Birnbaum's 2020 Walt Disney World: The Official Vacation Guide

by Birnbaum Guides

As Walt Disney World continues to grow and evolve, trust Birnbaum as your 2020 guide for:
insider tips on how to see and do it all
detailed descriptions of all attractions, resorts, and eateries
money-saving strategies
New at Walt Disney World:
Harness the Force in a dazzling new land: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.


Toy Story Land, a cheery play zone, bearing a happy resemblance to Andy's backyard, continues to wow visitors with the bouncy new coaster called Slinky Dog Dash, the dizzying Alien Swirling Saucers ride, and the ever-popular Toy Story Mania!


Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, a new journey through the wild and wacky cartoon world, aims to please riders of all ages.

Lightning Queen's Academy is just one of the new shows to recently debut.
The upcoming Ratatouille-themed attraction is expected it to open in Epcot's France pavilion, and Birnbaum has the latest scoop!

Inside we'll also tell you how to:

Plan a Walt Disney World vacation that's right for you, including deciding when to go
Stretch your dollar with money-saving tips and great value resorts like the Art of Animation and Pop Century
Use coupons worth up to 20 percent off Disney dining, shopping, behind-the-scenes tours and adventures, and recreational pursuits
Cut the time spent in line by using Disney's FastPass+
Enter the parks before the crowds arrive, or stay for hours after closing time, with Extra Magic Hours
Get a handle on maximizing the services of the handy accessory known as the MagicBand
Choose (and book) a Disney dining experience with our extensive restaurant coverage
Understand the Disney Dining Plan program
Reserve a breakfast with Mickey Mouse and his Disney pals
Meet Anna and Elsa (and visit Arendelle) at Epcot's Frozen Ever After attraction
Enjoy Disney Springs, a vibrant dining, shopping, and entertainment district
Sign up for behind-the-scenes tours
Detect dozens of Hidden Mickeys throughout the theme parks
Soar on the back of a mountain banshee at Animal Kingdom's thrilling attraction: Avatar Flight of Passage
Plan the ultimate "land and sea" vacation with our Disney Cruise Line bonus chapter


Planning a trip to the Walt Disney World? Be sure to have all the official guides from Disney Editions:




Birnbaum's 2020 Walt Disney World for Kids
The Hidden Mickeys of Walt Disney World

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference

362 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2019

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the information you need to plan a great Disney World vacation with plenty of fantastic tips throughout. Birnbaum's Walt Disney World guides are always one of my go to resources when planning a trip to the well-known and expansive Florida theme park. The practical information is presented in a logically laid-out format and the inclusion of pictures and Disney graphics makes the material easier to read and instills excitement for all parts of an upcoming Disney vacation.

One of the things I like best about these colorful guides is the bonus material in the form of charts, coupons, lists, and tips. I found the resort finder chart to be super helpful in determining at a glance which hotel would be best for me. Do I want to be close to a certain park or does a particular resort's theme appeal to me? Is this a romantic getaway or a family vacation? The chart helps you narrow down the options to a select few that you can then read more about. There is also a similar chart for character dining meals that examines characters, price, style, and theme.

In addition, there are specific tips scattered throughout the book as well as a page each of general park tips and hidden Mickey locations at the end of each park chapter. Even if you have been to WDW many times before, you never know what useful tip you'll come across that will result in an even more enjoyable experience. Maybe you'd like to get wet on Splash Mountain, maybe you wouldn't. The tip on page 123 will let you know where to sit to have your wish come true.

I would recommend this book to families as the visual enhancements really add to the fun and excitement of planning and will allow parents to involve children in many elements of the trip. It's also nice to look back upon after returning home to remember good food and great times and possibly even dream of another trip to the most magical place on earth.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to review it and feel like I’m still on vacation even though I can’t go due to covid. Birnbaums always allows that. Fantastic!

[Kristin Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is an official look at Disney (meaning sanctioned by the folks at WDW and not always giving two sides to the story), I always buy this guide when we haven't been to the parks in a few years. The unofficial guides are great for giving scathing reviews on restaurants, etc., but only Birnbaum's guide has all the secret keys to the kingdom, so to speak. As a Disney Vacation Club member, I've been to the parks more times than I can count in my lifetime, but Disney is constantly reinventing things (i.e. Fastpass system, reservation time lines for restaurant reservations, etc.) Knowledge of those two alone, can make or break your park visit. For that reason, an updated version of Birnbaum's latest edition is always in my hand before we leave for Florida. Always a class act.

[Heather Bridson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellemt guide! We are heading to WDW in Feb, so I got this to help plan our one day there. They explain everything, map the parks and give great tips! They even show you all the restaurants, resorts and everything you may want to know, plus they have coupons in the back! I love that this guide has so much information. Will make our trip so much better!

[Mars Gambau · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best official vacation guide ever!!!

This is was my first time traveling to Disneyworld and didn't how to plan, but I found this guide in the library and what a relief.
It helps me to choose the best restaurant reservations, to choose the best Fastpass, how to enjoy my resort and etc. Definitely the best one.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this is a visually appealing book with great pictures and maps, the details are a bit lacking. I've been to Disney several times and was hoping this would have more in-depth information. If you are looking for highlights, this is a good book. If you want real details and insider information, check out the Unofficial Guide book instead.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely helpful! There is so much to know about the parks, rides and dining. This title is provides a wealth of well-organized information so you can plan your trip and select what you want to do to make the most of your time in the magic kingdom. Thanks to the advice of this title, we managed to book a table service dining experience via the Disney World app. Hooray! We are so thrilled.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always get the latest version before we make a Disney trip! And pack it in my luggage along with post-it notes on the important pages! Unfortunately we had to cancel this year so I will have to refresh my memory if we get to try again next year.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was SO helpful for planning our Disney trip. Lots of great tips and fun to read. The way the book is organized makes it really easy to find the information you need.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ultimately fine, best for a first timer who doesn't really know what to expect.

Better choices:
- Frommer's for the best way to save money
- Unofficial Guide for the best plans to see the most stuff

Both Frommer's and Unofficial give honest reviews of restaurants, rides, etc. Birnbaum's paints everything in a very sunny picture. (Which, yes, it's Disney, but there are definitely things/places you can skip!)

[Kendra Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been buying this book for years every time we plan a vacation. Great tool for planning your tip to Disney and it always has great tips and tricks! Great book for a first timer to Disney or a Disney veteran. So much to learn!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is "Pre-pandemic Walt Disney World". As, we know WDW was closed and it now only operates at decreased capacity and many entertainment and dining options are not available. Was there a 2021 edition, with updated mask protocols and COVID-19 updates?

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much more upbeat and positive than other guides I've read. Sadly this went to press only months before the 2020 curses began, but still good information.

[Patricia Fischer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My family is going to WDW in October. This book wasn’t too helpful because it was written pre-COVID, and there have been a lot of changes.

[Kassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Helpful with planning my family vacation.