After my recent book release, I decompressed with a trip to Walt Disney World.  This wasn't my first trip.  In fact, as much as I love globetrotting and exploring my favorite European cities, there are times when I just need to unwind, give my brain a vacation, and be a kid again.

Ever since my writing schedule has demanded 2-3 books per year, I've managed to make at least one annual escape to Disney.  At first I took TONS of pictures.  For this trip, I decided to shake things up a bit and try to make my photos more fun.  But how to make vacation photos interesting when it's a repeat destination?  That's where Jack comes in.

 

A friend gave me a Day of the Dead Jack Skellington for Halloween, and I couldn't resist bringing this little guy to the parks with me.  Best idea EVER.  If you haven't tried something like this before, I highly recommend it.

 

I should warn you that I did receive some strange looks.  I thought it was hilarious, but then again, I'm easily amused.  Jack made his way around each of the Disney theme parks.  He managed to take selfies in all of the countries around the World Showcase at Epcot, with Mexico being his favorite.  Hint: They had mini sombreros!  

 

There were so many photos by the end of my trip, too many to share here in one blog post.  So I've uploaded a best of album to Photobucket.  Check out Jack Skellington's Disney Vacation Slide-show and let me know what your favorite photo is.  Have a request?  I might bring Jack along next year...

 

I also caught some great shots of new Disney attractions.  Even if Jack selfies aren't your thing (he's not for everybody), you'll want to check out the slide-show for pictures of the Festival of Fantasy Parade, the new flag performers in Epcot's World Showcase Italy pavilion, the Frozen Ice Castle Lighting, the Jingle Cruise, and the new Haunted Mansion themed gift shop Memento Mori.

 

(What's this? Jack Skellington's Walt Disney World selfies originally posted on my blog, From the Shadows)

I read a lot of Disney World guides. A lot. So I think I can say, with some authority, that The Thinking Fan's Guide is not your average travel guide. You won't find information about local hotels, or how to best use your money. Instead, Wallace has filled this book with analyses of virtually every attraction in the Magic Kingdom. You'll get a complete history of the attraction (including prior attractions that filled the same space), how the attraction fits into the overall park, and essentially everything else that you can fit into a few pages. I say attractions, because Wallace even gives this treatment to frequently ignored non-rides, like the shooting gallery in Frontierland. Keep in mind that book was written before the Fantasyland expansion was fully open, so there is a fair bit of the new stuff that just couldn't be covered.

I'm an admitted Disneyphile, so this book was right up my alley. It could be read by somebody new to the park, sure, but I doubt they'd get quite as much out of it as an obsessive like me. Like the very similar [b:The Imagineering Field Guide to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World|346725|The Imagineering Field Guide to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World|Alex Wright|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360566055s/346725.jpg|337024], this would be a great book to lug around the park with you. Luckily, it wouldn't weigh you down to much. The title implies that there will be other guides in the series, covering the other parks at Walt Disney World. I'll be all over those, if they see the light of day.

I visited Disney World in February. The most I researched were my hotel, fast food places near and Malls. I had some memories -after all, I've been there 10 years ago-, but as this is Disney, it was like going for the first time.

Obviously this guide has to be read before or during your stay in Disney World (unlike what I did). This guide has everything detailed. The photos are spectacular. Not only this book gives a rating of every place, but it also gives tips, prices and a brief description of each place and ride. And I am not talking about the parks only, but about the hotels, places to eat, other tours... When I was there, and saw that there was an ESPN complex, I was not even interested. Now that I have read this guide book, I regret I did not visit it.

So while reading this, I kept thinking "Why did I not do this?". That is the only negative aspect of the book. But it is definitely a must for tourists. And it is also a reminder for me to visit Disney again.. soon!

Excellent guide. I don't usually read guide books but I was feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming trip. Will update how it useful it was after the trip.

Review to follow!