5 comments about Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando 2008 (Frommer's Complete) This is a comprehensive area reference which would be terrific if one lived in FL or spent a month or so here. Because it covers so much it can't be all that expansive on Disney World alone. But it was very helpful.



2. This is not a very detailed book. I mean there are thousands of things in it, but if you are looking to get the inside scoop say, on a hotel at disney, you will get one paragraph. I've seen some books that describe the lobbies, give you tips on room placement, etc...so I prefer more detail. Plus, the print is very small, so you better have good eyes! THere is a map in it though - that is nice, and it covers areas outside of Disney if you are interested in that.



3. I own several WaltDisneyWorld guide books and this one is confusing and unorganized. It tries to be a guide book for WDW and Orlando. So, if you are planning a trip to WDW and you are looking up listings for Best Restaurants, or Best Place to Eat with kids, you may be reading about a suggested restaurant only to find out that is actually at Universal Studios in Orlando...thinking you are reading about WDW. It mixes everything together and is hard to follow. Save your money and borrow it from the library.



4. I purchased this book for our first trip to Disney with our 3 year old daughter. We had a blast and this book really helped us plan our trip. It has a lot of the basics about the Orlando amusement parks--it even manages to summarize each ride at every park, rates them F through A+, tells you height requirements and gives a recommended age for each ride. This info was great because it saved us a lot of wasted time and helped us to rule out or avoid rides that our daughter wouldn't enjoy. The book also gave little tips about which days certain parks are busiest, how to use Fastpass, how to purchase Disney tickets in advance, etc. Every little tip imaginable is in this book!!! I have a friend visiting Disney and I recommended this book to her--I didn't actually lend my book to her because I don't want to let go of it!!



5. With all the guide books available for Walt Disney World, how does this one compare?
   
   It is not as good as The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Walt Disney World and the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. But those are the top three guide books to WDW, in my opionion.
   
   This book does have a fair amount of coverage of WDW, but also spends time on other Orlando attractions and hotels.
   
   There's just nothing special about it that would cause me to recommend it when there are much better books out there.

1 comments about Guide to the Magic of Walt Disney World: The Lost Journals.

1. I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable Disney fan, that being said I was hopeful for a new and interesting book of Disney facts. Well, boy did this deliver! The Lost Journal is full of fun facts, hidden Mickey's (some I knew of and some I didn't) and really interesting information about so many of the rides.
   
   It was great to spend the afternoon reading this and remember all the places in the park where the hidden Mickey's might be, and planning our next trip to the parks. I will defiantly have this guide with me as we tour the parks again this summer, in search of all the clues to complete the puzzle in the front of it. This is a great book for kids as well, very easy to read and understand. The size is great and will fit perfectly in our backpack at the park.
   
   I highly recommend this guide for all the Disney fans out there.

5 comments about The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids (Unofficial Guides).

1. We've been to WDW three times with our two small children in the past 2 years. We decided to become Annual Passholders because its cheaper. We have now read 9 books on WDW - hey, saving on the trips if you are going to take them requires planning. Of all the books we own or have borrowed this one just plain reads like an attempt at a fast buck!
   
   On a factual level: There are so many errors in here about when things happen, which characters are where, etc that it is a complete waste of money. In addition to the factual errors, the authors arrogance about what they like (as opposed to describing the quality or characteristics of something so the reader can decide for themselves) is just too ever-present.
   
   Pass on this one and look elsewhere if you actually want to know what to do with the kids at WDW. We were VERY disappointed in this book on our trip this month! The best choice for us, and MANY of the families we know and work with, has been the PassPorter series!



2. I picked this up last week thinking I would do a little research on a Disney vacation and make plans for the summer. I chose this book because it wasn't backed by Disney itself and I'm glad I chose it over the other guides. I have never been to Disney World and I had no idea of the cost--WOW! After skimming through this book I realize that a Disney World trip will probably cost as much as a short trip to Europe or a nice cruise! Ugh!
   
   The book is very well laid out, and I truly appreciated the section "Is a Disney Vacation Right for You?" because it made me see that NO, it definitely is not! With a 2 year old little girl, the expense, hassle, and the sheer size of Disney is enough to make me scared to try it! I agree with the authors that Disney is the perfect vacation for a family with kids ages 8-14, and our plan is to wait a few more years. I really liked the break down of the parks and all of the ride descriptions--I can just imagine older kids wearing this book ragged while they make their itineraries for the vacation.
   
   If you are planning a family vacation, definitely pick this guide up and prepare yourself. It has everything you need to know, from hotel rates to tips on making a coveted reservation for tea time with the Disney Princesses, to preparing your kids for the heat and endless walking around the parks. I will warn you that you may come away from the book a little scared and wondering, "Uh-oh, what have we signed ourselves up for?" Don't forget to pack it in your travel bag and carry it with you when you go. :)



3. This book is great. It gives you a lot of hints on how to make the most of your day, yet allows you to be flexible for your particular likes and dislikes. It was very helpful when traveling with 3 children under 7.



4. I've noted some of the more negative reviews of this book, but quite honestly I thought this book did the job. Yes, the main Unofficial Guide has even more info than this book (it's quite a brick), but if you are traveling with kids and especially if you are planning to stay at a Disney resort or hotel you will find this book pretty informative. If you aren't traveling with kids, need to know about practically every hotel in the area, or you have a lot more time to research everything to death then by all means get the main Unoffical Guide, but either way you won't go wrong. I think the authors did a fine job on both books, and ultimately helped us get the most out of our vacation.



5. This book was a total godsend. It was our first time (with kids), and this book answered every question we had and then some. We never asked anyone anything, if we had a question, we consulted the book. Only thing I wish they would do different is update it annually. Some of the newer rides weren't in it. But didn't make big difference. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it! When we go back, we will always have the most updated version of this book with us.

1 comments about Frommer's Florida 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. This book gave me a good break down of the area we are going to.

5 comments about Korea (Country Guide).

1. This is a decent guide book, but not a great one. Where is the old LP tongue-in-cheek humor that helped make it the guidebook it... was? And how about a cultural tidbit or anecdotal morsel that hasn't been airbrushed, hermetically sealed, and filed under PC. Oh, well. I suppose those days are over.
   
   But seriously now folks, this Lonely Planet Korea will enable you to steer your way through the country's primary cities and chief tourist attractions, and, as usual, the recommended places to stay are well chosen and exactly as described. I used this book on a recent trip to Seoul and Incheon and found it to be entirely adequate and even exceptional in places. Some people I ran into were using (I believe it's called) the Moon Handbook, which looked to be much more comprehensive, especially in terms of non-travel related information. Indeed, it had more than 800 pages as I remember. It all depends on what you want: Korea Lite or Korea Loaded. Either way, enjoy your travels in what must be the dried squid capital of the world.
   
   Troy Parfitt, author



2. I've used Lonely Planets for years. I like some more than others, and there's a few issues I have with the series, but they've always been a useful general guide to my travels.
   
   However this book is a new low and I can't recommend people away from it enough. Literally every single time I tried to follow the advice the book gave, the information ended up being incorrect or outdated or amazingly vague.
   
   A quick example is the Sa Rang Chae guest house in Gyeongju - it didn't give an address, and the phone number didn't work, but the description and location on the map indicated a general area to look. When I got to this general area, the guesthouse was nowhere to be found. I later learned that the guesthouse had moved locations four years ago, and had been e-mailing and mailing LP for several editions, trying to get them to update their information. Similarly, the restaurants and cafes they recommended for that city were nowhere to be found - it was worse than useless.
   
   Their maps are terrible, particularly in Seoul. They generally don't list street names on the map. They also tend to skip a large number of smaller streets - but without names, it's hard to guess if the street was skipped or not. So trying to use an LP map involves an awful lot of guesswork. Korean people were often very kind helping confused tourists such as myself, but they also couldn't understand the maps, because even if the street had names on it, there was no Hangul, only Roman characters.
   
   Addresses were very rarely given. So finding their recommendations boiled down to trying to use a small map with no street names. If using this book, make sure to confirm every single destination with a google search.
   
   The KNTO releases very excellent free travel books, they can either be ordered, viewed on the web (unfortunately it requires Active-X), or picked up at the information booth in the Seoul/Incheon airport - google tour2korea and go to "e-books." That and wikitravel (which is sparse and often vague, but at least generally accurate) is definitely a better option than Lonely Planet. Don't waste any money on this.



3. This book was a very comprehensive and honest guide to the country. It also included a section on North Korea and the possibility of travelling there. I found the information useful in order to decide where to go and the cost of living in Korea.



4. Lonely Planet produces some of the best guidebooks available, so it should come as no surprise that their book on Korea is complete, concise, and interesting.
   
   Pros: This guide book has it all, from Korean phrases and vocabulary, to fun getaways, trails off the beaten path and of course, lots of information on hotels and restaurants.
   
   Cons: Can't think of many, although Seoul needs its own book. (Which Lonely Planet makes, actually!) Also, my copy was slightly out-dated, (2004). Unfortunately, many fast-growing areas have completely changed since the book's first printing.



5. Typical of the Lonely Planet series, this book is full of interesting and necessary information. From sightseeing, to restaurants and accomodation, I found it to be a good help. It also gives a great insight into the history and culture of Korea, with a food chapter and a language chapter included. It's not the bible but I would definitely recommend this book to anyone going to Korea. You should also supplement it with stuff from the net or your local Korean tourist office etc.

5 comments about Little Black Book of Walt Disney World: The Essential Guide to All the Magic (Little Black Book) (Little Black Book).

1. Resturant critic and travel writer Rona Gindin's "The Little Black Book Of Walt Disney World" is a pocket-sized, 248-page guide to the many features and aspects of Florida's famous Walt Disney World theme park. Enhanced with illustrations by Kerren Barbas Steckler and the cartography of David Lindroth, "The Little Black Book Of Walt Disney World" includes seven fold-out maps and a wealth of color coded 'insider info' that will prove invaluable for Walt Disney World visitors. In addition to spotlighting landmarks and attractions, local writer Rona Gindin offers practical tips on restaurants, nightlife, shops and hotels throughout Walt Disney World including the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studies, the Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney. Of special note are the 'Top Picks' directing visitors to a variety of 'not-to-be-missed' experiences. The inclusion of 'Notes' pages allows for the recording of personal impressions. Portable, informative, superbly organized, and thoroughly 'user friendly', "The Little Black Book Of Walt Disney World" is the perfect itinerary planning guide for anyone preparing for a trip to Walt Disney World!



2. This book is small enough to tote along to the parks but it is not very exciting. I prefer the "Pasporter" which can fit into a small backback and has more to offer. This book is ok for first-timers to WaltDisneyWorld, but if you are looking for more information and more in-depth descriptions and suggestions buy something else.



3. We just got this - it looked like the best 'insiders' guide out there. Love it! Small enough to carry and arranged so you can zoom straight to what you're looking for. We're not WDW regulars and won't spend a whole lot of time there so for us, this is ideal for planning and taking along on our trip.



4. We have made several trips to WDW and have often purchased tour books to assist our planning. This little book has an amazing amount of information. One nice thing is it's size. It is so easy to acrry around with us.



5. I like the fact, that it is very small and you can stick it in your purse. It's got alot of information about all of the parks. I will definitely take this with me and tuck it away.

5 comments about PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World (PassPorter).

1. This lets you see the ins and outs of Disney. It lets you look at Disney in a different way. It's just fun and it's great. So it's great fun!!!!!



2. I'm sure this is a perfectly wonderful book and I'll give it 5 stars based on how well it's written and how much fun it looks like it would be. However, I bought this book along with the Hidden Mickey's book and we soon learned it was impossible to do both, so we chose looking for Hidden Mickeys. I think the Treasure Hunts would be a lot of fun for large families, church or school groups.



3. This book is a necessity for anyone who visits WDW. We have been 11 times now, and thought we knew everything. WRONG. We had more much fun on this last trip using this book than ever before.
   
   If you look around at WDW, everyone is hurrying, running, to get to the "next" thing. What you may not realize is that every step IS the next thing.
   
   WDW is not just about shows and rides. It's all the little details that create the whole fun effect. We had never even stopped to read all the handprints in front of The Great Movie Ride, examine the fountain in front of Muppet Labs, notice all the details inside Country Bear Jamboree, or a million other things. Treaure hunting gave this trip so much more and really made this trip more "magical" than ever.



4. My husband and I are avid Disney goers, visiting at least once a year. We always try to find something different to do when wer're there (i.e. tours around the parks). This book has provided that new fun thing to do on our next trip. It asks a lot of questions and you really have to hunt for answers. There are differnet levels of hunts so it's great for kids, teenagers, or kids at heart. Enjoy!!!!!!



5. I found this a fantastic guide to finding many of the hidden gems that we all take for granted when visiting Disney World. You blink you will miss them. I like some of the history and meanings behind many of the items that I would have missed otherwise. I think this guide would be great to entertain and the teens on your trip.

5 comments about Drive I-95: Exit by Exit Info, Maps, History and Trivia.

1. This book is great! Not only does it give the standard I95 exit information (restaurants, hotels, etc.) but it also gives many points of interest for families...rest areas where you can play ball or places not far from exits where you can have fun.
   I can't believe how extensive this book is and how accurate since it's a few years old now and things they are a changin' along I95 North to South.
   We really enjoyed this book along our trip - reading ahead of time is recommended so that you can be aware of places to stop before you get there.



2. Drive I-95 by Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner has been released in updated 4th Edition. It is a very comprehensive guidebook for any drive along the North-South route of the United States most Eastward coastal highway. This edition now includes Florida. With maps, radar traps, radio stations, 24 hour gas info, good eats and sleeps, where pets are welcomed, unususal shopping opportunities, fun places to visit, and fascinating historical facts along the route, you cannot leave home for that highway without this book! You'll miss so much! The excellent book, with exit by exit itemized information, has won the Book of the Year Seal, Best Books Award, and Benjamin Franklin Award. It is compact and sturdy enough to tuck into your car door pocket. EXCELLENT!!!



3. As someone who travels I-95 often, I was delighted to discover "Drive I-95." What a valuable tool for the vacationer or the everyday traveler!
   
   This slick, spiral book is an ideal guide to everything you need to help make your trip more pleasant. Exits for every segment of I-95 from Massachusetts to the tip of Florida, where I-95 ends, are documented with important landmarks, motels, restaurants/fast food places, service stations, and drug and grocery stores. A book flap gives the dial location and program types for the strongest radio stations along the way. Following the map section, the traveler will find more than 100 pages of interesting tidbits concerning history and places found near I-95. These include segments, with exit numbers, about the Torpedo Factory Art Center, located in Alexandria, VA; Gadsby's Tavern (an historic restaurant at the same exit); St. John's Church in Richmond, VA where Patrick Henry gave his famous speech about liberty or death; the Best Western Space Shuttle Inn; Outlets at Vero Beach, FL; Worth Ave. in Palm Beach, FL and much more. The back inside cover has a list of motel chain 800 numbers.
   
   Drive I-95 is a treasure you will want to keep in your car as you travel from Boston to Miami and lots of places in between. What a great idea!
   
   --Mary Montague Sikes, author of Hotels to Remember



4. Now in a fully updated fourth edition, "Drive I-95" continues to be the premier guidebook for the more than 42,500,000 people who drive to Florida every year down Interstate 95. It accurately charts all 552 exits on I-95 from Boston to Miami. It is also a wealth of information about food options, motels, radar traps, radio stations, 24-hour mechanics (a unique feature not found in other travel guides) ATM machines, shopping recommendations, and even some of the best golf courses to be found along the route. With anecdotal stories such as the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, North Carolina having been started with a kiss, to a listing of motel chain 800 numbers, to so much more, "Drive I-95" continues to be the premier and confidently recommended travel guide for anyone driving up or down I-95!



5. Haven't had time to actually use this book so far but my sisters. one of whom has used an older version of this book in the past, used theirs recently while traveling north. They found it very helpful in locating places to eat and stay overnight. We did notice however that one or two of the eating places in our own area of Santee are no longer in business.
   
   I hope to get my chance to use it shortly.

No comments about Fodor's Walt Disney World® with Kids 2009: with Universal Orlando and SeaWorld (Special-Interest Titles).

5 comments about 101 Things You Never Knew About Walt Disney World: An Unauthorized Look at Tributes, Little Touches, And Inside Jokes.

1. This was an unsatisfactory book. Beyond the lack of content, it was poorly edited with entire paragraphs being duplicated in various instances of the 101 'things'. There was little of value that I gained from the book. I bought this because our family will travel to disney for the first time next year and I can't say I have taken much away from it. This book seemed like the type of content that would be handed out on a promotional flyer which had a map of disney on it.



2. Great book for those who have never been to WDW and for those who have been before. There really were things I never knew.



3. I should have known from the cover of this book that there was trouble in River City. Trouble with a capital T that rhymes with B that stands for "bored now." There was literally not a single thing in this book that I hadn't heard/read/learned somewhere else. I suppose if you had absolutely positively never in your life been to Disney or read anything at all about the park, you might be interested... then again, probably not. It's positively insulting to Disney fans that the author tries to pass off what amounts to information readily available in a thousand other places as his own work.



4. This is a great book for any one who is interested in the details of Disney World. There is a lot of information is this book that is revealed to you on the "backstage" tours at the parks, but with the book, it's easier to remember all the stuff you learned!



5. Excellent book. It had lots of interesting facts. I would recommend it to anyone interested in Walt Disney World.