Disney Books - Need help/suggestions please!

[kpadalik]

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? ) 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! 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 . 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!

 

[wishspirit]

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 They are a 'little' out of date, but the books are a nice starter to Disney history.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]

Thanks Kate!

Bumping for the afternoon crowd.

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

This should help:

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

 

[FireDancer]

My favorite Disney book by far is DisneyWar. It is a look at the Eisner Years at Disney.

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[wilde_oscar]

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]

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]

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!