Rating: 
Summary: I have an older edition, but you MUST have this Guide
Review: I agree this is an absolute necessity for any Disney World vacation. It has terrific tips on what days each park is the busiest and sample itineraries for people with kids in different age groups. It is also great because it gave us information on character dining, which was so great both times we have gone to Disney. I took this book along with us so that we would have important phone numbers while we were on our trip, and it has maps of the parks. That was nice when we left ours behind somewhere. We would not have known about several things like character dining and how Fast Pass works without reading this book first. Don't leave without having read this book!
Rating: 
Summary: The Standard
Review: I always take this book with me, even though I prefer the opinions and reviews in "The Unofficial Guide." It is usually kept up to date and also lists the newer attractions I may not have seen yet, plus it often mentions out of the way places I don't normally go see, but mean to. Being a WDW fan (short for fanatic) and having visited the park over 15 times in 20 years, I feel I'm as much an expert as the book, but it's a great reference.
Rating:
Summary: Only One Little Thing Wrong
Review: I found this book to be very helpful in all details. Although the maps are smaller and more difficult to see detail than the ones you pick up at the parks, they're not bad and are helpful for advance planning. I found the food section to be especially useful and you can trust what they say about the attractions. There are also some excellent tips to help you "navigate" your WDW experience and minimize the frustrations. The only complaint I have is that the pages don't tear out easily. I like to tear out just the pages or sections I want to take along each day so I don't have to carry the whole book. The strong high quality paper was not easily coaxed out and sometimes tore the printed part of the page. A box cutter would help, but who travels with those now?
Rating:
Summary: Disney Fanatic
Review: I have been on several Disney vacations in the past 6 years. Without this book and the editions before it I would've never learned that the busiest day is on Mondays or how much the tickets were. I have been to Disney 3 times within the last 6 months! This is the Disney Bible!!!
Rating:
Summary: The Complete Guide- A MUST for First Timers
Review: I have been to Walt Disney World in FL many times (at least 12 in the past 10 years, I've lost track), and I still found things out about WDW that I never knew. It's helping me to plan my upcoming trip with ease.
For people who have never been to WDW- YOU NEED THIS BOOK! Let me tell you, WDW is bigger than San Francisco and it's countless resorts, restaurants, rides, shows and attractions can be overwhelming if you don't have a game plan. You will miss key things if you don't buy this guide.
The book highlights all the attractions in each of the 4 theme parks, plus Downtown Disney, the Disney Cruise Line, Waterparks, Resorts and recreation. It also has an extremely helpful "Good meals, great times" chapter which makes it easy to find the restaurants that are right for you. Many helpful bonus features are sample itineraries, character meal guides, timing tips and more.
I highly recommend this book- these people know WDW. I also highly recommend Walt Disney World!! So book your vacation today!
Rating:
Summary: A great book.
Review: I thought this was an amazing book. Now, I don't say that just because I love anything that has to do with Disney, but I truly think that it is very helpful. I own the 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 editions, and after reading them I have come to one conclusion, they aren't the best guide if this is your first time going to Walt Disney World. The book is published by Disney Enerprises, so it says everything in the park is amazing. If it is you first time, I would suggest a book that is not published by Disney, such as Frommers or the Unofficial Guide, because they rate the rides and attractions. Ohter than that, this book is the one for you. It can tell you some of the inside facts that ones that are not published by Disney can't. This guide is fully illistrated, so children can enjoy it also. That is my book review, I hope I didn't bore you to death.
Rating:
Summary: For a Great Trip
Review: If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World this is a must have book. It tells you all about the rides, shops, and dining. Everything is broken down by park and tells you hints or helpful tips and how to spend your time wisely. I've been to Disney many times and this book, a new one every year, helps in informing me on what is new and what has changed. If you are big on food Disney has some of the best and the dining section is great. The best of is a good way to see what others have liked. Over all this is a great book with a lot of information on when to go, temp, rain, special events, everything you can think of. This book is like the Bible of Walt Disney World. Get it and enjoy a great trip!
Rating:
Summary: OK but has errors
Review: In areas sutch as resturants there are major errors! For example in the grand floridian cafe they sat in one part they serve lunch only in another part they say that they serve lunch and dinner! Otherwise it is great!
Rating: 
Summary: Birnbaum Sells Out to the Disney Machine
Review: Many years ago (1997) I went to Disney World with my wife and were very satisfied with the Birnbaum Guide. This year (2004) we plan to visit Disney with our 3 year old daughter, and recently picked up the 2004 Birnbaum's Guide. After reading only a few paragraphs and noticing a much rosier picture of Disney than what we would expect in an "objective" guide, we looked in the front and found that Birnbaum had SOLD OUT! The publisher of this guide is now Disney Editions! I will be returning the Guide to the bookstore tomorrow, and I will buy a Guide from one of Birnbam/Disney's competitors.
Rating:
Summary: Absolute must for a Disney trip!!!
Review: My boyfriend and I went to Disney for Spring Break this year and are planning another trip for either August or December. I need to replace my edition because it got wet during one of florida's storms. Anyway, this book is so well worth the price, it pays for itself quick. Not only do they give times when the parks are less crowded, it also gives descriptions of every resort, ride, restaurant, and absolutely anything else associated with the Mouse. The dining guides are especially helpful, they give price guides of which restaurants offer cheap options, since I'm a poor college student, lol. Also, they tell you which restaurants have vegeatarian options, a BIG plus for me being a vegetarian for 10 years. i read an earlier review about the Alien ride being closed, it will not be reopened unfortunately, they are making a Lilo and Stitch ride in its place. The tips in the book about the parades and Fantasmic are especially helpful, see the last show when it's offered---it's much less crowded!!! Also, if you don't want to see an earlier parade, go to Toon Town to see the characters or hop on a ride, the lines are far less daunting. Needless to say, I'm very grateful for the Birnbaum guide, i'm hooked for life:)
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