Great book to buy while planning WDW with kids

[Lorix2]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to tell you that I bought a book called "Walt Disney World with Kids 2001" by Kim Wright Wiley from our local Barnes & Noble, it's 443 pages. I devoured it in less than 2 days.

It breaks down all major and minor parks and also includes a guide to every park listing it's location, height requirement, speed of line, duration of ride/show, scare factor rating and age range.

Tons of helpful hints and money saving tips, descriptions of all the resorts, their restaurants, ratings, price ranges, the locations, proximities of the hotel to park by bus and the ratings, (fair, good, excellent) the +'s and -'s of each hotel, atmosphere, theme, etc...

This is a very easy read and it was $16.95. I know we get a lot of the same great help and information here, but if you're a reader, this is the book for you when planning with you're kids....I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned before...or is it ok that I posted the name of it? somebody let me know please if this isn't allowed

Happy reading!

 

[koswalt]

There is much of the same information here, but not in any concise or organized format. Plus you have to be at your computer to use it. I have all the planning books and have read each of them about a million times, but I still get enjoyment from browsing through them. And I still can't seem to NOT check in at this site every day. I still pick up about 1-2 tips a day from my efforts. Definitely I'm going to have to find a new "hobby" after we go to WDW in August. (Either that or make this an annual thing???)

 

[nanalisa]

Thanks for the info Lorix2. Who authored that book? I think I want to get it, I've been Birmbaumed to death (not that it's not a great book, I've just read each year's edition 50 times)

Koswalt, I noticed you are going to Didney Birld. I'm going to Disney Wooled!

 

[Lorix2]

Koswalt - I'm chuckling, because I feel the same way...I know I'm way too consumed with the DIS when I hear the kids say "where's mom?" and I hear my DH "didn't you check the computer?" with a raised eyebrow and a look thrown at me....

nanalisa - the book is written by Kim Wright Wiley and on the back cover it says this about her: "Kim Wright Wiley has updated her popular guide Walt Disney World with Kids for ten consecutive years. She is the online Disney expert for family.com, and a contributing editor at Disney Magazine. She and her children have visited Walt Disney World at least 35 times and still love to go back"...

who can beat 35 times?? LOL!

 

[Wishydoo]

Sounds like a great book. I'm going to have to check it out. Thanks Lorix2!

 

[sha_lyn]

This book is very out of date. I bought the 2001 version when it came out because I loaned my 2000 official guide out and never got it back. I was really going to get the 2001 official guide but I knew we would be going to US/IOA/SW, so I bougth the book since it has SW/IOA/US info. I found it very behind (the 2000 official was ahead of it) and not accuate at all. I was very dissapointed in it. I love the official guide, and I plan of getting passporter soon. The unofficial guide is too critical for me.

 

[Lorix2]

Sha Lyn - how inaccurate was it? I mean they can't be up to the minute....it seemed pretty thorough...I'm guessing pricing? that can change in a second I'm sure at Disney....this woman supposedly has been to WDW 35 times, I would think she'd know alot of accurate info (not saying this sarcastically at all - please don't take offense)

Please explain anything major you feel is inaccurate....I really love using this book while planning. I do have the unofficial Brommer's guide too...but it doesn't thrill me to read....

thanks!

 

[sha_lyn]

often I read "coming summer of 2000" or due to open *** of 2000. We are off to a baseball banquet today. When I get home I'll try find some examples.
The hints and ride descriptions were good. I just felt that anyone planning their first trip and relying on it only would be disapointed.

 

[Lorix2]

Sha Lyn - really? huh...I never read that anywhere in the book, if something was mentioned, it was open and functioning I guess because I don't ever remembering seeing those words "coming in 2001/2002"...are we really talking about the same book? It just seems so thorough....

yes, if you have time please point any major inaccuracies out to me and other readers so I may make a note of it...page numbers please! LOL!

thanks again!

 

[sha_lyn]

in about 10 min I found this mis information or lack of information. Nothing huge but as in the horror makeup show if I had not read a negative comment about it on these boards I would have thought it ok for my kids and would have been very upset if I had taken them in there and the x rated humor started.

page 17 ... Magic Kingdon club is described. It has not been available since mid 2000 and it was anounced a couple of months prior.

31..still calls Dinosaur countdown to Extinction. I believe the change was in May 2000. (I know it was within a few weeks of our trip).

154&159...Skyway is mentioned as a ride in MK. It was closed prior to April 2000

390 Horror makeup show is suggested for kids 5 and over, it is only described as showing how special effects makeup is done and showing a few horror film clips. Even the Maps at universal say it is for ages 13+

433 says coming soon Kraken to open summer 2000.

Fantasmice dinner package is not mentioned at all that i could find.
Shades of Green is not mentioned as a resort(thaat I could find). Not very suprised since it is not on the maps (a building is shown but is not named last I saw on a map)but other guide books do mention it



I know there were a few more but I have a headache and don't feel like reading it cover to cover tonight. I know there were a few more coming in summer 2000 references but I couldn't find them tonight.

All in all the tips, ride and resturant descriptions are good but it really seems to be more of a 1999 version, not the updated version it claims to be.

 

[Kermit]

I noticed that some of the restaurants she mentioned were no longer open. I'll see if I can find them in the book later, but I agree that it is out of date. I like WDW for Couples and the Unofficial Guide. The Official Guide is good, too, but you won't find anything but official information--nothing too critical and nothing about ways to really save money or anything like that.

 

[Lorix2]

Sha Lyn - thank you for taking the time to point out these things -sorry you had a headache! well...you can tell that I haven't been to WDW in a while huh? 1986 to be exact...this is a little dissappointing, but I'll just use whatever I think I can as far as tips for park strategies go.......thanks again for you're help!

 

[sha_lyn]

It was no problem. Like I said all in all it seems to be a good book but I don't think it should have been called the 2001 edition. The only thing that really upset me was the info on Horror makeup show. I can imagine however someone who has never been to disney maybe going to AK and not realizing CTX is now dinosaur
and not riding it or worse perhaps riding it thinking it was something else after deciding it was too scary or too rough for them or someone in their party. That why I love these boards. You get several differnt opinions on things instead of just that of the author of a book, and ths info is up to date.

 

[sherry7]

Walt Disney World with Kids 2001 can be purchased at www.bookcloseouts.com for $3.99. They also have the Birnbaums 2001 for $3.99, as well as some other WDW guidebooks. Do a search for "Disney World." Shipping and handling is also pretty reasonable. My order took about 1 1/2 weeks to arrive.

 

[Wishydoo]

Thanks sherry7!

 

[StilesMom]

I just have to say that I bought both the WDW With Kids 2001 book as soon as we booked our trip (August) and I thought it was great. Then I got the Passporter 2001 when it came out in February and realized how much more detailed the info was in Passporter. I also realized at that point that the WDW W/ Kids book was already outdated! And by that point I discovered these boards - which helped more than anything!

When we went on our trip I took both books (plus a friend loaned me her Birnbaums) and the set of them was a lifesaver! They kept everyone entertained during the trip and they were great for looking up quick info! I think the reason why the WDW W/ Kids is the most outdated is because it came out so early - 6 months before the Passporter. Alot can change in 6 months!!

 

[ZachnElli]

I just got it and Passporter too. Passporter so far has been my guide and I have the other one good too, but it is inaccurate. Here's 2 more things I can think of off the top of my head, it says that AK is open at 7 am, but it's 8 am this year. I don't blame her for that, park times change constantly. But the one true inaccuracy I found is the book saying that if you are staying on site you are guaranteed into the parks if they reach capacity. You are guaranteed into "a" park, but not any park. It is a good book, though if you are taking kids.

 

[sha_lyn]

thanks sherry& (although my DH won't be thanking you LOL) I spet $50 last night on Disney books. Only one trip planning book (for teens by teens) the rest are cook books and history of animaiton books. DS in really into animation rihgt now and I have spent a fortune on Disney animation books in the last few weeks.

 

[Krisj]

I bought the unofficial guide with kids book and loved it, my travel agent sent me birnbaums, full of great pics, but kinda boring, and I just bought wald disney world with kids 2001 but not for $3.99!I spent way too much. It is great reading though. It went much faster than the unofficial guide.
I am thinking and looking at the passporter book now. I just was suggested it today. Is it worth getting if I have the other 3?