The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2026

Save time and money with in-depth reviews, ratings, and details from the trusted source for a successful Walt Disney World vacation.

How do some guests get on the big, new attraction in less than 20 minutes while others wait for longer than 2 hours--on the same day? Why do some guests pay full price for their visit when others can save hundreds of dollars? In a theme park, every minute and every dollar count. Your vacation is too important to be left to chance, so put the best-selling independent guide to Walt Disney World in your hands and take control of your trip.

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2026 explains how Walt Disney World works and how to use that knowledge to stay ahead of the crowd. Becky Gandillon, Bob Sehlinger, and Len Testa know that you want your vacation to be anything but average, so they employ an expert team of researchers to find the secrets, the shortcuts, and the bargains that are sure to make your vacation exceptional! Find out what’s available in every category, ranked from best to worst, and get detailed plans to make the most of your time at Walt Disney World. Stay at a top-rated hotel, eat at the best restaurants, and experience all the most popular attractions.

Keep up with the latest updates and changes at Walt Disney World. Here’s what’s NEW in the 2026 book:

• Learn when to visit Walt Disney World to experience lower crowds and score bigger hotel discounts


• Find the most in-depth analysis of the Disney Dining Plan; we analyzed every menu item to determine whether the plan will save money or cost you more


• Preview the brand-new show under the Tree of Life: Zootopia: Better Zoogether!


• Take in the latest on updated rides, including new missions for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and the reimagined Test Track


• Get tips on helpful Disney programs such as Early Theme Park Entry


• Successfully navigate every type of line offered for Disney attractions to save the most time


• Uncover the newest, best places for ticket and hotel deals


• Enjoy details about the two new lounges, one themed to Pirates of the Caribbean and the other to Spaceship Earth


• Read complete reviews of Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, the nighttime parade at the Magic Kingdom, and the new Disney Villains Unfairly Ever After show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios


• Utilize new touring plans to save the most time in line at every Disney park
• Discover the highest-rated buildings at every Disney resort and how to request the best rooms for your stay

Make the right choices to give your family a vacation they’ll never forget. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2026 is your key to planning a perfect stay. Whether you’re putting together your annual trip or preparing for your first visit, this book gives you the inside scoop on hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more.

Becky Gandillon is the coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. From St. Louis, Missouri, Becky has been a Disney fan since she was 18 months old! She combines her love for data and Disney by analyzing crowd and touring patterns at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Becky and her husband love traveling both to the World and around the real world with their two daughters. You might run into their redheaded family in some of their favorite places--in Orlando, at sea on a Disney cruise ship, at a ski resort in the Rockies, or at a national park.

Bob Sehlinger, a Lowell Thomas Award-winning journalist, is best known as the creator and producer of The Unofficial Guide series.

Len Testa, a lifelong Disney theme park fan, is also coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland and The Unofficial Guide to the Disney Cruise Line. Len leads the team at Touring Plans, a research arm of The Unofficial Guides.