The Everything Family Guide to the Walt Disney World Resort: Universal Studios, and Greater Orlando (Everything (History & Travel)) [Paperback]

Jason Rich (Author)

Book Description

Series: Everything (History & Travel) | Publication Date: October 2004

The ultimate family vacation destination is closer than you think, and The Everything( Family Guide to The Walt Disney World Resort(r), Universal Studios(r), and Greater Orlando, 4th Edition is the only book your family needs to get there and have the vacation of a lifetime.

This completely revised and updated fourth edition features a system that rates all the rides, shows, and attractions for each member of your family. In addition, the book includes a fully updated hotel/motel resource guide, along with rated restaurant listings and the inside scoop on the latest additions to all the theme parks.

You'll find authoritative, up-to-date information on:

Area water parks

Disney's Animal Kingdom Park(r)

Disney's MGM Studios(r)

Disney Cruise Line(r)

Epcot Center(r)

The Magic Kingdom(r)

Sea World(r) and Discovery Cove(r)

Universal Orlando Resort(r)

Kennedy Space Center(

Updated for all your vacation needs, this bestselling guide ensures that you and your family will have the most magical trip yet!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jason Rich is a freelance writer, author, and newspaper and magazine columnist. He has written a number of books on a variety of topics, including travel, entertainment, business, and careers. He is also the author of The Everything(r) Travel Guide to The Disneyland Resort(r), California Adventure(r), Universal Studios(r), and the Anaheim Area and The Everything(r) Travel Guide to Las Vegas. He lives in Foxboro, MA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Adams Media Corporation; 4 edition (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593371799
• ISBN-13: 978-1593371791
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,358,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Bad--But Needs Updated, August 18, 2006

By 

Janet Boyer "Author, Blogger, Radio Host" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Everything Family Guide to the Walt Disney World Resort: Universal Studios, and Greater Orlando (Everything (History & Travel)) (Paperback)

My family and I just returned from our first trip to Disney World. (It was as blast!) Because it was our first time and we were essentially clueless to the Disney experience, we bought several guides.

The 2004 version of The Everything Family Guide was one of five guides that we bought, but after the initial perusal, I didn't even look at it. Instead, I find myself drawn to the Birnbaum guide with its colorful, glossy pages and The Unofficial Guide to Disney World 2006 which is a critical, analytical treatment of just about everything.

Don't get me wrong: author Jason Rich is pretty thorough. It's just that nothing gets any critical remarks (although there's a star system rating likely appropriateness of attractions to age groups), and it's hard to tell what's really "not to be missed" (even though he makes recommendations).

Not only that, even though it's a 2004 edition, it already needs updating. Expedition Everest, the Lights, Motors, Actions! Stunt Show, and other newer attractions are mentioned as "upcoming", but hadn't yet debuted before publication. I get the feeling that the Stitch's Great Escape (which replaced the Alien one) hadn't debuted yet, either, yet he ranked this ride "not to be missed". (Everyone I talked to--and every review of this attraction I've read on the internet--describe this as an AWFUL attraction. No one likes it!)

Also, he mentions attractions that are no longer there--like Tarzan Rocks. There is no mention of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (MGM), Mickey's PhilHarmagic (the best 3D show in all the parks), Test Track (Epcot- The Land) or Crush's Turtle Talk (Epcot-The Seas)--further showing that this book should be updated YEARLY in order to be relevant for visitors.

So if you'd like an overview of Walt Disney World in a gentle, upbeat tone--including restaurant and hotel overviews--this is not a bad guide. Yet, I only consulted it once, preferring the other guides over this one.