Books on Parks History

Beachmouse1

New Member
Original Poster
Hi all
lately been listening to some amazing podcasts and video blogs and have become obsessed with all the history of the Disney World parks, attractions, events etc. love learning all that behind the scenes stuff you don’t think about
any recommendations for books to read on all this please?
 

Poseidon Quest

Well-Known Member
One of my favorite books on the development of Walt Disney World is "Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World" by David Koenig. It focuses very heavily on the Magic Kingdom and Epcot and kind of brushes the other two parks to the side, but it's a fascinating read nonetheless : https://www.amazon.com/Realityland-True-Life-Adventures-Disney-World/dp/0964060531

There's also three volumes of "A Historical Tour of Walt Disney World" by Andrew Kiste. These books don't go into the history of the parks, so much as they go into the history that inspired attractions and how Disney portrayed that history: https://www.amazon.com/Historical-Tour-Walt-Disney-World/dp/194150034X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MZMCWLJ5GBPX&dchild=1&keywords=a+historical+tour+of+walt+disney+world&qid=1609696512&s=books&sprefix=a+historical,stripbooks,184&sr=1-1

In addition, I know you're looking for books, but here's a list of YouTube channels that produce content related to theme parks/Disney parks and history:

Defunctland: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVo63lbKHjC04KqYhwSZ_Pg
Midway to Main Street: https://www.youtube.com/user/robplaysthatgame
Expedition Theme Park: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCYFoKsE7HWMemncObXjdww
Offhand Disney: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC68lcOoPo7lIvGCkGDd2Z-g
Yesterworld Entertainment: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmOy2-vrvwDh6O1bTUB5m_g
Theme Park History: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvhnHwejIAabg99sYeWwC9A
MartinVidsDotNet: https://www.youtube.com/user/MartinsVidsDotNet

I'm also going to shamelessly link my own YouTube channel where I produce video essays on the Disney parks. I don't go too much into the history of attractions, though in my Small World essay, I link the roots of the theme back to the two world wars: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG0g-AeZntvsNzkDonjdFPA

 

MickeyLuv'r

Well-Known Member
Don Hahn's Yesterday's Tomorrow. Another book that is, if nothing else a very attractive coffee table book, with much poster art is Poster Art of the Disney Parks. Both are published by Disney Publishing. (So dare I say, Disney approved.)

There's also the teen lit series Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark. It is fiction, so not at all history, but I've been told they are a fun read if you miss the parks.
 
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DisneyGigi

Well-Known Member
Totally agree on watching the videos by @marni1971 - they are amazing!
(You should write a book, too btw!)

I have a couple of old coffee table books, that I adore, and some books on imagineering. I loved Marty Sklar’s books. (Think I have two)

These are what I have on my coffee table but have a ton more on bookshelves.
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JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
I also have a library of Disney books and its hard to choose just a few to advise reading.
Dont know if they are available still but back a while ago there was a series of 4 books...one for each park, titled The Imagineering Guide to the ... They were small books, colorful photos and drawings, easily read with plenty of information about each park and attractions and how they were designed.
Another one, The Wonders of Disney World by Aaron Goldberg. Also filled with interesting info., photos and drawings.
Spinning Disneys World, Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent by Charles Ridgeway. It has some great insights and stories of working within the company, dealing with the many personalities in the Disney bubble.
 

nickys

Premium Member
I just got this book for Christmas:


All about the sketches and designs of park attraction posters, which I love.

Now I just need a coffee table...
Just bought that for my son, after having managed to buy him the Imagineering book he’d already got! It’s a stunningly beautiful book. With an intro by Tony Baxter. I haven’t read that yet, just flicked through some of the posters.
 

The_Jobu

Well-Known Member
Just bought that for my son, after having managed to buy him the Imagineering book he’d already got! It’s a stunningly beautiful book. With an intro by Tony Baxter. I haven’t read that yet, just flicked through some of the posters.
It's beautiful. Looking forward to having some time to sit and read it.
 

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