I have the Birnbaum's book. Does that include EVERYTHING?? Or is there another book that is more detailed? I have been reading other people's plans and am getting stressed that I do not have enough of a plan.

I do not plan to be super structured, but would at least like to make a list for each park to check off as we do them.

I want to make sure i have a book that has everything so that I can plan accordingly.

No one book is going to include everything. We have used both the one you mentioned and the Mrs. just bought the 2008 Passporter. Both contain very good information and different, yet similar, perspectives on most of the major categories. At the same time, we have also checked different planning books out of the local library, which helped as well. In those cases, there may be a couple changes since they were published, but then again even the newest books are not 100% correct since Disney is a very dynamic environment.

Sometimes using the books as a guide, making your own checklists and notes that correspond with your travel plans is a very good start to make sure you hit everything you want to hit.

Of course, keep a look around the forums for ideas and suggestions and feel free to ask as many questions as possible.

Of course, keep a look around the forums for ideas and suggestions and feel free to ask as many questions as possible.



I should probably stop looking at the forums...lol....that is when I start freaking that I have not done enough planning or did not make ADRs at places that I would like better or whatever....ugghhh....oh well....still excited!

My top three, for very different reasons, are Birnbaum's, the Passporter, and the Unofficial Guide. If you have kids of the target audience age (almost reading to 11 or 12, as a guess), Birnbaum's For Kids by Kids is another good choice.

I totally agree with Drince88. I've found Passporter very helpful for getting my thoughts organized and I like all the planning pages and pockets. Unofficial Guide is "tell it like it is", unlike Birnbaum's which tends to sugar coat things a little, but it still has very useful for information. My son is only three, but loves the kids Birnbaum's. Lots of great pictures to get him ready for rides and what WDW has in store.

But honestly, I've learned more on Mouseplanet than almost any other source! Ask a question and you shall have it answered - honestly and by people who have a passion for helping you get excited for your trip.

My top three are the Passporter, the Unofficial Guide, and The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World.

I should probably stop looking at the forums...lol....that is when I start freaking that I have not done enough planning or did not make ADRs at places that I would like better or whatever....ugghhh....oh well....still excited!
Trip planning can be a real fun part of your trip. However, there is a lot of information out there about many different things. To help organize your thoughts, jot down your questions as well as the things you think you want to do. Ask the questions and then plan accordingly. The planning will reflect -your- trip as it best suits you and your family.

The great part about WDW is that it is designed to be visited multiple times as there is no logical way to "do it all" during any one single trip. :)

I have the Birnbaum's and the for Kids by Kids book as well.

I am addicted to MP and I feel like there is definitely a lot of information on here that I don't see anywhere else, PLUS there is more than one point of view for whatever is being discussed. So, I loooove, looooove, loooove it:)

I know we will not be able to do EVERYTHING, but I want to get in as much as possible or everything that we want to do. My daughter is only 5 and it is her first trip. I think I would like to start making this an every other year thing. I only went when I was 6 and 10 and I think they were short trips, I don't remember much. But, I think this will be a great experience and memory for her, as it is the first vacation where it is just the three of us. No grandparents and no visiting family or freinds, it's a true vacation! Yay!

Thanks for all the input:) And, as some of you have seen....I have been asking a lot;) More and more lately....getting excited/worked up/stressed/anxious for our trip!!! Buying my plane tickets this week!

Trip planning can be a real fun part of your trip. However, there is a lot of information out there about many different things. To help organize your thoughts, jot down your questions as well as the things you think you want to do. Ask the questions and then plan accordingly. The planning will reflect -your- trip as it best suits you and your family.



I meant to ask....what are the ways that you guys plan/organize your trip? Steno pad? Notebook? Print out off the computer?

Basically, what is the best way to have everything handy and maybe room to make notes as you go along?

Seriously, I am getting sooooo excited I could scream!!! My excitement is probably more than my daughter's.

I personally rate them in this order;

1 - Unofficial Guide (worth it for the Touring Plans alone but I think this is a book where you should start at page 1 and read 'till the end, at least the first edition you buy of it). If I were only reading one I'd read this every time.
2- Birnbaums (better water park and Disney Quest coverage that UOG and nice 'photos. Also much better coverage of the WDW shops).
3 - Passporter (best maps IMO. Some good ride descriptions too, decent water parks guide. Personally I don't like the planning pages too much as I prefer to set up my own tables/spreadsheets etc on the PC as I change them so many times).

i've always been partial to the passporter if only for its maps. as a contributor to the 2K8 edition however, i will shamelessly say that i believe it to be the most accurate at time of press out there.

the UG is a must for me too, although not as accurate (and it's killing me how many errors i'm finding in the disneyland 2K8 edition).

other than character photos, birnbaums is just the worst in my opinion. it doesn't have much and what little it has is often flawed.

the complete guide has plenty of pretty pictures from the 'author' (although it appears disney public relations offered up quite a bit) and it has some nice trivia but has glaring errors and omissions too.

I really like the Passporter. I find the user ratings and comments really helpful. I just got the cruise edition, to help me plan some of the details of our June cruise. I have been on cruises before, but without kids, therefore the planning is different. I really appreciated the detailed descriptions of the excursions, and an explanation of all the dining options. We have late seating for dinner, so I know how to find decent food for my kids at around 5, to hold them till dinner, and their options if they don't feel like sitting in a restaurant for a lengthy dinner.

[/QUOTE]Basically, what is the best way to have everything handy and maybe room to make notes as you go along?

Seriously, I am getting sooooo excited I could scream!!! My excitement is probably more than my daughter's.[/QUOTE]


I'm such a planner, I really go overboard. My in-laws don't want to read the books, but want me to plan out everything for them, with their needs in mind. Ok. So, I've been working on a very fun powerpoint presentation for them. I've learned a TON doing that. Yeah, I know - WAY overboard, but it's fun for me. I have pictures, clipart, everything. Once I know what they want to do (I'm going to make them write down their tops picks for attractions, food, etc.) then I'll be able to make an itinerary to include everyone's top interests. I'm planning on making a little printed itinerary book for them all. I made one for our trip to Europe and it was great. All our reminders, reservation numbers, maps, etc. Of course, I'll have my passporter and little notebook of stuff, as "guide". Like I said, I LOVE doing this kind of thing and I usually put aside about an hour each day to work on trip stuff. But, as some already know, I used to be a travel agent and I'm a full time mom now and this is my way of staying sharp on the travel thing. A little OCD, I know, but I'm ok with that. :)

So, I've been working on a very fun powerpoint presentation for them. I've learned a TON doing that. ......A little OCD, I know, but I'm ok with that. :)
I don't think "little" is the adjective I would have picked :D

I condense everything down to 1 or 2 sheets of paper. Excel, with one column per day and what we're doing that day (I tend to plan in 1/2 day chunks) - and then all ADR numbers, flight numbers, and room res numbers at the bottom.

The grid part also includes the park hours, parade times, and other show times (i.e., fireworks, Fantasmic!) in case we decide to switch things around.

But on the trip with my sister and her family (3 boys 10 and under) I told them that I was going to be a task master the first couple of hours, then we'd slow it down and go more with the flow. That worked great - we got a TON done in the first hour or two at the MK - including a surprise bonus ride on Peter Pan because there was NO line when we walked by!

I like to plan and have everything handy, so I think I will combine the tips in the last two posts:)

Next question is....does anyone order the customized maps from Disney? They don't seem to be customized in my definition of customized.

We've ordered the customized maps, but they're really only useful as a memento of your trip or for scrapbooking. We gave the kids a WDW trip for Christmas this year, and wrapped the maps. They opened them, and looked puzzled until they figured out that the maps meant they were going to Disney World.

I love the Unofficial Guide. To me, Birnbuams may as well have been written by Disney.

I really liked the Passporter and Unofficial Guide for my first trip, but have only bought the Unofficial Guide for subsequent trips.

The Passporter website and allearsnet.com are fantastic resources too.

We've ordered the customized maps, but they're really only useful as a memento of your trip or for scrapbooking. We gave the kids a WDW trip for Christmas this year, and wrapped the maps. They opened them, and looked puzzled until they figured out that the maps meant they were going to Disney World.

I love the Unofficial Guide. To me, Birnbuams may as well have been written by Disney.



Thanks....our trip was a present to my daughter from Santa this year, too;)

I also have the Zaget guide for WDW. I havn't used it in the parks yet, going in May. But for planning and to have something small in your bag I liked it.

I agreed with everything it had said from the last trip I had to WDW. I had only gone the one time, so there was a lot I missed.