Book Recommendation

[Mickey92]

Hi Guys,

I have won a prize at school, and it entitles me to choose a book up to the value of £10...

Could you possibly provide some good suggestions as to some great Disney books you have read recently or in the past that are awesome. Don't really know what I'm looking forward, not really a history book, just something different, maybe a different aspect to how we all look at Disney. Perhaps a book that walks through the park and points out bits that we all miss when we run down MSUSA (Main Street USA)

That would help alot!

Thankyou!

Tris x

 

[devoy1701]

Hi Guys,

I have won a prize at school, and it entitles me to choose a book up to the value of £10...

Could you possibly provide some good suggestions as to some great Disney books you have read recently or in the past that are awesome. Don't really know what I'm looking forward, not really a history book, just something different, maybe a different aspect to how we all look at Disney. Perhaps a book that walks through the park and points out bits that we all miss when we run down MSUSA (Main Street USA)

That would help alot!

Thankyou!

Tris x

If you want something that walks you through the parks, check out any of the Imagineer Field Guide books. They have one for each of the WDW parks.

 

[Mickey92]

If you want something that walks you through the parks, check out any of the Imagineer Field Guide books. They have one for each of the WDW parks.

Thanks, I already have two, they are good so I might get another one

Any others?? Preferably quite a long book too

 

[wdwmemories]

I have been reading "The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World" by Susan Veness. Plenty of research on intersting tidbits. I thought I had heard most of the design trivia behind WDW but I have learned some new things.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

If you're looking for something different, or unique, these books both offer interesting, rarer stories that you don't read about in most Disney books:

Project Future: The Inside Story Behind the Creation of Disney World
By Chad Emerson
The Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida is one of the world's most famous vacation destinations. This iconic resort is now located in what once was thousands of acres of swamp and marshland. Through spy-like moves and innovative strategies, Walt Disney and his cadre of creative leaders turned this massive swamp land into today's Disney World. This books shares the amazing behind the scenes story of how Disney's Florida resort, code-named Project Future, rose from the marshes of Central Florida to become one of the world's most popular theme park resorts.
Amazon.com Link
-I loved this book. It was so interesting to read about all the secret, clandestine meetings and back room deals surrounding the creation of the resort.

Spinning Disney's World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent
By Charles Ridgway
Author Ridgway spent four decades pushing Disney on millions of consumers worldwide, and this collection of "war stories" from the front lines of perhaps the biggest marketing success in history brims with insider info, but without once betraying the Disney name. It's to Ridgway's credit that his fondness for his subject-he writes kindly of almost everyone he met and worked with-doesn't detract from the integrity or appeal of the material. Occasionally, Ridgway's admiration for Walt Disney dips into adoration, but it's a sentiment that feels genuine-even if it is echoed throughout the company as detailed here, despite its size, its power and (largely unmentioned) accounts to the contrary. Fascinating asides delve into the personalities that fueled Disney's dream, as well as the newspeople and celebrities involved in Ridgway's PR efforts. Among numerous charmers, Ridgway's best story chronicles the intense, hilarious effort to train 50 newborn ducklings to "follow" the Donald Duck character in a 50th Birthday Parade. Other tales include the orchestration of parades and VIP galas; the impetus, construction and opening of attractions at both parks (including Ridgway's accidental early outing of the "Florida project"); and the arrival of Michael Eisner and Frank Wells. Entertaining throughout, Ridgway's prose is fluid and gentle, reflecting that sense of wholesome delight common to Disney creations, making this a rare behind-the-Mouse-ears exposé that's a real crowd-pleaser.
Amazon.com Link
-Another fun read, mostly because of the relationship between Ridgway and Walt. A lot of these stories I had never heard before.

 

[Tidbit]

I have been reading "The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World" by Susan Veness. Plenty of research on intersting tidbits. I thought I had heard most of the design trivia behind WDW but I have learned some new things.

Yeah that one is a favorite of mine too. I read it twice.....the second time I used a hi-lighter, so I could flip back through the book while at the parks with my kids which was very fun.

The other book I seem to always go back to is: The Complete Walt Disney World 2008 ( they have newer editions) by Julie and Mike Neal

My favorite trivia books : The Walt Disney World Trivia Book, Volume 1 & 2 by Lou Mongello.

You can always get a neat magazine subscription my favs: Orlando Attractions Magazine, and Celebrations which is by Lou Mongello.

Hope this helps......just my 2 cents!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I just got done reading Realityland. I can't remember who it was by, but it was a very interesting read and quite long.

 

[brkgnews]

I concur with Nick_A's suggestions... both very good. Also surprisingly good is Lee Cockerell's Creating Magic. It's essentially leadership advice... but a lot of tidbits about the "zen" of Disney as well.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

As was mentioned before I would suggest either the Imagineering Field Guides To..., The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World by Susan Veness
or one that hasn't been mentioned The Little Black Book of Walt Disney World, 2011 Edition

 

[ScorpionX]

The Windows on Main Street is supposedly good.

 

[WDW_Princess]

Since the World Began By Jeff Kurtti. I know it was written 15 years ago, but it still has a lot of cool information. It has little things to look for in the parks that most people would never notice. I guess it is history though.

 

[Monsterfan99]

Count me as another to recommend Project Future.