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View Full Version : Disney Books - Need help/suggestions please!

kpadalik
02-23-2009, 10:15 PM
My cousin and his family just visited Walt Disney World a couple of weeks ago for the very first time! They absolutely fell in love with it (who doesn't?) and were just amazed at how the resorts/parks operate the way they do! He thinks that I am a "pseudo-historian when it comes to all things Disney" (now where ever did he get that idea? :confused3) and wanted to know a good book on the history of Walt Disney World. He is interested in any format, whether it is informational, coffee-table style, etc. He would just like some history on the building/planning of the resort, the evolution of it, just the overall history.

I don't have too much knowledge on what kind of books might be out there for him, as I get most of my info from the web, from podcasts, and from here on the DIS! :thumbsup2 However, I told him I knew exactly where to go to get some suggestions! I emailed my question to the podcast, but haven't heard it read yet :sad2:. So I figured I'd post my question here! So don't let me down, DIS'ers! I know that I can get some GREAT suggestions here.

Ready, Set, GO! :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:
wishspirit
02-24-2009, 05:08 AM
My mom bought me some books for Christmas, 'The Imagineering Field Guide to..' both Magic Kingdom and Epcot. They are thin, colourful books on the origins and magic behind each part of the park. They are a 'little' out of date, but the books are a nice starter to Disney history.

They are also written by Disney, so you you know they are telling you the good bits!
kpadalik
02-24-2009, 12:02 PM
Thanks Kate!

Bumping for the afternoon crowd.
DavidandLeahZ
02-24-2009, 12:15 PM
This should help:

http://www.2719hyperion.com/2009/01/bibliography-walt-disney-world-history.html
FireDancer
02-24-2009, 12:19 PM
My favorite Disney book by far is DisneyWar. It is a look at the Eisner Years at Disney.
DavidandLeahZ
02-24-2009, 12:25 PM
PS - Tell him to find the DVD of the Modern Marvels Special from the History Channel (most big-box online retailers should have it). That, in some ways, gives more indepth information than any single book.
WaltD4Me
02-24-2009, 12:39 PM
PS - Tell him to find the DVD of the Modern Marvels Special from the History Channel (most big-box online retailers should have it). That, in some ways, gives more indepth information than any single book.

Agreed! This is a really good special. I've watched it a couple times now, great information.

And for a book I recommend "Designing Disney" by John Hench (one of Walt's original Imagineers) lots of great stories and insights. It just came out in paperback in Janurary. Very interesting read.
mikelan6
02-24-2009, 01:30 PM
Personally, my favorite of the WDW history books is "Since The World Began" by Jeff Kurtti. It has some amazing photos in it of the building of WDW.
DavidandLeahZ
02-24-2009, 02:21 PM
Personally, my favorite of the WDW history books is "Since The World Began" by Jeff Kurtti. It has some amazing photos in it of the building of WDW.

Agreed - anything by Jeff Kurtti is a good buy.

There's an excluse book you can only buy in the parks (or on eBay) call Walt Disney World: Then, Now, and Forever.
DWFan4Life
02-25-2009, 08:55 PM
This should help:

http://www.2719hyperion.com/2009/01/bibliography-walt-disney-world-history.html

Thank you for taking time to share this blog. I enjoyed reading it. I'll check some of that book.

Have a nice day. :)
mommyceratops
02-26-2009, 10:53 AM
Thank you for taking time to share this blog. I enjoyed reading it. I'll check some of that book.

Have a nice day. :)



There are some great coffee table books from the diiferent animation movies on amazon also

I like the imagineering ones also
mainegal
02-26-2009, 01:30 PM
These are my favorites.

Realityland : true-life adventures at Walt Disney World / by David Koenig

Walt Disney's EPCOT : creating the new world of tomorrow / text by Richard R. Beard.

Since the world began : Walt Disney World, the first 25 years / by Jeff Kurtti
raammartin
03-12-2009, 10:47 PM
I was using the search feature for "Disney coffee table books" and stumbled across this thread. I am looking for Disney coffee table books featuring any Disney art whether it be architecture, film, animation, whatever. Does anyone have any suggestions on specific books?

Thanks!
FireDancer
03-12-2009, 11:08 PM
I was using the search feature for "Disney coffee table books" and stumbled across this thread. I am looking for Disney coffee table books featuring any Disney art whether it be architecture, film, animation, whatever. Does anyone have any suggestions on specific books?

Thanks!

I have the perfect book for you. It is called Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real.

It is perfect for a coffee table book but it isn't a hard cover. The ISBN is 0-7868-8372-3
wildeoscar
03-13-2009, 12:15 AM
a great read that gets into the nuts and bolts of how Eisner came to power is Storming the Magic Kingdom (Hardcover)
by John Taylor
firemanx
03-13-2009, 01:44 AM
Personally, my favorite of the WDW history books is "Since The World Began" by Jeff Kurtti. It has some amazing photos in it of the building of WDW.



this is my favorite WDW Book.
raammartin
03-13-2009, 06:10 AM
I have the perfect book for you. It is called Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real.

It is perfect for a coffee table book but it isn't a hard cover. The ISBN is 0-7868-8372-3

a great read that gets into the nuts and bolts of how Eisner came to power is Storming the Magic Kingdom (Hardcover)
by John Taylor

Awesome, thank you!