Rating: 
Summary: IF I HAD TO CHOOSE ONE BOOK TO TAKE THIS WOULD BE IT!
Review: Hands down the best Disney book...year after year. I have purchased it for several years now and each time I find it extreamly helpful. I think that the information is invaluable and I wouldnt think of going to Disney without it. That said, I think Birnbaum's official book should also be purchased because between the two books you get the most balanced view. Birnbaum is totally "pro-disney" so the unoffical guide provides the right balance for that... But the unofficial guide can be...ummm... very hard on some aspects of Disney and Birnbaum provides a good balance for that. The unofficial guide is very hard on the food... I've been there, it isn't as bad as the book makes it sound... in fact most of it isn't "bad" at all. But like i said if I had to pick one book it would be the unoffical guide... Birnbaum's book tows the disney-company line way too much to be your only guide
Rating:
Summary: Don't do Disney without this book!
Review: Having recently returned from Disney World all I can say is don't leave home with out reading it. (Its a bit bulky to haul around the World with you, but I did see other's with it.) I bought my copy about6 months before my trip and it was a HUGE help with planning our trip. As 2 adults traveling in the so called "off season" with no children and 7 days to see the World, we did not find the touring plans necessary. We did gleen much information about restuarants, viewing areas, hints for early entry, E-tickets, what to avoid at what times etc. very helpful. This book made our trip run much more smoothly than if we had just wandered the parks with no preparation.
Rating: 
Summary: The best of the bunch
Review: Over the years, I've purchased close to a dozen different WDW guidebooks. This is by far the best. Its coverage of "the World" is comprehensive and very balanced. The author explains what he likes and doesn't like--and why, often presenting readers' comments when they don't agree with his. Every attraction (ride), hotel, and restaurant is rated according to a star system. The touring plans, although not infallible, provide an outstanding way to minimize the time you spend standing in line. Best of all, it's written with a great sense of humor--necessary in a 700-page travel guide. Some quibbles: The author provides a balanced view of the advantages and disadvantages of lodging and dining outside Walt Disney World, but the guide's coverage of off-property hotels and restaurants is very sparse. The maps, although serviceable, are not the greatest.
Rating:
Summary: Made a potentially disastrous trip a great one instead
Review: It would be tough to overstate how helpful this book was in planning our recent trip to Disney World. The 700-plus pages may seem excessive, but if you choose the chapters you need from the table of contents, this book can make all the difference in whether you have a stressful trip or an enjoyable one. The book's advice on how to avoid long lines at rides and restaurants was worth the price of the book alone. The writer's sharp insights are complemented by literally hundreds of personal reviews from readers of past editions of the guide. This may be very well be the only guide you need to enjoy Disney World, although I found the "official" guide to be very helpful as well, especially in learning the basics of how the different disney parks and resorts are laid out. The "unofficial" guide, it should be noted, also has plenty of helpful advice for those visting Universal Studios and Sea World, too.
Rating:
Summary: The book Florida residents recommend
Review: Yes, we always recommend this book when friends/relatives tell us they're coming to Disney World. Why? Because every time we go to one of the parks (remember there are 4 theme parks here plus 3 water parks), we always see people having a miserable time! It doesn't have to be that way, and this book is great for showing people ways to avoid the misery and enjoy the fun. Don't worry about doing everything the book recommends, but read it and you'll have a much better idea of how to get the best Disney experience for your family/group. The one area that this book could improve upon is its lodging information which has breadth but not much depth. In other words, you'll get hotel names, phone numbers, and value ratings, but no descriptions of the properties which vary widely, trust us! For the best information on accommodations, try Frommers. PS-the author's not kidding about the importance of comfortable shoes and sunscreen!
Rating:
Summary: The best guide for beating the crowds
Review: I have purchased a number of editions of the Unofficial Guide to WDW as well as other guide books over the years and, in my opinion, the Unofficial Guide is the best. He's a bit tough on the restaurants, but his reviews are both the restaurants and the attractions are comprehensive. You may disagree with the writer's opinion on a ride or two, but he's generally right-on and usually presents opposing viewpoints as well. However, the reason to buy this book is the comprehensive touring plans. They work extremely well, saving you hours per day. While some may not want to follow the plan rigidly, just following his general guidelines will make the difference between a dissappointing day standing in line in the Florida sun, and a fun vacation, free from vacation burnout.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the BEST
Review: Do NOT waste your time with any other Disney related book. I am a Disney fanatic, and despite having been to the parks 5 times in the past 10 years (basically once every other year), I had never purchased a guide. However, with three kids (1, 4 and 8 years old) I felt the need to plan our year 2000 trip for it to be a success. I purchased just about every book available on the parks, the Unofficial Guide happened to be the last one I picked up just before our trip in August (one of the most hottest and heavily attended months for the parks.) I wish it had been the first. No other book will give you a more IN DEPTH and HONEST view of the parks. This was the first time EVER that we managed to see and do everything the Parks have to offer and I do mean everything. Not an easy feat with an infant but the book made it all possible. Our trip was a COMPLETE SUCCESS, so much so that we are planning our 2001 trip. THANKS A MILLION MR SEHLINGER P.S. When will your 2001 edition be published?
Rating:
Summary: A Disney -Travel Must
Review: The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland has a lot of information, and is, in some ways, more useful than the more glossy Birnbaum guides. The Unoffical Guide is much more honest in reviewing rides and attractions, and has extremely useful information and ratings on the local hotels. In place of photos, however, it relys on sarcastic, crudely drawn cartoons, which may be off-putting to some, but if you can get beyond those, you can wade through page after page of touring tips. What interested me the most where the descriptions of the FastPass system, and the layout for the upcoming DCA park. I find that I use the book's maps quite frequently when deciding on which motel to book. All in all, a handy reference book for any theme-park junkie.
Rating:
Summary: Everything you ever wanted to know, and then some
Review: There are guidebooks, and then there is the 772-page behemoth that is "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World." It covers every conceivable angle of the Disney experience, including extensive reviews of every ride, restaurant, and resort across the park. The author's sharp insights are complemented by literally hundreds of reviews from readers of past editions of the guide. To his credit, the author goes out of his way to include many critiques from readers who vehemently disagree with his past advice, and he touches on Universal Studios Florida and other non-Disney offerings that Orlando has to offer as well. The 2001 edition is up-to-date and comprehensive, to say the least. I have only one criticism. I agree with the author's assertion that Disney World requires a tremendous amount of planning, patience, and endurance. But sometimes the book reads more like a survival guide than a travel guide. The exhaustive details can be, well, exhausting. Is it really useful to know that the Pirates of the Caribbean has an "Average Wait in Line per 100 People Ahead of You" of one-and-a-half minutes, as opposed to the Haunted Mansion, which is two-and-a-half minutes? This kind of detail sometimes left me feeling like I was gearing up for war rather than merely gearing up for a crowded theme park. Still, I found the book to be very helpful and it did make a big difference in planning for our trip.
Rating:
Summary: Cynical? Truthfull!
Review: I notice some are saying this book only gives a "bad" view of Disney World. Well, to be honest, Disney World during summertime is hot, crowded, full of rude pushy people, terrible over priced food, and can be just plain miserable. In other words, I rate it as the second best vacation I've ever had (first best was meeting my wife in Saint Petersburg, Russia). Disney World can suck, especially during the summer and when the tourist season pushes the park to capacity. I last used this book during the 1996 summer season (yep, Atlanta olympics time) and it made my trip much more pleasant and enjoyable. So, this book may give a "negative" view, but it tells the truth, and better yet, tells you how to avoid some of the problems! I'm waiting for the 2001 edition due out three days ago to use on my trip this November. Does this say enough? I've got the 1996, 1999, and I'm waiting on the 2001 edition. BTW, Saint Petersburg Russia during June and July has "White Nights" where the sun only sets 3 or 4 hours. Try it, even if you aren't with someone you love! (You might find someone you do love!) Like I said, Disney World is the SECOND best vacation I've ever had, thanks in large part to this book.
|
