The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2007 (Unofficial Guides)

The best parts of this book boil down to two things: picking the best rides and shows and at the best times to avoid lineups.

There are many rides at Disneyland that simply aren't worth your time. They aren't all that unique and similar ones can be found at practically any local fair. If you want to experience the real Disneyland, then you want to go on the rides that are unique to the park and immerse you in the spirit of it. This book helps you do that. It also encourages you to go to shows that you might not otherwise have considered, and you end up leaving the show thinking it was great and you are happy you didn't miss it.

Furthermore, it gives you a number of tricks regarding timing and fast passes to help minimize your time in line. The book has other benefits, but these are the most important.

Finally, choose your timing to go to Disneyland carefully. We picked the middle of May on purpose: it was after spring break but before summer break and therefore not too busy. Also, the weather was in the low 70s which was nice. I imagine late September or early October would also be good. Pull your kids out of school for a week and do it this way. A week away from school at a young age isn't going to affect their chances of getting into Harvard.

I love the whole "Unofficial Guide" series and always buy it before I vacation. The Guide to Disneyland doesn't disappoint with wonderful insights about the attraction. I especially love their touring plans and count on them when I go to a Disney park. Don't go to a Disney attraction without these!

I live near the park, I have an annual pass, and I've been going on and off since I was 3. I'm well acquainted with the place I think, but I actually kind of freak out a bit when confronted with out of town friends who want me to show them around. Because that's an entirely different set of goals for a trip, particularly if they're traveling from far away and only have one day.

In an effort not to turn into Mike Griswold I got this book. Because as often as I go, I go to relax and socialize with my friends who also have APs, not to do research. The book has all of the information I had hoped for and then some. (I didn't know I wanted a "Small Child Fright Potential Chart" until I had one!) Traffic patterns, average wait times, ride length, and best of all are the suggested touring plans. (Which are good for those times I say to my day tripping friends "Okay, is there anything you just GOTTA ride or see?" and they respond with blank stares and shrugs.)

The writer has a good sense of humor and presents the information in a casual way gets the point across... I don't like the art though... The little cartoons sprinkled throughout are amusing but the style is kind of creepy. That's the worst thing I can say about it though.

Obviously, the book is more useful for travelers, but if you're a local who has some people coming in for a visit? This book is your friend too.

For every vacation we have ever taken I have purchased one of these books (Disneyland, Las Vegas, Best RV & Tent Campgrounds, etc.). That is a testimony unto itself. Reason being is that they are so full of valuable time saving, money saving, information-rich information.

The Disneyland guide told us to get to the park at least an hour before they open and get in line. With older kids/young teens it said to plan to dash to the "big" rides right out of the gate. It tipped us off on the value of the fast passes and how all that works. The first time we showed up for our time slot to ride a ride that we had a fast pass for and got to walk past the enormous lines of people to a line with a wait of maybe 5 or 10 minutes and then got to ride the ride like we were VIPs or something, WOW!!! That was awesome. The book informed us of the best and worst times of year to visit the park, and the best and worst times of day. It rated the food value and quality at all the venues, and gave us tips on how to save money on drinks and snacks.

I gotta tell ya, don't do Disneyland without this book. Read it cover to cover before you leave home, earmark the pages and make notes, and be stunned at how right on that information was. Bon Voyage!

Very detailed description of the attractions and the touring plans. The version we used in Orlando worked very well and we are hoping the same results in Disneyland by next week.