5 comments about The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups (Unofficial Guides).

1. This compact format of the "Unofficial Guide" is handy to carry compared to its larger counterpart "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2000; Bob Sehlinger" but the information is basically the same. Tips to help with the Kids for are cut, as are some of the more lengthy reviews of hotels/attractions/restaurants.

   This book aims and hits the mark with helpful hints for the Grown-up (are we ever grown-up?) visitor. However, to keep the book more compact there is a great deal of rich material left out that is useful for the first time visitor. The information is provided in a well-organized format that most will find useful. Common questions are answered, and the book provides resource lists, Web sites, and e-mail addresses.

   Timesavers are included regarding attractions that are more along the adult taste, but who is to say that the author knows everyone's taste. One of the "Don't Bother" items for the Magic Kingdom is Mickey's ToonTown. For the more whimsical adult this can be a fun place and a hot spot to meet characters unclose and personal. After all what would a trip to WDW be without that old standard photo of you and "the Mouse" himself.

   Where this book shines is pointing you towards the more "adult" attractions and events. With so much to do and experience at WDW a good guide is extremely helpful.

   Using the planning tips in this and other guides hundreds of dollars can be saved. The How to Cut Costs section offers many ways to save money both in the planning stages as well as during the visit. While money may be no object to some, most people would rather with a little knowledge save some cash to happily spend it on all the souvenirs we must bring back to those not heading for the "World".

   Overall as a handy guide easy to carry I would recommend this book for the "adult" traveler. Another handy to carry guide is "PassPorter Walt Disney World: The unique travel guide, planner, organizer, journal, and keepsake!" For serious planning a meatier guidebook is needed. I have found that the "Unofficial" guides offer the off the cuff, straight shooting opinions and have relied on them for years.

   If this is your first trip to WDW then buy the more comprehensive guide and if you want a handy to carry reference then The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups is a great choice. If you are a repeat visitor you should be able to skip the larger version and go straight for the Grown-Ups guide. As WDW evolves so do the attractions but the goal is the same, HAVE FUN!




2. A better title for this book would be "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for the Wealthy and Jaded Retiree".
   
   I'm a very big fan of the Unofficial Guide to Disney World and I thought this "add-on" guide would be a good investment but I am rather disappointed. The author seems to think that all "grown-ups" have an unlimited budget for their trip and actually says "It will cost you $300 or more (more than $500 for the deluxe savannah view) but that's not out of line." in reference to the Lodge at Animal Kingdom. I just about fell out of my chair!
   
   Since this add-on Guide doesn't feature a reference year on the cover as its big brother does I didn't realize I was buying a guide book over 2 years out of date (published in 2003 and the original Unofficial Guide admits that they're out of date when they go to press) apparently there is a new edition coming out though.
   
   Everything this guide recommends seems to have more to do with spending lots of money and avoiding children at all costs than enjoying the parks. Its recommended visiting times seem highly out of sync with the original Guide's attendance calendars And the author seems to feel that no adult could possibly enjoy some of the sillier and kitschier attraction and souvenirs.
   
   It also has very little for the younger "grown-up" most of its reviews and comments seem aimed at the retiree.
   
   This is a very jaded look at Disney through the eyes of someone who obviously had more money than your average Disney vacationer. I got much more useful information out of the original Unofficial Guide.



3. Out of all the Disney books I have, this is the smallest and shortest. It's a paperback size with only 167 actual pages. Of course, that's because it has a very narrow focus. The book really expects that you already have access to one or more "full" books about Disney and are now hoping to get specific information on grown up activities. I therefore was expecting this book NOT to redundantly cover all the basics - but to focus on the specifics for adults.
   
   The book begins by advising adults to go in late April / early May. The weather's warm enough to swim, it's relatively quiet, and the gardens are in full bloom. Dress casually unless you must have a formal dinner, and pack light. Bring ear plugs just in case, and an easy to carry water bottle. Comfortable shoes are a must! All of these things are exactly what every other book says. Every book tries to get you go to when it's less crowded and to be sensible while you're there.
   
   The book gives a lot of generic information on ticket prices, airline ideas, hotels. They do get into romantic hotels and restaurants, perhaps assuming that adults coming here are coming as couples. They talk about things to do at each theme park. However, most of what I read was generic. There were very few items that were aimed only at adults. In fact, the ones that were did so from the viewpoint of "xxx is far too childish for you to enjoy"
   
   Now here's where this book really annoys me. The tone of much of the book is VERY snide. They make snide comments about noisy kids, about inane rides, about just about every aspect of going to Disney. One or two things I could let slide. We all have pet peeves. However, it's like they are going out of their way to say "We aren't with Disney, and we think they suck, they can't do anything about it, nyah nyah nyah." It gets REALLY redundant really quickly. The whole reason I got this book is because I *want* to go to Disney. I don't feel like reading nasty commentary about it the entire time. You know what, if they think Small Word is "brain damaging", they can just choose to go elsewhere. They don't have to dediate two paragraphs to bashing it.
   
   Once they finish with the park reviews, they give a lot of time to the nighttime island and to shopping. Apparently adults like to drink and shop, but not do "Disney" things. Finally, the book discusses wine lists a bit, and hidden mickeys a fair amount.
   
   I felt rather disappointed when I finished with this book. Most of it was generic and redundant to other Disney books. Very little of it was adult-specific - and when it was, it was apparently aiming to very "super-mature" adults who were incredibly wealthy. Many of the things they said to avoid, I would enjoy greatly. I realize it's hard to write something that aims to ALL adults. However, they didn't even seem to try. Either they were driving me away with their snideness, excluding me with their incredibly high price tag recommendations, or talking down to me.
   
   Rent this at a library first to see if you find anything useful in it. For actual "cheap Disney" suggestions or reviews of hotels / restaurants / attractions you'll enjoy, it's far more useful to get an actual full book on Disney and go through it with your own interests in mind.



4. EXCELLENT book! Lots of useful information about accommodations and activities for older people. Well worth the money.



5. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups is a decent idea but fails to provide much value. It's far too short to be a comprehensive guide, yet it fails to offer much content that is both unique and useful enough to justify its price. If you were to buy the The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 (Unofficial Guides), you will get a book that dwarfs this one in size and usefulness. Quite frankly, nearly all of the information presented here is available in the main volume but the reverse is certainly not true. This book can only scratch the surface compared to the full guide. Even though I love the Unofficial Guide series, I can't recommend this one.

1 comments about Exploring Florida's Gulf Coast Beaches.

1. This is a great reference book with lots of black and white pictures. We used it everyday on our 21 day production of "The Best Florida Beaches / Waves: Virtual Vacations" DVD here on Amazon. So after reading this book, if you want to really see and hear what these beaches truely looked like before the hurricanes, check out our DVD.
   
   Florida surprisingly has some of the most diverse beaches. From the white clayish sand in Key West to the shelly beaches of Naples up to the spectacular white sands in the Panhandle back down the orange sand beaches of the Atlantic near jacksonville to the white sandy beaches to Miami. Add to that, spectacular yellow & orange sunsets and you'll have a wonderful trip.

No comments about Frommers 500 Places to See Before They Disappear (500 Places).

1 comments about Everything Family Guide to the Disneyland Resort, California Adventure, Universal Studios, and the Anaheim AreA: A complete guide to the best hotels,l ... attractions (Everything: Travel and History).

1. This is a great resource for planning your trip to Disneyland.
   
   Very informative read for the rides, attractions, places to stay. The worksheets are very helpful as well, to keep the information in one place. I also suggest Birnbaums Guide to accompany this and you have a full and well-rounded set of guides to plan your trip and day-to-day activities.
   
   I also suggest joining some message boards to assist you in your planning. Simply Google or do an internet search of "Disney trip planning message board" and you will have quite a few to choose from. Have fun at the Happiest Place on Earth!

2 comments about High Jungles and Low.

1. I believe that this book was very informative on the geography of Nicaragua and Honduras. Archie Carr ventured through the cloud forests and jungles of Honduras and Nicaragua, portraying in impecible detail the beasts, men, and plants of the villages, jungles, forests, and rivers, while siting some of the history of Honduras and Nicaragua. The author was a sea turtle expert, naturalist, author and scientist. I highly reccomend this book to any who seek knowledge of jungle creatures and plants.



2. I've been writing reviews of books about Central America for several years for a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer publication. This is by far the best book I've ever read about the region. Carr was a biologist, botanist and teacher, best known for his sea turtle research and establishment of the Tortuguera National Park in Costa Rica. This book details his early exploration of Honduran and Nicaraguan ecosystems in the late 1940's, experiences which were to change his life and change the face of Central American environmentalism. Carr's curiosity, humor and understanding shine in every page. A scientist and trained observer, he maintained a sense of wonder, and was not above being awed by a landscape or a bird sighting. He writes possibly the best line ever written about Olancho, the rich, wild eastern part of Honduras where anything can happen: "It's not the light." he writes. "It's Olancho."
   
   Anyone hoping to make a trip to Honduras or hoping to better understand this fascinating region would benefit from this book.

5 comments about Florida's Fabulous Natural Places (Florida's Fabulous Nature Series).

1. Anyone who lives in Florida must have this book. They'll be surprised at how many truly spectacular natural areas are accessible.



2. I can give the book a fabulous review; I think it's the best of the "Florida's Fabulous . . ." series, and all have been good. However, my main purpose for writing is to tell you the correct name of the book is Florida's Fabulous Natural Places (not Nature Places) by Tim Ohr with Pete Carmichael, photographer. I had to go through several steps before pulling it up on your site because of the incorrect title. Thought you'd like to revise it.



3. This book is excellent not only does it highlight the differences in Florida's nature spaces but it also divides the state into regions with a relevant 'map' which enables you to take the trek, an adventure itself! I intend to make great use of this as a nature photographer and enjoy the wilderness in my own 'backyard' so to speak.



4. This excellent book is one both residents of Florida and visitors to that state will enjoy, and refer to again and again. The color photography is peerless and well-selected. The text is easily readable and proceeds in a logical, understandable fashion, beginning in the Northwest Florida panhandle and proceeding south through the Keys.

   Florida's Fabulous Natural Wonders review the jewels of Florida nature, as preserved in the Federal and State park systems. In addition to such obvious topics as Everglades National Park, you will learn about, and see Florida's tallest waterfall; yes, it's 67 feet high, Florida largest lake, the biggest springs in the country, and much, much more.

   A particularly attractive feature of this book is a listing of all of these parks in the back of the book, together with their location, and what each park contains. This is very helpful for planning entire vacations as well as simple day trips. The Table of Contents is on the last page, but now that you have read this review, you know where to look.

   I suggest that any visitor to Florida should obtain this book beforehand, so as to plan ahead for seeing and experiencing the many wonderful natural things this increasingly populated state has managed to preserve.

   This book is a fine compliment to "Florida's Natural Wonders", a book I have previously reviewed. I recommend each book very highly on its own, but, together, they are exemplary.




5. This is a wonderful book on the natural beauty Florida has to offer. Forget about theme parks. These places are real life changing locations not fantasy. I highly recommend this book for those looking to see amazing scenery.

No comments about Insiders' Guide to the Florida Keys and Key West, 13th (Insiders' Guide Series).

1 comments about Zagat 2007 Miami, South Florida Restaurants (Zagatsurvey).

1. Si eres amante del buen comer, o simplemente necesitas un poco de información para tomar una decisión sobre a dónde ir, esta es la guía perfecta. Siempre que viajo a algún lugar trato de conseguirla y sus comentarios y evaluaciones son 99.9% certeras.

1 comments about The Search for the Atocha.

1. In 1622 the Spanish Galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha sank off the Florida Keys on its way from Havana to Spain. Since then men have dreamed of salvaging her treasure of gold an silver, now conservatively estimated at $140 million. For more than three centuries, however, their dreams have ended in bitter, often tragic, failure.
   
   In the 1960s a man with an overwhelming will committed his life to the search. His name is Mel Fisher, and his own story has become a fascinating part of the Atocha saga. Raising money, developing new equipment, Fisher and his associates have also discovered the location of the sunken ship and her treasure. Most important, however, Fisher has never wavered in his quest, even when he has confronted with economic ruin, government challenges, legal setbacks and the tragic deaths of two members of his family as they tried to reach the dream.
   ---excerpt from book's dustjacket

3 comments about Fodor's Walt Disney World® 2008: with Universal Orlando and SeaWorld (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. As you might expect from the title, the bulk of the material in this book is focused on the various theme parks in the Orlando area. In addition, you will find all the standard Fodor's material covering restaurants, hotels, and general information about visiting the area.
   
   The information provided is useful and accurate. Fodor's updates it once a year and subject to constant little changes in the real world, they do a good job of keeping it current. One notable item this year is that Disney did make some changes to their Dining Plan after the deadline for the 2008 guide had passed. This is not only true for this book but all of the 2008 Disney World guides. If you plan to utilize the Dining Plan, make sure you visit Disney's web site for the most current information.
   
   The theme parks are covered pretty comprehensively. The strategies offered for avoiding long lines at the theme parks are helpful. The book also gives descriptions and ratings of every ride and attraction at each park. The descriptions are almost too detailed (if you want any surprises) and their ratings are sometimes a bit generous. Still, the material is helpful in deciding which rides to make sure you see and what can be skipped if time is short.
   
   All in all, this is an above average guide. It does, however, suffer in comparison to The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 (Unofficial Guides), which is the ultimate help in planning a trip to Orlando. The Unofficial Guide is hundreds of pages longer and every bit of it is crammed with useful information with the hotel and dining coverage proving especially weak here compared to it. Still, Some travelers are actually put off by the sheer volume of information in the Unofficial Guide and this might be a choice that would be less intimidating and more easily digested if you prefer to invest a bit less time in the planning stage of your trip.



2. Although I've been to Disney with my family several times, I pick up a guide book every year to brush up on an outside opinion on places we haven't eaten, what construction is going on, etc. I had picked up the 2003 Fodor's Walt Disney World for Couples book and absolutely loved it. When they discontinued the series, I picked up this year's 2008 Guide book. Having been to Disney regularly, I was disappointed at the write-ups. While they do at least mention all the major rides and attractions, and offer some helpful tips, the write-ups in this edition aren't nearly as detailed as the other title I'd bought. I felt cheated of not only better writing, but a sense of humor and a lot of the little details their previous series offered. The input from the public that they published was mainly from two people, hardly a wide sampling.
   Any first time Disney visitors are much better served by spending their money on a different guide.



3. This is a pretty good book on Walt Disney World. However, there are better guide books out there, specifically The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Walt Disney World and the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.
   
   If you already have the above three books and would like another opinion, then pickup this book. It does have pretty solid coverage.