Disneyland & Southern California with Kids, 2002-2003

Rating:
Summary: No Web site Updates As Promised
Review: Disneyland & Southern California with Kids, 2002-2003 contains lots of helpful tips and suggestions. It also includes Disney's California Adventure and Downtown Disney. However, I cannot give it more than 3 stars because it just isn't updated for 2002-2003. To many things changed in 2001 (even early 2001) that should have made it to the book but didn't. For example, Rocket Rods are no more but the book makes numerous references to them. Country Bear Jamboree has closed but you would never know it by looking in this book. All through this book I fell as though I'm reading the 2001 version.

On the plus side, the hotel and restaurant guides are very complete (since the prices are only given in relative terms to each other this section isn't really dated) and the ride reviews are thorough. Also, it does include some limited information on other attractions such as Knots Berry and Universal.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful Tips But Out Of Date
Review: Disneyland & Southern California with Kids, 2002-2003 contains lots of helpful tips and suggestions. It also includes Disney's California Adventure and Downtown Disney. However, I cannot give it more than 3 stars because it just isn't updated for 2002-2003. To many things changed in 2001 (even early 2001) that should have made it to the book but didn't. For example, Rocket Rods are no more but the book makes numerous references to them. Country Bear Jamboree has closed but you would never know it by looking in this book. All through this book I fell as though I'm reading the 2001 version.

On the plus side, the hotel and restaurant guides are very complete (since the prices are only given in relative terms to each other this section isn't really dated) and the ride reviews are thorough. Also, it does include some limited information on other attractions such as Knots Berry and Universal.

Rating:
Summary: No Web site Updates As Promised
Review: Good book on tips for kids, but ratings of rides is so-so. The biggest disappointment is the book says --- see a certain web site for updates. There aren't any updates at that website, just an advertisement for buying the book. Also, there is too much that is out of date. A disappointment there are no web updates as promised in the book. Otherwise could have been the best book out there, but without current information why buy it?

Rating:
Summary: Agree whole-heartedly with "A reader from Berkeley, CA"
Review: I purchased this book on a whim about a week before our trip with 3 kids to Disneyland and surrounding attractions. This book included not only the obvious necessary tourist information (restaurant, hotel, shuttle service, etc.) but tips on what time of day to ride certain rides to reduce your wait in line and even where to sit on a certain ride to avoid/reduce motion sickness. I really appreciated the summary of the rides in each section of Disneyland that included the length of the ride/attraction. That way, we could "guesstimate" our wait in line by about how many people were in front of us.

I would highly recommend this book to not only people headed to Disneyland but also surrounding attractions (Universal, Knott's, Legoland, and Magic Mountain). It will reduce the stress of planning your trip and make the price of the book well worth it! Have a wonderful time!

Rating:
Summary: Well researched, clearly written, and accurate
Review: The information provided in the book is well presented and thought out, but is dated, particularly in light of the cover title of "2002 - 2003". Also, the link in the book for updated information does not work. The ride ratings are helpful in determining which ones might be too scary for children, but do not give you any sense if the ride might induce motion sickness. Overall, is does give a nice overview of Disneyland and surrounding attractions, and provides nice details of the various rides, but purchasers of this book will need a backup source of more current information.

Rating:
Summary: Good information but dated
Review: The information provided in the book is well presented and thought out, but is dated, particularly in light of the cover title of "2002 - 2003". Also, the link in the book for updated information does not work. The ride ratings are helpful in determining which ones might be too scary for children, but do not give you any sense if the ride might induce motion sickness. Overall, is does give a nice overview of Disneyland and surrounding attractions, and provides nice details of the various rides, but purchasers of this book will need a backup source of more current information.

Rating:
Summary: Well researched, clearly written, and accurate
Review: We just got back from Disneyland, on a spur of the moment trip, and picked up this guidebook in LA the day before. We would say it pretty much prevented a disaster from happening.

The main points were made prominently (e.g., do Fantasyland only in the early a.m. or late p.m. to avoid kid-congestion, run to the Blue Bayou first thing in the a.m. for reservations, do Soarin' Over California first as the best ride in the park, don't sit in the back-row wings of Star Tours if you're easily car-sick, etc.).

I would disagree that the info is dated; if some points are (an inevitable risk for all guidebooks), they're far outweighed by the book's strengths.

We don't have kids, but the kid-comments were extremely helpful nonetheless, as they helped us avoid the screaming masses and tripping over parked strollers. (We love kids, but not wall to wall, all day, and on vacation.)

Specific strengths were 1:- suggested itineraries, by time of day and age (these were accurate and well thought out!) 2:- restaurant reviews, in detail 3:- hotel reviews and map 4:- "Insider's Secrets" and other hints on everything from how to best spin the teacups to where to best sit for the fireworks.

It seemed to us that the reviews were objective, pointing out (gently) the negatives along with the positives. Of the rides, restaurants, and events we did, we can vouch for the accuracy of just about every review! Finally, the writing was plain and direct, making it a quick read (we only had a day) with minimal fluff.

Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Disneyland with kids and a budget
Review: We used this book to plan our family trip to Disneyland. We found it to be full of great information and family-oriented advice regarding hotels, places to eat, and most importantly for our older children - how to get the most out of the rides and attractions in the Park.

The helpful hints for rides and how to get the most out of Fast Passes, helped us keep the line waiting down to a minimum - even on days when the park seemed packed with visitors. We were able to plan a balanced adventure for our younger and older children alike - as a family.

Every place to acquire anything edible was reviewed. And with the helpful hints we were able to maximize eating pleasure and budget constraints. Like visiting the Blue Bayou for a late lunch instead of dinner. We had all the ambiance and avoided the dinner costs. Our kids loved it.

If you have children and are going to visit Disneyland, this is the book to get to help you maximize family fun at the "Happiest Place on Earth". It provides sensible information to the entire family to help plan and execute a vacation that everyone will remember for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: Disneyland with kids and a budget
Review: We used this book to plan our family trip to Disneyland. We found it to be full of great information and family-oriented advice regarding hotels, places to eat, and most importantly for our older children - how to get the most out of the rides and attractions in the Park.

The helpful hints for rides and how to get the most out of Fast Passes, helped us keep the line waiting down to a minimum - even on days when the park seemed packed with visitors. We were able to plan a balanced adventure for our younger and older children alike - as a family.

Every place to acquire anything edible was reviewed. And with the helpful hints we were able to maximize eating pleasure and budget constraints. Like visiting the Blue Bayou for a late lunch instead of dinner. We had all the ambiance and avoided the dinner costs. Our kids loved it.

If you have children and are going to visit Disneyland, this is the book to get to help you maximize family fun at the "Happiest Place on Earth". It provides sensible information to the entire family to help plan and execute a vacation that everyone will remember for years to come.