What’s New In The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2013?

On behalf of my co-authors Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa, I’m proud to announce that The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2013 is now available via Amazon and Barnes & Noble, a few days before the book’s 9/19 official release date. It can be pre-ordered from iBooks in advance of its digital release later this month.

This has been a year of remarkable change at the Disneyland Resort, and our latest update to the Unofficial Guide reflects all the radical reimagineering the Anaheim attractions have undergone.

Here’s a rundown on all the fresh material you will find in our 2013 Guide:

Introduction

• An all-new humorous “The Importance of Being Goofy” essay.
• Revised overview of the resort, highlighting expansions at Disney California Adventure.
• Updated comparison chart of Disneyland Attractions vs. their equivalents at Magic Kingdom in Florida.

Planning Before You Leave Home

• Updated admission options and ticket prices.
• New automated options like buying tickets your mobile device and the Ask Otto phone line.
• Using the Lines mobile app to enhance your Disneyland visit.
• New statistics on Disneyland theme park attendance.
• New parking information, including valet and overflow options.
• Hints on safely walking into the Disneyland Resort from surrounding lodging in various directions.
• Refreshed hotel reviews and room ratings, featuring the completed renovations at Disneyland Hotel.
• Debating the merits of the “Good Neighbor” hotel program.
• New policies for FASTPASS, rope drop, and Early Entry.
• Additional VIP tour and Adventures By Disney information.

Essentials

• Benefits for the Disney Visa cardholders.
• Nearby grocery and pharmacy options.
• Charging your cell phone inside the parks.
• PhotoPass and PhotoPass+ information.

Disneyland With Kids

• New “minimum height requirement” chart.
• Updated “small child fright potential” chart.
• New reader comments on child swap and taking infants on rides.

Dining and Shopping in and Around Disneyland

• Refreshed reviews of every full-service and counter-service restaurant at the resort.
• Details on dining at Carthay Circle, Flo’s V8 Cafe, and all the new signature eateries in DCA’s Buena Vista Street and Cars Land.
• The arrival of Starbucks inside the Disney parks.
• Fresh reviews of the new menus at Jolly Holiday Bakery, Carnation Cafe, and House of Blues.
• Updated advice on your best snacking options around the resort.
• Changes at Ariel’s Grotto and the Cove Bar.
• World of Color dining options at Wine Country Trattoria and Carthay Circle.
• New dining options at Anaheim Gardenwalk in the surrounding city.

Disneyland Park

• Expanded information on the Disney Gallery and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (seasonally starring the Voices of Liberty).
• Information on construction of the new Princess Fantasy Faire.
• A review of the controversial refurbishment of Matterhorn Bobsleds.
• Changes to Innoventions, and where you can get a free souvenir in Tomorrowland.
• New details on live entertainment around the park, including Billy Hill’s relocation to Big Thunder Ranch.
• Fresh insights and behind-the-scenes dish from Jim Hill.

Disney California Adventure

• Ratings and reviews of all the new attractions and entertainments inside Buena Vista Street and Cars Land, including the blockbuster Radiator Springs Racers ride.
• How to navigate the new early entry procedures at DCA, plus new single rider and FASTPASS advice.
• Updated advice on viewing World of Color, including the new “Glow With The Show” mouse ears.
• New entertainment around the park, from Minnie’s Fly Girls to the Mad T Party.

Universal Studios Hollywood

• In-depth review of Universal’s smash new Transformers 3-D attraction.
• The announcement of a West Coast Harry Potter attraction, with hints on the future of the Waterworld and Terminator shows.
• Information on VIP upgraded admission.

Of course our world-famous Touring Plans — completely overhauled for the new attractions, and optimized with the aid for our custom computer database — are all included in a handy clip-out format.

And for those those visitors who aren’t the “theme park commando” type, we’ve added for the first time a “No Rides/No Queues/No Stress Anti-Touring Plan” guaranteed to help the most anti-attraction grouch have a great time.

Remember, readers who purchase the new Guide can get a generous discount off their Disneyland Lines subscription. You’ll also notice that the park and attraction descriptions on TouringPlans.com have been updated to reflect the new content found in print. We hope you enjoy the 2013 edition of the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland, and invite you to leave us your comments below.