Rating: 
Summary: a must have
Review: this is a wonderful book as it is not to harsh on them but is not biased i think this is a MUST have and also i think the unofficial guide is a MUST have balance between the two and you will have a very magical vaction PS THE OFFICIAL GUIDE COVERS THINGS MORE THOIRGHLY LIKE RECREATION
Rating: 
Summary: The most current info, but slightly biased.
Review: I felt that of several books I read, this was the most up to date of them all. Despite this, I found it to be lacking in any sort of criticism of the attractions. Certain attractions that other books seriously bashed were given glowing reviews here. Many of the photographs used in this book are available at Disney's web site. I felt slightly cheated discovering this. For a more unbiased read, I suggest "Frommer's 99 Walt Disney World & Orlando". Frommer's also includes a suggested age for each attraction, which I found particularly useful.
Rating:
Summary: Great pictures, but....
Review: I really love the pictures and artwork in this book. The graphics make the read a bit more than what it really is... a sales ad for Disney. There are no reviews in this book. Everything is sugar coated to sell. The guide is designed to push the services with the highest profit margins. Yes, Disney is a business, but do you really need to pay them for the privilege of being duped? If you buy this book, make sure you also get a non-Disney publication for the real information.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive and informative...
Review: This book is fantastic, but it is best when used with other "un-official" books. Because this is THE guide to WDW, it tends to give a biased opinion on the attractions and hotels, which can end up making your vacation much more expensive than it has to be. The "un-official" books give you tips on how to save money, how to avoid the crowds, and which attractions are only "so-so" and not worth the 90 minute wait in line. All in all, this book is a must have for planning your vacation. As a person who is planning a 3rd trip to WDW, using "un-official" books can add another perspective and increase the usefulness of this particular book.
Rating:
Summary: A must-have for anyone planning a trip
Review: This is the quintissential WDW guidebook. Filled with detailed descriptions of every hotel, ride, show, restaurant and more, it has everything you need to know and more. With the knowledge you gain from this book you will be able to spend your vacation time having fun, rather than spending time in unnecessary lines or wasting it on silly things. This book also has a number of money saving coupons in it, and should be taken along on your trip to serve as a guide.
Rating: 
Summary: Good information for Disney-only travellers
Review: This book is fine if you are only planning to see the Disney parks. It has in-depth coverage of th 4 Disney parks plus Disney properties and sgops. But in my past couple of Orlando visits I've gone to places like Universal Studios and SeaWorld. This book covers none of that.
Rating:
Summary: The DISNEY WORLD BIBLE !! a must have
Review: You must have this book, especially if this is your first visit to Disney World!! It explains the history and all the attractions, plus where to eat and how to arrange things like special "charcter meals". NOTE: It has no non-Disney World info for Orlando.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent resource for those who want a great trip!
Review: I can honestley say that this guide is a must for those who are not familiar with the World, and those who have maps in their head. Although my family knew much about WDW, we still found the guide great for quick reference, and detailed information about some attractions, which can often help you decide whether or not you'd be interested. There is an entire cavalcade of tips, and there are lots of information for those obsessed with Walt Disney World. I would defineltely reccomend this book to anyone planning to spend a good deal of time at the parks, as it can be very useful.
Rating:
Summary: It helped us a lot!
Review: As a member of a family that goes to Walt Disney World almost every year, I love this book. On the vacations before we got this book, we would just stumble around the different parks only visiting the attractions that looked neat and had short lines.But then we got this book and discovered that there were lots of fun attractions and things to do then we had ever realized! Plus, the book included tips for getting the most out of our trip. When we went back to Walt Disney World the next summer, I had the best time I could ever remember having. I may be just a stupid seventh grader compared to all of the adults out there, but I think that one of the major reasons that parents take their kids here is to let them have lots of fun, and they can't truly do that until you take the advice of this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Official View and Very Informative
Review: The Birnbaum Guide is the official view of WDW, and therefore tends to leave out some helpful information which it deems is not in Disney's best interest to distribute. In this way, the Unofficial Guide is better. However, since a WDW vacation is so expensive, it is probably best to go the extra mile and get both, to ensure you have the full picture. (For that matter, the best and most up-to-date info is available through the members of online services such as Compuserve's FLORIDA forum or USENET's rec.arts.disney.parks.) One note about packages. I too wish Birnbaum went into more detail. However, I think their conclusion is completely accurate. This is our eight trip in six years to a Disney resort and there is no question that, with the exception of some of the off-season packages (including Fall Fantasy [late August and September], and Jolly Holidays [early December]) you're always better purchasing your hotel room, your admission and your meals separately and a la carte.
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