[TaraRae82]

It came in the mail yesterday! I've finally gotten a chance to sit down and read a little today and boy have they added a lot of info since the last one I read (2001)!! I'm going to try to customize a touring plan for DH and me since we don't do rides like Mission:Space, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain. :) We much prefer Peter Pan's Flight and Spaceship Earth-type rides. LOL Anyway, if you don't have this book, you should invest. I got mine from Amazon from a private seller for $10 + $3 shipping.

[unamadreditre]

I love my Unofficial Guide. I have to read it at least once a year cover to cover.

[iluvwdw]

I am so glad you love it! The last one I had was in 2004. I am SURE it has changed since then! Trying to decide if I need another one...

[gingles]

Congrats, it's a great book. From repeated personal experience, the touring plans work!

Also, the guide has gotten thick enough, it can make a good seat while waiting for parades or illuminations.

[TaraRae82]

OMG! It's over 800 pages now! Crazy. Non-Disney goers (like my DH) have no idea how much info and planning there is when it comes to taking a trip to WDW! One question real quick. I'm going in early Oct when, according to the books, the crowds will be minimal (never been later than Labor Day before). It says that the touring plans are really very important when crowd levels are that low but they're still very effective. Do I go with a touring plan or do like I've always done and just ride things as I see shorter/reasonable lines? Anyone been during this time? Sorry, I know this question is better for the Theme Parks board but while we're on subject.....

[DISPATCH302]

Great Idea!! I just ordered mine on Amazon, Thanks

[TaraRae82]

No prob! It retails for $19 in the US so that's quite a savings when you're looking at percentages. (less than 50% of the retail!)

[Princessbaby]

I LOVE my guidebook! It has helped tremendously with my planning!

[bosoxx65]

I get the Fodor's <sp>? Disney book whenever we are planning a trip. One year i got a book just to read even though we weren't going

[gingles]

Originally Posted by TaraRae82

OMG! It's over 800 pages now! Crazy. Non-Disney goers (like my DH) have no idea how much info and planning there is when it comes to taking a trip to WDW! One question real quick. I'm going in early Oct when, according to the books, the crowds will be minimal (never been later than Labor Day before). It says that the touring plans are really very important when crowd levels are that low but they're still very effective. Do I go with a touring plan or do like I've always done and just ride things as I see shorter/reasonable lines? Anyone been during this time? Sorry, I know this question is better for the Theme Parks board but while we're on subject.....

The touring plans are REALLY helpful for high crowd levels, but we still used them pretty closely last Labor Day week when crowds were quite light. Following them might let you walk right onto some rides rather than having 15-20 minute waits (that add up).

Also, besides the touring plans, the charts in the back that show the best times for each ride are very helpful. For our off-season trip, we paid more attention to those.

[leslieh]

Originally Posted by iluvwdw

I am so glad you love it! The last one I had was in 2004. I am SURE it has changed since then! Trying to decide if I need another one...

Yes you do need another one!! It is much bigger than the 2004 edition. You will recognize many of the guest quotes and letters, but I like to order a new version every year anyway.

[bribren]

Wait, everyone is glossing over the point that you skip Splash Mountain. Ok, so you avoid the coasters but Splash? Come on, thats almost criminal..

[cinderbella]

I have found that some people swear by touring plans and some don't.
I have never used a touring plan and I have never felt the need. However, I do go enough to where if I miss something then I don't stress because I know I'll be back sometime soonish.
This may be me jumping the gun a bit but I think a lot of people who use touring plans have kids..and I think for them it's very effective. While when DH and I go we can pretty much figure out what we want to see and the best way to aviod crowds.
My suggestion is read up on ALL the rides..figure out which ones you really want to see. Then when you get to the park take it in for a few minutes and try to see which way people are moving and go the opposite way. My DH and I went for our honeymoon last year in mid-October and we had a great time BUT it was pretty packed..so don't be suprised if it's a little more busy than you expect.

[TaraRae82]

Yes, we'll skip Splash Mountain. We just don't enjoy rides with dips any larger than Pirates. Our stomachs just can't handle it.

I've been to Disney enough times that I'm sure I could put together a touring plan myself but I figured theirs are tried and tested true so why not take advantage! Other than the new rides that have come out since my last trip (Stitch for example), I won't read up on rides since I'm familiar with them. DH is clueless but he won't read up because he doesn't care enough! LOL :)