Rating: 
Summary: Propoganda
Review: This is just fluff from Disney. It isn't much more helpful than getting the map once you are inside the park. We had a wonderful Disney trip, but it was made better by the Unofficial Guide to the park. If you like to see glossy pictures and brag sheets, get this book. However, if you want advice on where to stay and how to save some money, get the Unofficial Guide. It is much more helpful.
Rating: 
Summary: Just do what the book says.
Review: Take it from a former Disney cast member: just do what this book says. Plan your trip at the times it tells you to, and plan your day with the schedules that it provides. Sometimes, you just have to conform to enjoy a "hassle free visit". And isn't that what we are all looking for in life?
Rating: 
Summary: A Minor Warning
Review: Yes, this is a good (not great) book full of information on Disney World.HOWEVER, it should be noted that this is also the "Official" book on DW, which means that it is not nearly as forthcoming on the "Disney Warts" as it should be. Everything is edited by Disney, and it is not nearly as upfront as the Unofficial version that is also available here.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't go there without this book
Review: This book has everything you need to know about Walt Disney World. So, if you plan to go there take this book, or even better: read it before you go, so you won't wait in lines for anything, and you are gonna have a time of your life.
Rating:
Summary: Great Disney World Guidebook!
Review: This is a great Disney World Book. It said everything you need to know, from fireworks to waterslides, it is the best and most clearly telling book there is.
Rating:
Summary: Just back with a beaten up guide
Review: Having just returned from WDW last night I am writing this with a well-beaten copy of the Birnbaum's guide in front of me. It is worth every dime I paid and I highly recommend getting one prior to going to WDW. It is "Pro-Disney" as the official guide but we never found anything untrue or over optimistic. In fact, in many cases, they "undersold" the advice. We quickly found ourselves leafing through to the "Hot Tips" since they really are good ideas. The guide helped us plan prior to leaving and adjust our plan once we got there. The ability to read ride descriptions before walking across the park and finding something was inappropriate for younger/shorter/easily scared children was worth the cost alone. We looked at some of the "unofficial" guides and have no regrets about the Birnbaum's. We are already planning our next trip and putting more wear on our guide doing it. Some things we will do for next time: Stagger early rise and late to bed days. If you stayed up for fireworks don't try to be the first family at Epcot the next day!
Whatever the price difference for staying on Disney property is, I will gladly pay. My time is worth way more than $20-$50 an hour when I am on vacation and the traffic on I-4 the day we left convinced me that I didn't want to drive in from an off Disney location ever!! That $50 a day extra for a room on Disney might be money well spent.
Best advice we got from one of the unofficial guides was to drive to the parks other than the Magic Kingdom from Ft Wilderness where we were staying. Parking is free for WDW resort guests and it saved us the bus to TTC to park to TTC to cabin cycle. Since we were already on Disney property, it never took us more than 20 minutes from our cabin to the parking lot.
Get your Fast Passes early and often. Since you can get a new Fast Pass as soon as your window opens on your last one, you can spend most of your wait on a ride if you plan carefully. Having the guide let me know the length of a ride or show and I could adjust Fast Pass pickup. The guide is great but the free Disney supplements are essential for the most up to date information about park openings and show times. Finally, get the propaganda video tape from Disney (free). We watched the tape, checked the guide and then went to the park and it was great. Put them together and you will have a much more enjoyable time at Disney.
Rating:
Summary: Good book, needs balance
Review: The key to planning a good Disney Vacation is understanding the source of your information. Birnbaum is writing what Disney wants people to perceive Disney to be, perfect. While this book gives you good planning information, take it with a grain of salt and understand that you have just paid good money for a travel brochure that, in effect, should be free from Disney. This is the only place that you will find all the pretty pictures of WDW, and is the PERFECT book if you are planning with kids for that reason alone. Birnbaum's books are the "insider" information, which would make you think that you are getting information that you would not get anywhere else, but that is far from being true. There are a number of planning guides that share the same information that you will find here. I have not been a big fan of Birnbaum's books in the past, yet they have been getting better. If you plan to buy this book, fine, but also get the opinions from another independent source such as a Disney fan in your family, the Internet, or the "Unofficial" guide to WDW. Balance out your information with a dose of reality and you will feel good about the investment in this magical journey. The key to planning a good Disney Vacation? Balance of information - get it from more than one source.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Leave Home Without It
Review: If you think you can travel the 'World' without some expert advice you'll be wrong. This is a MUST have. You will enjoy your trip so much more if you read this book. There is so much to see and do at Disney it is truly overwhelming for the novice Mouseketeer. This book will save you time and money and a lot of stress.
Rating:
Summary: Very good for Newcomers and Veterans alike
Review: I really enjoy this book. Even though I've seen Disney more than 9 times, this book really gives accurate descriptions of what I've seen and what to do. It also offers great advice on resort pricing and visiting expenses. I would definately recommend this book to anyone who was visiting Disney because it's updated every year and very, very current!
Rating:
Summary: First time with family
Review: In planning our trip to WDW I ound Birnbaums to be the best because of size - it can be carried with you!! Some guides while being comprehensive would take longer to browse through than your entire vacation. Birnbaums is clear, concise yet with enogh detail to make trip planning a breeze.
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