Disney World, Epcot, Orlando, Theme Park Touring, Universal Orlando

Best Books, Websites, and Podcasts for Planning Your Orlando Theme Park Vacation

January 20, 2016
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Nail Your Orlando Vacation Plan With These Top Recommended Resources

Planning for a trip to Orlando’s theme parks can seem overwhelming, but fortunately there are lots of resources to help you get ready for your big adventure. From books to websites and podcasts, here are my top recommended Orlando theme park travel information sources.

Best Books For Planning Your Orlando Theme Park Vacation

Episode 36 of the Go Informed Podcast is my complete updated Disney World recommended reading list. Get the list and listen here.

Best Walt Disney World Guidebooks

The Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger

Find it here: The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2019

In my opinion this is the most comprehensive guidebook for Walt Disney World. Filled with every detail from how to navigate the Orlando airport to what age group will most enjoy each attraction, the Unofficial Guide gives you the straight scoop on what you can expect. I would buy this book just for the touring plan recommendations alone.

Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World: The Official Guide

Find it here: Birnbaum’s 2018 Walt Disney World: The Official Guide

Birnbaum’s is always guaranteed to get me excited to visit Walt Disney World. Loaded with photos and details about all the attractions, as well as dining, shopping, and hotel information, the Birnbaum’s book gives a great overview of what you’ll find at Disney World.

Best Universal Guidebook

The Unofficial Guide To Universal Orlando by Seth Kubersky

Find it here: The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando

Just as detailed as the Disney World version, the Unofficial Guide To Universal Orlando offers tons of information to help you plan and navigate your trip to Universal. With its superb touring plan advice, and information about every aspect of the theme parks, dining, hotels, and beyond, this book will really help you get the most out of your Universal vacation.

Not a guidebook, but if you’re going to Universal and you haven’t read these yet:

Harry Potter Paperback Box Set by J.K. Rowling

Find it here: Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7)

Best Disney World Books Beyond the Guides

Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets by Steven M. Barrett

Find it here: Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets

Many guests never notice them, but there are hundreds of images of Mickey Mouse hidden throughout Walt Disney World. This guide describes all the Mickeys and where to find them. A fabulous way to kill time waiting in line, you’ll want to carry this book into the parks with you.

The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic, by Jason Surrell

Find it here: The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic (From the Magic Kingdom)

The Haunted Mansion is one of those attractions most of us just can’t get enough of. No matter how many times I ride, I always see something new. Jason Surrell’s in-depth story of the history, construction, and incarnations of the Haunted Mansion is a great read before or after your trip to the Magic Kingdom. Highly recommended for any fan of the Haunted Mansion or Disney history.

Best Websites for Planning Your Orlando Theme Park Vacation

Besides of course goinformed.net, there are several websites I highly recommend for your Orlando theme park planning.

The official park sites

Walt Disney World: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/
Create a login here and you can manage your entire trip, from hotel and dining reservations to FastPass+ times.

Universal Orlando Resort: https://www.universalorlando.com/
All the official information, from park hours to hotel reservations to maps.

Excellent 3rd-Party Websites for Orlando Theme Park Advice

WDW Prep School: http://wdwprepschool.com/

Packed with information about every last detail for your trip to Walt Disney World, WDW Prep School is an excellent one-stop resource for your planning. Their advice is absolutely on-the-mark. Even if you read nothing else, Shannon’s post about her Disney World routine will make your trip better.

Touring Plans: https://touringplans.com/

If you like to engineer your vacations, this is definitely the site for you. From the team that produces the Unofficial Guide books, the Touring Plans website has tons of data to help you plan your trip to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. Detailed crowd level predictions and personalized touring plans are just a few things you’ll find on touringplans.com.

Even more interactive planning tools are available if you pay a modest annual subscription fee (discounted if you own one of the Unofficial Guide books). If you’re serious about making the most of your theme park vacation, I recommend paying the fee. Touring plans also produces the indispensable Lines app, which gives real-time attraction wait times and crowd information for Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World.

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/

Pinterest is a great place to search for information about your trip. Filled with links to content selected by other users, Pinterest is more fun and can be a more effective search tool than Google. Find informative links and save them on your own boards for future reference.

If you visit the goinformed.net page: https://www.pinterest.com/goinformednet/ you’ll find my curated content focused on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, with hundreds of tips from around the web.

Need help getting started on Pinterest? Check out my step-by-step tutorial at How To Use Pinterest To Plan Your Next Vacation (Or Anything Else)

Best Podcasts for Planning Your Orlando Theme Park Vacation

Take your research on the go! Podcasts are a great way to learn something new while driving, cleaning the house, or working out. These podcasts are all packed with interesting information about Orlando theme park travel, and I guarantee they’ll get you excited and ready for your next vacation.

While these podcasts mainly focus on Disney World, you’ll get lots of tips that apply to Universal Orlando and Disneyland too. And sometimes even Disney Cruise Line tips.

Episode 22 of the Go Informed podcast is a discussion of these podcasts, plus a few more that I keep on my Disney World playlist. Listen to that episode here to find out more about my favorite Disney World podcasts.

WDW Prep To Go: http://wdwprepschool.com/category/podcast/
Every week Shannon takes on a new topic related to Disney World travel. Whether it’s your first time visiting Orlando or your 50th, her practical advice will definitely help you get ready for your next trip.

If you only listen to one episode of WDW Prep To Go, pick one of Shannon’s first-timer interviews. You will get a ton of insight about what to expect, and how your expectations may or may not merge with reality.

The Unofficial Guide’s Disney Dish with Jim Hill: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-unofficial-guides-disney-dish-with-jim-hill

Unofficial Guide author Len Testa and Disney historian Jim Hill share delicious tidbits of Disney insight in this podcast. From the history of your favorite attractions to rumors of what’s coming next to the parks, this podcast takes you behind the scenes into the world of Disney Parks.

WDW Radio: http://www.wdwradio.com/

Host Lou Mongello’s contagious enthusiasm will have you geeking out over all things Disney. Get the latest scoop on what’s happening at Walt Disney World along with tips for your next vacation, dining reviews, and more on this weekly podcast.

The Disney Hack Podcast: http://thedisneyhack.com/

Of course I have to mention The Disney Hack podcast since I’ve been fortunate enough to be a guest on this show! Every week brings a different viewpoint and lots of useful Disney World tips. One of my favorite episodes features the perspective of The Disney Hack’s nine-year-old daughter. And you can listen to me on The Disney Hack here 🙂

The Go Informed Podcast!

My podcast, Go Informed, brings you tips to help reduce the stress and fire up the fun on your next Universal Orlando and Disney World vacation. Give it a listen on itunes, here on goinformed.net, or your favorite podcast app.