New edition of Disney World guidebook offers more family-friendly tips

The only independent Disney guide ever honored by Walt Disney Co., The Complete Walt Disney World is the winner of Disney's iParenting Media Award for Outstanding Family Product. (photo by Mike Neal)

The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 by Julie and Mike Neal was released this month, and it’s packed with useful information and hard-to-find comparisons for families heading to the Orlando resort. Previous editions have displayed abundant, gorgeous photography and this book is no exception.

As you would expect, The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 thoroughly describes all rides, restaurants and hotels on Disney property. It offers maps, touring tips and wait-time schedules. The guidebook details where to find the characters and gives practical information about child-care options, the Disney Dining Plan and celebrating birthdays.

But what I really like are some of the more unusual details that matter to families and don’t seem to be addressed in the same depth in other Walt Disney World planning materials. For example:

** Swimming pool information in the Accommodations chapter. The book includes a description of every Disney resort swimming pool and compares it to the other pools. For some families, having a water slide is key, while others are more concerned with splash zones for little ones.

** Fear factors. Every attraction in the parks includes a description to help parents judge if their children will be frightened by certain scenes, noises or lighting. As a parent of a cautious child, I very much appreciate these early warnings.

** How to get high scores. The book gives step-by-step tips on scoring strategies on the two video-game-style rides: Toy Story Mania and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. The Neal’s daughter, Micaela, spent more than a month riding Toy Story Mania and learning how to win big.

** Souvenirs. The book has new photo collages of merchandise at all four theme parks. Kids can start planning how to spend their allowances, and parents find out where to shop.

** Animal Kingdom wildlife guides. Habitat maps make it easy to spot favorite exotic creatures throughout the park.

“Probably most obviously, the book appeals to kids because of the photos,” said author Julie Neal. Citing the book’s almost 550 color images, she says they can help kids “easily choose which ride they’d like to go on or which animal they want to see.”

The only independent Disney guide ever honored by Walt Disney Co., The Complete Walt Disney World is the winner of Disney’s iParenting Media Award for Outstanding Family Product. (Other winners include the video game Guitar Hero and the pre-pregnancy guide What to Expect Before You’re Expecting.)

The guidebook sells for $24.95 and is available at bookstores worldwide and online. The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 is a fantastic planning tool. The bonus is that beacuse it is so beautifully illustrated, vacationers will want to save it as a keepsake.