Customer Reviews

Little Black Book of Walt Disney World: The Essential Guide to All the Magic (Travel Guide) (Little Black Books (Peter Pauper Paperback))

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

 

 

While the "Little Black Book of Walt Disney World" did include the info that you'll find in most Disney guide books, it's clear that Rona Gindin did little research on the subject before publishing. Firstly, she mentions several attractions and parades that no longer exist, then omitted one table service restaurant that has been open since November 2007 (the Yak and Yeti). It's true that many of these attractions only closed in 2008, but Disney sites, as well as Disney fan sites, normally have closings posted for at least a year in advance, so it's not as if their removals were a sudden surprise. Other 2008 guide books all had the updated info. On top of that, Gindin also gets the story-lines wrong for certain rides (i.e. Dinosaur), doesn't know the names of the main characters from Cars, and calls Star Wars fans "trekkies." (I'm well aware that this last point is pretty trite, but in my opinion, anyone who publishes a book on any subject should have all their information correct.) This book may suffice for people going to Disney for the first time, but that doesn't change the fact that they will be armed with incorrect information. My advice- spend a few more dollars and buy the Passporter for Walt Disney World. You'll never need another guide book again.

This book is small enough to tote along to the parks but it is not very exciting. I prefer the "Pasporter" which can fit into a small backback and has more to offer. This book is ok for first-timers to WaltDisneyWorld, but if you are looking for more information and more in-depth descriptions and suggestions buy something else.

We just got this - it looked like the best 'insiders' guide out there. Love it! Small enough to carry and arranged so you can zoom straight to what you're looking for. We're not WDW regulars and won't spend a whole lot of time there so for us, this is ideal for planning and taking along on our trip.

Resturant critic and travel writer Rona Gindin's "The Little Black Book Of Walt Disney World" is a pocket-sized, 248-page guide to the many features and aspects of Florida's famous Walt Disney World theme park. Enhanced with illustrations by Kerren Barbas Steckler and the cartography of David Lindroth, "The Little Black Book Of Walt Disney World" includes seven fold-out maps and a wealth of color coded 'insider info' that will prove invaluable for Walt Disney World visitors. In addition to spotlighting landmarks and attractions, local writer Rona Gindin offers practical tips on restaurants, nightlife, shops and hotels throughout Walt Disney World including the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studies, the Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney. Of special note are the 'Top Picks' directing visitors to a variety of 'not-to-be-missed' experiences. The inclusion of 'Notes' pages allows for the recording of personal impressions. Portable, informative, superbly organized, and thoroughly 'user friendly', "The Little Black Book Of Walt Disney World" is the perfect itinerary planning guide for anyone preparing for a trip to Walt Disney World!

I was working in Disney so I bought this book to make sure I didnt miss anything, very helpful and informative--maybe out of date since Disney is CONSTANTLY changing.

I'm a fairly seasoned Walt Disney World traveler and regularly use guidebooks to help me navigate the World, and I would not rely on this guidebook to help me plan a Walt Disney World vacation. While it does give a decent overview of the Resort, the information it provides is fairly basic, and it's clear that the authors of the guide don't have a very in-depth knowledge of what they're writing about. When reading the guide, I didn't feel like I was getting advice from a seasoned park veteran, but largely just facts and tidbits that could be found in almost any other publication or website about Walt Disney World. I'd recommend that people who are looking to plan a Disney vacation as effectively as possible should avoid this book and look to the Unofficial Guide (my personal favorite) or Passporter instead.

However, I will admit that what it lacks in depth and content quality, it certainly makes up for in convenience. The size and weight of the book make it very easy to carry around in the parks, as opposed to those more in-depth guidebooks. Also, the fold-out maps that begin each section of the books are incredibly helpful and easy to read. So while I wouldn't recommend using this book to plan out your vacation, I'd say it could definitely be useful to carry around once you're in the parks just for reference (after actually reading up about the Resort in one of the more informative guidebooks, of course).

Really, I had quite high expectations of this book after reading some of the other reviews. I am completely disappointed by this book. Yes, it is a guide to Walt Disney World, but for anyone who is planning a holiday there and trying to do some research, especially from countries outside the USA, give this book a miss and buy yourself an "Unofficial Guide"

The plan was to put everything in this book and carry it but each day we forget to take it with us. The guide is helpful and compact. The problems we had is the print is small and can be hard to read. We prefer the Birnbaum's guide.

I like this one. I am able to find everything easy. It's small enough to take with me to the parks too. I don't have to carry around a big bulky book. It fits in my bag for easy reference. It was a pleasure to go right where I wanted to watch parades and fireworks. Lots of tips.

I really like this book as it is small enough to throw into my backpack and can be referenced throughout my trip. I have gone through and highlighted areas of interest and I love having the little pull out maps. Great stuff!