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Rating: 
Summary: Well thought out touring plans, and an enjoyable read
Review:
The strength of this book is its touring plans. Dr. Barrett has clearly spent a lot of time in careful consideration of the pros and cons of different touring styles for each of the Disney theme parks. The book seems to favor a relaxed style of touring that is popular with many families and seniors, rather than plans that minimize one's wait in line. Good advice on general touring plan strategy is also provide.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read if Planning a Disney Vacation
Review: As a frequent business traveler to Orlando, I have upon occasion found myself with some spare time on my hands. Steve Barrett's book has enabled me to maximize short trips to Disney. I have also found his book essential in "scouting" the best locations and activites for the times my family (husband and sons, ages 8 and 10) are able to join me. His book is a must read in order to make the most out of your vacation time whether traveling alone or with the whole family. Whether you have just an afternoon or the luxury of an entire week.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read if Planning a Disney Vacation
Review: As a frequent business traveler to Orlando, I have upon occasion found myself with some spare time on my hands. Steve Barrett's book has enabled me to maximize short trips to Disney. I have also found his book essential in "scouting" the best locations and activites for the times my family (husband and sons, ages 8 and 10) are able to join me. His book is a must read in order to make the most out of your vacation time whether traveling alone or with the whole family. Whether you have just an afternoon or the luxury of an entire week.
Rating:
Summary: very good Dr B
Review: Dr steven Barretts book is a direct,helpfull,user friendly,fun guide to a magical world.It is well thought out and a pleasure to read
Rating: 
Summary: See ALMOST ALL Disneyworld in 5 Days
Review: I purchased this book and two others. Quite frankly the others were rubbish. One of the other giudes suggested hints to save money on food, "don' eat", hardly a good guide.
Steve or Uncle Steve as we called him after a week of using his book knows his way around Disneyworld. His schedules whilst not perfect will allow you to see as much as humanly possible in the time you have allocated.
Here is the only problem, can you and your family keep up with his pace? I found that after four days of his schedules we were just about shot. If you are going to go "hardcore" and use his schedule then plan in a rest day somewhere in the middle. You can also just take a time out and miss a ride in the middle. Good ones to do this on are the little kiddy rides. On a rest day just go to the pool and maybe catch dinner and a Disney firework show, then get an early night for the next day.
Last year I went to Disney on 4 separate occasions, one 5 day, 2 3 days and a 2 day. Having Steves book made sure I got value for money. I have been on EVERY ride (except Dumbo) at least once, and my favourite rides 3-5 times in this period.
I truly feel sorry for people who don't use a guide and go to Disneyworld and wander aimlessly through the park. They may get 4 rides in a day, if they are lucky. If you are spending up to $1000 or more on tickets for your family to visit then get your moneys worth.
Buy the guide, read it, read it again and take it with you. It will be one of the cheapest things you buy related to Disney anyway.
Rating:
Summary: Don't visit Disney w/o reading this book first!
Review: The author really knows his way around Walt Disney World! The book is written in a concise, easy to read, entertaining manner. He gives great advice on what to see and what not to waste time on. The detailed itineraries given are especially good, to help avoid the crowds and get the most fun into a day. I live in the Orlando area and know the parks fairly well, but I learned a lot to make my next visits even more interesting! Have seen several other books about WDW, and this is by far the best!! Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Most especially recommended for vacationing parents
Review: The Hassle-Free Walt Disney World Vacation by Steven M. Barrett is a handy and practical guide to making the most of personal and family vacations to various theme parks comprising Disney World in Orlando, Florida, including Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, The Magic Kingdom, Pleasure Island, Downtown Disney, Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon. Special features include "Hidden Mickeys", tips for taking memorable photographs, fun and unusual things for repeat visitors to enjoy, and "at-a-glance" ratings from more than seventy Disney World sit-down restaurants (plus tips for being seated with minimal waits). From advice on what to bring and where to eat; to knowing which attractions and rides have minimal waits and which are least crowded at certain times of year; to two-day touring planes, extensive park-specific information and much, much more, The Hassle-Free Walt Disney World Vacation is an ideal planning guide, and most especially recommended for vacationing parents with young children in tow!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't use this to Plan Your Vacation
Review: There are a LOT of very good Official and Unofficial Guides to Walt Disney World - this is not one of them. First off the author, Steven Barrett, confesses he is "a rabid WDW aficionado. [He]has yet to find a ride or attraction at WDW that [he] didn't enjoy..." This was my first tip off that the forthcoming information was going to be biased. For this kind of 'guidance' I should have stuck with "The Official Guide" by Birnbaum. Secondly there is nothing 'special' or different about this book when compared to "The Unofficial Guide" In fact, "The Hassle-free Vacation" is seriously lacking in key areas of information:. For example: WHERE to stay is covered in only 5 pages. A brief synopsis of each On Resort property is listed (you can get more complete information off the Walt Disney Web site) and only one paragraph is listed about Off Property hotels. (You're given the names and phone numbers of a few hotels plus the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau phone number. HOW TO GET AROUND the resort is less than one page long with the recommendation that you rent a private car. If you are staying on the Disney property and plan to use their bus services you are told routinely to 'check your Transportation Guide'. What I DID like about this book are the following: A nice breakdown and brief description of each attraction in each park. (Keeping in mind that Steve likes everything. His touring plans, btw, seem to be very similar to the Unoffical Guide - I haven't compared them side by side/line by line, but generally appear to reinforce each other) Also, I liked the listing of full-service restaurants and the maps of each 'world'. Bottom line: This book is good for people who just want to know a little bit about what to expect from the attractions at WDW. It is NOT a tool for planning your vacation. Those people who are nit-picky planners who want to research every aspect of their vacation (like me) will find the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World the best source; The Unofficial Guide is also good for people like me who mentally start their vacation while planning it. (Don't let it's enormous size intimidate you.) This book WILL NOT HELP YOU figure out How Long to Stay, Where To Stay, How to Get the Most Bang for Your Buck, How to Save Money when Booking or Planning your Vacation, Which Park Ticket Option to Buy or What Special shows/events/attractions are available but not widely publicized. For me this book was a waste of money - much of the same information could be found in guide maps and brochures available within the hotels and parks.
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