The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2005 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For some families a trip to Walt Disney World is an annual ritual, for others it is a one-time rite of passage. For all who go, it is a big-ticket vacation destination with seemingly limitless choices of lodging, attractions, dining, and entertainment. This encyclopedic guide provides you with all the information you need to make the most of your time and money. Their recommendations are based on their own staff's experience as well as surveys of Disney vacationers and Unofficial Guide readers.
I wish I could give more than five stars to the vacation planning chapters of the book. Monthly attendance data plus subjective pros and cons of visiting during each season helped us decide when to go; detailed reviews of hotels within and outside the "World" helped us decide where to stay; an outline of all the available ticketing options helped us determine what sort of park admission to buy. All in all we saved hundreds of dollars - and planned a more suitable vacation for our family - as compared to following the advice of friends and co-workers.
The chapters pertaining to each park rate four to five stars. Each ride, show, or attraction is described in detail and given a star rating for each of several age groups. Careful attention is paid to factors affecting how long you will wait in line. The author provides touring plans designed to get you to as many of the "best" attractions as possible with the least amount of waiting in line; 1-day and 2-day touring plans for families with and without young children are provided for the Magic Kingdom. Occasionally the reviews are a bit idiosyncratic but on the whole they let you know what not to miss - and what to pass up with no regrets. The guide also includes chapters on Universal Orlando and Sea World.
The chapters reviewing Disney dining deserve four stars. Again, the coverage is vast and detailed, with reviews not only of restaurants in and out of the "World" but even of counter-service (i.e., fast food) within the "World." You will either shake your head and roll your eyes at the hints for landing a breakfast reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table, or you will rush to synchronize your clocks with Disney reservation center time and start warming up your dialing fingers. I agree with other reviewers that the restaurant reviews are overly harsh and discount the extent to which a sit-down meal in some Disney restaurants can be an attraction unto itself. There is also no index to table-service restaurants in each park.
This guide contains far more information than any one traveler is going to need, and at least some of it will seem like common sense - but one person's common sense is another's startling revelation. As with any guidebook some information will be out of date; some specific issues noted by prior reviewers have been corrected in the 2003 edition. If you are a true believer in Disney magic you might not like the blunt tone of the author's remarks. However, if you are a Disney skeptic, a novice, or simply a vacationer trying to get the most out of a big-deal vacation, the Unofficial Guide is an excellent resource.

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The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2007 (Unofficial Guides) Review

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(More customer reviews)My family and I just returned from our first trip to Disney World. (It was as blast!) Because it was our first time and we were essentially clueless to the Disney experience, we bought several guides.
The Unofficial Guide by Bob Sehlinger is the one book that I kept returning to over and over again. It's full of such detailed information that even the clueless will be prepared to visit Disney World. However, *because* this book provides an incredible amount of information (such as how to increase your chances for getting into the Hot Seat for MGM's Millionaire game), it could be almost overwhelming for first time visitors to Disney World. (I often got headaches trying to absorb everything!)
In this book, you'll find a Crowd-Level Calendar, Park Traffic Patterns, Clip-Out Touring Plans, and much, much more. This book is updated yearly, so the 2006 version had information on Mickey's PhilharMagic, Expedition Everest, Lights, Motors, Action! Stunt Show, and so on.
Reader feedback is peppered throughout the book, as is the critical and often snarky comments by the author. He provides fascinating "behind the scenes" facts, too. For example, the Imagineers of Mickey's PhilharMagic thought they were being clever when they released Jasmine's deodorant scent when she flies by on the carpet. However, many people were allergic to the scent (the show was often disrupted by sneezing!) so they pulled it from the show. Another amusing behind the scenes: Disney cast members sometimes mess with the Hall of Presidents to reflect current events (e.g., during the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, the Prez had a condom sticking out of his jacket pocket.)
As you can see, the author can be irreverent.
Each attraction gets a thorough overview, as do the restaurants and hotels. For example, a phone number to each restaurant is provided, as is an evaluation of friendliness, service, wine slection, description of setting and atmosphere, menu samples/house specialities, hours of operation, and more. Although a few of the evaluations didn't jive with my experience (for example, the author raves about the Muppet 3D pre-show and movie whereas I thought it was suprisingly boring), there's enough information provided to at least get an idea if a restaurant or attraction would likely appeal. In fact, their star-system rating according to age (grade school vs. young adults vs. those over 30 etc.) is invaluable--and mostly correlated with my experience with the attractions.
I found myself returing to the Unofficial Guide over and over again. In fact, it's the only guide I took WITH me to Disney World! Although I sometimes felt overwhelmed at all the information (it's hard for a newbie to take in all that Disney World offers, especially sight-unseen), I felt PREPARED due in large part to this book.
The author is THOROUGH on his updates--including which attractions have been discontinued and the new ones to be introduced--so I know that the 2007 guide will be just as awesome as the 2006 version! (By the way, that's a picture of Expedition Everest on the 2007 cover--the new rollercoaster in Animal Kingdom that debuted in April of 2006. Here's a tip for ya: it's not HALF as scary--or fun--as people have said. I enjoyed Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom much more! The wait in the heat wasn't worth it for the Expedition ride, IMO, but we did get a pretty funny picture of the family when the Yeti makes an appearance!)
Another great book you may want to get--and, unlike the Unofficial Guide, it has hundreds of color photographs--is the The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World which was just published in April of 2007. A second edition of that book will be published at the end of 2007.

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"A Tourist's Best Friend!"-Chicago Sun-Times"Indispensable"-The New York TimesCompanion podcast available on Frommers.comFive Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide®:
Exclusively patented, field-tested touring plans that save as much as four hours of standing in line in a single day
Tips, advice, and opinions from hundreds of Walt Disney World guests in their own words
Almost 250 hotels rated and ranked for quality and value, including the top non-Disney hotels for families
A complete Dining Guide with ratings and reviews of all Walt Disney World restaurants, plus extensive alternatives for dining deals outside the World
Every attraction rated and ranked for each age group; extensive, objective, head-to-head comparisons of the Disney and Universal theme parks

Sample Rating:Ride Name: Soarin'Appeal by age : Preschool, Grade school, Teens, Young adults, Over 30, SeniorsWhat it is: Flight simulation ride.Scope and scale: Super headliner.When to go: First 30 minutes the park is open or use FASTPASS.Special comments: Entrance on the lower level of The Land pavilion. May induce motion sickness; 40" minimum-height requirement; switching off available (see pages 266-268).Author's rating: Exciting and mellow at the same time; Not to be missed. Duration of ride: 4 minutes.Loading speed: Moderate.This guide is a completely independent evaluation of Walt Disney World and has not been reviewed or approved by Walt Disney World or the Walt Disney Company, Inc.

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Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2008 Review

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(More customer reviews)Birnbaum's markets itself as the official guide to Walt Disney World and the book is so polished and professional that you could almost believe that the Disney people had a hand in preparing it. They also have the distinction of being one of a very few guides with extensive color photographs of the Disney World parks and hotels. The photos are uniformly excellent and do a great job of offering a window into the look and feel of the parks. Thera are also maps and graphics that are top notch. This certainly brightens up the book and for those who have never been to Disney World, it will help you gain a better sense of what the area looks like. The writing is very light in tone, it's easy to read and comprehend. When it comes to production values, this book is a beauty from cover to cover.
The downside of all the photos is that they leave less room for information such as in-depth coverage of hotels, restaurants, and entertainment outside of the parks. This is doubly true because Birnbaum's starts off with the fewest pages of any major guide to the Orlando area. While the authors have wisely added almost 50 pages to this year's effort, the largest guidebook to the area still has more than three times as many pages, and even the average size guides are nearly double the size. And those books are not filled with photos, they are packed with hard information and useful advice. In effect, Birnbaum's has sacrificed the detailed coverage to give you the beautiful photos and graphics.
In certain respects, this book is less well suited as a tool for in depth planning as it is a means to get excited about your trip. It is useful to the extent that coverage is provided for all the attractions and hotels. But it is of limited use since each entry is carefully phrased to emphasize the positive while doing almost nothing to offer honest comparisons, tell you where the best values are and which places are a bit overpriced, or tell you where you would really be best off spending your time. The authors certainly don't need to resort to snarky negativity, but a basic acknowledgement that some restaurants, hotels, and attractions are lacking in some way would add greatly to their credibility when praising the rest.
The Birnbaum's guide certainly has many fans, but before you buy, you should carefully consider what it is you're looking for. If your primary objective is to get a sneak peak of what Walt Disney World looks like and get a basic description of the area then this is an easy purchase. It will be a quick read and you'll have a decent idea of what to expect when you visit. If you have children, this would also be an excellent book for them to explore.
If you're more of a planner and want a lot of information, if you're curious about anything outside of the Disney Resort area, or if you want more general advice on how to approach a trip to Orlando then this book will not help you nearly as well as almost any other guidebook on the market. The acknowledged king of the detailed guides is The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 (Unofficial Guides). You'll find that Fodor's Walt Disney World® 2007: with Universal Orlando and SeaWorld (Fodor's Gold Guides) and Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando 2008 (Frommer's Complete) are also solid efforts even if they are not as detailed as the Unoffical Guide. Depending on what you're looking for, it may well make sense to buy more than one guide.
A trip to the Orlando area is usually very expensive and, especially if you have children, problems and disappointments can be somewhat traumatic. Don't stint on the advance planning as it can greatly enhance the experience once you arrive. Good luck and have a great time visiting Walt Disney World!
UPDATE: When I first posted this review, I commented that the book is so well produced that you could easily believe that the Disney folks had a hand in producing it. I meant that as a compliment but it turns out that Disney does indeed produce the book. I've since noticed that this is published by Disney Editions, a Disney owned operation. So rather than a third party guide, this is literally written and published by the owners of Disney World. Having said this, it doesn't mean that the information is inaccurate or that the book has no merit. But it does explain the lack of any critical descriptions of any kind and I do think that readers should be aware of the source. Maybe I'm the last one to realize the connection and it will be no surprise to most... I just thought I should add the information to my review and let people judge for themselves.

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Birnbaum's Walt Disney World, the most respected and well-known name in travel guides, takes readers to the world's most popular tourist attraction. Since ours is the only guidebook that's official, this book includes the most accurate information on prices, changes, and new attractions for 2008. Highlights include the scoop on "Magical Beginnings," Walt Disney World's specially tailored, money-saving vacation plan for families with pre-schoolers, and updates on Pleasure Island's new venues, eateries, and shopping opportunities.This new edition also includes info on the Magic Kingdom's Pirate and Princess parties-the park's new special-ticket interactive family adventures, complete with fireworks. We've also got more money-saving tips than ever before! Other updates include all the insider info about stage shows, parades, and nighttime spectaculars, prices and ticket options, customized travel tips for teenagers, international travelers, guests with disabilities, and a comprehensive character meal chart to help guests pick their favorite dining spots.

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The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 (Unofficial Guides) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Although I have been a fan of the UG, it appears that the editors are resting on their laurels, and not updating the book every year as they claim. This year's guide includes a disturbing amount of assertions that were not true at the date of publication, and haven't been true for years.
For example:
* The guide claims that all resorts on the monorail have child care centers. The Contemporary Resort does not, and has not since 2004.
* The guide claims that Universe of Energy is an "Exxon pavilion." Exxon has not sponsored the pavilion since 2004.
* The guide claims that guests at the Hard Rock Hotel and Portofino Bay Hotel can obtain early entry to Universal on certain days. Universal discontinued its general early entry program for resort guests years ago.
* The guide claims that there is no bus between the Wilderness Lodge and the Magic Kingdom. Although that was true at one time, it again hasn't been true for years.
* The guide lists Hidden Treasures and Gardens of the World as tours available to the general public at Epcot, even though they were discontinued earlier this year, and the UG website's corrections for the '07 guide in fact notes that the tours have been discontinued.
The index also contains some serious mistakes, such as the claim that Typhoon Lagoon is in Tomorrowland, the hours of operation for "Paradise Island", and a listing for "Lunch with Walt Disney World Animal Programs" which does not actually appear in the body of the guide (having been discontinued).
There's still a lot of good information in the guide, but its becoming less and less trustworthy every year. Wait for the '09 guide and hope that by then the editors get the message that they actually need to do their jobs.

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From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
"A Tourist's Best Friend!"—Chicago Sun-Times
"Indispensable"—The New York Times
Five Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide:

Exclusively patented, field-tested touring plans that save as much as four hours of standing in line in a single day

Tips, advice, and opinions from hundreds of Walt Disney World guests in their own words

Almost 250 hotels rated and ranked for quality and value, including the top non-Disney hotels for families

A complete Dining Guide with ratings and reviews of all Walt Disney World restaurants, plus extensive alternatives for dining deals outside the World

Every attraction rated and ranked for each age group; extensive, objective, head-to-head comparisons of the Disney and Universal theme parks

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The Complete Walt Disney World 2011 Review

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(More customer reviews)"Twice the size of Manhattan, the 47-square-mile Walt Disney World is the No. 1 vacation destination on the planet. It includes four theme parks, two water parks, a sports complex, a shopping and entertainment district and 19 resort hotels. A visit here is not just an escape from day-to-day doldrums, it's a reawakening of that free-spirited, good-natured soul who lives deep inside you--the one your spouse married, the one you want your children to emulate. No other man-made vacation land so embraces creativity, optimism or a sense of wonder about the world." - From The Complete Walt Disney World 2010
Our first and only visit to Walt Disney World was in 2006, and oh, how I wish I had Julie and Mike Neal's annual guide for that trip! The good news, however, is that since 2007, the Neal's have published their fantastic annual guide not only for those who've never been to WDW and need to know what to expect, but also for those who want to revisit the wonders of the WDW.
A colorful smorgasbord of 550 color photographs, insider information, fun facts, event overviews, show snapshots, ride debuts/retirements, restaurants, hidden Mickeys, parades and so much more, The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 is the only guidebook to the parks and surrounding area you really *need* to have in your possession (although you may *want* more).
Right of the bat, the Neals tells us everything that's new at Walt Disney World, which is especially helpful for those who've been to the parks before. For example, Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen from Disney's The Princess and the Frog make their debut in the Magic Kingdom, as does Barack Obama in the all-new Hall of Presidents (he even has a speaking part!).
In addition to the gorgeous photos and fascinating facts, The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 includes:
*A quick, accessible overview on how to plan your trip
*Comprehensive information on Magic Your Way ticketing and Disney Dining Plan, including prices for various time frames
*The five biggest mistakes WDW newbies make (and how to avoid them)
*31 practical ways to save money (including free stuff at the parks, discounts and where to get coupons and saving codes)
*Navigating the parks with special circumstances (e.g. disabilities and children)
*Hour-by-Hour wait times for every ride and event
*Park Resources and prices (e.g. parking, lockers, ATM locations, etc.)
*Attractions at-a-glance including symbols for price range, fun factor, ride description, average wait time, length of ride/event, character meet-and-greets, etc., as well as mini-reviews (the Neals aren't afraid to say when something is cheesy, irritating or undesirable--but not in a mean-spirited way like in another WDW guide).
*Colorful, easy-to-read maps for each park
*Hundreds of Fun Finds, Fun Facts and Hidden Mickeys (for example, The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios fills 95,000 square feet with more than 60 Audio-Animatronic characters. The James Cagney robot wears one of the star's actual tuxedos, donated by his family.)
*Complete list of characters and where they'll be for photo ops and autographs
*Planned days in half-hour increments for those who want an organized day planner
*Fastpass information and return times
*In-depth overviews for each park (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom), as well as Downtown Disney and other recreational areas
*Restaurant descriptions, recommended fare, pricing and advice (for example, find out which restaurants are kid-friendly, which are noisy, which are pricey, etc.)
*Accommodations, including hotel descriptions, location, and pricing
*Special and seasonal events
*WDW telephone directory
At 352-pages, The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 is the finest guidebook to the parks and surrounding areas (I've bought all the popular ones, including the ones published by Disney). I have every edition of The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 (since 2007) and this outstanding guide by the Neals just gets better and better every year. After all, they've visited WDW over 1,000 times and go there at least once a week--experts, indeed!
So if you're wanting to visit Walt Disney World for the very first time (just you wait--it's an indescribable experience) and you're not sure which book will be the most helpful, accessible and informative, look no further: you want The Complete Walt Disney World 2010. It's not only good for those who want (nay, need!) the inside scoop on the parks, but also entertaining for the whole family with its eye-popping color photos, insider information, behind the scenes peeks and intriguing facts.
Highly recommended!
-- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot

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Over 500 color photographs highlight this beautiful yet remarkably thorough guide, a straightforward, fun-to-read, show-and-tell extravaganza that rates and reviews nearly 700 attractions, restaurants, shops and hotels and offers hundreds of helpful tips.Theme parks are the heart of the book. Each ride and show is showcased on its own page or pages, with an insightful description, frank review, specs such as hour-by-hour wait times and often quirky bonuses such as Fun Finds and Hidden Mickeys.A fantastic planning toolThose who love to plan a vacation will delight in the guidebook's obsessive attention to detail. Comprehensive hotel reviews spotlight discount rates, room quality and decor (with photos!) and fun swimming pool features. An Activities chapter uncovers unique experiences outside the parks, whether expensive or free. New for 2011, a Walt Disney World A-Z section is an exhaustive Disney planning encyclopedia. Telephone and Internet directories hold hundreds of useful listings. Smartly organized with color-coded chapters, the book makes it easy to find what you need.A family favoriteMoms will love the book's thoughtful focus on children. Included are creative ways to involve kids in planning a Disney vacation, Fear Factors for every ride and show, and many Family Matters theme-park tips. A Character Guide reveals where to meet Mickey Mouse and 80 other Disney stars. Young families in particular will find the book helpful, as the abundance of photos give children a way to read it with their parents.Award-winning adviceThe only independent Disney guide ever honored by the Walt Disney Company, The Complete Walt Disney World is the winner of Disney's iParenting Media Award for Outstanding Family Product. Altogether the book has won 15 national and international book awards.From the back cover:Don't miss out on top experiences thanks to a colorful Best Bets showcase.Fully enjoy rides and shows thanks to in-depth theme-park chapters.Avoid long lines with Fastpass tips and hour-by-hour attraction wait times.See the rides and shows before you leave home, thanks to 530 color photos.Add variety to your trip with activities like fishing, golf and surfing.Ensure quality family time thanks to child-focused activities and advice.Book the right hotel with reviews that include photos, swimming pool features and discount rates.Be armed with resources on everything from face painting and tea parties to park tickets and dining plans.

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Rethinking Disney: Private Control, Public Dimensions Review

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(More customer reviews)As authors Mike Budd and MAX KIRSCH along with contributors Lee Artz, Sean Griffin, Dick Hebdige, Radha Jhappan, Daiva Stasiulis, and Susan Willis show in this collection of eleven interdisciplinary essays, the Walt Disney corporation has grown far beyond its origins in animated films and theme parks to become a BIG multinational corporation with global cultural programming power. Although the authors purport to take an economic approach to corporatism's "Disney-sized" problems, they do little more than show their confusion on corporations and capitalism. Corporations are creations of the state and do not arise spontaneously in a free market, but the authors seem to know little about the origins of these "artificial persons". Here are the topics that they do cover:
INTRODUCTION: "Private Disney, Public Disney" by Mike Budd
PART ONE: ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
"Dis-Gnosis: Disney and the Re-Tooling of Knowledge, Art, Culture, Life Etcetera" by Dick Hebdige;
"Disney's Bestiary" by Susan Willis;
PART TWO: CAPITALISM, COMMODIFICATION, GLOBALIZATION
"Monarchs, Monsters and Multiculturalism: Disney's Menu for Global Hierarchy" by Lee Artz;
"The Lion King, Mimesis, and Disney's Magical Capitalism" by Maurya Wickstrom;
PART THREE: HIERARCHIES: RACE, CLASS, GENDER, SEXUALITY
"Curiouser and Curiouser: Gay Days at the Disney Theme Parks" by Sean Griffin;
"Anglophilia and the Discreet Charm of the English Voice in Disney's Pocahontas Films" - Radha Jhappan and Daiva Stasiulis;
PART FOUR: REPRESENTATION, SIMULATION, APPROPRIATION
"Everybody Wants a Piece of Pooh: Winnie, from Adaptation to Market Saturation" by Aaron Taylor;
"Truer than Life: Disney's Animal Kingdom" by Scott Hermanson;
PART FIVE: URBAN PLANNING AND THEMED ENVIRONMENTS
'Saying No to Disney: Disney's Demise in Four American Cities" by Stacy Warren;
"Synergy City: How Times Square and Celebration are Integrated into Disney's Marketing Cycle" by Frank Roost;
"Disneyfication, the Stadium, and the Politics of Ambiance" by Greg Siegel.
I thought the difficult economic issues were avoided as well as the analogy of the corporation to a Roman General and his army. Part Three was the best on Class and Heirarchies with all three authors contributing works in the section providing a superb and vitally important introduction to cultural theory and cultural programming.
With Tony Blair ever-whispering into Bush's ear, the British empire now American-powered, and Disney too a victim of Anglophilia, it is difficult to believe that American Yankees ever fought a war against the British, let alone two wars!
In short, a concise socialist critique of a certain corporation.

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In recent years, the Walt Disney Company has grown far beyond its beginnings in animated films and theme parks to become a major multinational corporation with global reach. As the company's activities have grown more complex and its influence more ubiquitous, both its internal practices and its attempts to control its now global public environment have generated conflicts that contradict the classic Disney publicity image. The 11 wide-ranging, interdisciplinary essays in this collection cover topics including Animal Kingdom; Gay Days at the theme parks; Disney's connection to sweatshops; commodification of The Lion King on Broadway; the transformation of Winnie the Pooh; Disney's experience in urban planning in Times Square and Celebration, Florida; and Disney's America. A comprehensive introduction contextualizes the essays and relates them to earlier Disney studies.CONTRIBUTORS include Lee Artz, Sean Griffin, Dick Hebdige, Radha Jhappan, Daiva Stasiulis, and Susan Willis.

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