Pauline Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando

Pauline Frommer Guides

by Jason Cochran, Pauline Frommer (Series Editor)

Spend less, see more. This is the philosophy behind Pauline Frommer’s guides. Written by travel expert Pauline Frommer (who is also the daughter of Arthur Frommer), and her team of hand-picked writers, these guides show how to truly experience a culture, meet locals, and save money along the way. • Industry secrets on how to find the best hotel rooms • Details on alternative accommodations, great neighborhood restaurants, and cool, offbeat finds • Packed with personality and opinions Even though most American families will make at least one pilgrimage to Orlando, too many of them end up spending far more than they have to for their vacations. This book initiates you into the world of savvy discount travel shopping, from finding the very lowest airfares to booking theme park tickets through the right sources so you pay less. The book has a complete breakdown of every major theme park's attractions—their best seats, their histories, how to evade their long lines—with opinionated advice on which to hit and which to skip, depending on your taste and age (and the age of your kids). We'll explore lodgings in depth, starting with the best theme-park-based hotels for your money. We also name reputable renters of palatial digs such as full houses and condos located less than two miles from Disney, which come with screened-in pool, free internet, private game rooms and more—all for less than you'd spend on a cramped hotel room. Pull back the curtain on Orlando and see how the "magic" is Avoiding wallet drain for meals in Orlando is only half the battle. We cover secret, lesser-known local restaurants as well as give readers a useable, fun strategy for the best theme park meals. Get out of town and explore the wonders of Central swim, kayak, see manatees, play astronaut, tickle a 'gator, hold a seance at a spiritual commune, and much more.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

342 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 2007

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frommer's EasyGuides are to the point and easy to take with you. This edition is a nice resource for planning your trip to Orlando and includes hotels, restaurants, and attractions.

The Disney World information is a good starting point, but I would certainly look online for the most up-to date prices, hours, etc. So much has changed at Disney in the past few years that the info is already out-of-date. Still, the book can be used for learning more about attractions and restaurants, but again check to see if they are still operating before getting your heart set on any one place.

I would recommend this as a general trip planning resource for an Orlando trip, but if you are going to Universal or Disney, then I recommend you pick up a guidebook that is dedicated just to those parks. This one is best for early stage planning and dreaming of a future trip to Orlando.

[Mel Schanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to choose a non-fiction book for the summer reading program I'm part of and seriously dislike NF, so I chose something benefiting both finishing the summer reading program and my family travel plans for the coming Christmas. We are headed to Universal Studios and I haven't been in the past ten or so years. The book was pretty informative and I picked up a few websites to check out too.

If you too are considering a trip to the center of the Sunshine state anytime in the near future, I'd consider checking out this book. I realize you can use Google to find almost any information these days, but if you'd like a break from searching the World Wide Web, I suggest taking a load off and relaxing with this easy to read and navigate guide to all things Orlando. (And even a few outside the area, like The Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral)

Bonus: A few maps of each park and a whole lot of websites included. Most of the "tips" are things I knew or would've found when visiting the theme park website, but still...they were all together in one handy book. Imagine that. And, I was able to check a NF book off my summer reading program. Woot! Woot!

[Jeanne Boyarsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the 2018 edition, but can't find it on Goodreads.

I like the style and inclusion of history. Good brief overview to the rides and light book to carry around. I don't like that the book assumes you are traveling when it isn't crowded. What do you do if it is crowded. Good list of gotchas and ways to waste money.

Trying to cover all of Disney + Universal + Sea World + the rest of Orlando in under 300 pages is quite ambitious. I would have wanted the book to go deeper.

[Terri Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a nice supplement on the subject but this is nowhere near what you need to learn about the area and the parks. Doesn't come close. I would suggest instead getting Birnbaum's 2016 Walt Disney World: The Official Guide, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2016, and [bookcover:Universal Orlando 2015: The Ultimate Guide

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the style of this rider. He give good specific tips (like rides where you have a non moving / non spinning option). I would enjoy a version that was just universal, since only 30 pages focus on that and that's what we are doing, so I want less to carry. This section focuses on the park itself, with details on rides and shows and food. I just realized there is info on the hotels in another section I have not yet read.

From Brentwood library

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This guidebook was clearly organized, easy to read, and provided the right level of detail about Orlando attractions, restaurants, and hotels. This author seemed to be more unbiased than similar guides, especially in regard to Disney World. Based on a spot-check of current rates, it looks like prices have risen in the past year.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of information, but overwhelming and no photos
Liked Birnbaum's version better

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good guide. It had some money saving tips and was pretty detailed regarding the rides and restaurants in each park. It was helpful.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consistently among the best guide books for Orlando, the Easyguides give you all the information you need but manage to crunch it down into essential pieces and ditch all the fluff like readers comments etc.
Helpful, concise, useful, exactly all the things you want from a decent guidebook. I found more useful information in this than certain other more weighty tomes.
Recommended.

[Paul Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

EasyGuide is right. Brief, to-the-point. Just covers the facts you need. On size and weight, if you're bringing a guide into the parks, this might be the one. Contains strategies, but no plans for your best tour.

[Sarahjane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief information about attractions and food in Disney World was easy to process quickly. His opinions are strong, which gives a better source for discerning what to choose, but also allows more skepticism to color your experience. I was able to make better informed decisions after reading this.

[Alex]

I'm not going to give ratings to these books, but I am going to keep track of which ones I read.

This one was kinda pointless and provided absolutely no new information.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't bother. There's so much inaccurate information in this book.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good tips. Hope they come in handy

[Sarah Kochert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guide book. Actually read the 2019 version in prep for trip.

[Beth]

I seriously read this like a book. Well, it is a book but you know what I mean right?

[Stephanie Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the most concise and informative of the planing guide I looked at. It had lots of useful information later out clearly so I could read just what I need and skip what was not relevant.