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| The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 (Unofficial Guides) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Bob Sehlinger, Len Testa
Publisher: Wiley
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $9.59
You Save: $10.40 (52%)
New (36) Used (23) from $8.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  82 reviews
Sales Rank: 6535
Media: Paperback
Edition: Revised
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 864
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.1 x 1.7
ISBN: 0470089636
Dewey Decimal Number: 917.5924
EAN: 9780470089637
ASIN: 0470089636
Publication Date: August 27, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: GREAT Bargain Book Deal - like new, some may have small remainder mark - Ships out by NEXT Business Day - Over ONE MILLION Amazon orders filled - 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!
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Product Description
From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World "A Tourist's Best Friend!"
—Chicago Sun-Times "Indispensable"
—The New York Times Five Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide: - Exclusively patented, field-tested touring plans that save as much as four hours of standing in line in a single day
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Tips, advice, and opinions from hundreds of Walt Disney World guests in their own words -
Almost 250 hotels rated and ranked for quality and value, including the top non-Disney hotels for families -
A complete Dining Guide with ratings and reviews of all Walt Disney World restaurants, plus extensive alternatives for dining deals outside the World -
Every attraction rated and ranked for each age group; extensive, objective, head-to-head comparisons of the Disney and Universal theme parks
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| Customer Reviews: Read 77 more reviews...
 Comparing the Disney guide books September 5, 2007
158 out of 185 found this review helpful
Trying to figure out what Disney World guide to buy? So was I. After a little research, I learned there are three main books: This one, The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World 2008, and Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2008 (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World). They are all pretty good, but there are big differences between them. I bought all three, including this new 2008 edition of the Unofficial Guide, and here are my thoughts on how they compare, at least in the categories that are important to me. I did this last year, too. Here are the results:
1) Easiest of use: The Complete Guide.
The Complete Guide has the best organization. Has a completely different look than the other books, with magazine-style articles and lots of color photos, which make the subject matter much more interesting and much easier to understand. The main chapters are color coded (Magic Kingdom is red, Epcot orange, etc.). Each attraction review is very easy to find, as each one starts on its own page. Second place: Birnbaum. It too has color-coded chapters.
2) Most fun to read. The Unofficial Guide and The Complete Guide.
The Complete Guide has an amazing number of little tidbits about the Disney attractions, so if you love Disney it's really fun to read. The Unofficial Guide has a lot of guests complaints about Disney, so if you're a Disney cynic it will make you laugh. Both have witty writers, and both made me laugh out loud.
3) Best information on attractions: The Complete Guide.
By a mile! It spends probably 10 times as much space on each attraction, offering up the story of each ride, some real good "Fun Finds" and all kinds of helpful specs that the other books ignore. Plus, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Second place: Unofficial.
4) Best information about Universal Studios and Seaworld. The Unofficial Guide.
Hands down. The Birnbaum guide doesn't mention anything outside of Walt Disney World, and the Complete Guide only has hotel listings.
5) Best information on hotels, restaurants and shopping: Unofficial.
The other books have photos of every Disney resort, which Unofficial doesn't, but the Unofficial Guide just goes crazy with its listings, rating each resort nine ways to Sunday! For shopping, the best Disney info is in the Complete Guide, the best outside-Disney info is in Unofficial.
6) Best information on important misc. information, like getting from the airport to Disney: Unofficial.
Not even close. Has everything you ever wanted to know about taxis and limos and Disney's Magical Express and many other things.
7) Best maps, photographs and illustrations. The Complete Guide
Nothing comes close to the Complete Guide for photographs, but this is an area where the Birnbaum guide does have something special -- Mickey, Donald and all the Disney cartoon characters! They're included on many pages. Both Birnbaum and the Complete Guide have good maps. Unofficial has good line drawings of the interiors of hotel rooms.
So, which one's best? You know, I think you'd have to pick two: The Unofficial Guide and The Complete Guide. Unofficial is pretty dull to look at, but it is so thorough in its coverage about everything outside of Disney and offers so much "cynical" insight that it just can't be ignored, and it has the best hotel and restaurant info. The Complete Guide, on the other hand, is a joy to look at and read, and is just stunning in its amount of fun and useful information on Disney attractions. As for Birnbaum, I say skip it, and, if you've got children, instead buy the children's version, Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids 2008 (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids By Kids). It's not much money, and that way you'll still get all the "Official Disneyness" of a Birnbaum book AND have something for your kids to look at.
Why, you may ask, did I only give this new Unofficial Guide three stars if I recommend it? Because I was so disappointed in it! Yes, it IS a first rate book, but I bought this 2008 edition because I had heard about all these changes coming to Disney World next year, like how Disney-MGM Studios is going to change to Disney's Hollywood Studios, and wanted to find out more about them. It doesn't mention any of it! I guess that's because how early the book must be put together. But I think if it says 2008 it ought to have the 2008 information. It's misleading.
 Still Useful, But Serious Errors September 24, 2007
158 out of 212 found this review helpful
Although I have been a fan of the UG, it appears that the editors are resting on their laurels, and not updating the book every year as they claim. This year's guide includes a disturbing amount of assertions that were not true at the date of publication, and haven't been true for years.
For example:
* The guide claims that all resorts on the monorail have child care centers. The Contemporary Resort does not, and has not since 2004.
* The guide claims that Universe of Energy is an "Exxon pavilion." Exxon has not sponsored the pavilion since 2004.
* The guide claims that guests at the Hard Rock Hotel and Portofino Bay Hotel can obtain early entry to Universal on certain days. Universal discontinued its general early entry program for resort guests years ago.
* The guide claims that there is no bus between the Wilderness Lodge and the Magic Kingdom. Although that was true at one time, it again hasn't been true for years.
* The guide lists Hidden Treasures and Gardens of the World as tours available to the general public at Epcot, even though they were discontinued earlier this year, and the UG website's corrections for the '07 guide in fact notes that the tours have been discontinued.
The index also contains some serious mistakes, such as the claim that Typhoon Lagoon is in Tomorrowland, the hours of operation for "Paradise Island", and a listing for "Lunch with Walt Disney World Animal Programs" which does not actually appear in the body of the guide (having been discontinued).
There's still a lot of good information in the guide, but its becoming less and less trustworthy every year. Wait for the '09 guide and hope that by then the editors get the message that they actually need to do their jobs.
 Best Guide For Disney and for Maintaining A Parent's Sanity!! August 28, 2007
81 out of 91 found this review helpful
This is the definitive guide to Walt Disney World. I was never a huge Disney Park fan before I got married and had only gone a couple of times even while living in Orlando. That all changed when I got married. My wife grew up near Disneyland and is a Disney "True Believer". On the other hand, I consider "Grumpy" to be my Disney role model.
The Unofficial Guide is the perfect travel book for both of us. My wife reads it religiously each year and spouts out Disney facts and things we HAVE to do and somehow missed the previous year. I refer to it as we travel to the Park for our annual vacation. Disney World is overwhelming unless you arrive with a solid plan with some clear goals in mind and a horde of backup plans when your original plans go awry. Face it, vacationing at Disney is expensive and this guide will ultimately save you money if you use it before and during your trip to the Park. Your kids will want to do everything, but the guide allows you to guide them to activities that will also save your own sanity, especially if you are not someone as enchanted with the Magic Kingdom as say...the rest of your family.
Advice on the best time to schedule your vacation, what types of character meals you can schedule, how many months in advance you may need to schedule a dinner, and a through review of resorts both on and off the Disney property are among the indispensable tidbits you will get in the guide. The guide also lends crucial advice on how to balance the vacation so that both the children and adults find appropriate leisure activities. The 2008 guide also includes tips on traveling with your children with autism and disabilities!
The 2008 Guide is also chock-full-of maps of Disney and the surrounding area. If you buy just ONE guide before your visit (and you definitely need a guide), buy this one!! There are new things each year (my wife informs me there are new restaurants this year), so if you have a previous edition, go ahead and upgrade to 2008!
UPDATE: As several reviewers have noted, Disney changed the Dining Plan late this Summer which is NOT reflected in the book. The Regular dining plan is now a dollar less, consists of one less appetizer per day, and does not include gratuity. However, the book was printed and published prior to the change. I categorize this error as an "Act of Disney" and no fault of the publisher. Others may disagree. This is still the must have book for your Disney Vacation.
 Tons of Information for all Us Planners and Type "A's" October 12, 2007
59 out of 60 found this review helpful
I purchased this book a couple months ago for our Disney trip next year. I am a planner by nature and don't like the thought of shelling out thousands of dollars on a vacation and just flyin' by the seat of our pants. I think a little planning is in order to maximize what you get for the money you're spending. If you're a planner or take-charge kind of person, this book is for you. I think it's a straight-forward, no-frills, no wool over the eyes look at Disney properties and parks. They give it to you straight, take it or leave it. And therein is the key: take what you need from this book and leave the rest behind. Some people have commented on perceived negativity in this book; I see it as being up-front and not sugar coating it. If you want fanciful and sugar-coated, go check out Birnbaum's "Official" guide. I checked out a 2005 version from my library, and besides the pictures, there's not much to redeem that book. It's like reading Disney Propaganda.
Anyway, TUG is a great read, and if you like a bit of sarcastic humor, you'll like it even more. There are touring plans for the parks included in each book, loads of tips and where on the internet to find more information, tons of detail on rides, restaurants, and hotels (down to which rooms offer the best views, etc.) It's a looooong book, and not one I'd want to be toting around the Magic Kingdom, but since our vacation is nearly a year off, I've got plenty of time to extract all the useful stuff, plan our trip, and have an awesome time (and feel like we're getting our money's worth, which will make it even better!)
The reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is due to the lack of photos in the book. It would be nice if they'd can the cartoon drawings and put a few small photos in here and there.
This is definitely worth the cost and time to read! September 23, 2007
54 out of 54 found this review helpful
A friend raved about this book and how it helped with her recent vacation to Disney in May 2007. I'm going in Oct. 2007 and wished I'd bought it at least 6 months ago. But even if you're visiting in the near future, this book is worth it's weight in gold just for the touring plans.
I believe they've covered everything, and I mean EVERYTHING in this book. It's well organized and I like how they provide different opinions from letters received from their readers.
The information provided will definitely help you get the most bang for your buck, and most enjoyable experience. There is also a lot of other activities (e.g. character dining) that I didn't know about. Now I know I can book these things (far) in advance for our next trip!
A key advantage to buying the newest version (as opposed to getting an older version from the library) is that you can go on the author's website and punch in the dates for your vacation, and they'll tell you which parks they recommend to visit on which days for the remainder of 2007 and then on into 2008. (You have to have the passcodes from the latest book to get this info.)
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