The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 – Book Review

This time last year we were packing our bags for our first ever trip to Walt Disney World as a family.

I did a lot of research online and bought a number of guidebooks to help us plan our trip. One of my favorite books was The Complete Walt Disney World 2009: The Definitive Disney Handbook. It was different than most books as it had a more personal feel to it. It was easy to thumb through and was packed with information and beautiful pictures.

I recently received The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 version for review. While writing this post, I learned that the book:

• is the only independent Disney guide ever honored by the Walt Disney Company
• is authored by Julie and Mike Neal, who have been to WDW more than 1,400 times and visit at least once a week
• is the winner of Disney’s iParenting Media Award for Outstanding Family Product (2009)
• has won 8 national book awards including Nonfiction Book of the Year and Travel Guide of the Year

After paging through the book, I can say I’m thoroughly impressed with the updates and additions they have made. Some points that stand out include:

• More than 500 full-color photographs.
• Reviews of nearly 700 attractions, restaurants, shops, and hotels with hundreds of helpful tips.
• What’s New. A handy summary at the front of the book that references all the changes at WDW in the past year including price increases, attraction changes, resort alterations, special events, and more.
• Character Locations. Easy to scan lists of your child’s favorite characters and where to meet them at each park.
• Over 100 new hotel photos which include shots of  landscapes, swimming pools, and an inside look at the rooms.
• An expanded WDW telephone directory that lists over 90 rarely published numbers.

This comprehensive book also offers Planning Your Day entries which I found extremely helpful. These sections are dedicated pages in each park section detailing the best day of the week to go, height restrictions, hour-by-hour wait times, fear factors, kids meals, baby care center locations, what to do if it’s crowded, how to beat the heat, and what to do if it rains.

One of my favorite additions to the book include the Fun Finds, Fun Facts, and Hidden Mickeys sections which are included in every park chapter and often in individual attraction descriptions. For example: did you know that in the Wishes fireworks show  that the fireworks launch from 11 locations and that some explosion form stars, hearts, even a face, or that sometimes Tinkerbell is played by a man?

I could go on and on about the superb organization of this book, its detailed reviews, and the eye-catching memorable photographs. It will be one we are sure to recommend to any family and friends planning Disney trips and it will be packed alongside our camera on our next trip to Walt Disney World.

Not only do I love this book, but Kora and Logan enjoy flipping through it and looking at the beautiful pictures as well.

We give The Complete Walt Disney World 2010:

Two Thumbs Up!

Thanks to Coconut Press for providing the book for review. No compensation was provided for this review. The opinions are mine. Yours may differ.

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