Bob Sehlinger, a Lowell Thomas Award winning journalist, is best known as the creator and producer of the Unofficial Guide Series published by Wiley Publishing Inc. and sold worldwide.
He is credited with being the first to apply research techniques from the fields of operations research and statistics to travel guides. Among other projects, he was able to develop mathematical models that could save theme park patrons more than three hours of standing in queue in a single day.
Sehlinger and his research team (pictured) have had numerous adventures and developed some unusual methodologies. Here's a sampling from research for The Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World:
"We've slept in every Disney resort multiple times and more than 80 Orlando-area properties. Only once did we wake up covered in bugs. (It was a non-Disney hotel.)"
"We test hotel room soundproofing using a sophisticated digital sound meter and a copy of The Who's Greatest Hits."
"The first time we did Orlando spa reviews, one of our researchers had an eyebrow burned off during a waxing that went horribly awry."
"We once logged more than 700 miles in one week on buses to test Disney's transportation system, and never left Disney property. The bus drivers got so used to us being on board that one forgot we were there and took us back to the bus garage when his shift ended."
"We test pillow fluffiness using a measurement process we invented. We intended to use a fake human head as part of the test, but worried about getting it through airport security. We settled on a gallon jug of water, which is about the same size and weight as an average adult's noggin."
"When we test counter-service restaurants, we order at least one of everything on the menu, and break up in to small teams to sample each thing. We've tried every counter-service food item in every American Disney theme park."
"Our crowd prediction models take in to account everything from the day of week and time of year, to the vacation schedules of the fifty largest school districts east of the Mississippi, to weather phenomena including temperature, rainfall and humidity."
Bob Sehlinger is founder and co-owner of Keen Communications, a book publishing company that includes Menasha Ridge Press in Birmingham, Alabama; Clerisy Press in Cincinatti, Ohio; and Wilderness Press in Berkeley, California. The author of twenty-seven books, Sehlinger is a past president of the Publishers Association of the South, and has served at the invitation of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Information Service on educational missions for publishers in Hungary, Romania, and Russia.
Before becoming involved in writing and publishing, Sehlinger was CEO of SAGE, inc., a wilderness arts teaching and expeditional company that produced courses in kayaking, rock climbing, survival, and backpacking (among others) for high schools and universities in a 7-state area. During this period Sehlinger served as president of the Eastern Professional River Outfitters Association. Sehlinger makes his home in Birmingham, Alabama where he continues to be an avid river runner and mountain biker.
This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2011 (Unofficial Guides) (Paperback)
I enjoyed the details in this book. I would suggest buying The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2011 first before buying The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2011. I think this one goes into great detail about traveling with kids, but you seem to miss some of the bigger details about Disney World that you would get in the larger edition. It is a great book that would be even better is purchased together with the original.
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This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2011 (Unofficial Guides) (Paperback)
I've been to Disney World 3 times so I've got some experience in the parks. I am currently planning a trip for my family and wanted to see what a guidebook would have to say. I can already tell that the information in this book is invaluable. The tips you get for vacation planning are not limited to hotel and restaurant recommendations and touring plans. They even get into some child psychology and preventative family counseling! This book is anything but dry and boring and is loaded with lots of necessary information for people who want to truly enjoy their time in "The World". I think everyone will enjoy this guide, even if you are not an avid planner/Type A personality.
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This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2011 (Unofficial Guides) (Paperback)
Okay, I went a little crazy when we decided to go to Disney World for the second time in 5 years, and I ordered several guide books; however, I really only needed this one! Really! It has everything covered from adventure ratings for different age groups to favorite snacks. Also, the website that accompanies the book is so awesome, and you can get a discount for that if you buy the book. Oh, and there are touring plans in the back for different families with varying kids' age groups complete with maps for people who don't want to get on the website. Sweet!
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