the Official Blog of the Unofficial Guides

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    Bally’s Las Vegas—Casino and Hotel Review

    Bally’s bills itself as “the classic Las Vegas experience.” Targeted to the gamer of any age, the emphasis is clear when you step inside the main entrance from under the broad, sky-lit porte cochere. On your right, a football-field-long casino stretches beyond you. The casino is immense, open, and elegantly modern—sophisticated in a formal, understated way, like a tuxedo. Active

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    Top Five Reasons to Visit Walt Disney World in 2018

    The D23 Expo, the biennial meeting of The Official Disney Fan Club, concluded in July with major announcements about new rides and exciting experiences coming to Walt Disney World. If you love Disney, 2018 is a great year to visit. Here are the top five reasons why. The Rides In May 2017, Pandora: The World of Avatar, inspired by James Cameron’s movie Avatar, opened

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    Top 10 Tips for Families Visiting Walt Disney World

    Liliane Opsomer, coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids, shares with us her top 10 tips for families visiting Walt Disney World. 1) Be prepared, and plan your visit. Make a list of what you need while at WDW. If you plan to fly into Orlando, consider shipping some items ahead to your hotel. Plan what you want to

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    Resort Hopping the Ultimate Christmas Experience

    It is not difficult to get into the spirit of the season at Walt Disney World Resorts. All properties are spruced up with elaborate holiday decorations, and it is absolutely worth your time to go resort hopping. Here are a few suggestions for your Christmas resort hopping. Wilderness Lodge has a four-story-high Christmas tree decorated with Native American-inspired ornaments. Over at

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    Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort Review

    Cabana Bay Beach Resort is Universal’s first on-site hotel aimed at the value and moderate markets. The theme is mid-century modern, with lots of windows, bright colors, and period-appropriate lighting and furniture. We think the resort would be right at home in the deserts of Palm Springs or Las Vegas. Kids will love the two large and well-themed pools (one