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 enlarge | Authors: Bob Sehlinger, Len Testa
Publisher: Wiley
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $10.83
You Save: $9.16 (46%)
New (47) from $10.83
Avg. Customer Rating:  29 reviews
Sales Rank: 292
Media: Paperback
Edition: Revised
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 864
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.1 x 1.7
ISBN: 0470285702
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.06875924
EAN: 9780470285701
ASIN: 0470285702
Publication Date: September 2, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 4 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Few left in stock - order soon. Code: W20090107053936Y
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| Customer Reviews:
 For a Trip to Disney World There is No Better Guide December 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Every two years my wife and I go on a trip to Disney World, usually preceded by a week on the Disney Magic (cruise ship). I've been using this guide exclusively for about a decade and it has become indispensible. We plan all our stays, day-plans, and dining out schedule by Bob's reviews.
It is a big book to read, but a Disney vacation is anything but cheap. This book will help you make the most out of your visit so you can know ahead of time where you want to go and what you want to do. The reviews of every park, hotel, and restaurant are spot on. We have never left a venue and say "they got it wrong" in the book. There are also great tips for dining and other activities outside of Disney. Package plans, money saving ideas, etc are discussed.
Also, don't think the book will spoil any "spontaneity" of going to Disney, especially for the first time. Disney Word is a giant place with a lot to do and your time is limited. If you don't plan in advance or know what to expect then you can leave "the World" very disappointed.
One question revolves around the need to buy a new book each year. I say the answer is yes. Disney is a dynamic place. Every year things change. Some venues close, new ones open. Hours change, programs change, etc. I buy the newest version before each trip and save it as a reference until I go again. It also makes a great gift for friends and family going there on vacation. Buying a used version at Amazon Marketplace is fine...who cares if it's used?
 Better than last year's, but still very negative... December 1, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This year's book didn't have as many mistakes as last year's, but it's still very negative. Does the author even like Walt Disney World? Also, I couldn't disagree more about his opinion to avoid the Magic Kingdom's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. I've gone several times and usually it's really crowded on Friday's and the weekend's, because more locals go. I also disagree about avoiding the park that has evening Extra Magic Hours! I have found that, yes, the park is very crowded before the Extra Magic Hours begin, but once they begin the crowd thins out. It also says that there are only a few attractions that are open. That's just not true. There's a list of what attractions are open for the morning and evening Extra Magic Hours on the Disney site.
He does have a lot of useful information, but his book is not the best out there! The best would be, in my opinion, the passporter books. The authors go to Walt Disney World at least a few times a month. I've never found any mistakes in their books.
Great for Information Junkies November 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If you are the type of traveler that likes to have loads of details about your trip, this is the book for you. It has the most extensive info about all the Orlando parks, hotels, resorts, rides, restaurants etc. It is invaluable for planning a Disney vacation. I have been reading it for days and keep finding new interesting tips and tidbits. Enjoy!
Great Resource November 24, 2008
Very powerful planning tool that gives unbiased insight into the parks. Especially powerful when coupled with the access to touringplans.com given when purchasing this book!
Good information and tips presented poorly November 6, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
This book has some excellent tips and excellent information, and it can minimize the amount of time you spend standing in line. It's a nice supplement to the official guides and I'm glad I bought it. However, I have some major problems with the book, and they are as follows:
-My fundamental problem with the book is that it is written in a very negative, cynical tone. I get the impression that the authors don't even like Disney World, and they take pot shots at the Disney company every chance they get. After reading this book I'm actually a little less excited and a little more nervous about my trip.
-The book seems geared more toward families with small children who go to Disney World during more crowded times. My girlfriend and I do not have children and we are going to Disney during a less crowded, off peak time so much of the book is not applicable to our situation.
-The format of the book is to offer descriptions and reviews of various attractions followed by quotes sent in by readers. Most of the quotes are negative, which I think is unrepresentative because most people enjoy most attractions. The few people who have a negative experience will be more motivated to write in with a complaint.
-I have a Ph.D., and reading this book gave me flashbacks to writing my dissertation and reading for my doctoral comprehensive exams. I think planning a Disney trip is an enjoyable part of going to Disney World, but reading this book is more like work than fun and it makes planning for a Disney trip seem more like work than fun. There's actually a section with mathematical formulas!
-The authors seem to judge many things based solely on cost and monetary value. However, my criterion for a Disney vacation is convenience and an avoidance of stress. I hate driving when I'm on vacation, but the authors recommend renting a car or driving a car to Disney World and much of the information is geared toward people who drive. The book offers criticisms of the Disney's Magical Express shuttle service which I think is one of the best perks of a Disney vacation. The book also criticizes Extra Magic Hours and I had a wonderful time using EMHs during my last trip.
-The authors are extremely critical of Disney World eating places, and they come off as food snobs. They seem to only give good reviews to the most expensive restaurants, which somewhat contradicts the book's focus on cost. They also trash the Disney Dining Plan, which I happen to like. It saved me an enormous amount of money during my last trip. The book does not delineate which restaurants are on the Disney Dining Plan and which are not so this was confusing for my planning.
-The book contains a great deal of information about other theme parks in the Orlando area such as Universal Studios and Sea World, and in keeping with the negative tone of the book the authors seem to favor these non-Disney parks. My bottom line is that a critical review of Disney attractions and restaurants is good and is something you can't get in the official guides, but the authors take it too far - a book about a Disney World vacation should make you feel good about going there and this book does not.
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