The Imagineering Field Guide to EPCOT at Walt Disney World: An Imagineer's-Eye Tour

These books tell you all about the story behind Disney World like Pirates Of the Caribbean's Never ending game of chess.

This book has amazing information on the building of Epcot...what went into it and how it grew from conception to finalization. A great Disney lover book!

The Imagineering Guide to Epcot at WDW is a great book for those who would like information about EPCOT behind the scenes, from the point of view of those who helped to build it. Touches like where to look for hidden Mickeys and unique features of the park. I highly recommend it for guests who are new to the Disney parks.

Okay, this book doesn't reveal EVERYTHING--anybody want to sit through a few years of algebra and other basic engineering courses? The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World opens by descibing what an Imagineer is and does. The many disciplines are mentioned, and there is a helpful glossery in the front. The next chapter is an overview and history of Epcot (my favorite Disney theme park). The remaining chapters are: Future World Center, Future World East, Future World West, and World Showcase. In each chapter, the Imagineers describe the concept for that section of Epcot and how they developed the concept into the attractions. A theme park is more than thrill rides--a theme park is an integrated set of stories. Colors, lighting, textures, shapes, props, scents, sounds, and even the pavement are all used to tell a story. How many shades of white are present at the American Adventure? (See pages 98-99) Why four shades instead of just one? How is forced prospective used at the American Adventure to promote realism? (Page 103) Canada and Mexico are the "bookends" to the World Showcase--see Page 95 to see what they flanked in the concept stage, and why that object moved. Spaceship Earth evokes the 1939 World's Fair (page 31) and traces the development of communications. Page 37 reveals why Florida's frequent rainstorms don't stream down the sides of Spaceship Earth. Speaking of space, Mission:Space is described on pages 48-50. A brief bibliography is on Page 128, and a graphic index of sorts is on the back cover. I really need my bibliographies and indexes! I intend using "The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World" on my next Walt Disney World visit to see Epcot through the eyes of the Imagineers.

This book provides so many little details to how the imagineers designed Epcot. There are concept drawings/paintings/doodles to that really allows you to see the thought process to all the details that they thought up and we often overlook. They discuss how music was chosen for Future World to why certain colors were picked for building designs. I'm a big Disney fan and am always looking for something new that I didn't already know and this book an the Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom are great.