Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando

Although I am an intense Disney theme park fan, I avoided this book for years because on the surface it sounded like a dry history of Disney's political dealings in Florida. When I received it as a gift this year, I gave it a chance and devoured it in only a few days. Once I got past the first chapter, which was indeed somewhat dry and technical, I could barely put down the book. The author did a fantastic job of compiling credible source material and weaving an easy-to-follow, strangely exciting narrative about the unbelievable, awkward, and permanent relationship between Disney and Florida, specifically the two counties that border WDW property. I have never been interested in local politics, under the table dealings, population studies, or things of that nature, but they all come together in "Married to the Mouse" to tell a much larger story about a multinational corporation and the many ways that it has openly and subtly abused the state. That said, Disney fans who refuse to read anything that might tarnish the reputation of the all-powerful company may want to avoid this book, which is largely negative in accurately describing Disney's Florida dealings. However, those Disney fans like me who want the whole story, warts and all, will probably love it, just as I did. One final comment -- while the author goes out of his way to carefully document his sources and appears extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter, when it comes to the actual theme parks, he could use a Disney-saavy assistant to avoid hilariously obvious errors such as "Spacestation Earth," the "web-way peoplemover," and stating that Disneyland opened in 1956 (instead of 1955).

I bought this book a number of months ago and really enjoyed reading it. Although the person who recommended it to me said it was very anti-Disney, I found that Foglesong had a good balance between the views of the different stakeholders. It is certainly an educational book, and would recommend for anyone interested in Walt Disney World history. This is not a book about how wonderful Disney is or how to plan your Walt Disney World vacation...so be prepared for a bit more than Pixie Dust.

Richard Foglesong is one hell of an investigative reporter. I know, I know - he's not a journalist, he's a college professor. But he writes like a journalist and reports like a journalist, and "Married To The Mouse" is a terrifically entertaining and penetrating look at the relationship between Disney and Orlando. Unfortunately - and this only a minor point, really - Foglesong is also an academic. I say "unfortunately" because the academic portions of this book are far-and-away the least interesting. They are filled with urban planning buzzwords and jargon. They try to tie together in neat academic theories what were really power struggles between a big business and a comparatively small county government. Foglesong is at his best when he tells us how things happened. How did Orlando build those roads that lured Disney to town? How did Disney get that crazy charter that makes the company an autonomous government? How did they abuse that charter to get perks that no other private business could dream of? How did Orlando and Orange County and Osceola County shirk their responsibilities to their taxpayers in failing to more forcefully confront Disney's abuses? These stories are told through detailed interviews and narrative-style writing that makes the tales engaging reads. It is in the best tradition of muckraking journalism. Understand one thing: I like Disney World. I've been there many times. It's a fun place. I like Disney movies. I generally root for the Mouse. But I also despise abuses by large corporations. Disney is guilty of more than its share, and "Married To The Mouse" is the best account I've read of how and why that happened.

The Mouse can't hide! In his book, Professor Foglesong untangles the myth that has kept Disneyphobes uneasy about the saccrine American Disney myth. (Did Eisner know that not all fairy tales end well, and that in nearly every case there is a dangerous presence lurking in the background or that prince is hardly ever what he seems to be.) Maybe Foglesong should have included divorce as a component of his marriage metaphor, but then, marriage dissolutions are costly, and prenuptual agreements usually just run up court costs.This reader took pleasure both in the narrative style and the informative and honest appraisal of Florida's sleeping dragon. (Anyone who is not convinced that something is not off kilter at the Magic Kingdon needs to visit Celebration. Could any Disney worker afford to live there?) While the writer tells the story without judgment (the mark of a good scholar who does his homework)-- Disney should beware; the truth is out.

Married to the mouse reads more like a novel than a critical analysis. This book presents an eye-opening account of the imbalance of power that should evermore taint Disney's percieved image as an All-American icon.Initially my interest in the book was academic, but the more I read, the more I could see a variety of implications for business, personal, ethical and political issues.Richard Foglesong has produced an extremely well-crafted work. Be prepared for an unexpected twist to an old story wisely and well told.