GUIDE BOOKS
for
AMUSEMENT PARKS
This section contains general guide books for amusement parks. Those for Disney Parks are under Disney Park Books, and World's Fair guides are listed under the year and title for a specific fair at Fair Books.
Be aware that books in other sections (especially
General Park Books) may contain guides as
well, but that the following are guides exclusively. For information on
the above or a specific ride or park, see other categories in our
Books section.
Also look under
Videos.
Note that some of the guide books are reprinted yearly, with updates
replacing old information. These have been noted where known, although the
reviews will be for the version with the publication date shown next to
the title. These will continue to be listed as many libraries keep these
guide books for several years, even after an updated version has been
received. Since many libraries keep their latest copy as a non-circulating
reference book, these older copies may then be placed in circulating
status. Even with an older guide book, most of the information will still
be useful when planning a trip to a given park. Plus, it's sometimes
interesting to read an old guide book to see the way things were, and it
may be valuable to researchers.
Prices are usually those at publication time and are subject to change.
They are shown to give some idea of cost for each one, and even for the
older ones, it's interesting to see what these books sold for in the past.
THE FOLLOWING MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED
WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR ©
________
AMUSEMENT PARK AND COASTER MOVIE DIRECTORY (1990)
By Andy Bolin. This is the third version of the book which lists
movies having amusement parks and/or rides featured. *(Not
Reviewed.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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THE AMUSEMENT PARK GUIDE (1991)
"Coast To Coast Thrills"
By Tim O'Brien. Lists most 1990 amusement parks in Canada and
The United States, alphabetically by state, then Canada.
Waterparks are listed separately. *(Recommended. Good little
write-ups of U.S. and Canadian Parks. While the Canadian section
has some errors & omissions, and the write-ups aren't as complete
as The U.S. section, it is more complete than most other American
guidebooks. An updated, 4th Edition released in 2001 was published.)
Published by:
The Globe Pequot Press
Box Q
Chester, Connecticut, U.S.A.
ISBN: 0-87106-300-X 0-7627-0867-0 (4th Edition)
Price: $12.95, $14.95 (2001 Update) (U.S.Funds)
________
THE AMUSEMENT PARK GUIDEBOOK (1987)
By James Reed. This details over 150 American amusement parks and
their attractions. Includes ride descriptions and rankings.
*(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
________
AMUSEMENT PARKS (1994)
"An American Guide Book"
By John and Joan Norris. Lists various parks in The United States with
addresses and some ride information. *(Not Recommended. It reads like
they sent each park a survey (probably machine read), then just
printed the results and called it a book. They added a few token
photos for looks. It's especially bad for ride enthusiasts in that the
review just says `rides' or maybe `roller coaster' without naming or
describing them.) Thanks to David Bowers of Cincinnati, Ohio for this
book review.
Published by:
McFarland & Company
ISBN: 0-899950-789-1
Price: $28.95 (U.S. Funds)
________
AMUSEMENT PARKS OF NORTH AMERICA (1980)
By Jeff Ulmer. A quick listing for parks in Canada and The United
States with black & white pictures. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
Book Sales Limited
ISBN: 0385270038
Price: $1.98 (U.S. Funds)
________
DIRECTORY OF THEME & AMUSEMENT PARKS (1991)
By Raymond Carlson and Eleanor Popelka. This book (updated from the
1988 one), covers 550 American fun places in state-by-state listings.
Admission prices and brief descriptions are included. *(Recommended
only as a low-cost quickie listing. This book just gives names and
partial addresses with some rides and attractions mentioned for each
park. If you want more information about each place, you will have to
look elsewhere.)
Published by:
Pilot Books
103 Cooper Street
Babylon, New York 11702
U.S.A.
Price: $5.95 (U.S. Funds)
ISBN: 0-87576-138-0
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ECONOGUIDE 1995 (1994)
By Corey Sandler. Includes EPCOT, Universal Studios Florida, and
Walt Disney World. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
Contemporary Books
Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.
ISBN:
Price:
________
ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO SIX FLAGS THEME PARKS (1996)
By Tim and Carrie O'Brien. This publication describes each
park's rides, midway games, shops, shows, restaurants and
guest services. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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EVERYTHING GUIDE TO WALT DISNEY WORLD,
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS & GREATER ORLANDO (19 )
By Jason Rich.*(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN: 1580620531
Price: $12.95 (U.S. Funds)
________
EXPERIENCE THE POINT: (2002)
"Unofficial Guidebook To Cedar Point: (2001/2002)"
By Andrew Hyde. This guidebook is completely dedicated to Cedar
Point and takes one on a comprehensive tour of America's Roller
Coast. It discusses ways to plan your day and have fun at Cedar
Point. It includes information on every ride, show, attraction,
restaurant, and hotel. A bonus is over 30 trivia questions, and
numerous fun facts. *(Not Reviewed)
Published by:
Infinity Publishing
519 West Lancaster Avenue
Haverford, Pennsylvania
U.S.A. 19041
ISBN: 0-7414-0810-4 Price: $10.95 (U.S. Funds)
-Experience the Point
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A FAMILY GUIDE TO AMUSEMENT CENTERS (1975)
By Susan Hunter. Lists family centers in The United States with a
description of each, along with local lodgings. Some photos.
*(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
Walker and Company
New York, New York
U.S.A.
ISBN:
Price:
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FIELDING'S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THEME PARKS (19 )
By Amanda Knoles. *(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN: 1569521484
Price: $18.95
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FUN LAND U.S.A. (1978)
By Tim Onosko, This guide book starts with a history of the
amusement park industry and rides that may be found there. It then
has a directory of U.S. parks with pricing information. *(Not
Reviewed).
Published By:
Ballantine Books
New York, New York
U.S.A.
ISBN:
Price:
________
FUNPARKS & ATTRACTIONS (1996)
"1996 International Guide to Amusement Parks,
Waterparks, Family Entertainment Centers,
and Attractions"
By (No Author Credited.) This is a guide book from Amusement Business
magazine. *(Recommended. This lists parks and other attractions world
wide in country-divided sections. address, open times, admissions and
number of rides and attractions are given.) Yearly updates are
available.
Published By:
Amusement Business Magazine
Box 5022
Brentwood, Tennessee 37024-9771
U.S.A.
ISBN: 0823080951
Price: $55.00 (U.S. Funds)
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GUIDE TO RIDE (1991, 1995, 2000)
By Allen Ambrosini, Randy Geisler, and Lisa Scheinin. This directory
includes up to the 2000 U.S. models and has small coasters such as
the kiddies, juniors, Galaxies, Wild Mice, and Flitzers. It also
dedicates five and a half pages to Canadian coasters with a complete
coaster listing and 31 full-color photographs. *(Recommended. All
the articles are well written and form a great primer on learning
the whole culture centered around the roller coaster. In addition,
unlike the original where the articles were unillustrated white pages,
the designers sprinkled tonnes of good photographs throughout, such
that the article section reads like a top quality, glossy magazine.
One of the main reasons to buy this book is the treasure trove of
colour photographs. They're worth the price of admission all by
themselves. This is fine as both a coffee table book, as well as a
handbook for trip planning, It's a must-have for everybody.) Thanks
to David Bowers of Cincinnati, Ohio for submitting this review.
GUIDE TO RIDE
(Continued)
Published by:
American Coaster Enthusiasts
U.S.A.
ISBN: 0-9703987-0-0
Price: $19.95 (US Funds)
Order from:
ACE Guide To Ride
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GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN THEME PARKS (1990)
Published for The American Automobile Association. Lists selected
parks by region. Gives rides & attractions by name with some
descriptions. *(Not Recommended. The title is misleading - there
are 10 countries in North America, yet only 2 are listed. Canadian
Park listings are very sparse and there are many U.S. states with
no parks shown. Boblo Island is shown as being American but was
in Canada. La Ronde in Montreal is second only to Canada's
Wonderland and has been around since 1967, yet it's not even
listed! Even the visually improved 1997 update hadn't corrected
this, and that update has reduced the Canadian listings to only
four parks. Why bother placing "North America" in the title?)
Published by:
Collier MacMillan Price: $14.95 (Cdn. Funds)
Toronto, Ontario
Canada (If you must have a copy,
it's available in many
ISBN: 0-02-030250-9 Canadian bookstores.)
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GUIDE TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA (1995)
"A Great Day at the Movies"
By Tom Tipton. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By: Price: $9.95 (U.S. Funds)
NTC Publishing Group
ISBN:0-8442-9374-1
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HIDDEN WALT DISNEY WORLD, ORLANDO AND BEYOND (19 )
By Lisa Oppenheimer and Stacy Ritz. A guide book to the area's
lesser-known attractions. *(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price: $13.95 (U.S. Funds)
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JENNER'S ZOOLOGICAL EDUCATIONAL AND AMUSEMENT PARK
OFFICIAL GUIDE (1928 ?)
This is a guide and list of artifacts in Jenner's curiosity museum
at Loop City, Nebraska. *(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price: $45.00 (U.S. Funds)
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KIDS EXPLORE FLORIDA (1994)
By Susan D. Moffat. Includes Busch Gardens (The Dark Continent),
Spaceport USA, Universal Studios, Walt Disney World, and much
more. Includes index. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published by:
B. Adams
Holbrook, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
ISBN:
Price:
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THE KINGDOM RULED BY THE MOUSE (1992)
"Amusement Parks in Southern California"
By Maria Sainte. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published by: Price: $9.95 (U.S. Funds)
Travel Keys
ISBN: 0-931367-22-0
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THE NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF THEME & AMUSEMENT PARKS: (1996)
By ?. This book lists 400+ parks and zoos in most U.S.
states. *(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
Pilot Books
ISBN:
Price:
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ORLANDO'S OTHER THEME PARKS: (1998)
" What to Do When You'Ve Done Disney"
By Kelly Monaghan. *(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price: $16.95 (U.S. Funds)
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SHENZHEN SPLENDID CHINA MINIATURE SCENIC SPOT ( ? )
By Liu Chi Ping. Guidebook for the west coast Splendid China.
Photos included. *(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
China Books
San Francisco, California
U.S.A.
ISBN:
Price:
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THE TOP 100 AMUSEMENT PARKS OF THE UNITED STATES (1978)
By John Reed. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
Reed Publishing
Quarryville, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
ISBN:
Price:
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"UNIVERSAL ORLANDO WITH KIDS (19 )
By Kim Wiley. A guidebook for Universal Florida. *(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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"UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ESCAPE" (19 )
"The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Theme Park Adventure"
By Kelly Monaghan. This guide to Universal's multi-park complex in
Orlando, Florida, covers every attraction, shop and eatery in Islands
of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, Citiwalk, and the Portofino
Bay. *(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price: $14.95 (U.S. Funds)
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