Disneyland Coffee Table Books

[WDWFigment]

As a long-time Walt Disney World book collector, I recently started collecting Disneyland coffee table books (so, not the smaller souvenir books) after falling in love with Disneyland after visiting for the first time last August.

You can read my full reviews and see photos of the books here: Disneyland Books - Disney Tourist Blog

Here's my list (in order of preference) -

1. Disneyland Nickel Tour
2. The Art of Disneyland
3. Disneyland: Inside Story
4. Disneyland: Then, Now, and Forever
5. Disneyland, Memories of a Lifetime
6. Disneyland: Dreams, Traditions and Transitions
7. The Magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World
8. Disneyland: The First Thirty Years
9. Disneyland: Celebrating 45 Magical Years
10. Disneyland: The First Quarter Century
11. Disneyland: The First Thrity-Five Years

I know I'm missing at least the current book, Disneyland Through the Decades (is it any good?), but what else, if anything, am I missing? I'm not really interested in the yearly souvenir books nor am I interested in books produced by third parties (yes, I realize Nickel Tour is one such book, but it's an exception). Should I also make an exception for the Disneyland Hotel book?

 

[pinktink83]

How fun!! I'm going to go read about them right now!!

 

[jernysgirl]

Great list! And I am extremely jealous that you have a copy of the Nickel Tour.... it has been on my "want" list for quite a while now!

I don't know if it makes any difference to you, but I am pretty sure that the Disneyland: Then, Now and Forever has two editions, (so if you are a true completionist then you might look into that as well).

 

[tinkermomma]

Love it!

I have had Disneyland: Inside Story since it came out.

You're list is making fiend for all the others.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

As a long-time Walt Disney World book collector, I recently started collecting Disneyland coffee table books (so, not the smaller souvenir books) after falling in love with Disneyland after visiting for the first time last August.

You can read my full reviews and see photos of the books here: Disneyland Books - Disney Tourist Blog

Here's my list (in order of preference) -

1. Disneyland Nickel Tour
2. The Art of Disneyland
3. Disneyland: Inside Story
4. Disneyland: Then, Now, and Forever
5. Disneyland, Memories of a Lifetime
6. Disneyland: Dreams, Traditions and Transitions
7. The Magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World
8. Disneyland: The First Thirty Years
9. Disneyland: Celebrating 45 Magical Years
10. Disneyland: The First Quarter Century
11. Disneyland: The First Thrity-Five Years

I know I'm missing at least the current book, Disneyland Through the Decades (is it any good?), but what else, if anything, am I missing? I'm not really interested in the yearly souvenir books nor am I interested in books produced by third parties (yes, I realize Nickel Tour is one such book, but it's an exception). Should I also make an exception for the Disneyland Hotel book?

The Disneyland Hotel book is one of books on my coffee table, along with The Art of Walt Disney and Disneyland: Then, Now, and Forever. I found the DLH book fascinating and it is a very attractive book, which coincidentally fits into the color scheme of my family room, but for your purposes, yes, I would make the exception, it's really a great book, filled with pictures and history. I wish I had been able to experience the DLH of the early decades, when it was owned by the Wrathers.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Thanks to your blog, I just ordered Disneyland: Inside Story from Amazon

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Thanks to your blog, I just ordered Disneyland: Inside Story from Amazon

 

[WDWFigment]

Thanks to your blog, I just ordered Disneyland: Inside Story from Amazon

Awesome! Hope you enjoy it. (I'm sure you will!)

 

[PinkBudgie]

I have the Disneyland Then and Now and really like it. I also have Walt Disney Imagineering (all Disney parks and big book). I have Behind the Magic-50 Years of Disneyland. And this summer I picked up one that shows an early picture and then that same spot how it looks now. I forget the name because it is my birthday present and DH took it way until Sept. I also have a several ride books- one on the HM and another on POTC. These are interesting because they tell about the ride at all the parks and how they are different. They also talk about the story behind the ride.
At the WD Family Museum I picked up two E-ticket magazines (also put away for my birthday. ) One had Adventures thru inner space on the cover and the other had POTC. I have no hope of ever finding the Nickel Tour.

I love books that show the old DL. I can't get enough of those!

 

[Club33forme]

I did not know the Nickel Tour was a hard find. Looks like I have the entire collection. I noticed you did not mention Marty Sklar's Disneyland book, there are a few versions of that book. I have many if you need one. The Story of Disneyland is a collector piece as it was printed before the opening of Disneyland and Copyright, 1955 by Disneyland Inc. (the year of Disneyland's grand opening). The Disneyland Detective is a fun book as it lists interesting Disneyland facts, also Disneyland Challenge is fun for young readers. You may want to add to your exception list Carlene Thie's books if you like early Disneyland construction pictures. She has compiled an enormous amount of great photos taken by her Grandfather Mell Kilpatrick. Mell was on contract by Walt to document the construction of Disneyland and Carlene owns all his early Disneyland photos. Search Ape Pen Publishing Company and you will find her. I know I am breaking your rules with some of the books I have mentioned as they are not Disney books but they are must have for your Disneyland collection. If you can find National Geographic vol. 124, No. 2 August 1963 snag that too, A fold out walking tour map of Disneyland and a picture of Walt's in his Disneyland firehouse apartment are in this issue along with 25 or more pages of Disneyland with pictures.

 

[Club33forme]

Just want to add, the foreword in Carlene's book Disneyland the Beginning was done by Walt Disney's daughter Diane Disney Miller. I have seen this book for sale at Disneyland if you can't find it on the net.

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

, collection!

a co-worker grandparent passed, & she gave me one her
disney books, "treasures of disney animation art." what i thought
was interesting, they chose the same size of papers used by
the animators. robert e. abrams wrote the preface. [ i don't
know who he is].

wow i didn't know the article by national geographic.

 

[WDWFigment]

I did not know the Nickel Tour was a hard find. Looks like I have the entire collection. I noticed you did not mention Marty Sklar's Disneyland book, there are a few versions of that book. I have many if you need one. The Story of Disneyland is a collector piece as it was printed before the opening of Disneyland and Copyright, 1955 by Disneyland Inc. (the year of Disneyland's grand opening). The Disneyland Detective is a fun book as it lists interesting Disneyland facts, also Disneyland Challenge is fun for young readers. You may want to add to your exception list Carlene Thie's books if you like early Disneyland construction pictures. She has compiled an enormous amount of great photos taken by her Grandfather Mell Kilpatrick. Mell was on contract by Walt to document the construction of Disneyland and Carlene owns all his early Disneyland photos. Search Ape Pen Publishing Company and you will find her. I know I am breaking your rules with some of the books I have mentioned as they are not Disney books but they are must have for your Disneyland collection. If you can find National Geographic vol. 124, No. 2 August 1963 snag that too, A fold out walking tour map of Disneyland and a picture of Walt's in his Disneyland firehouse apartment are in this issue along with 25 or more pages of Disneyland with pictures.

Thanks for the tips!

I think Disneyland Nickel Tour is so rare because both editions were small prints, both authors are now deceased, and the publisher is out of business. So it's pretty much certain there won't be future editions. I imagine it will only go up in price.

 

[chickyann]

As a long-time Walt Disney World book collector, I recently started collecting Disneyland coffee table books (so, not the smaller souvenir books) after falling in love with Disneyland after visiting for the first time last August.

You can read my full reviews and see photos of the books here: Disneyland Books - Disney Tourist Blog

Here's my list (in order of preference) -

1. Disneyland Nickel Tour
2. The Art of Disneyland
3. Disneyland: Inside Story
4. Disneyland: Then, Now, and Forever
5. Disneyland, Memories of a Lifetime
6. Disneyland: Dreams, Traditions and Transitions
7. The Magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World
8. Disneyland: The First Thirty Years
9. Disneyland: Celebrating 45 Magical Years
10. Disneyland: The First Quarter Century
11. Disneyland: The First Thrity-Five Years

I know I'm missing at least the current book, Disneyland Through the Decades (is it any good?), but what else, if anything, am I missing? I'm not really interested in the yearly souvenir books nor am I interested in books produced by third parties (yes, I realize Nickel Tour is one such book, but it's an exception). Should I also make an exception for the Disneyland Hotel book?

So cool, thanks for sharing, I bought Disneyland through the decades in October, I love it, but it's my only Disney coffee table book.

 

[kylie71]

I read your trip reports,,, and they are Awesome!!! Your pics are wonderful as well!

 

[colin25]

One book I enjoyed is The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at it's Peak.

 

[Princess Row]

I have quite a few disneyland books my mom has always told me will be good coffee table books when I am older.

One book I love is Mouse Tales.

Heres a few others I can remember off the top of my head I know I have tons more put away.

The man, The magic, The memories.
Walt Disney: The American Dreamer

There is also a book from Hallmark which is a collection of Disney Quotes....not a reading book but so fun to look at!