Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2005: Expert Advice from the Inside Source [Paperback]

Birnbaum (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up | Series: Birnbaum's Walt Disney World

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World, the most respected and well-known name in travel guides, takes readers to the world's most popular tourist attraction. Since our guide is the only guide that's official, this book includes the most accurate information on prices, changes, and new attractions for 2005. Highlights include the lowdown on Disney's latest attractions, including Mickey's PhilharMagic, a 3-D film spectacular where Disney magic meets Disney music, and Wishes, the new nighttime fireworks extravaganza. Get the scoop on the World's newest lodging facility, the deluxe Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa as well as the newest value resort-the colorful and quirky Pop Century.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Disney Editions; Revised edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786854286
• ISBN-13: 978-0786854288
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,205,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE MOST INDISPENSIBLE GUIDE TO DISNEY WORLD, January 26, 2005

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2005: Expert Advice from the Inside Source (Paperback)

i bought my first copy of Birnbuam's Guide to Disney World way back in 1988 before my wife and I went there for our honeymoon. We were back in 1995 with our first child and plan on going back again next year with our second child. Even though I've only been there twice in 17 years, I buy a copy of this guide EVERY year because i love Disney world and I love to read about all the new attractions and features of the Magic Kingdom.

Birnbaum's guide is like an old friend I visit every with every year. It's the guide I trust the most, the best written and most comprehensive. Each attraction is rated with info on what age group its geared towards. Hotels, restaurants, transportation throughout the Magic Kingdom? You'll find all the information right here.

Tips on the best times of the year to visit, best times of the day to visit certain attractions, average wait time in lines..all this and more is covered by Birnbaums guide. And perhaps most important, tips on planning your trip and saving money to get the most bang for your buck. I cannot possibly imagine going to Disney World without consulting the latest edition of this book first. A must have!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So-so at best, February 11, 2005

By 

Shauna H. Clark "Adult Disney Nut" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2005: Expert Advice from the Inside Source (Paperback)

I was very excited to order this book up until the time I received it. The pictures are glossy and there is lots of character art but there is little in the way of substance. In fact, I was shocked at how thin this book was given its cost. It really seemed as though I was paying for the Disney copyrighted art and photos rather than information. Most of what I read in this book was something I had found on various online sources. The best part were the large colorful maps even though they aren't up-to-date (for example, the resort map doesn't show Crescent Lake near Epcot even though it shows the vague location of the resorts surrounding it). The Park maps are also quite colorful and easy to read. If you want a really basic guidebook that glosses over a lot of information without providing much substance then this might be the book for you. If you are looking for much more however, check out the web and save your money.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, Great Information, September 16, 2005

By 

V. Bradley (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2005: Expert Advice from the Inside Source (Paperback)

I love this book. It was the very first guide that I read. However, it has to be taken in perspective. This book is even better en tandem with The Unofficial Guide. Then you have all the information you could possibly need. The Unofficial Guide provides much needed balance, to the official line. This book will get you excited and high as a kite about your trip- which is great. It will tell you about all the wonderful things there are to do and great opportunities that are largely missed. The Unofficial will then proceed to give you a reality check about them and help you set realistic goals and have realistic expectations. This helps so that you're not disappointed. I used these two guides plus the Passporter (for organization) and we had the best trip in the world. We went in August, stayed on property, got around without having to rent a car or wait in long lines in the heat. We saw people looking like they were gonna pass out from heat exhaustion, but we sailed through our trip like a breeze and can't wait to go again. I read Fodor's, Frommer's (excluding the Irrevernt Guide), the Everything Guide, Rita Aero's,Eyewitness (waste of paper), Hassle Free Disney and tons more thru the years- NONE of the others are needed. The best plans are in the Unofficial guide, the best maps are in the official, the best planner is in the Passporter. The others were not used and not needed and a big waste of money.