 | The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009 (Unofficial Guides)
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 2008-12-01 - Better than last year's, but still very negative...
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.
 2008-11-29 - Great for Information Junkies
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!
2008-11-24 - Great Resource
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!
2008-11-06 - Good information and tips presented poorly
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.
2008-11-02 - The best Disney guide, hands down!
I just bought the 2009 version of this guide to plan our November trip to Disney. I used it in 2004 to plan our first trip and it was awesome. Everything it said was right on the money, from the hotel descriptions, advice on room requests, schedules to go by, scariness factors of rides, how to plan your trip... I simply can't say enough. I would definately recommend it to anyone planning a trip to Disney, especially with kids. It is the only book I would use
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