We fell in love with The Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World shortly before our very first family trip to WDW. It's chock-a-block full of objective, insightful information that has saved us money and time, again and again through the years. Plus, the writers, Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa, and their team, are just funny. The book has entertainment value as well as being useful. I think we've even bought it a time or two when we WEREN'T planning a trip, just to keep tabs on what the UG guys were saying about the ever-changing World. One of the nicest things about the book -and sometimes the funniest - is the comments they include from readers and WDW guests.
Plus, Len Testa wrote back to me once.
So, once upon a time, feeling all team-spirity, I dropped the UG an email, sharing some of what WE'VE learned while wandering the World.
Today, the 2008 edition arrived in my mailbox, as part of our prep for handing the child over to the Mouse. (I think this is the fifth copy of the book we've owned since 1997) I started to read immediately, while Captain Planner pouted a little at not getting his hands on the book first. Naturally, I read the funniest bits out loud, at least the new ones. And then, I got to page 287, in the section titled Walt Disney World With Kids.
But even somewhat older kids will surprise you, as this Windsor, Ontario mom relates:
On day three, as we pursued our "Around the World In 80 Minutes" through the World Showcase, our two girls suddenly stopped in their tracks between Italy and Germany. They looked around for a mminute, and we asked them what was wrong, thinking they might need a bathroom visit. Turns out they'd finally seen something other than characters that apealed to them. "Could we just run around on that grass over there for a few minutes?" they wanted to know. "We won't take too long."
So away they went to chase each other on the grass for ten minutes, and now, ten years later, that is what they remember about the trip. Ever since, we've tried to include time in each trip plan to "run around on that grass over there," wherever "there" might be.
They used our comment! And two others, that they included at the back of the book. I've had my own book published, and had articles and essays in a dowzen mainstream magazines, but the inclusion of this uncredited snippet just tickles me. We're in the book!
So thanks, Len and Bob, and whoever else you are. And just to let you know that I didn't let the original moment go by unrecorded, here's the pic that we've held onto since the early days of 1997 - the girls running around on that grass over there.
To everyone else, I will repeat what I've said so often- if you're going to the World, DO NOT GO WITHOUT READING THIS BOOK. It's truly a gem.
What a great photo! Thanks for the reader comments!
Len
Posted by: Len Testa | March 07, 2008 at 06:02 PM