Advantages: Great book, full of useful tips and know how
Disadvantages: 798 pages to pack in a suitcase!!

...The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World As the title suggest this book is written completely independently of the Walt Disney company by a team of professional travel writers. The writing is sharp and to the point and the authors certainly appear to know their subject area very well. The content? The book basically contains every bit of information about WDW that you could possibly need to know, as well as other parts of the Disney empire such as the Disney Cruise line. It begins with starting with planning your journey. The book is split into 17 parts, as follows: Planning before you leave home Making the most of your time and money Selecting your hotel The Disney Cruise Line Walt Disney World with Kids Special tips for special people Arriving and getting around Bare necessities Dining in and around Walt... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great theme parks, hotels and weather
Disadvantages: 9 hour flight and almost too much to do!!

...Walt Disney World in Florida is the largest of any of the Disney Parks in the world and covers over 46 square miles!! It consists of: 4 major theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney MGM Studios and and the new Animal Kingdom) 3 water parks Over 15 hotels and 1 camp site Dining, leisure and shopping activities. It's such a big place that it would be impossible for me to tell you everything about it, but I'll give a brief background and choose some of my favourite things! I have done some other ops on Disney as well in more details, so please feel free to check those out as well! Getting there; There are tons of flights to get from the UK to Florida and you can either fly into Orlando International airport (30 minutes away) or Sanford (1 hour away). It's a nine hour flight and I would recommend a scheduled airline... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: You think you know DisneyWorld? Look for Imagineers, Reedy Creek, Facilities Way, Utilidors
Disadvantages: Ever popular, poorly advertised, there may be a waiting list

...a personalised name badge and were invited to introduce ourselves to our fellow travellers. We were a party of nineteen and our guide for the day was Nancy. For the next seven and a half hours we were going to experience the Backstage Magic of Walt DisneyWorld. EMBARCATION We were a varied bunch - mostly American (there was Phil and his wife from Tucson Arizona and a family from upstate New York) although we represented the UK and there was a mother and daughter on vacation from Israel - but we all shared a passion for Disney and a hunger for more information and the hidden secrets. We were shepherded past the ordinary queues and into the park. Part way up the slope to the right hand side of Spaceship Earth we were guided to a quiet corner by a high fence. Here Nancy took the opportunity to tell us what to expect during our tour. Disney... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Every bit as magical as the brochures promise!
Disadvantages: Very expensive, a lot of walking is necessary and you have to plan well to fit everything in!

...of the characters before hand. It also allows you early entry to the park. It's a good idea to get children an autograph book (although you may prefer to buy this out of the parks, for budget reasons) and a chunky pencil, so the characters can grip it. Whatever you do, make sure you arrive as early as possible, during peak times the park opens at 9am (somtimes earlier). In Main Street, you'll find a train station for the Walt Disney World Railway which takes you on a tour around the park, with stops at various lands. There are also various other forms of transportation, including horse drawn carts, but these will only take you up and down main street for a (comparitively) small fee. A word of caution for any one who smokes -Disney don't really like it. You are only allowed to smoke in designated smoking areas, which are few and far between. If you do... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: It's big, it's magical, it's the eighth wonder of the modern world
Disadvantages: It's a long way away; it needs careful planning to appreciate fully

...My CIAO screen name should give an indication that although I come from the UK side of the pond, I have some predilection for the Sunshine State. I have spent many happy holidays in and around Walt DisneyWorld (WDW) in Florida. My first visit was back in 1980 and this year will mark my twenty fifth return. During that time I have seen, done and worn most of the T-shirts and have also explored many of the bits that one-time visitors just don't have the time to see and would not think to ask about. This review is something of a retrospective on my part but I also hope that I can pass on a hint or two that may make someone's next trip that little bit more entertaining. FIRST THINGS FIRST. This section contains some comments about holidays in Florida in general. The frequent visitor can certainly skip over this part as it should... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Property on site. Park your car and let Disney do the driving.
Disadvantages: Very small rooms.

...I opened up the travel section, of the local paper last autumn and couldn't believe my eyes. A quarter page advertisement for Walt Disney World. It stated "Florida residents enjoy a neighbourly rate this fall. Value resorts from $49 per night. Call your Disney Travel Planner at 407-939-1305." At the bottom it had the 'small fine print'. I showed it to my husband, and then phoned the number. A really nice young lady answered all my questions. Len and I had a choice to go to either the 'All-Star Music Resort', or the 'All-Star Sports Resort'. I love music and dancing so it was a really easy choice for me. She took my booking over the telephone, gave me a reservation number. Told me the full total including taxes, and asked for a credit card for the deposit of 1 nights accommodation. Also informing me that I could cancel up to 5... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Fairytale magic. Everyone wants to be able to say they've been to Disney.
Disadvantages: Long lines, expensive

...Walt Disney had an acorn of an idea and it grew into a massive oak - but just as mighty oaks get parasitic mosses growing on their limbs