The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World

I think I've been to Disney World three or four times. Mostly, these were on business trips. Once I even got a behind-the-scenes tour (hint: if you are EVER offered this opportunity, jump on it! It's NOT a Small World, after all, but it is an amazing show.) The theme park complex is huge. And yes, complex. If I were planning a vacation, I'd be doing hours of pre-work to make everything I wanted to see and do was covered on a schedule, and that I knew roughly where I wanted to dine. I'd like to know about the resorts, and which one would suit my mood and budget. The guide covers the resort, the parks, the town, the resorts and restaurants, entertainment, the special events and is absolutely loaded with color photos. If you are planning your trip, this will help you and your family select the things you most want to see. (Hint #2, go early in the day and plan to see the most-wanted attractions first so no one will be disappointed.) What I liked best in this very complete volume was the section on the resorts. If you are planning to stay in any of these, you will get a good idea of what they have to offer. And if you are NOT staying at a Disney resort, there is a section on other accommodations (YAY!!!) And there is a following section on the dining facilities. These two sections will help you plan your budget and avoid sudden spending, things that bust the spending limit you may have set for your vacation. Best guide ever. Do NOT plan a trip to Disney World without this.

This is by far the best Walt Disney World guide I have ever read. To start off, let me tell you I have read quite a few Disney World guides. I have been to disney over 15 times, and I would say I know a whole lot about the ins and outs of Disney World. With that said, after reading this book I have realized how much I didn't know before! The pictures are absolutely phenomenal. If you have never been to Disney World before, you will truly get a glimpse of all the magic through the colored, professionally taken photos on each page. The fun facts about rides and attractions featured on the pages were so much fun. For example, did you know that you never actually go inside "the mansion" during your ride on the Haunted Mansion? It's actually a building type that is used in movie sets. I was stunned by this, and many, many other fun facts. There are complete ride descriptions describing every last detail to you about rides, attractions, resorts, and food. Let me tell you this, you will never need to buy a Disney World book again if you just purchase this one. It is by far the most researched guide out there, literally millions of details about everything. Whether you've been to Disney 30 times or not at all, this is the best book for everyone!

I've become a big fan of Julie and Mike Neal's Complete Walt Disney World. First of all, Walt Disney World is a visual experience, so - naturally - I want a visual guide. The Complete Walt Disney World 2008 is just that. With its full color interior that is packed with photos, when you first receive it, you'll spend a good bit of time just flipping through and perusing the photos. However, the guide also has a number of features that I think make it superior to other guides. In fact, it's actually superior to its own predecessor, the 2007 edition. I took the 2007 edition with me on my last trip to Disney in order to give it a real, honest-to-goodness experience "out in the field." I realized that the information on the restaurants and lodging was a little light. However, this guide has COMPLETELY fixed this. It now has thorough descriptions of hotels and restaurants. In fact, one point I loved about the lodging guide was that it gives you mileage to all the parks. For instance, when looking at the description for Old Key West, I can see that it is 4 miles from The Magic Kingdom. Seems frivolous at first, but it's truly not. For those planning to jet to one of the parks for dining reservations, this information gives you a good idea of when you need to set out in order to make those reservations. The lodging pages also now give you rates, restaurants and transportation details (i.e. can you take the boat from the Swan to MGM?). There's even a note of check in and check out times. The guide also contains those things that make me prefer it to others such as the tickertapes at the bottom of the pages that give you little hints and tips. The "fun finds" section underneath the attraction descriptions that give you a list of "easter eggs" and trivia to look for as you experience the attraction and, of course, a listing of Hidden Mickeys near the rear of the book. Overall, the book is what a Walt Disney World guide SHOULD be: fun. Plus, as I can attest to: it's small enough to fit into a pack so it won't be cumbersome while you're in the World. Oh and by the way, for those of you who consider buying the souvenir books, you couldn't do any better than this book. While it is most definitely a guide, it is also a great way to remember some of the attractions and sights of Walt Disney World that other books overlook. Definitely my favorite WDW guide in print.

Having been to disney numerous times and still, having not "seen it all" , I really enjoyed this guidebook. It is not overwhelming, plenty of photos ( especially great for kids), and much info on the history of Walt Disney, the animals of disney, diversions ( spa's , special tours) etc. The chapter on hidden mickeys , will amuse even the most antsy person/child, in line for an attraction. The people who don't enjoy disney are those who don't plan for the trip. You are entering a zone twice the size of Manhattan, you certainly would go to NYC with a guide book and some reservations and plans right? Disney is the same. There are ways to do it best , and have a thoroughly enjoyable time, and, then there are those who are at the top of Main St. without a clue, frustrated, and yelling " we are going to enjoy this , we spent enough money!" Obviously, they forgot to spend that few extra bucks, and some internet time planning and getting familiar with how it all works , and that is very sad. I would recommend this book for seasoned, and new disney travelers. Nice job!

It's vital to plan ahead before visiting Disney if you want to get the most from the parks. This book keeps you from standing in interminable lines, yet still see the top attractions. I liked the Daily Plans suggested in the book and easily swapped out some rides and shows to suit our guests' ages and interests. We've visited the parks dozens of times but with this book I still found overlooked shows. Disney is huge and can be quite disorienting. Knowing ahead of time what you want to see makes the day less stressful. We used the Fast Pass to get on Expedition Everest and Soarin. We also used the Single Rider option several times. Even though our recent visit was during the jam-packed Christmas period, we minimized the time standing in lines and had great memories to take away with us. For the shows and rides described in the guide, pay close attention to the summary at the end. It gives the average wait time, length of the ride, any accomodations for handicapped users, and advises on the Fear Factor. That is quite important, as some rides are too intense for young children (or sensible adults). I was terrified on Expedition Everest and wished I'd opted out after reading the Fear Factor on it. I'll be getting lots of use from this book for ourselves and our visitors. I was glad to see added restaurant section that wasn't in the earlier guide. Food is pricey inside the parks, so the guide helps you make decisions on fast foods versus splurging on a fancy meal.