Customer Reviews

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a huge fan of WDW-It's my second home. But I have to say that these Birnbaum Guides are helpful only to a point, because they are heavily slanted to The Walt Disney Company, naturally. I have other editions of this guide, and I buy it mainly as a souvenir and for the photos. No matter what it says, they're not impartial in putting forth their info. It's a big commercial for WDW, really. For a good guidebook that actually tells you useful things and is honest about the attractions and restaurants that suck, buy the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. This isn't an official plug for them, BTW. I've been buying Unofficial Guides since 94, and they're better.

My family and I recently had a 10 day visit to Orlando and I ran out and bought "Walt Disney World with Kids 2000", "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2000", and Birnbaum's. I read them all from cover to cover, made lots of calls and now consider myself to be an expert on the subject of how to cram the best stuff into the best days for your florida trip. After reading "The Unnoficial Guide", Birnbaum's book was a big dissapointment. His book did not give half of the information that "The Unofficial Guide" gave. About the only good thing I can say is it does make a nice souvineer book, but If you are like me and want as much info on every subject you can think of smashed into your brain, get "The Unofficial Guide". We are going back again next February and I won't waste my time or money on anything but.

I purchased my first Birnbaum's guide to Disney in 1996. Since then I've found it to be a necessary and extemely helpful outline for making the most of my Disney vacation. This newest edition is by far the best yet. The organization, through color-coding and charts, make it an easy guide to use and the numerous tips throughout the book are incredibly useful, especially in saving money and time. The guide to the Millenium Celebration was wonderful as well. I can harldy wait to put all of this great information to use!

I haven't read this 2000 book, but I bought the 1999 book, and we used it on our first vacation to Disneyworld in September. It came in so handy. Our 6-year-old was scared about what some of the attractions would be like, and sometimes you can't tell what it's going to be like from the outside of the building. So we carried this book in our backpack, and we would read about an attraction before we went in. Then he would decide whether he felt comfortable enough to go on it or not.

It was also helpful when it gave the price ranges for the restaurants. That way, if you saw a restaurant, and you knew it was out of your price range, you didn't even have to go inside to find out.

The only thing that would have made it better is a little more complete list of hotels. The hotels were all on Disney property except for a few very expensive ones off the property. It would have been helpful to know of some of the better deals nearby. But other than that, it was wonderful!

A true Disneyphile I visit Disney World yearly and every year I plan my trip using the newest edition of the Birnbaum book. Even though much of it is repeated year to year, there are always new attractions to be seen, new restraurants to try, and new shopping venues. No other guide book is as extensive or accurate in describing the wonders of my favorite vacation destination!

In terms of sheer facts, this book has them all. What is missing is any sense of what attractions are best for what age kid or any tips on how to manage your times in the park. Since the guide is official, the idea is that everything is perfect. I love Disney World - and agree it's a great family vacation place - but I could have used more guidance and fewer factoids.

This book gets you very excited about your trip to Walt Disney World. It has many "hot tips" on when the less crowded times are, also you find out things the "uninformed" person would not know about WDW, like the "e-ticket" and the best times to visit your favorite rides. It can truly make your vacation the most magical experience of your life! On the down side, Birnbaum's books are the "official guide books" of WDW and they tend to have a positive outlook on everything, like the hotels and food. Our family found the food overpriced and tasted the same at practically every restaurant we ate at! It over glamourized the hotels also. But I would recommend this book for first time Disney visitors, It is very helpful.

I thought this book was well written and easy to read, and the content was wonderful. It was so helpful, it saved me time and money going to Disney. If you are going, you really need this book.

As a frequent traveler to WDW, I have been using Birnbaum's book for years. Generally I find the information concise and current but, I also find the book rather biased (as all the previous editions have been as well). Used as a resource along with other books it is helpful in the planning of a wonderful vacation to Disney World.

These two books give an excellent knowledge base when read together...unfortuntely not as individual books. Birnbaums is total "Gung-ho" disney and the unofficial guide i think goes a little too far in the other direction. I think they are farthest apart on food...From Birnbaum you'd think you could eat your fill of good to excellent food at moderate (or at least value/for money) prices....from the unofficial guide it seems like you couldn't find even a decent grossly-overpriced meal...that is why the truth lies somewhere in the middle. If I had to choose one I'd probably choose the unofficial guide but I think you would be missing VALUABLE information. I had my whole trip planned before I left...reservations, plans (albeit loose ones), an idea of what was good for kids, what parks were closed for repair (yes that happens! something that wouldnt have ocurred to me without this info) and what places i wanted to be sure to see and what i could do with out... It was also nice to know where all the bathrooms were! These things may not seem like much...but believe me they are major when you are with chidren! These books are necessary and save you from saying "if i only knew than what i know now..." now if they were only one book instead of 2...