Books about Walt Disney

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,

Would greatly appreciate recommendations for books about how Walt Disney started and built his business empire. From the start through Disneyland which led to WDW which led to eventually buying ABC/ ESPN, etc...Realize Walt passed away around 1966 but what he started has led to the Disney empire we now know.

 

[tinkerhon]

Aloha,

Would greatly appreciate recommendations for books about how Walt Disney started and built his business empire. From the start through Disneyland which led to WDW which led to eventually buying ABC/ ESPN, etc...Realize Walt passed away around 1966 but what he started has led to the Disney empire we now know.

I actually read the "who was/were" book about Walt Disney--- they are geared towards kids ( they sell them in wdw) but are very interesting--- our dd must have around 50 of them!!

 

[Camshell]

Aloha,

Would greatly appreciate recommendations for books about how Walt Disney started and built his business empire. From the start through Disneyland which led to WDW which led to eventually buying ABC/ ESPN, etc...Realize Walt passed away around 1966 but what he started has led to the Disney empire we now know.

http://www.amazon.ca/Walt-Disney-Triumph-American-Imagination/dp/0679757473
I've read this book. It seems to cover his life, but does not go beyond it.

 

[Turk February]

http://www.amazon.ca/Walt-Disney-Triumph-American-Imagination/dp/0679757473
I've read this book. It seems to cover his life, but does not go beyond it.

This book is great but it's VERY long and at times a VERY tough and dry read (IMO).

 

[Turk February]

I would also suggest DisneyWar about the rise and fall of Eisner. That might be my favorite Disney related book.

 

[ms tom morrow]

Not totally about Walt, but I recently read "Dream it! Do it! My half century creating Disney's Magic Kingdoms" by imagineer Marty Sklar. He worked directly with Walt and tells many great stories about the trials and tribulations of creating Disneyland and eventually all of the other parks as well. Definitely an interesting read.

 

[tinkfan160]

"Walt Disney an American Original" by Bob Thomas is a really good biography. They pull from it for information on the Keys to the Kingdom tour and I was intrigued so I picked it up while on our trip last summer. It really shows the struggles that were I involved in creating what we know today and not just the happy stuff.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas is a great book to learn about Walt, his early years in animation, and his inspiration for Disneyland. Since the World Began: Walt Disney World - The First 25 Years is a great book to learn about The Florida Project, what Walt hoped for it, and how it would be realized after his death. Storming The Magic Kingdom is a great book to learn about all the turmoil and troubles that Disney would run into leading up to Eisner and the Disney Decade.

 

[rndmr2]

The Bob Thomas Book noted in prev posts is a good one.

I also read one a few years ago called "The Man Behind the Magic: The Story of Walt Disney" by Katherine and Richard Greene that was really good (you can find it on amazon.

 

[Turk February]

My only issue with the Bob Thomas book is that it's published by Disney, so you really aren't getting the whole story. You're getting the story they want to publish. It's a good book, but I wouldn't start and end with that one on its own.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

The Neal Gabler biography is fantastic, I'll second that recommendation.

Also, while Walt Disney isn't the focal point, I would also recommend The Hand Behind the Mouse. It's a biography about Ub Iwerks, so you can get a view of Walt from a different perspective.

 

[ghtx]

I just finished the Gabler biography and I also recommend it. It is fantastic and thorough (yes that means long) but never boring. (Unless you don't care about Walt Disney, in which case you wouldn't want to read it anyway.)

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

The Man Behind the Myth is great!

 

[queenofdisney]

Definitely the one by Bob Thomas!

 

[MOpGrad2013]

Definitely the one by Bob Thomas!

Had to search the author's name to be sure. Definitely Bob Thomas! I read it in a compiled biography book from Reader's Digest. Had black and white photos of the family.

 

[adelquadro827]

Realityland by David Koenig is a great read about the development of the florida property. 100 years of magic chronicles Walts life and the Disney company from Walt's birth up until the millennium. Really enjoyable reads.

 

[melissapi]

I have read so many but my picks are:
1. Disney War
2. Dream it Do IT- love the perspective of a colleague & friend
3. Disney - Rees Quinn - Good bio without being long & boring