Disneyland Resort Insider's Guide

Last week, Zagat released its first ever Disneyland Resort Insider's Guide. While I have not spent near as much time in Disneyland as I would like, and perhaps because of this fact, I found the Insider's Guide to be a perfect planning tool.

The guide does not include a touring plan to follow, or a list of warnings and height requirements, but each description gives guests a way to gauge their own personal interest in any given attraction, restaurant, resort, or retail location. The Top Rated attractions list is broken down not only by top rated and thrills, but also by age bracket. Similarly, dining is broken down not only by top rated and type of cuisine, but also by type of dining experience, décor, and service level. The guide contains a lot of data, but is slim and light enough to carry anywhere.

Perhaps the most useful feature of the guide is the Park Maps & Photos section. Here, top ranked attractions, as well as both parks, the top shop and restaurant, and all three of the on-property resorts, are presented in color with pros and cons that come straight from the surveyed guests’ responses.

Zagat surveyed 3,122 Disneyland Resort guests. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed were locals, with sixty-two percent of the total guests surveyed being annual passholders, making the Disneyland Resort Insider's Guide a true glimpse into the insight of the guests in the know, and giving those of us who only get to Disneyland Resort on a rare basis a fighting chance in planning a more magical trip.