The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010

Each year the unofficial "bible" to Walt Disney World continues to grow and is now up to 864 pages. It really is the definitive guide to the Walt Disney World Resort.

Format: Paperback
Page: 864 pages
Publisher: Wiley
Date: August 24, 2009
ISBN: 0470460261
Size: 8.8 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010 by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa is published by John Wiley & Sons.

We first bought this book back in the early 90's and it is invaluable in helping you make better use of your time with hints and tips on how to beat the crowds and see the shows with the minimum of wait times. For example it will tell you the best places to go to watch the fireworks at EPCOT or the best vantage points to watch the Magic Kingdom parades.

Though it does not have some of the gloss and visual appeal of some other guides, what it lacks in colour photographs it more than makes up for in sheer volume of information and facts.

If anything, the book is perhaps too big and it can sometimes be hard to find what you are looking for. However it does make a great research tool to help you plan your day in advance.

There is also a companion website (www.touringplans.com) which gives you up to the minute details on predicted crowd levels, updates to the book, latest WDW news and a subscription touring guide service.

Bob Sehlinger and his team of editors interviewed 9,000 families to get their views on each of the rides, shows and restaurants and each attraction is described in detail and rated for different age groups from pre-school right up to seniors with details of type of ride, best times to go, duration of ride, loading times.

The book also contains many independent customer comments and opinions.

As well as chapters on planning, such as when to go, it also covers tickets, opening hours and reviews of nearly 250 hotels including all the Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

All the Walt Disney World restaurants plus alternatives for eating outside of the World are rated and reviewed in a complete dining guide.

There are also comprehensive one and two day touring plans for each park split by different types of family; for example those with small children, couples and seniors. These can be torn out so you can carry them with you rather than taking the whole book.

There is a small section on other parks including Universal and SeaWorld but a companion book, Beyond Disney: the Unofficial Guide to Universal, Seaworld & the Best of Central Florida covers these parks in much more detail if you can afford to buy both.