Amber Earns Her Ears: My Secret Walt Disney World Cast Member Diary


Amber Michelle Sewell - 2013
    What’s it like to work at Walt Disney World?Amber Sewell spent two semesters “earning her ears” at the Happiest Place on Earth, first in the CareerStart Program and then in the better known Disney College Program.During her time backstage, as the Cast Member areas of the theme park are called, Amber kept a diary of her successes and her failures, her moments of delight and her moments of despair, and most of all, her discoveries about what happens when the pixie dust settles and the guests have gone home.Amber will never feel the same about Walt Disney World again.After you’ve read her book, neither will you.

Disneyland Secrets: A Grand Tour of Disneyland's Hidden Details


Gavin Doyle - 2015
    Disneyland expert Gavin Doyle has swept aside the pixie dust and uncovered little-known stories about the happiest place on earth that will make you a master of the magic.Doyle develops each of his dozens of secrets into a brief story that illuminates a forgotten moment in Disney history, or sheds light on a neglected area of the park, or reveals something new about an iconic attraction, such as: Why is the address of Disneyland 1313 Harbor Boulevard? What's up with the Jewish menorah on Main Street? Why is there a fake book called "Walt & You" at City Hall? Where can you find Sherlock Holmes at Disneyland? Is there really a pet cemetery at the Haunted Mansion? Shhh! It's a Disneyland secret. Until you read this book...

The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland


Alex Wright - 2008
    You'll never spend time at Disneyland the same way again.Each spread contains fascinating textual information and related images (drawings, photos, graphics) such as: Set-up, backgrounds, and origins of each park/land/mini-land Concept art to compare to the finished show Timeline information (opening dates, previous shows in the same venue, alterations and updates)- Photography of the details and big pictures being discussed Special props, design sources, artistic inspirations, nomenclature gags

Disneyland Then, Now, and Forever


Bruce Gordon - 2005
    Rewind your Mickey Mouse watch back to the 1950s and travel with us through the decades as the wondrous story of Disneyland unfolds via fascinating, behind-the-pixie dust stories and incredible imagery. Like a visit to the park itself, it's a trip you'll never forget, ensuring that the spirit of Disneyland will remain--then, now, and forever. Filled with color photos of how the park looked at its opening and through the changes of the years up to the present day in 2005.

MORE Secret Stories of Walt Disney World: More Things You Never Knew You Never Knew


Jim Korkis - 2016
    Just when you think you do know everything there is to know about Walt Disney World, here comes Jim Korkis with a new book full of stuff you won't easily find anywhere else. From the theme parks and resorts to "beyond the berm", this is the Disney that Disney forgot.Coming on the heels of the bestselling original Secret Stories, Korkis has declared no secret off limits in this new volume. Delving into his treasure trove of lore compiled over the decades from sources both inside and outside the Disney company, and from official Disney documentation long since lost or destroyed, Korkis mainlines the most potent blend of mouse tales this side of Main Street, USA, including: Haunted mahjongg, mermaid statues, handprints, and rock stars: a VIP tour through the back roads of Hollywood Studios The hidden narrative of Liberty Square, and why Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe is much more than meets the eye The Native American mythology behind the totem poles at Disney's Fort Wilderness Lodge Where to find vestiges of Roger Rabbit Toontown at Hollywood Studios, and why Roger himself isn't there Plus, Florida theme parks that never were, Disney's aborted airport, Snow White's secret house, the Mickey Mouse tax, and dozens more NO DECODER RING REQUIRED!

The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World: Over 600 Secrets of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom


Susan Veness - 2009
    Readers also get the insider's take on:The smell of home-baked cookies on Main Street in the Magic KingdomThe Fountain of World Friendship in Epcot that contains water from rivers and oceans around the globeWalt Disney's opening day speech tapped out in Morse Code in FrontierlandThe eco-friendly benches (recycled milk jugs) in the Animal KingdomTwo versions of The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood StudiosComplete with secret tips from Disney's Imagineers, this book is the perfect in-park companion for Disney World fans.

The Walt Disney World That Never Was: Stories Behind the Amazing Imagineering Dreams That Never Came True


Christopher E. Smith - 2016
    Want to join them? This is your guidebook to the theme park that Disney never built.In this unique, extensively researched book, Christopher Smith discusses the many attractions, shows, and resorts that were planned for Walt Disney World, from opening day to the present day, but that exist only in the minds of Imagineers.You'll find old "favorites" such as Thunder Mesa and Beastly Kingdom, as well as those lost to the pixie dust of time, like Dick Tracy's Crime Stoppers, the Enchanted Snow Palace, and Buffalo Junction. Smith looks at the politics and internal struggles behind the decision to shelve each concept, and imagines what guests might have experienced.Every park at Walt Disney World—Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios—has its hidden cache of "lost" attractions. They're all here, along with the many resort hotels that Disney intended to build, but didn't.Put aside those guidebooks of the Walt Disney World that is, and come to a vacation kingdom that you can visit only if you find the second star to the right and then keep straight on till morning.

102 Ways to Save Money For and At Walt Disney World: Bonus! 40 Free Things to Enjoy, Eat, Do and Collect!


Lou Mongello - 2014
    We have news for you: A Disney vacation doesn’t have to take years of saving and budgeting! In this comprehensive, detailed guide, Disney historian, expert and host of WDWRadio.com, Lou Mongello will detail for you 102 ways you can have the most magical Disney vacation without breaking the bank! Lou Mongello is an author, host and producer of an award-winning podcast, and recognized Walt Disney World expert. He has spent a lifetime traveling to, studying, and reporting on Walt Disney World. His first-hand expertise will GUARANTEE you can have the Disney vacation you envision for your family at a rate more affordable than you might have expected! Generously supported with links to relevant websites and enriched with insider anecdotes, trivia, and beautiful images, this guide is a MUST HAVE for any family planning toward a Disney vacation. Whether you have been to Walt Disney World dozens of times, or you are planning your first experience, you are guaranteed to create a more budget-friendly experience, whether you are traveling solo, with a friend, or with a family. Included in this user-friendly e-book are money-saving strategies for: - Saving money for your next Walt Disney World vacation - When to go to Walt Disney World - Staying in Walt Disney World resort hotels - Purchasing Walt Disney World park tickets - Booking Disney World packages - Tips for navigating Disney restaurants and the Disney Dining Plan - Buying Disney souvenirs - Maximizng your time and money for you and your kids - AND SO MUCH MORE In addition to his money-saving tips, Mongello includes information on 40 things you can get and do FOR FREE! Tours, souvenirs, food, and experiences are profiled that will enrich your stay without hurting your budget. A perfect investment for those who dream of giving their family the experience of a Walt Disney World vacation, 102 Ways to Save Money For and At Walt Disney World is the authoritative guide to a budget-friendly vacation.

From Dreamer to Dreamfinder: A Life and Lessons Learned in 40 Years Behind a Name Tag


Ron Schneider - 2012
    It's an intimate look into the creative worlds of Disney, Universal, and Six Flags Magic Mountain; a no-holds-barred memoir filled with wild characters and wilder concepts, complete with a step-by-step guide to how the magic is made!

The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at Its Peak


Jason Surrell - 2007
    This text details the current Disney range of rides, and takes readers on a journey into the future, where bigger, higher, faster Mountain rides await!

Walt Disney World: Little-Known Facts about Well-Known Places


Laurie Flannery - 2011
    That’s more than twice the number of employees at the Pentagon (23,000), one of the world’s largest office complexes. WDW is, in fact, the largest single-site employer in the United States. Disney’s effort to be “green” includes the production of more than 30 tons of fruit and vegetables per year, which are grown at the Land pavilion at Epcot. Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is the only AAA five-diamond restaurant in Central Florida and has been recognized with an Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator as well. Approximately 1,100 audio-animatronic figures inhabit the Magic Kingdom alone, and about 2,000 populate the four theme parks in total. Typhoon Lagoon’s Crush n’ Gusher is the only water roller coaster in North America that has three unique and separate rides you can experience from one tower. The animals in Animal Kingdom’s Africa are “tucked in” every night in Disney’s Night Houses, each specifically designed by experts to suit the species it hosts.

Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets


Steven Barrett
    Author Barrett adds to the fun of finding them by turning the search into six scavenger hunts, complete with clues, hints, and points to be scored. You'll find more than 200 new Mickey sightings in this edition over 1,000 hidden Mickeys in all. Fun for all ages!

The Disneyland® Encyclopedia: The Unofficial, Unauthorized, and Unprecedented History of Every Land, Attraction, Restaurant, Shop, and Event in the Original Magic Kingdom®


Chris Strodder - 2008
    Each of the main entries in the book examines in detail the history of a Disneyland® landmark, including how many of the most popular attractions went through several incarnations before becoming what they are today—Tomorrowland’s Hall of Chemistry and Hall of Aluminum were transformed into the groundbreaking Adventure Thru Inner Space in 1967, and then became the popular ride Star Tours 20 years later. Read about unbuilt concepts, including Rock Candy Mountain and Chinatown, and delight in fascinating trivia about the park, such as ride statistics and attendance records. With a daily list of events, openings, and closings in the park's history, a yearly summary of attractions that came and went, simple and clear maps that correspond to the book’s 500 entries, and sidebars with additional information on each ride, this is a comprehensive and entertaining book overflowing with detail on the most-renovated, most-loved, and most-visited theme park in the world.

Stories from a Theme Park Insider


Robert Niles - 2011
    

The Ride Delegate: Memoir of a Walt Disney World VIP Tour Guide


Annie Salisbury - 2014
    Annie Salisbury was one of these Cast Members, in charge of making the very best magic for those who could afford it.In The Ride Delegate, her memoir of life as a Disney World VIP tour guide, Annie shares some of her most memorable experiences: The Middle Eastern royal family who needed a room at the Contemporary where all thirty-seven of them could pray, right now The wealthy woman who used cancer as an excuse for why her family should be able to ride It's a Small World until they were ready to get off The mysterious VIP (dubbed "Dr. No" by Annie) who arrived for his afternoon tour in a private plane at a private airport in the swamp The famous football player who didn't understand why he couldn't ride Universal's Incredible Hulk Coaster at EPCOT Plus, you'll learn about the perks and privileges of being a VIP Tour Guide, from corn dogs to illicit cash, and the lengths to which Disney will go to keep its VIP guests happy Come get a taste of what Disney World is like for those with deep pockets—and personalities to match—and meet the eccentric, outrageous guests who turned Annie's dream job into a reality show.