Customer Reviews

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Without Kids 2003: Expert Advice for Fun-Loving Adults (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Without Kids: The Official Guide for Fun-Loving Adults)

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

 

 

As a regular visitor to WDW, I have been extolling the virtues of Birnbaum's guides to my friends for years. I am currently helping some friends plan their trip to WDW without kids, and recommended this guide; after they bought it, I went out and got one myself. Now I am so embarrassed I don't know what to say to them - this guide is terrible, nothing like the normal Birnbaum's guides, or the previous editions of this book.

There are many problems with this guide: just one example is the recommended tour of Epcot. They stress that "not to be missed" attractions in the World Showcase are Canada, France, the American Adventure; other countries' showcases are "not to be overlooked." I suppose if you assume that most purchasers of this book will be Americans with absolutely no sense of curiousity and adventure, and will only enjoy what they will feel "comfortable" with, then this is a good recommendation; however, most adults I know enjoy the many other countries represented in the World Showcase much more than these three "must sees," as they are more interesting and exotic. Also, they recommend making dinner reservations at Les Chefs de France, which is a perfectly good restaurant, but you can get French food in almost any city - why not the Moroccan or Norwegian restaurants? LCDF is also one of the most popular restaurants in Epcot, and difficult to get into - why set people up for disappointment?

This guide is also seriously lacking in graphics. Personally, I like a guide that shows me a photo of what they're trying to tell me about - and this guide has few. Just because it's a guide for adults doesn't mean that it has to be a novel. I could go on and on about what's wrong with this guide.

All in all, I have to give this book a big thumbs down. I will be purchasing another guide for my friends and delivering it post haste, as this one is just plain bad.

I read some of the other reviews listed for this book. I can't believe that there are people who think that this is a waste of money, it is anything but...I go to Disney almost every year. The first thing I do every october is buy the newest version of this book. Don't get me wrong there are some other really good books out there, but this one has to be the very best by far. If you go to Disney often you realize that they are accurte about lines and times and a whole bunch of other stuff. So if you are looking for info but not to munch info. Get this book, or any of the other books they put out. I use this one and the general disney book as I am not traveling with kids.

I have 2 editions of the "without kids" guides. I think they're great! But I am speaking as someone who has been to Disney World multiple times in the past & is just looking for a refresher on the highlights & current info. I also really like this book for when I'm questioning whether an attraction is too childish for my husband & I, who don't have kids yet. If it's in this book, I know it's ok. :) It is a small book, which I think is great -- very easy to carry around with you at the park! On our 2 last trips, I have actually purchased both the "without kids" guidebook along with the regular Birnbaums guide, which provides more detailed information when you need it (but I don't carry that one around!).

First of all, I don't agree with a lot of their "don't miss", "don't overlook", and "don't knock yourself out" lists (having already been twice in years past (once as an adult) helps). Of course, the "thrill" rides are "don't miss". Not all adults can handle thrill rides, and not always because they're pregnant or have pacemakers (motion sickness and a fear of thrill rides occur in all ages). And the "Country Bear Jamboree", which is just an elaborate "Chuck E Cheeze" without the pizza, arcade, and ball pit, a "don't miss" (no offense to those who like it) and "Cinderella's Golden Carousel" a "don't knock yourself out" (carousel's aren't just for kids, and can be romantic)? I was also appaled at their thinly-veiled discouragement for staying in a cheaper resort hotel (mostly because families with kids frequent those). Even without kids, not everyone has that kind of money (most of us are lucky we can even afford admission, plane tickets, etc.). And there's really nothing else to speak of. No very detailed information, no real recomendations, no nothing! And yet Birnbaum's guide for families has much more information, something I find a little odd...

Anyway, if you're planning a Disney vacation without kids, try "Walt Disney World For Couples". It has better information, and their reccomedations go beyond the "E-ticket" attractions.

This book did not provide any information that was useful in making a decision. It breifly described the resorts, restraunts, and theme parks, but never made a recommendation. I am planning a trip to Disney World in 2003. We do not have kids, and wanted to plan a trip geared towards adults without kids. This book did not give a single recommendation to help with the planning.