or someone like me who hasn't been yet, but soaks in all the info I can about it. It would be an excellent book to read sitting poolside, or on the plane, or after the ressie have been made. I'd think there would be a market for it.

I like the rumor idea, but I know nothing about how long it takes to publish the book, and you might run into an 'old' rumor by the time it's published. But you could have a website companion and update the rumors.

Now this is all just off the top of my head, and I can guarntee you I'll be thinking of this more today, lol. I can't wait to see what others have to say about it.

[mickaholic4077]

Sounds like a winner to me!!!!

[Princess Tessa]

daisyd so do I!!! I have random guide books from france, hawaii, great britain, montreal etc from old garage sales hahaha I them!

[llama]

I think it's a fascinating idea Spider - but I wouldn't market it as a Guide Book, per se. I think most people pick up guide books when they're headed to that particular destination and aren't really to interested in delving into the history of the place. People are lazy. They want quick answers. You have to remember that we are FANATICS - so I would market more directly to the diehard Disney fans - special interest, so to speak.

[wdwspider]

Originally Posted by llama

I think it's a fascinating idea Spider - but I wouldn't market it as a Guide Book, per se. I think most people pick up guide books when they're headed to that particular destination and aren't really to interested in delving into the history of the place. People are lazy. They want quick answers. You have to remember that we are FANATICS - so I would market more directly to the diehard Disney fans - special interest, so to speak.

You and daisy are absolutely correct, this is not for the newbie. Luckily Disney is a highly popular and fanatic driven company. Their is still plenty of audience out there to justify the endeavor. An interesting option could be a more typical guide book with tid bits and facts thrown in rather than details, details, details.

I still like the thought of it being an "ultimate guide book" although I see the point of being weary of this title. Obviously it would be tailored around a guide book setup and structure with the facts positioned so they correspond to the section your are in. Talking about past Polynesian Diner Shows in the Restaurant section for example.

The time to publication is a big problem in some respects. Not an issue with areas never created (Beastly Kingdom or the David Copperfield Restaurant), but more sensitive to realistic rumors. You wouldn't want to list a rumor about a Nemo ride and have it published after the ride is really here. Of course careful wording and disclaimers could help on this front. In which case, my book could be the first with the published info (even if it were only in rumor form). There is much to think about. A web site companion is an awesome idea. In fact a DVD-ROM web supported version is an awesome idea. But I am jumping too far ahead with that thought. lol

[dznygrl]

It sounds like something I would truly DEVOUR.

Spider, I love the idea. I think you guys have already admitted that there would be some difficulties to it, with keeping rumors updated and that type of thing......but if you did your best to cite sources where the information came from (and with proper disclaimers of course) that book could make for some FASCINATING reading!

If you made it a yearly publication like other guide books out there, then each year could contain the "best" info that the year had to offer. But with your website companion, you could add updates...stuff that would maybe creep into the next year's edition if it was a rumor proven to be true. (Does that make any sense? )

I don't even remember how to type out my thoughts anymore. But anyhoo, I think it sounds like an idea that would be both fun to create AND to read!

[Erin]

Dizzygirl!

[BuzzLightyear]

I think it's a great idea for the WDW veteran.
I would buy one in a heartbeat.

[Princess Tessa]

I would also buy one in a hearbeat! Spider - go for it!!! I think you should make it!
Call publishers and get help/info on publications time frames and maybe even talk to some people who work on the other guidebooks out there and get their advice on how to minimize the whole rumored ride thing...

[Dana]

Spider is 100% correct. I LOVE WDW guide books. I think your idea has tons of merrit. I like the concept very much and would definately buy that kind of book. I would also like to see a planning only book like passporter without the information. Just a WDW planner...that would be wicked.

[pumouse]

I responded to this yesterday and it's gone!! I love the idea! Sounds great!

[iluvwdw]

What a GREAT idea!!!!!!!

[DisneyHog6]

I think your idea sounds great. It's not the right book for the folks who are planning their first trip to WDW. Those folks already have enough to thinkg about, so they just need a book that's cut and dry, right to the point and just give the info to them on a platter. But your idea sounds perfect for folks like us... The ones who know the in's and out's of WDW, who spend countless hours on WDW sites chatting about our favorite colored WDW lint, etc. I know I love learning new things about WDW...

I'd buy your book...