Subsonic Radio

Does anyone use the canned touring plans provided in the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World or on http://www.touringplans.com exactly? We tend to start with one, but customize the heck out of it (I'm sure this drives Len Testa nuts). How about you?[/url]

Been going to WDW since 1972. I could have written most tour guides. Usually when I read them I end up saying, 'that's what I do' and realize people are telling MY secrets to an easy vacation at WDW!!

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I personally dislike the Unofficial Guide and the touring plans they offer. I think the book is way too negative and the plans unrealistic, espeically for first time visitors. I much prefer Passporter as a guide book.

I prefer anything that gets people to do the opposite of what I do, I have only read the Unofficial Guide, so I can't say about the Passporter, it has had some good points but for the most part it's all stuff I can find out by talking to other Disney nuts..........uh Fans. I do agree it is a little much for first timers, but Disney is like that anyway for first timers, lots, and lots, and lots to remember.

We LOVE the Unofficial Guide! I don't use the touring plans anymore because we go so often, but I used to. I recommend the Unofficial Guide and its touring plans to everyone I know.

When I first started planning our trip and had not found the wonderful message boards..I did buy the UG book. It is so pack with information it is just about as confusing as WDW! Yes, I also thought with a little planning and asking the right questions message board is where I got most of my answers. I also think a first time WDW visitor needs somethhing though, it is not something that you want to just go to the gate and do....I feel bad for those people...and I know that there are! Yikes, I spend good money to go and at the prices that are being charged you would think people would plan a little at least! But, some people don't know what they are getting into. So to answer Yes and No....

We bought the UG a few years ago. It is chock full of useful information. We even ripped out the touring guides but ended up doing our own thing. Now we just kind of wing it. I think if you have a short period of time and you want to cram everything in then it's probably a good thing.

We buy the UG, but it's mostly to get some current info and see how various eateries and hotels are rating. We never use the touring plans; they seem chaotic to me and they don't really matter to us because we spend two weeks there at a time.

AKLRULZ wrote:I personally dislike the Unofficial Guide and the touring plans they offer. I think the book is way too negative and the plans unrealistic, espeically for first time visitors. I much prefer Passporter as a guide book.

I cut my teeth on the Unofficial Guide back when I was a Disney World n00b and found it great. I liked the touring plans because it tells what to do, when and that kind of hand holding I felt was useful

The UG actually was responsible for turning me onto Disney. Not because we used the touring plans to the T, but just because I found there to be a method to the madness. Because we strategically choose our parks based on the day of the week and time of day, we use the UG only for the section that talks about "best times to visit attractions". It was responsible for sending us on the road to planning each day down to specific attraction-by-attraction itineraries. We love it, and usually make sure we have a relatively recent copy before we go.

UG is easily the most comprehensive printed WDW resource I've seen. You add in the resources available at their website and it's pretty darn amazing. But, I don't think I could bring myself to follow their canned touring plans unless I was going during peak season. And I intend to try to never do that.

If you go often I've found it's best to tour on instinct. That way you can respond to changing crowd conditions or just for impulse attraction stops.

i think a combo fo the ug touring plans with your own instinct is the way to go. use theirs as a basis and if you want to sking something, skip it, if you want to ride SM twice- do it.

its unofficial therefore you don't have to follow it. Now if you buy the Official Guide Plans...you may not Deviate from it or you may be asked to leave the parks. I personally won't pay for one..i'm waiting for Len to send me one free since i'm a fellow Steeler fan. I would buy one but it seems he is always on vacation and doesn't need the money from the book sales. i'm not buying the "this goes to Hanna's college fund" i'm sure she will be writing the "Unofficial Guide to Psycho-Disney Therapy" for children who have parents with Peter Pan Syndrome. she's set......no need for college. who knows she might rebel and do an unofficial guide for Universal?


personally i enjoy reading reviews and looking at pro's and con's. my philosiphy on seeing everything is overkill. enjoy it at your pace. there is nothing that you have to see. besides it leaves so much more for the next visit.

We usually buy a Birnbaum's every year we go. As far as planning I just do that on my own. My wife laughs at me because she tells me that is the only thing that I am that anal about.