I purchased this book while planning my family trip to Orlando. I found it to be extremely helpful and is one of the few books available that covers Walt Disney World, Orlando and Seaworld at the same time. This book is ideal for first time visitors to the Orlando area, repeat visitors who have not been to Orlando in awhile and/or those who want to do a good bit of planning before their trip. When my family first started planning our trip, we knew that there was no way for us to be able to see everything we wanted to in this visit. We wanted to make the most of our travel dollars and visit only places that the whole family can enjoy. This book was extremely useful in giving us information on accommodations, restaurants, parks and their must-see attractions. For each ride/attraction/show within the major theme parks, for instance, the author provides a star rating system based on the individuals age (e.g. 2-4 years, 5-10 years, and so on, including Senior Citizens) as well as information on the attraction itself. There are also "Helpful Hints" sprinkled throughout the book as well as "Travel Tips," "Hot Spots" and "Fast Facts." I found this extremely useful in helping us determine which theme parks would provide the optimum enjoyment for our family.
To give you an idea of how much this book covers, I have listed the chapters below:
1. Preparing for your Vacation
2. Choosing your Accommodations
3. Admission to the Disney Theme Parks
4. Orlando-Area Dining
5. Introduction to the Magic Kingdom
6. Exploring the Magic Kingdom
7. Kid-Oriented Areas of the Magic Kingdom
8. All About Epcot
9. The Disney-MGM Studios
10. Disneys Animal Kingdom
11. Disneys Water Parks
12. Disney Nightlife
13. A High Seas Adventure (Disney Cruise Lines)
14. The Universal Orlando Resort
15. The Universal Studios Florida Theme Park
16. Universal Escapes Islands of Adventure
17. Universal City Walk
18. SeaWorld and Discovery Cove
19. Exploring Greater Orlando
20. Planning Your Trip
In addition to this extensive list are maps, important phone numbers, an attraction selection worksheet and daily itinerary. In short, I would have to say that this book gives a lot of bang for the buck. It would recommend it to those with families who are planning to visit the Orlando area and plan to enjoy Walt Disney World as well as the other non-Disney theme parks.
