Taking the family to WDW for our 50th. We are VERY seasoned visitors but we have 2 grand daughters (5 & 8) that have never been and really have no idea of what they will experience. We hope to find a book or two that will help set the stage for the trip and help them identify things they’d like to see & do (also maybe reduce some of the scary factors of the unknown).
Suggestions?
“Birnbaum’s 2025/2026 Walt Disney World for Kids: The Offficial Guide” is the latest edition of a popular book. Lots of photos. Written for kids. Be aware that due to the long lead time in publishing, it is not fully updated in terms of what is new or now gone.
Birnbaum’s Guides being the “Official Guide” is why TP’s books are titled “The Unofficial Guide.to…”
Idk, I tried those with my niece and I’m not sure she ever even opened it
I agree that this is the best book for kids these days. Years ago there was a kids version of the unofficial guide but I don’t think they do that any more.
It is great to “see” you @Tall_Paul ! I hope you and your family are well.
Thanks. You might have me confused with another person who also goes Tall Paul (happened before). I’m Tall Paul Sr as I joined earlier (2010) and am definitely (I think) older. He went by Tall_Paul1.
My DGD9(then DGD8) read the Birnbaum Walt Disney World from cover to cover before our trip last year. DGD then 6 looked at all of the pictures. It was a repeat visit for them.
Sometimes, we let them watch YouTube videos of the parades, POV of some rides, general park info.
You were on chat?
I don’t think you can see it as a poster but the forum notes this thread is your first pst in three years.
Obviously, we don’t normally post. As frequently visitors, we don’t have many questions. Also as non local Disney Passholders, we felt like they were abusing us, so we skipped a few years for the first time in 20+ years.
We just picked these up and they have great pictures - DD9 especially was excited by the maps, and the autograph pages at the back - but they’re definitely not updated to remove Rivers of America, Dinosaur, etc.
The versions are a little confusing - I picked up the 2025 one (printed in 2024) before I noticed the 2025-2026 version (printed in 2025).
I’m going to try my kids on Kingdom Keepers and Weird But True! Disney (they like others in that series), but I haven’t given them out yet (we aren’t going until April).
Are you open to videos / shows?
One of my kids wants to preview YouTube videos to reduce the unknown, and the other wants to be “surprised” (she had visited before but doesn’t think she remembers much without help).
There also are some shows set in the parks on Disney+ - my kids love the Animal Kingdom zookeepers show, and there are some imagineering ones as well.
When my kids were young we had a Little Golden Book on Walt Disney World and we also had a Mary Kate and Ashley picture book where they go to Disney World. Not sure if those would be too young for your grandchildren but you might be able to find them through your library.
Good feed back - thanks.
I know you asked for a book, but we use YouTube videos when my kid was smaller it helped get her excited for rides but also helped identify any we thought might be too much for her.
Now we all love Disney and she watches TPM vids or other Disney bloggers regularly.
We like that as well but the parents try to limit the granddaughters screen time.
We did get the book and think it looks great for our Grand daughters.