The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2019 by Josh Humphrey and Dave Shute

The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2019 is back with a new edition.

Growing up in the ‘80s as a Walt Disney World fan, I loved the experiencing a little bit of the parks through guidebooks. We’d borrow a Birnbaum Guide from the library and marvel at the wonders in store for our next trip. I eventually graduated to the Unofficial Guide series, which offered a more comprehensive and honest take on the resort. Long before the rise of countless blogs and podcasts, these books were essential tools for Disney vacations. Their impact might seem limited now, but access to so much information in one place is still important. That is why the latest edition of The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit deserves your attention.

Planning a Disney World trip is ridiculously complicated, especially for first-time guests. Even massive guidebooks can’t present the entire picture. In the 2019 edition of the guide from Theme Park Press, Josh Humphrey and Dave Shute boil down the advice to its bare essentials. The recommendations aren’t simple; they just don’t try to cover every inch of the resort. Instead, The easy Guide responds to the big questions guests have about their upcoming vacations. Where should they stay? What is the right age for kids’ visits? How should they maximize FastPass Plus? These are just a few examples of the many crucial issues covered within the book’s 330 pages.

Reliable Sources of Disney World Knowledge

I’ve enjoyed Humphrey’s work on his blog easyWDW for a long time. His photo reports about the parks are more than just a way to help us connect with parks from home. He incorporates text into the pictures and cleverly guides us through his visits. Humphrey also tests touring approaches in a way that’s easy to follow and offers helpful details. His writing style also keeps the intricate topics from getting too dry.

I wasn’t familiar with Schute’s work at yourfirstvisit.net prior to reading this book. From what I’ve seen thus far, his photo tours and other articles provide a detailed look at specifics of hotel rooms, pools, and a lot more. I plan to spend a lot more time with Schute’s work in the future. This book includes specific advice for first-time visitors compared to guests that return to Disney World regularly. In one sense, the recommendations for these groups are almost entirely different.

Humphrey and Schute divide the material into 10 chapters focusing on the major issues for any guest. One topic that’s become a moving target is “When to Go” in the past few years. The points in the book about the off seasons are valid, though we’re seeing a big shift away from the summer months lately. The authors mention that change and also dive into the possible impact of seasonal ticket pricing (recently announced by Disney). This news wasn’t in place at press time but still receives attention given its potential to mess with conventional wisdom even more.

A fountain near Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. — Photo by Dan Heaton

The Biggest Disney World Questions

This book’s heart covers three concerns on any trip: hotels, attractions, and dining. The extended “Where to Stay” chapter provides knowledge on both on-site and off-site resorts. Descriptions go beyond capsule reviews, answer important questions, and provide specific reasons to stay (or not stay) there. Schute’s floorplans provide room layouts, which are crucial. I am a little surprised not to see a recommendation for the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but I understand that the remote location is a drawback. The authors don’t spend much time on value for your money, and that’s where the Animal Kingdom Lodge excels due to its fairly modest pricing after discounts.

The massive chapter on “How to Spend Your Time” covers everything from the parks with reviews, itineraries, and cheat sheets. It includes a FastPass Plus primers and help with your selections. Each attraction description wisely covers the “scary factor” to help first-time guests. I appreciate that the authors mention that Rivers of Light’s value is debatable, which gives it a chance. Most reviews make sense, though I’d dispute the “minor attraction” ranking for Living with the Land. It may be a slow-moving boat ride, yet it’s still a classic! That quibble aside, this chapter is well done.

The other major section is “Where to Eat”, a topic that garners more attention each year. Suggestions appear for audiences like families and couples plus a look at the hardest ADRs. The authors analyze the Disney Dining Plan and wisely conclude that it’s often not worth the price. The bulk of this chapter provides reviews of specific table service restaurants and a summary of each park’s dining. I would have enjoyed having a ranking system to help with a quick read, but the reviews are informative.

The Many Layers of a Disney World Trip

The easy WDW Guide concludes with shorter chapters on ticket pricing, when to do each important task, and where to go for more information. The most valuable portion gives tips on budgeting, which is a serious challenge at modern Disney World. Humphrey and Schute don’t go into great detail about saving money, but the suggestions are valuable. They also give ways to spend even more, which takes very little effort. Disney has mastered ways to offer enticing benefits to big spenders.

There is no single way to plan the perfect Disney World vacation, and this book provides a wide range of choices to make it work for you. It is required reading for first-time guests, who are just becoming aware of the complexities of this massive resort. Disney veterans should enjoy the shorter length (relatively speaking) and charts that go well beyond the obvious tips. I’ve visited Disney World many times, and I’m still changing how I approach each park. The easy WDW Guide helps with that process and should ensure you don’t fall short on your next vacation.

Purchase a copy of the Print edition of The easy WDW Guide.