Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2000: Expert Advice from the Inside Source (Birnbaums Walt Disney World, 2000) (Paperback)

~ Jill Safro (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Cinderella's Castle, Epcot Center, Mickey Mouse, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and lines, lines, lines. A vacation at Walt Disney World shouldn't be spent waiting to enjoy the attractions you traveled so far and spent so much to visit. With that thought in mind, Birnbaum's editors have traveled, toured, and tested every attraction and worked with the folks behind the scenes to compile Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2000 to help you get the biggest possible bang out of your vacation buck. This colorful guide, which is liberally illustrated with photographs and full-color renderings of Disney notables, begins with the logical "Getting Ready to Go" advice (hotels, transportation, when to go), moves swiftly into lengthy descriptions of each of the major theme parks--Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Disney-MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom--and then gives the scoop on other sights and activities in the Orlando area. The most useful information is found in the "Hot Tip" boxes sprinkled throughout the text--sit on the right side of the tram when going through MGM's Catastrophe Canyon if you want to stay dry, for example--and in the descriptions of the rides. Notes at the end of the write-ups call out height requirements or special considerations for those who are pregnant or who have heart conditions (Splash Mountain's "five-story drop into an aqueous briar patch" comes to mind). The guide predicts which attractions are busiest and when, and offers suggestions on where to go when the lines do, indeed, get too long. People who don't have the time to map out itineraries can follow the one- to six-day routes provided by the folks at Birnbaum's. Be warned, though: the plans are ambitious and assume that you will have plenty of energy to make the rounds from morning 'til close. If your true quest is not to see and do everything, but to find and photograph Pooh, Ariel, or Captain Hook, look for the colored boxes that point out the best places to find your favorite characters. Whatever your Disney fantasy, Walt Disney World 2000 is sure to have you singing "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" by the end of your trip. --Heidi Robinson

Product Description

This commemorative Millennium edition comes complete with sample schedules to help you get the most out of a visit to the park, a colorful two-page chart offering the best selections for the perfect Walt Disney World Resort, as well as all the information you have come to expect from the world's leading travel guide, including prices, insider tips, coupons, and much, much more. And if that isn't enough, find out about the extravagant shows and events themed to the Millennium, and the latest additions to Disney's Animal Kingdom, including the opening of Asia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Disney Editions; illustrated edition edition (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786884835
• ISBN-13: 978-0786884834
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,653,269 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It Toes The Disney Line, March 15, 2000

By	Denise "dpauley" (Philly) - See all my reviews

I'm a huge fan of WDW-It's my second home. But I have to say that these Birnbaum Guides are helpful only to a point, because they are heavily slanted to The Walt Disney Company, naturally. I have other editions of this guide, and I buy it mainly as a souvenir and for the photos. No matter what it says, they're not impartial in putting forth their info. It's a big commercial for WDW, really. For a good guidebook that actually tells you useful things and is honest about the attractions and restaurants that suck, buy the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. This isn't an official plug for them, BTW. I've been buying Unofficial Guides since 94, and they're better.

81 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well, it is colorfull......, April 20, 2000

By A Customer

My family and I recently had a 10 day visit to Orlando and I ran out and bought "Walt Disney World with Kids 2000", "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2000", and Birnbaum's. I read them all from cover to cover, made lots of calls and now consider myself to be an expert on the subject of how to cram the best stuff into the best days for your florida trip. After reading "The Unnoficial Guide", Birnbaum's book was a big dissapointment. His book did not give half of the information that "The Unofficial Guide" gave. About the only good thing I can say is it does make a nice souvineer book, but If you are like me and want as much info on every subject you can think of smashed into your brain, get "The Unofficial Guide". We are going back again next February and I won't waste my time or money on anything but.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Birnbaum's Guide to Disney yet!, October 15, 1999

By A Customer

I purchased my first Birnbaum's guide to Disney in 1996. Since then I've found it to be a necessary and extemely helpful outline for making the most of my Disney vacation. This newest edition is by far the best yet. The organization, through color-coding and charts, make it an easy guide to use and the numerous tips throughout the book are incredibly useful, especially in saving money and time. The guide to the Millenium Celebration was wonderful as well. I can harldy wait to put all of this great information to use!