[Disney4648]

Guess What I got today?


The Official Birnbaums 2002 WDW Guide

[Goofette]

We have the 2001 book, is it worth it to get the 2002 book? I know the 2001 doesn't really have much about AKL in it, and I'm sure things have probably changed. We have several other "Unofficial" guides, but it's all 2001. I guess I need to update before we leave on our trip. ---Mickey, I'll check out amazon for my purchases ;)

[brumcg]

My 2-year old loves reading (aka "destroying") our 2001 Birnbaum's guide with all of its nice pics, but that's the only thing we think its good for! :)

I bought several books this year and flipped through several others. I don't think Sehlinger's Unofficial Guide can be beat. It's huge, not expensive, and he offers reader's opinions of the attractions that contradict his own. Many people don't like his style - they perceive it as anti-Disney; I just think he's brutally honest and I appreciate that.

My biggest beef is that the "2002" guides were probably written in the Spring of 2001. 9/11 rendered all of these guides obsolete before they were even published. I just order the Passporter 2002 guide; it was just published (Imagine that - a 2002 Guide published in 2002!) and contains the 9/11 changes.

Goofette...we found that if you have a 2001 edition, you really don't need a 2002 edition of anything. We bought Wiley's Disney with Kids 2001 & 2002. In all seriousness, I only noticed ONE thing different between the editions. She uses a "New" logo for new stuff - and I only saw one...

Bruce

[mickey]

I bought several books this year and flipped through several others. I don't think Sehlinger's Unofficial Guide can be beat. It's huge, not expensive, and he offers reader's opinions of the attractions that contradict his own. Many people don't like his style - they perceive it as anti-Disney; I just think he's brutally honest and I appreciate that.

I couldn't agree more. The Unofficial Guide is the only book that I will buy now. I have read them all, and there is no comparison. I love that he is honest about many of the deficencies found throughout WDW. We all know that while it is the happiest place on earth, it isn't perfect. We have several old guides, and he was very outspoken about the quality of the food offered on property. He was right on, and I would wager that many of the changes made to restaurants (Le Cellier, etc...) and the addition of many more "fine" restaurants could be attributed to him and those who read his guides. I would guess that he outsells all the other guides combined. Ok, off my soapbox.

[lvbug]

I am a huge fan of the un-official guide! I read it cover to cover -- dh thinks I'm crazy. Anyway, there is also an unofficial guide to walt disney -- that talks about hidden mickeys, rumors of different mishaps, etc... its pretty interesting if you are a die hard.

How is that passporter anyway, I was thinking about getting it but wasn't sure quite what it was??? lvbug

[brumcg]

I've seen an earlier version of the Passporter... It looks like a combination organizer/guidebook. It has places for you to write a daily journal, stick receipts, write down reservations, that kind of stuff. It sounded like a different idea, so I went ahead and ordered one.

Bruce

[lvbug]

let me know when you get it -- if you love it or not. Thanks lvbug.

[Disney4648]

I suggest that you all get the 2002 Edition of the Birnbaums 2002 WDW guide becuase it has info on AKL and Pop Century and has a lot more info than the 2001 guide.

[Goofette]

Does the 2002 have more information about AKL than the 2001 version? If so, and if it's a lot more then I'm going to buy it. I do like my birnbaum guide but I find it's not as honest as the unofficial guide. I depend on my unofficial guide. I think I'm going to check into the passport also. I need someplace to write down reservations. I JUST had a nightmare last night (the few hours I slept) and in it we missed our Cinderellas Castle Reservation (and several other mishaps) So now I'm getting paranoid about the trip :D Could this mean I'm Obsessing? mmmmmm.......nahhh:) LOL

[Disney4648]

Well it depends.....the 2000 guide gives barely no info and I dont know how much information that 2001 guide gives but the 2002 guides gives 2.5 pages with a nice picture and it also gives that much information about PopCentury Resort.....there is also a huge additon about the 100 Years of Magic Celebration......

[Disney4648]

Note- Thats 2.5 Pages of info about Animal Kingdom Lodge

[Goofette]

I'm going to buy the Birnbaum book. I'm glad they have more information in it. I do enjoy the photos, it gets me more in the Disney mood, plus my daughter loves looking at the pictures. I buy tons of books anyway, so I can always use another one;) My next question is...at the Disney store they told me about a book (could be birnbaums or unofficial, I'm not sure which) and it's something like "Disney for kids from kids" I can't remember the title. Anyway, does anyone have it and should I get it. I have a 7 year old who is frightened of a lot of things, so I thought getting info from a kid could be good. :) :)

[mickey]

Goofette

It is Birbaums Disneyworld for kids by kids. You can see it at Amazon here.

[Disney4648]

Yes its a really good by BirnBaums and its the OFFICIAL guide to wdw for kids...although i have the regular guide...but im sure your daughter will like i and you will like the Regular guide!

Have a good day!

[Goofette]

I just realized I have the "Walt Disney World With Kids 2001" edition by Kim Wright Wiley. I haven't even read that one yet I guess I probably don't need the 2002 edition. The only thing about the 2002 editions is I'm sure they'll all have things about AKL in them. -------lvbug, do you know the title of the unoffical book with the hidden mickeys, and the author?

Thanks and everyone have a great day.:)