Deal Domains - The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009 (Unofficial Guides)

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Manufacturer: Wiley

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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.06875924
EAN: 9780470285701
ISBN: 0470285702
Label: Wiley
Manufacturer: Wiley
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 864
Publication Date: 2008-09-02
Publisher: Wiley
Studio: Wiley

Related Items
Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2009 Birnbaum's Walt Disney World For Kids 2009 (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids By Kids) Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Dining Guide 2009 PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009: The Unique Travel Guide, Planner, Organizer, Journal, and Keepsake! Fodor's Walt Disney World® with Kids 2009: with Universal Orlando and SeaWorld (Special-Interest Titles)

Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating:

Summary: Saves HOURS of time
Comment: My husband & i got the 1990 version for our honeymoon in High season, hot July of that year. We could literally see the crowds just a few minutes behind us. We estimate the book / info / plans saved us 2 hours a day. That trip. And on the subsequent dozen trips with updated versions.

The important thing to remember is this needs to be read BEFORE you reserve a hotel or even tell the kids. WDW is an expensive proposition and this book tells you ways to budget your money, time, energy. Totally the best in this arena - the official guide is practically a souviner program by comparison.

This book is great at helping you:

a) decide IF go - & how much you will spend
(if Santa at the mall freaks your toddler - what will a 6' rodent do? and if all they recall is the pool - maybe next year.)
b) when to go - what factors to consider (school vs. crowds?)
c) where to stay (big decision if you have small kids or older adults or a limited budget - or me!)

d) deciding on a plan for touring the parks. Some complain about the authoritative tone - hey - just read the first few chapters and you can understand at least WHY you are broiling under the FL/ CA sun for hours. It's your choice - make it an informed one and you'll be better prepared to roll with the punches. That is the core message here - Have a plan or ...

The place has changed a lot in the 18 years and the book has gotten a bit overwhelming. Read it to make decisions then slice out the relevant (or irrelevant) pages for hauling around.

BTW: everyone complains about the food cost - but i think it is not as bad as others make out. sure you can tailgate back to your car - but that's between your foot leather and your wallet. It is no more expensive than food @ concert or sports event. & you can't beat the character buffets if you have a fan.

& BTW from the rather AR: WDW is the 43 sq. mile property. Magic Kingdom is the cute park with the characters IN WDW.

Good Luck!

Customer Rating:

Summary: This book paid for itself immediately
Comment: If you're going to Walt Disney World and are serious about getting the most out of your vacation you must get this book. It's that simple.

This book has all the insider information that Disney may not want you to have. It is an incredible wealth of information - there is something here for everyone.

The biggest payoffs for us were knowing which days would be least busy. By using this book we were able to modify our vacation days so we would have several days with smaller crowds. The book tells you which days are least busy, by park, by day of week. By the time the crowds arrived for Christmas, we had done everything we wanted to do.

Another huge tip was the small child switching off policy. If you have an infant you can get a pass that allows one parent to hold the child while the rest of the family rides the ride. Then the family returns, and take the kid while the caregiver uses the Fastpass line to ride the ride. The best part of the switching off pass is that up to 3 more people can ride the ride AGAIN! So it's basically a way for most of the family to ride the same ride twice. No one at Disney told us about this tip, but a cast member complimented us on using this policy.

The one part of the book that was perhaps wrong was guiding us away from extended hours. If you stay at a Disney resort you get to stay later. The book told us the lines would be insane. After the Epcot fireworks we did Mission: Space and there was zero line and that was during extended hours.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Very Detailed Guidebook
Comment: This is a great guidebook but it has A LOT of words. Be prepared to spend many months reading this if you want to know everything before you go. I research every vacation to the fullest before I leave but I'm getting very bogged down in this book. So far I haven't seen anything that was left out. It is very thorough.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Great Guide
Comment: This guide was the most helpful book among many I have read on Walt Disney World.

Customer Rating:

Summary: For a Trip to Disney World There is No Better Guide
Comment: Every two years my wife and I go on a trip to Disney World, usually preceded by a week on the Disney Magic (cruise ship). I've been using this guide exclusively for about a decade and it has become indispensible. We plan all our stays, day-plans, and dining out schedule by Bob's reviews.

It is a big book to read, but a Disney vacation is anything but cheap. This book will help you make the most out of your visit so you can know ahead of time where you want to go and what you want to do. The reviews of every park, hotel, and restaurant are spot on. We have never left a venue and say "they got it wrong" in the book. There are also great tips for dining and other activities outside of Disney. Package plans, money saving ideas, etc are discussed.

Also, don't think the book will spoil any "spontaneity" of going to Disney, especially for the first time. Disney Word is a giant place with a lot to do and your time is limited. If you don't plan in advance or know what to expect then you can leave "the World" very disappointed.

One question revolves around the need to buy a new book each year. I say the answer is yes. Disney is a dynamic place. Every year things change. Some venues close, new ones open. Hours change, programs change, etc. I buy the newest version before each trip and save it as a reference until I go again. It also makes a great gift for friends and family going there on vacation. Buying a used version at Amazon Marketplace is fine...who cares if it's used?

More Reviews

Editorial Reviews:

More than 4 million copies sold! This series is the only one that offers evaluations based on reader surveys and critiques, compiled by a team of unbiased inspectors.

• Hotels, attractions, and restaurants in all price categories

• Extensive information on shopping, nightlife, and sports

• Easy-to-use, two-color design

• Detailed, 2-color maps

From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World

"A Tourist's Best Friend!"
—Chicago Sun-Times

"Indispensable"
—The New York Times

Five Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide:

Exclusively patented, field-tested touring plans that save as much as four hours of standing in line in a single day
Tips, advice, and opinions from hundreds of Walt Disney World guests in their own words
Almost 250 hotels rated and ranked for quality and value, including the top non-Disney hotels for families
A complete Dining Guide with ratings and reviews of all Walt Disney World restaurants, plus extensive alternatives for dining deals outside the World
Every attraction rated and ranked for each age group; extensive, objective, head-to-head comparisons of the Disney and Universal theme parks