The Imagineering Field Guide to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

I loved this book. I try to get to Disney every couple of years or so and this book will really get me pumped to go. Bring it with you. If you like Disney at all, you'll love this book. I can't wait for the Epcot book coming out in June 2006.

Full of the information that makes the Imagineering side of Disney tick, "The Imagineering Field Guide to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World" is a wonderful book to help you better understand how and why Disney designed the Magic Kingdom the way they did. You learn to appreciate the importance of theme at the Disney parks as well as the minor quirks and inside jokes that comprise the art, layout, and design of attractions that usually go unnoticed by most tourists. The book takes you through each land of the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and delves into each attraction. The history of the attraction and storyline behind the attraction is detailed, as is the design and construction. Just for fun, the Imagineers throw in some trivia that helps you to appreciate the tons of work put into the overall attraction experience. It should be noted that this is not a guide book to Walt Disney World. Anyone looking for hotel information or restaurant reviews in this book will be sorely disappointed. But for those looking for something beyond the regular theme park experience, you cannot go wrong with this. I only hope they publish additional volumes for Epcot, The Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Anyone that knows Disney knows that it's all about the details. This guide if full of historical tidbits and the meaning behind the design detail of the Magic Kingdom (MK). For example: "There's a nice little propping detail in the second-floor window on the side of The Hall of Presidents, facing the Haunted Mansion. If you look up into this window, you'll see the two lanterns of Paul Revere as described in the famous line, "One if by land, two if by sea."" There are dozens of these "Quick Takes" sprinkled throughout the guide. After reading it, you'll have a totally new perspective on the MK and perhaps many new things to see during your next visit. I'm in the midst of planning my 7th visit to Walt Disney World and will certainly bring this guide along. I regard it as a must have for anyone ranging from an Annual Passholder to a first time visitor. I cannot wait until more are published about other Disney properties!

The entire point of imagineering anything is to convey a story in a consistent and complete manner. How this is done is the subject of several imagineering books. For the newcomer, the book simply entitled Imagineering is it. For the next stage of imagineer-wannabe, there is the Field Guide. Take a guided tour of the Magic Kingdom land by land, attraction by attraction and learn what goes into making it all work cohesively and seemlessly. This is an absolutely essential component to anyone's library of Disneyana or, more in general, anyone's library of the creative process. This is supposed to be the first in a series of Imagineering Field Guides and I cannot wait until the next ones are published. Good Show.