Synopses & Reviews
WHY THIS POCKET GUIDE?
THE OPTIMUM STAY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD is seven days, but many visitors donand#8217;t have that long to devote to Disney attractions. Some are on business, with only a day or two available for Disneyand#8217;s enticements. Others are en route elsewhere or want to sample additional attractions in Orlando and central Florida. For these visitors, efficient, time-effective touring is a must. They canand#8217;t afford long waits in line for rides, shows, or meals. They must determine as far in advance as possible what they really want to see.
This guide distills information from the comprehensive Unoffcial Guide to Walt Disney World to help short-stay or last-minute visitors decide quickly how best to spend their limited hours. It will help these guests answer questions vital to their enjoyment: What are the rides and attractions that appeal to me most? Which additional rides and attractions would I like to experience if I have any time left? What am I willing to forgo?
[Attraction profile from Epcot chapter]
Spaceship Earth 4 stars
Appeal by Age
Preschool 4 stars
Grade School 4 stars
Teens 4 stars
Young Adults 4 stars
Over 30 4 stars
Seniors 4.5 stars
What it is Educational dark ride through past, present, and future. Scope and scale Headliner. When to go Before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Special comments If lines are long when you arrive, try again after 4 p.m. Authorsand#8217; rating One of Epcotand#8217;s best; not to be missed; 4 stars, Duration of ride About 16 minutes. Average wait in line per 100 people ahead of you 3 minutes. Loading speed Fast.
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS This ride spirals through the 18-story interior of Epcotand#8217;s premier landmark, taking visitors past Audio-Animatronic scenes depicting mankindand#8217;s developments in communications, from cave painting to printing to television to space communications and computer networks. The ride shows an amazing use of the geodesic sphereand#8217;s interior.
Scenes are periodically redone to keep things fresh. Interactive video screens on the ride vehicles allow you to customize the rideand#8217;s ending animated video. A postshow area with games and interactive exhibits rounds out the attraction.
TOURING TIPS Because itand#8217;s near Epcotand#8217;s main entrance, Spaceship Earth is inundated with arriving guests throughout the morning. If youand#8217;re interested in riding Test Track, postpone Spaceship Earth until, say, after 4 p.m. Spaceship Earth loads continuously and quickly. If the line runs only along the right side of the sphere, youand#8217;ll board in less than 15 minutes.
Synopsis
Mini-Mickey: The Pocket-Sized Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World is the condensed version of the Unofficial teamand#8217;s comprehensive
Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. Though its format is slightly larger than true pocket-sized, this is an indispensable take-along guidebook. Straightforward, tightly organized, and well indexed,
Mini-Mickey is the perfect resource when you want the most important information fast.
For readers on a short or impromptu trip to Walt Disney World the contents of Mini-Mickey can easily be digested on the flight or drive down, or at the hotel the night before visiting the parks. Scientifically created touring plans for each park will save four or more hours of standing in line.
For those who do not have time to plan their Disney trip in depth, Mini-Mickey takes the guesswork out of visiting the parks and ensure that the reader sees as much as possible with the least amount of stress and effort. This book provides expert authority on how to make the most efficient and most practical use of any familyand#8217;s time.
Because every minute and every dollar counts, Mini Mickey: The Pocket-Sized Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World provides the information needed to tour Walt Disney like a pro.
About the Author
Bob Sehlinger, a Lowell Thomas Award-winning journalist, is best known as the creator and producer of
The Unofficial Guide series.
He is credited with being the first to apply research techniques from the fields of operations research and statistics to travel guides. Among other projects, he was able to develop mathematical models that could save theme park patrons more than three hours of standing in queue in a single day.
Bob Sehlinger is founder and co-owner of Keen Communications, a book publishing company that includes Menasha Ridge Press, Clerisy Press, and Wilderness Press. The author of 27 books, Sehlinger is a past president of the Publishers Association of the South, and has served at the invitation of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Information Service on educational missions for publishers in Hungary, Romania, and Russia.
-------
Ritchey Halphen is a project editor at Keen Communications. His 18 years of publishing experience include editing stints at Cooking Light, Southern Living, and Health magazines. He lives in Birmingham, Alabama.