Beyond Disney: The Unofficial Guide to Universal, SeaWorld, and the Best of Central Florida, 2nd edition [Paperback]

Bob Sehlinger (Author), Chris Mohney (Author)

Book Description

Series: Beyond Disney: The Unofficial Guide to Universal, SeaWorld, & the Best of Central Florida | Publication Date: August 29, 2001

The Unofficial Guides are the "Consumer Reports" of travel guides, offering candid evaluations of their destinations' attractions, hotels, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, sports, and more, all rated and ranked by a team of unbiased inspectors so even the most compulsive planners can be sure they're spending their time and money wisely. Each guide addresses the needs of everyone from families to business travelers, with handy charts that demonstrate how each place stacks up against the competition. Plus, all the details are pulled out so they're extremely easy to scan.

Beyond Disney is the guide for folks who've been there, done that when it comes to Walt Disney World and are ready to explore the host of other attractions in the Orlando area, from Sea World to nationally ranked golf courses to Universal Studios.

The Top 5 Tips that Beyond Disney Reveals to Help You Have the Perfect Trip:

1. When to go and how to beat the crowds.
2. What's worthwhile and what's not at Central Florida's major attractions.
3. Where to go for the best roller coaster action.
4. Complete coverage of Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure park and all the other new attractions.
5. The inside scoop on the Orlando area's dinner theaters.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World

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

"Indispensable" ?The New York Times

The Unofficial Guides are the "Consumer Reports" of travel guides, offering candid evaluations of their destinations' attractions, hotels, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, sports, and more, all rated and ranked by a team of unbiased inspectors so even the most compulsive planners can be sure they're spending their time and money wisely. Each guide addresses the needs of everyone from families to business travelers, with handy charts that demonstrate how each place stacks up against the competition. Plus, all the details are pulled out so they're extremely easy to scan.

Beyond Disney is the guide for folks who've been there, done that when it comes to Walt Disney World and are ready to explore the host of other attractions in the Orlando area, from Sea World to nationally ranked golf courses to Universal Studios.

Seven Great Ways That Beyond Disney Can Help You Have the Perfect Trip:

1. Practical tips on when to go and how to beat the crowds at 12 of Central Florida's best theme parks
2. Firsthand information on what's worthwhile and what's not at major attractions
3. The inside scoop on where to go for the best roller coaster action
4. Complete coverage of Universal Florida, including Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, and expanded restaurant reviews
5. Comprehensive chapters on SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Cypress Gardens, Gatorland, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, and water parks
6. New sections on SeaWorld's Discovery Cove, Splendid China, and the Holy Land Experience
7. The straight story on Orlando-area dinner theaters and nightlife

An Unofficial Guide Great trips begin at Frommers.com

About the Author

Bob Sehlinger is the creator and Executive Publisher of the Unofficial Guide travel series.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Frommers; 2 edition (August 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764564129
• ISBN-13: 978-0764564123
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 4.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,583,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, Honest Touring Advice, June 12, 2002

By 

R. J. Vaules "disneydig.com" (Idaho) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond Disney: The Unofficial Guide to Universal, SeaWorld, and the Best of Central Florida, 2nd edition (Paperback)

I have been a fan of Bob Sehlinger's "Unofficial" guide to Walt Disney World since the early 1990s. I have made numerous trips to the Disney resort, and have saved a great deal of time and money using his book "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World".
Much like his WDW book, this guide offers honest rankings of activities such as shows, attractions, and dining for parks including Busch Gardens, Cypress Gardens, Gatorland, Kennedy Space Center, Sea World, Universal Studios and Universal's Island of Adventure. As a water park fan I appreciate the detailed comparison and ratings of the different water parks, including Disney's. It also has a section discussing night life and dinner theaters, but doesn't cover or compare Downtown Disney or Cirque Du Solie.
While the brutally honest ratings are great in this book, I am greatly disappointed that their traffic gurus didn't write up touring plans for which their WDW are famous. There is plenty of detailed information that will allow you to create "battle plans" based on age, type of ride, and attraction popularity.
It is a small book, easily carried in a fanny pack and is an excellent companion with their "Mini Mickey" book for touring, and "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" for planning. I look forward to the next edition of this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but limited., December 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond Disney: The Unofficial Guide to Universal, SeaWorld, and the Best of Central Florida, 2nd edition (Paperback)

This guide provides good, basic information about the other major theme parks of central Florida. However, for a more complete guidebook, giving more information about the major parks PLUS information on a wide range of minor sights (musuems, parks, activities, etc.), try "The Other Orlando."