Synopses & Reviews
Thereand#8217;s Another World Out There
If you think that central Florida consists only of Walt Disney World, youand#8217;re wrong. Whatand#8217;s more, youand#8217;re passing up some great fun and amazing sights. Admittedly, itand#8217;s taken a while, but Walt Disney World now has plenty of competition that measures up toe-to-toe. And though it may sound blasphemous to suggest a whole vacation in central Florida without setting foot on Disney property, itand#8217;s not only possible but also in many ways a fresh and appealing idea.
The big four non-Disney theme parks are Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens. Each is unique. Universal Studios Florida, a longtime rival of Disneyand#8217;s Hollywood Studios, draws its inspiration from movies and television and is every bit the equal of the Disney movie-themed park. Universal Islands of Adventure is arguably the most modern, high-tech theme park in the United States, featuring an all-star lineup of thrill rides that make it the best park in Florida for older kids and young-at-heart adults.
SeaWorld provides an incomparable glimpse into the world of marine mammals and fish, served up in a way that (for the most part) eliminates those never-ending lines. Finally, Busch Gardens, with its shows, zoological exhibits, and knockout coasters, offers the most eclectic entertainment mix of any theme park we know.
All four parks approximate, equal, or exceed the Disney standard without imitating Disney, successfully blending distinctive presentations and personalities into every attraction.
Synopsis
Beyond Disney: The Unofficial Guide to Universal, SeaWorld, and the Best of Central Florida, by Bob Sehlinger and Robert Jenkins is a guide to non-Disney theme parks, attractions, restaurants, outdoor recreation, and nightlife in Orlando and central Florida. New features include the latest information on the new Harry Potter attractions at Universal Studios as well as step-by-step touring plans for Universal Studios and Universal's Island of Adventure. Complete chapters are devoted to the Universal parks, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Legoland, and the NASA Kennedy Space Center among others. Leading you step-by-step, itand#8217;s the guide that puts you ahead of the crowd and keeps you there.
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.
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Robert N. Jenkins, a native of Washington, D.C., earned a B.A. in journalism at Michigan State University and after working up North" for four years, he moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he still lives.
In a 39-year career at the Tampa Bay (formerly St. Petersburg) Times, he served as editor of national news, state news, and features, and for 19 years, he was the travel editor. His work as travel editor won eight Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition awards.
Since taking a buyout, Jenkins has been a freelance writer. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Toronto Star, San Francisco Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, The Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, various AAA magazines, CruiseCritic.com, USAToday.comand his former paper.