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Women's Fiction
Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Without Kids 2003 : Expert Advice for Fun-Loving Adults

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Without Kids 2003 : Expert Advice for Fun-Loving Adults

List Price: $12.95
Your Price: $12.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Not worth it
Review: As a regular visitor to WDW, I have been extolling the virtues of Birnbaum's guides to my friends for years. I am currently helping some friends plan their trip to WDW without kids, and recommended this guide; after they bought it, I went out and got one myself. Now I am so embarrassed I don't know what to say to them - this guide is terrible, nothing like the normal Birnbaum's guides, or the previous editions of this book.

There are many problems with this guide: just one example is the recommended tour of Epcot. They stress that "not to be missed" attractions in the World Showcase are Canada, France, the American Adventure; other countries' showcases are "not to be overlooked." I suppose if you assume that most purchasers of this book will be Americans with absolutely no sense of curiousity and adventure, and will only enjoy what they will feel "comfortable" with, then this is a good recommendation; however, most adults I know enjoy the many other countries represented in the World Showcase much more than these three "must sees," as they are more interesting and exotic. Also, they recommend making dinner reservations at Les Chefs de France, which is a perfectly good restaurant, but you can get French food in almost any city - why not the Moroccan or Norwegian restaurants? LCDF is also one of the most popular restaurants in Epcot, and difficult to get into - why set people up for disappointment?

This guide is also seriously lacking in graphics. Personally, I like a guide that shows me a photo of what they're trying to tell me about - and this guide has few. Just because it's a guide for adults doesn't mean that it has to be a novel. I could go on and on about what's wrong with this guide.

All in all, I have to give this book a big thumbs down. I will be purchasing another guide for my friends and delivering it post haste, as this one is just plain bad.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Complete waste of money, terrible!
Review: As a regular visitor to WDW, I have been extolling the virtues of Birnbaum's guides to my friends for years. I am currently helping some friends plan their trip to WDW without kids, and recommended this guide; after they bought it, I went out and got one myself. Now I am so embarrassed I don't know what to say to them - this guide is terrible, nothing like the normal Birnbaum's guides, or the previous editions of this book.

There are many problems with this guide: just one example is the recommended tour of Epcot. They stress that "not to be missed" attractions in the World Showcase are Canada, France, the American Adventure; other countries' showcases are "not to be overlooked." I suppose if you assume that most purchasers of this book will be Americans with absolutely no sense of curiousity and adventure, and will only enjoy what they will feel "comfortable" with, then this is a good recommendation; however, most adults I know enjoy the many other countries represented in the World Showcase much more than these three "must sees," as they are more interesting and exotic. Also, they recommend making dinner reservations at Les Chefs de France, which is a perfectly good restaurant, but you can get French food in almost any city - why not the Moroccan or Norwegian restaurants? LCDF is also one of the most popular restaurants in Epcot, and difficult to get into - why set people up for disappointment?

This guide is also seriously lacking in graphics. Personally, I like a guide that shows me a photo of what they're trying to tell me about - and this guide has few. Just because it's a guide for adults doesn't mean that it has to be a novel. I could go on and on about what's wrong with this guide.

All in all, I have to give this book a big thumbs down. I will be purchasing another guide for my friends and delivering it post haste, as this one is just plain bad.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Not worth it
Review: First of all, I don't agree with a lot of their "don't miss", "don't overlook", and "don't knock yourself out" lists (having already been twice in years past (once as an adult) helps). Of course, the "thrill" rides are "don't miss". Not all adults can handle thrill rides, and not always because they're pregnant or have pacemakers (motion sickness and a fear of thrill rides occur in all ages). And the "Country Bear Jamboree", which is just an elaborate "Chuck E Cheeze" without the pizza, arcade, and ball pit, a "don't miss" (no offense to those who like it) and "Cinderella's Golden Carousel" a "don't knock yourself out" (carousel's aren't just for kids, and can be romantic)? I was also appaled at their thinly-veiled discouragement for staying in a cheaper resort hotel (mostly because families with kids frequent those). Even without kids, not everyone has that kind of money (most of us are lucky we can even afford admission, plane tickets, etc.). And there's really nothing else to speak of. No very detailed information, no real recomendations, no nothing! And yet Birnbaum's guide for families has much more information, something I find a little odd...

Anyway, if you're planning a Disney vacation without kids, try "Walt Disney World For Couples". It has better information, and their reccomedations go beyond the "E-ticket" attractions.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Not worth it
Review: First of all, I don't agree with a lot of their "don't miss", "don't overlook", and "don't knock yourself out" lists (having already been twice in years past (once as an adult) helps). Of course, the "thrill" rides are "don't miss". Not all adults can handle thrill rides, and not always because they're pregnant or have pacemakers (motion sickness and a fear of thrill rides occur in all ages). And the "Country Bear Jamboree", which is just an elaborate "Chuck E Cheeze" without the pizza, arcade, and ball pit, a "don't miss" (no offense to those who like it) and "Cinderella's Golden Carousel" a "don't knock yourself out" (carousel's aren't just for kids, and can be romantic)? I was also appaled at their thinly-veiled discouragement for staying in a cheaper resort hotel (mostly because families with kids frequent those). Even without kids, not everyone has that kind of money (most of us are lucky we can even afford admission, plane tickets, etc.). And there's really nothing else to speak of. No very detailed information, no real recomendations, no nothing! And yet Birnbaum's guide for families has much more information, something I find a little odd...

Anyway, if you're planning a Disney vacation without kids, try "Walt Disney World For Couples". It has better information, and their reccomedations go beyond the "E-ticket" attractions.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Small Guide
Review: I have 2 editions of the "without kids" guides. I think they're great! But I am speaking as someone who has been to Disney World multiple times in the past & is just looking for a refresher on the highlights & current info. I also really like this book for when I'm questioning whether an attraction is too childish for my husband & I, who don't have kids yet. If it's in this book, I know it's ok. :) It is a small book, which I think is great -- very easy to carry around with you at the park! On our 2 last trips, I have actually purchased both the "without kids" guidebook along with the regular Birnbaums guide, which provides more detailed information when you need it (but I don't carry that one around!).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Small Guide
Review: I have 2 editions of the "without kids" guides. I think they're great! But I am speaking as someone who has been to Disney World multiple times in the past & is just looking for a refresher on the highlights & current info. I also really like this book for when I'm questioning whether an attraction is too childish for my husband & I, who don't have kids yet. If it's in this book, I know it's ok. :) It is a small book, which I think is great -- very easy to carry around with you at the park! On our 2 last trips, I have actually purchased both the "without kids" guidebook along with the regular Birnbaums guide, which provides more detailed information when you need it (but I don't carry that one around!).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Small Guide
Review: I have 2 editions of the "without kids" guides. I think they're great! But I am speaking as someone who has been to Disney World multiple times in the past & is just looking for a refresher on the highlights & current info. I also really like this book for when I'm questioning whether an attraction is too childish for my husband & I, who don't have kids yet. If it's in this book, I know it's ok. :) It is a small book, which I think is great -- very easy to carry around with you at the park! On our 2 last trips, I have actually purchased both the "without kids" guidebook along with the regular Birnbaums guide, which provides more detailed information when you need it (but I don't carry that one around!).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best Book Out there
Review: I read some of the other reviews listed for this book. I can't believe that there are people who think that this is a waste of money, it is anything but...I go to Disney almost every year. The first thing I do every october is buy the newest version of this book. Don't get me wrong there are some other really good books out there, but this one has to be the very best by far. If you go to Disney often you realize that they are accurte about lines and times and a whole bunch of other stuff. So if you are looking for info but not to munch info. Get this book, or any of the other books they put out. I use this one and the general disney book as I am not traveling with kids.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best Book Out there
Review: I read some of the other reviews listed for this book. I can't believe that there are people who think that this is a waste of money, it is anything but...I go to Disney almost every year. The first thing I do every october is buy the newest version of this book. Don't get me wrong there are some other really good books out there, but this one has to be the very best by far. If you go to Disney often you realize that they are accurte about lines and times and a whole bunch of other stuff. So if you are looking for info but not to munch info. Get this book, or any of the other books they put out. I use this one and the general disney book as I am not traveling with kids.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Birnbaum's WDW without Kids Comprehensive and Concise
Review: If you're going to Walt Disney World during 2002, and you're not bringing children - no matter whether you're 21 or 61, this book will tell you all the ins and outs. Everything from where to go for a night at the clubs to where to rest you're weary feet at the parks. They even give you pointers to avoid the little curtain crawlers! You can tell that the writers LOVE Walt Disney World, but they're honest when it comes to what to pass on and even out and out avoid. I've been to Walt Disney World during the 100 Years Celebration, and other than the changes that took place after 9/11, that could not have been forseen in a book printed for an October 2001 Release date, I feel that this book serves it's purpose very well. Name it and they cover it - IF it doesn't include children.


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