The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 (Complete Guide to Walt Disney World) by Julie Neal, Mike Neal Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 (Complete Guide to Walt Disney World)
Book Review: Tour WDW while at home...
Summary: 5 Stars
Julie and Mike Neal have achieved the impossible; they have summarized Walt Disney World in 336 pages with maps, tables and hundreds of photos. It would take at least a month to do everything at Walt Disney World. There are four major theme parks, a sports complex, two water parks, 27 themed hotels and a shopping and nightclub district spread over 47 square miles. About 100,000 guests are served daily by 54,000 cast members. Walt Disney World is big. BIG.
The Complete Walt Disney World 2008 is a concise, up-to-date reference that allows me to `walk through' tour plans while at home. The phone directory is conveniently located on the back page--this book is designed for use while visiting Walt Disney World. For more complete information I'd need to connect to the internet while using a telephone and have a Walt Disney World library of more than two dozen volumes. In addition to up-to-the-minute information, The Complete Walt Disney World has history and trivia. For example, on page 48 there is a connection between Allied POWs in World War Two and the Cinderella Castle mosaic--the sidebar is titled `War and Pieces.' The history of Walt Disney World from the `Project X' days is a nice touch. How about the Hidden Mickey, the personalized touch or `autograph' Imagineers put on the rides and attractions? See pages 324-330. Thank you, Julie, for the bibliography--for me, that page is an important resource.
Need to know what is at a restaurant or one of the 27 hotels? On Pages 8 and 9 is a simple map--more than enough to keep me from getting lost on Walt Disney World's road network. Each major theme park has a small, simple map showing where the rides and attractions are. A sample tour of each major theme park is a nice touch and meshes in with the Neals' 7-step planning process on pages 24-27. For those not familiar with Florida's climate, the `what to pack' on Page 28 is excellent advice. A word on `what to pack'--in November 1998 I was touring both Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney World. The weather in Florida was so cold that my Keys to the Kingdom tour guide had drawn a heavy overcoat and gloves from Costuming. I was fortunate that I and anticipated the bitter cold in Paris--so I was able to stay warm. Speaking of tours, Julie and Mike cover them--how to get them (pages 256 and 257) and how much they cost--more important, how long these tours are. There is an outstanding FastPass guide on page 31--simple, graphic and easy to understand (while telling you how to dodge lines other ways, too). The book is divided up into the four major theme parks, water parks, Downtown Disney (the shopping and nightclub district), Diversions, Accommodations (both on and off Walt Disney World), Restaurants (with the Disney Dining Plan) and Special Events. I'd add some sticky tabs to mark the spots I needed and some sticky-notes inside and keep a separate notebook--this helps me organize my trip.
A word on plans--a plan is a starting place for changes. Planning can help you get the most out of your vacation--you won't worry `what am I missing' because reading The Complete Walt Disney World 2008 will tell you everything that is there. A check on the official Walt Disney World web site (use your local library if you lack a computer) before you set out will update your plans--anything you miss will be because you were doing something more important, more fun. Knowledge puts you in control of your vacation. Julie and Mike Neal are giving you a gift in The Complete Walt Disney World 2008--their combined experience. It is like having your own professional tour guide in your pocket.
I'm not doing The Complete Walt Disney World 2008 justice in this short review. There is a lot of Walt Disney World. The Neals' have managed to put that in a book small enough to have with me in the parks. This book is entertaining, too. I just hope that The Complete Walt Disney World 2008 is available at Walt Disney World just in case I go there and accidentally leave my copy behind!
Well done, gang!
Book Review: Like three books in one
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is like three books in one. It's a travel guide, a picture book and a trivia book. We tried to buy it at Borders but they were out, so I got it here. Great information and fun to read.Book Review: Best pictures & coverage of all parks!
Summary: 5 Stars
With over 400 full color pictures, the Complete Walt Disney World 2008 is my favorite guide book for WDW. For Disney fans, it's great to pickup this book and read detailed information and fun facts about each Disney attraction. This book is the definitive Disney handbook.
Book Review: Great information source
Summary: 5 Stars
I couldn't recommend this book enough. It has thorough explanations, backstories and hidden gems for anything and everything in Walt Disney World. My only gripe would be an adjustment to the "wait times" portion of each attraction. Nearly all of the attractions show just a minimum (early morning) and maximum (peak afternoon) wait time, giving large ranges that aren't very helpful. I don't have the newest version (I have the 2007 version), but the range for "it's a small world" was 5-60 minutes. I feel that average wait times would be far more useful in this area. Book Review: The best Disney guide book ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a true Disney fanatic. I have more than a dozen books that review the World, but this one has so many interesting details and yes, as it states, great pictures too. It is worth the cost and is very entertaining. It doesn't have the same information that you find in most of the other books out there, but new interesting info and a history of where most of the attractions and what inspired them came from. I highly recommend this guide to anyone who enjoys Disney!