Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2000: Expert Advice from the Inside Source (Birnbaums Walt Disney World, 2000)

Rating:
Summary: Extremely useful!
Review: Are you wondering how much is admission to the parks? Do you want to know what's in store for you when you get into Disney World? How about, when is the best time to go? Where can I stay in Disney World? Well it's all in this book. When I went on vacation last year I would constantly use it for reference. My friends and I would read up on what would be in the each of the parks. The next day we would have all our rides and places picked out to see and visit. This book should be able to answer many questions about Disney World. What especially nice about this book is that it lists some of the events going on for the new millennium. If you're looking for a book with it all (maps, rides, shops, tips, and plenty more) check this book out. Even after returning back from Disney World, the book is a great souvenir. You can always check out the pictures to say, "I've been on that," "We had a great time there," or "I remember..."

Rating:
Summary: Good to the Last Drop
Review: Every year, without fail, I purchase a new Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Guide Book. Why, you might ask? Walt Disney World changes from year to year. Each year a new resort may open, or a new attraction, and some years whole entire theme parks have been added. There have been years that I have not been able to visit this smorgasborg of fun, yet I always know what's happening down there thanks to this wonderful guide. I feel completely satisfied and refreshed just leafing through its pages. Everything you need to know whether your a first time visitor or a seasoned Disnoid can be found in this publication. I've read some of the other Disney World guide books out there and I find them filled with cynicism and sarcasm that personally, I can do without. Disney World is an enchanted place and this book can help put you in the proper frame of mind when planning your vacation to the "happiest place on earth". I highly recommend it. It truly is good to the last drop!

Rating:
Summary: The Official Line Doesn't Stack Up
Review: If you want a non-bias opinion, buy the UnOfficial Guide. This is a ridiculous guide slated to the side of Disney. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone except for the pictures which are fair at best.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of facts, very few helpful tips.
Review: In terms of sheer facts, this book has them all. What is missing is any sense of what attractions are best for what age kid or any tips on how to manage your times in the park. Since the guide is official, the idea is that everything is perfect. I love Disney World - and agree it's a great family vacation place - but I could have used more guidance and fewer factoids.

Rating:
Summary: Well, it is colorfull......
Review: My family and I recently had a 10 day visit to Orlando and I ran out and bought "Walt Disney World with Kids 2000", "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2000", and Birnbaum's. I read them all from cover to cover, made lots of calls and now consider myself to be an expert on the subject of how to cram the best stuff into the best days for your florida trip. After reading "The Unnoficial Guide", Birnbaum's book was a big dissapointment. His book did not give half of the information that "The Unofficial Guide" gave. About the only good thing I can say is it does make a nice souvineer book, but If you are like me and want as much info on every subject you can think of smashed into your brain, get "The Unofficial Guide". We are going back again next February and I won't waste my time or money on anything but.

Rating:
Summary: Never Leave Home Without It
Review: My family has been going to Disney for the last 10 years. We don't leave home without our Birnbaum guide. We go every November and buy our newest edition prior to leaving. We use a highlighter to mark things that we would like to do, making it easier when we arrive at the park.

Rating:
Summary: Birnbaum's the best!
Review: My fiance and I went to Walt Disney World last year for the first time together (it was also the first time for him). We found the Birnbaum book to be the best, we also bought The Unofficial Guide but the Birnbaum book was the book we brought with us to Florida. The phone numbers, rates and the "Great meals and good times" sections are invaluable! We are going to Walt Disney World for our honeymoon next year and I can't wait to buy the 2001 edition!

Rating:
Summary: Good to the Last Drop
Review: These two books give an excellent knowledge base when read together...unfortuntely not as individual books. Birnbaums is total "Gung-ho" disney and the unofficial guide i think goes a little too far in the other direction. I think they are farthest apart on food...From Birnbaum you'd think you could eat your fill of good to excellent food at moderate (or at least value/for money) prices....from the unofficial guide it seems like you couldn't find even a decent grossly-overpriced meal...that is why the truth lies somewhere in the middle. If I had to choose one I'd probably choose the unofficial guide but I think you would be missing VALUABLE information. I had my whole trip planned before I left...reservations, plans (albeit loose ones), an idea of what was good for kids, what parks were closed for repair (yes that happens! something that wouldnt have ocurred to me without this info) and what places i wanted to be sure to see and what i could do with out... It was also nice to know where all the bathrooms were! These things may not seem like much...but believe me they are major when you are with chidren! These books are necessary and save you from saying "if i only knew than what i know now..." now if they were only one book instead of 2...

Rating:
Summary: Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2000
Review: This book gets you very excited about your trip to Walt Disney World. It has many "hot tips" on when the less crowded times are, also you find out things the "uninformed" person would not know about WDW, like the "e-ticket" and the best times to visit your favorite rides. It can truly make your vacation the most magical experience of your life! On the down side, Birnbaum's books are the "official guide books" of WDW and they tend to have a positive outlook on everything, like the hotels and food. Our family found the food overpriced and tasted the same at practically every restaurant we ate at! It over glamourized the hotels also. But I would recommend this book for first time Disney visitors, It is very helpful.

Rating:
Summary: Unofficial, Schmunofficial!
Review: Well, I am so dissapointed in all the reviews I read bashing this official guide, while praising the unofficial! I used this guide in 1994, my first visit there, and it saved me. My husband and I are going in December( the off season, and least crowded by the way!) and it is his first time there. Again, I feel this guide gave us the most comprehensive, and complete overview of the whole place. We have planned where we will eat, what attractions we want to see most to make the most of our six day trip, and have a very good idea of what everything will cost. My view of the book has never been that it is so biased. I thought it was pretty honest as far as my last trip there as what to definately see, and what to skip. I fully agreed. This is one of the largest, most dizzying places to visit on earth, but if you go with a good of what you're getting into, the trip can feel well worth while, and worth all that hard earned cash you'll spend on it! Get this book!