Originally Posted By u k fan Ok, so I apologise now because I'm sure to be repeating a question that's been asked elsewhere, but I'm planning my first DL trip so y'all will have to bear with me! I am OC about trip planning and I devour guidebooks like a big old devoury thing. I have to know everything! Before my first WDW trip I must have bought every book going (easily double figures) and I have plenty for DLP too. So what I need to know is where do I start? I have last years official guide so that's covered. I am a big fan of the Unofficial Guides and have several editions of the WDW one and a DLP one, but I was annoyed to find that whole sections of the DLP one were lifted from the WDW one, including reader quotes, and I'm concerned that I'll be spending money to read the same stuff again. I'm sure I'll get one, but I didn't know if anyone had any other recommendations. I never got a Passporter Guide for WDW as they seemed quite expensive, are they worth getting and as this is my first trip would it be more useful than it might be to an experienced guest? Does anyone have any suggestions (I do prefer the Disney-centric ones)?!!!
Originally Posted By mater4 I love the Passporter. It has a section in the back to write out your plans for travel,lodging,and your daily schedule at the parks. I think it is worth getting. It is good to buy different books to plan your trip. You will have a much more relaxing trip and see all that you want to see with good planning.
Originally Posted By u k fan I'm sure the trip will be fine, it's the bit before that be the problem. Before my first trip to WDW I think I had planned too much as I started to get really nervous and I couldn't sleep properly! The only way I could calm myself was to copy passages out of the guidebooks I had into a notebook to carry with me everyday! I keep that book in a display case now with some of my more special theme park memorabilia as a reminder to chill out and enjoy the parks!!!
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt The Passporter is great! I also like The Birnbaum guide. Half the fun is planning! well, maybe not half!!
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin I love the Unofficial Guide. I've added the official guide to round it out. I think there may still be repetitive stuff, but I wouldn't feel prepared until I'd read the entire Unofficial Guide.
Originally Posted By u k fan I broke down and bought the Unofficial Guide - because it's been a few years since I've bought one it was different enough that it was worth it. I think I'll get the Passporter next month!!!
Originally Posted By alexbook If you want to go a little deeper than the basic guides, you might want to check out Kendra Trahan's "Disneyland Detective" and "Disney's California Adventure Detective." They're chock-full of factoids, though they could have used a little more proofreading. Also of interest might be "Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys" and the "Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland." I haven't read either, but they're very popular. Zagat has a Disneyland guide. Similar in spirit to the Unofficial Guides, in that it's based on visitor surveys. The "Disneyland Encyclopedia" is a trivia book, mostly about the history of Disneyland, rather than a guide book, but you might be interested. Kevin Yee's "101 Things You Never Knew About Disneyland" and "Magic Quizdom" are slimmer, and more focused on current trivia rather than the past. For "behind the ears" info, you might want to check out David Koenig's "Mouse Tales" and "More Mouse Tales" and Kevin Yee's "Mouse Trap." My own personal favorite is the completely useless but absolutely hilarious "Liar's Guide to Disneyland." After you've read a few of the others, you might want to check it out for comic relief.
Originally Posted By u k fan Thanks for the info. I'll read anything DL related and the books you recommend sound just right as I really want to know more than the basic guides offer. I'll have a look and see how hard these are to get in the UK. I think the LP store has some of them!!!
Originally Posted By irishfan Ukfan, it's about time your going to Disneyland! When are you heading over there?
Originally Posted By smedley UK fan thanks for posting this, I too will be taking a look at some of these books.. Irishfan, check out the meets section, there are a whole host of us planning on being there at the beginning of December
Originally Posted By u k fan It seems that Amazon will be the best place for most of these. I quite like the idea of the Liar's Guide. Smedley, if either of us buy a guide that's subpar let's make a pect to warn the other!!!
Originally Posted By smedley Done! Maybe we should make a pact to buy half each and then exchange after a couple of months??
