Recommended Guidebooks and Books for First Time Visitors to Disney World

RECOMMENDED GENERAL WALT DISNEY WORLD GUIDEBOOKS FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS

Because you have this site, you don’t need any of the books below. But they are affordable luxuries!

Their best use, for families whose visit is largely based on this site, is for the trip home, to pass around and use as aids to memory and discussion of the trip.

If you do buy and read one before the trip, follow this tip: do not read the descriptions of the rides themselves.

Doing so both kills the suspense of a ride and lessens the wonder you otherwise would feel from experiencing a ride without knowing what’s next!

RECOMMENDATIONS

RECOMMENDED SPECIALIZED DISNEY WORLD GUIDEBOOKS

For those with special needs, and those looking for accommodations beyond the typical, the following two books can help:

OTHER GREAT DISNEY WORLD BOOKS

From all the other great Disney World related works, I suggest the following:



6 comments

1 Joe { 10.20.11 at 12:34 pm }

Heading to disney 1st week of nov staying at allstar music, we want to do one day at Universal for Harry Potter and would appreciate suggestions as to how to get there and any tix discounts you may be aware of

2 Dave { 10.20.11 at 1:16 pm }

Hi Joe!

To get to Harry Potter see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/01/10/getting-to-harry-potter-from-walt-disney-world/

I don’t track Universal discounts–suggest you check Mousesavers.com

3 Anonymous { 12.28.11 at 5:50 pm }

Should I purchase the trip insurance?

4 Dave { 12.28.11 at 5:57 pm }

I never have. That said, it’s personal, as it depends on your risk tolerance and your next best option. If this were my first visit, I was unlikely to be able to afford to return, and I’d been saving for years, I probably would…especially if I was going during the peak of the hurricane season! (See http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/weather-and-when-to-go/chance-of-cyclonic-storm-affecting-florida/ ) But if you do be sure to read the fine print…

5 Joan { 01.12.12 at 10:38 am }

Dave, looks as if one of days at wdw next week will be rainy, the day we had planned wild animal kingdom. Should we arrange itinerary? Is there a better park to be in during wet weather?
Thanks,
Joan

6 Dave { 01.12.12 at 11:53 am }

Hi Joan. The general effect of rain is to reduce crowds in all the parks compared to what they would have been. For that reaons I love rainy days! A poncho and an umbrella or hat makes all but heavy or blowing rain manageable. At AK the animals are more active in the rain. Because there’s more walking at AK (and Epcot) you do have more exposure to this weather. So it’s hard to say do this vs do that…

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