the Official Blog of the Unofficial Guides

South Pacific Tropics are Re-created at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will be the place we’ll retire to if we ever hit the lottery. With its tropical landscaping, well-appointed rooms, and good on-site restaurants, it’s one of the few Walt Disney World resorts where you could skip the parks entirely and be perfectly content just exploring the grounds. Everything about the Poly (as it’s known

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library collection, holding more than 23 million books and 135 million other documents. Although it is literally the library for the U.S. Congress’s research needs, anyone can use the library’s materials while inside the building, with proper ID. Most people opt to tour the library rather than read in it, and for good reason: It’s a beautiful

For the ultimate  no-expenses-spared Universal Orlando experience, book a VIP tour of one or both parks. VIP guests are given the red-carpet treatment at both parks and never have to worry about waiting in line. And don’t worry if you aren’t a genuine VIP—or even a social media pseudo-celebrity—because at Universal, anyone can be treated like the rich and famous . . . for a

Erin Foster, coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line, shares with us her experience on a Disney River Cruise excursion in Vienna. Disney is now offering European river cruises through their Adventures by Disney world travel arm. The river cruises are similar in many respects to the popular Disney Cruise Line megaship ocean cruise sailings (fantastic service, plentiful

Character meals are bustling affairs, held in hotels’ or theme parks’ largest table-service or “buffeter” restaurants. Character breakfasts (there are five) offer a fixed menu served family-style or as a buffet. The typical family-style breakfast includes scrambled eggs; bacon, sausage, and ham; hash browns; waffles, pancakes, or French toast; biscuits, rolls, or pastries; and fruit. The meal is served in large skillets or platters at your