Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0764559729, Paperback)

In their "Declaration of Independence," the authors and researchers of this guide swear their allegiance to you, the consumer. "If a restaurant serves bad food, or a gift item is overpriced, or a certain ride isn't worth the wait, we can say so, and in the process we hope to make your visit more fun, efficient, and economical." And because they've found that "spontaneity and self-discovery work about as well at Walt Disney World as they do on your tax return," The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World is packed full of essential advice for anyone braving the frontiers of the mother of all theme parks.

To help you decide what's most important for you and your family to see, this newly updated 1999 edition describes each attraction in detail and ranks them for different age groups based on interviews with more than 9,000 families. The book also covers when to go, the pros and cons of lodging outside "the World," hotel and restaurant ratings, field-tested itineraries, tips and warnings, planning strategies, and how to meet Disney characters. Humorous writing accompanied by cartoonist Tami Knight's satiric insights make this guide fun to read. Parks covered include the Magic Kingdom; Epcot; Disney's Animal Kingdom; The Disney-MGM Studios; Universal Studios Florida; Sea World; area water-theme parks; and a section called "Beyond the Parks," which delves into other various Disney offerings like golf (mini and maxi), a speedway, and Discovery Island. --Kathryn True