Ken Reviews: Three Disney World Books
Page 3 of 3
I have another confession to make. Having grown up with frequent visits to Disneyland Park in California, and having had my first trip to WDW in September 1989, when the Resort had been expanded to have three theme parks, Typhoon Lagoon, and so much more, I didn't have enough appreciation for the Magic Kingdom. The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom – An Imagineer's-Eye Tour made me find more appreciation.
The first in an apparent series, the Imagineering Field Guide is an official Disney publication, unlike the other two offerings in this review. This colorful, pocket-friendly guide is chock full of tidbits about the Magic Kingdom and is handy to carry with you to enhance your visit to the theme park. The drawback is that the material construction of the guide is sturdy enough to necessitate both hands be free to hold it open, flip the pages, etc.
The guide is loaded with good pictures and illustrations, though some are a bit small, due to the size constraints of the overall guide.
Since to guide takes a closer look at the various features of the Magic Kingdom, the guide will need to be updated and changed along with the theme park. Hopefully, being an official Disney publication will make this easier. Perhaps the guide can be expanded, too, because it left me wanting more.
Pages of the guide are color-coded along this Table of Contents:
Imagineering 101
Magic Kingdom Park
Main Street, U.S.A.
Adventureland
Frontierland
Liberty Square
Fantasyland
Mickey's Toontown Fair
Tomorrowland
Bibliography
The names of the lands appears in the color-coded strip on the border of the pages, along with the name of the specific thing being discussed at the top of the page, making it easy to find whatever you are looking for.
This is not a textbook for design students and professionals. It is for a mainstream audience, especially if a visit to the Magic Kingdom is scheduled soon, and also for anyone who is a fan of the work of Imagineering. Designers should check out the books below, for official Disney design principles:
- The Art of Disneyland
- The Imagineering Workout
- Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real
The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom – An
Imagineer's-Eye Tour
ISBN: 0-7868-5553-3
Library of Congress Card Number: 2004113896
US$9.95 CAN12.95
Disney Editions
Written and designed by Alex Wright
©2005 Disney Enterprises, Inc.
First Edition
128 pages, cover to cover - paperback
3.9" x 7.6" x .4"
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-- Ken Pellman
Ken Pellman is a Public Information Officer, freelance writer, and media critic who lives with his wife in Anaheim, California. Ken has been a serial Walt Disney World Resort tourist since 1989, and is currently a Walt Disney Company shareholder. Ken can be reached directly at Kenversations[at]flash[dot]net or at http://www.Pellman.net, where you can learn more about him.
The views, opinions and comments of Ken Pellman, and all of our columnists and reviewers, are not necessarily those of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
--Posted January 19, 2006
©2005 Ken Pellman, all rights reserved. Licensed to LaughingPlace.com.