Are you one of the many self proclaimed Disney experts who is always looking for a new way to enjoy Walt Disney World, or are you just starting to learn about this magical vacation destination? Regardless of your Disney knowledge, The Imagineering Field Guide book series will have you seeing the World through different eyes; Imagineer eyes! So, go ahead…open up any Imagineering Field Guide book and let the Imagineers take you on a magical, visually detailed trip through the parks. I guarantee you will be amazed at what you learn!
In honor of our Disney Hollywood Studios retrospective, let’s take an in depth look at The Imagineering Field Guide to Hollywood Studios written by The Imagineers. Currently, there are six titles available in this outstanding series, one each for Disneyland, California Adventure, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios respectively. Each book is as wonderful as the next and should grace your Disney book shelves, and at the average price of $9.95 each, they are an affordable addition. It is difficult to choose a favorite as each book is extremely well thought out, organized, and detailed.
Like the other five, The Imagineering Field Guide to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a compact book measuring 4 inches by 9 ½ inches. This book is a perfect size to fit into a pocket book, book bag, or airplane carry-on to accompany you on those trips to Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Despite it’s relatively small size, this tome holds 128 fun filled, trivia packed, color pages that bring the intricate details of this theme park to life! Before delving into the particulars of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there is a nice and concise history of Imagineering, descriptions of the many disciplines within this interesting career field, and a glossary of common Imagineering terms. For those fans who are not familiar with Imagineering (and even those who need a refresher), I really enjoyed this well thought out first chapter.
The book is broken into eight chapters to take the reader on full circle tour of Hollywood Studio’s. The chapters included are; Imagineering 101, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Echo Lake, Animation Courtyard, Pixar Place, and Backlot & Production. A colored well labeled pull-out map is also included and can be found in the back of the book so that you can follow along with the Imagineers as they travel throughout the park.
There are many excellent particulars of this book; the unique facts, attraction blue prints, architectural schematics, and many colored concept artwork. However, one of the most outstanding successes of this book is that it does not just focus solely on Hollywood Studio’s attractions. Instead, time is equally spent exploring landscaping choices, interior design, and architectural relationships that all reinforce the theme of nostalgic Hollywood. All of these things combine to give the reader a much deeper and fuller appreciation of the park.
Go ahead and get yourself a copy of this perfect book for any Disney fan and take a look for yourself to see just how amazing Disney’s Hollywood Studio’s can be when your guide is an Imagineer!