Best Books About Disney World, Disneyland & Imagineering in Our Library
There tons of great books about Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Imagineering, biographies of designers & leaders, and more. This reviews the best of my library and coffee table books with beautiful concept art & archival photos. Our buying guide also offers links for finding inexpensive used copies. (Updated February 13, 2024.)
Currently, an Amazon search for “Disney books” yields nearly 100,000 results. That’s a lot of books. My library isn’t quite that large, although sometimes it seems that way! Rather than owning everything, my collection features the best Disneyland and Walt Disney World coffee table books with strong visual elements, many of which were originally sold as souvenir books in the Disney Parks. I also own tons of biographies and non-fiction and cover those highlights, as well.
Many of these books are out-of-print, so they can only be purchased on the secondary market. Luckily, you can still find many of them on Amazon.com for prices ranging from $.01 to a few dollars. A few are quite expensive, costing a few hundred dollars, but most can now be purchased much cheaper than they were when sold new at Walt Disney World or Disneyland.
When it comes to these books about Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Imagineering, and so forth, we receive a small commission from your purchases, so buying through these links helps support the site. However, neither the price you pay nor our recommendations are impacted by that.
Actually, it’s the opposite. We will warn you against buying too many books–let us be a cautionary tale! Although these books are individually cheap, the cost of collecting them is deceptively expensive, and books can take up a lot of space. We’ve moved four times since I got “serious” about building my Disney book collection, and my library filled more boxes than everything else…combined! I have no regrets, but my back (and Sarah) might disagree with that assessment.
With that, let’s take a look at my Disney theme park library, starting with the newest books for the 100 Years of Wonder Celebration, followed by essential titles for those of you who want to get your collections started out right!
New Books for 2024
The Story of Disney: 100 Years of Wonder – This coffee table book showcases the company’s history and rich legacy―past, present, and future―with text plus concept art and photographs. It starts, fittingly, with Walt Disney’s childhood through to the early years of the companies that he and his brother, Roy, founded. From there, it grows broader in scope and scale, branching out just like the Walt Disney Company itself.
The book is generally well-done, but it’s also superficial and bland. To some extent, that’s to be expected; it’s a surface-level retelling of the story aimed mostly at those who aren’t superfans with libraries stocked full of other titles. My favorite part is how Bob Chapek was cut from the story at the eleventh hour before publication, and only includes one passing quote from the former CEO.
The Official Walt Disney Quote Book – This collection of quotations from the co-founder of The Walt Disney Company ranges from the well-known to the obscure, with everything from nuggets of homespun wisdom to specifics about his vision for running the theme parks and making movies. Much of this is well-documented. What I found most fascinating were the chapters about non-business topics: health, wellness, money, education, love, enlightenment, education, family–all of these and more each have dedicated sections in the book.
Walt Disney: An American Original: Commemorative Edition – This is the best biography about Walt Disney reissued for Disney100 and expanded via essays and introductions by four excellent authors of other Disney books. The endnotes are what justifies paying a premium for this newer edition, as those add ~25 pages of additional context and depth to certain passages of the biography. In the end, this is the version to buy if you want a new hardcover version that looks good on the shelf (the cover is certainly nice).
Figment Little Golden Book – We’ve already bought two copies: one for Megatron, one for the Bricker Figment Archives. This features lyrics from the beloved Disney song “One Little Spark” and is about the purple dragon from Walt Disney World’s EPCOT. This adorable Little Golden Book is about creativity and imagination, and is perfect for children ages 2 to 5, plus Disney Parks fans and Little Golden Book collectors of all ages.
Some of you may recognize its author, Jason Grandt, as also being the author of the fan-favorite Orange Bird Little Golden Book and the Magic Kingdom Storybook before that. Even before both of those books, he became a household name in the Walt Disney World fan community as a frequent fixture at D23 presentations and on social media, sharing sketches, history and more.
Figment Little Golden Book is filled with page after page of gorgeous artwork that reimagines the original Journey Into Imagination in a whimsical and stunning style. It’s at once old and new–absolutely beautiful, page after page. The artwork mixed with a singsong story is everything I needed from this book and more. The cherry on top is the many nods to other past EPCOT Center attractions, and even Easter Eggs from Magic Kingdom’s past. The Figment Little Golden Book is truly something special. (On a related note, there’s a newish Disney100 box set of previous Disney Little Golden Books.)
People Behind the Disney Parks: Stories of Those Honored with a Window on Main Street, U.S.A. – This book has been delayed many times over the course of the last several years, basically becoming the TRON Lightcycle Run of books. But it was well worth the wait! This book should be a must-own, instant-buy for anyone who is a fan of the people who brought Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the other parks to life.
It features 280+ biographies of people with windows on Main Street, and behind-the-scenes info on the creation of the ‘opening acts’ of the castle parks. This hefty, 352 page tome is a gift that Disney collectors, theme park fans, and anyone curious in creative career paths through the arts, sciences, and research development will appreciate for decades to come. (As you can see from the cover, People Behind the Disney Parks has a forward by the late Marty Sklar–presumably the last title for which we’ll see a forward by that Disney Legend.)
Delicious Disney Disneyland: Recipes & Stories from The Happiest Place on Earth – The past ‘Delicious Disney’ titles have pleasantly surprised, offering a nice mix of history and recipes with unique content (food!) that is incredibly significant to our sentimentality for the parks, but doesn’t typically garner coverage in coffee table or even souvenir books. Suffice to say, I’m a fan.
This cookbook-meets-culinary-history coffee table book enchants with mouth-watering food photos, gorgeous Walt Disney Imagineering concept artwork, nostalgic restaurant menus, and a little Disney magic. Delicious Disneyland includes an assortment of appetizers, main courses, sides, desserts, and joyful libations, coming from fine-dining and quick-service establishments across the resort. Each has been tested by home chefs to help you bring your cherished vacation memories to life…and inspire new ones for years to come.
The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms and Beyond – I want to be very clear: we have NOT ordered this, and I wouldn’t recommend that you do so, either. Yet. This is a release of an (excellent) older book and past editions can be found for ~$10. The Disney100 version originally cost $100. It has since come down to $50 on Amazon, but we’d like to see it hit the $30-40 range before we bite.
Since it was first published in 1973, The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms and Beyond has established itself as an indispensable classic of illustrated book publishing, selling hundreds of thousands of copies. Offering a comprehensive history and tribute to the career and legacy of Walt Disney, the book was the first to reveal the wealth of concept art, animation drawings, and archival material that is created in the course of animating films.
Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia — This is a somewhat similar story in that it’s another re-release for Disney100. But the difference is that there’s a ton of new ground for the latest edition of the encyclopedia to cover due to acquisitions, theme park openings, new movies, and much more.
Originally by the incomparable Disney Legend Dave Smith (now with the also-excellent Steven Vagnini), this covers everything you want to know about the Walt Disney Company. Note that it’s not just about Walt Disney World and Disneyland (although they do feature heavily), but all facets of the company. It’s a must-own resource for all Disney fans.
Now let’s turn to the ‘legacy’ must-own Disney books that weren’t released in 2024 or during Disney100…
More Must-Have Disney Books
DisneyWar – This sparked my fascination with the workings of the company. It covers the rise and fall of Michael Eisner, culminating in the “civil war” between Eisner and Roy E. Disney. Author James B. Stewart was granted unprecedented access to write a book on the Eisner regime before the “war” began unfolding, so he was there to witness it all. It reads almost as a Shakespearean tragedy, and proves that sometimes the truth is more compelling than fiction. An absolute must-own.
Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look At Making the Magic Real – Quite simply, it will change the way you look at the Disney theme parks. It covers the design process, why certain details are significant, and how things in the parks came to be (or didn’t come to be). Had I found this back before going to college, I might’ve pursued a different career path. It’s incredibly inspiring, and will make you appreciate the parks more. Every Disney theme park fan should own this book.
Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real– The follow-up to the above title, this is another must purchase. It’s an oversized hardcover coffee table book, and is worth every penny. It illuminates the design-process, the rationale behind specific details, and provides stunning fold-outs and ‘different’ page-types within the book. If you only buy 5 books on this entire list, these two Imagineering: Behind the Dreams titles should be among what you purchase.
A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth – This is the best Walt Disney World-specific coffee table book ever. In style, structure, and quality, this is more like a Disneyland deep-dive than one of the past Walt Disney World souvenir books. From Florida history pre-Disney and the Preview Center to the development and history of the Vacation Kingdom, there is a wealth of knowledge thoughtfully presented here in a way that is engaging, informative, and entertaining. There are also tons of photos and concept art I’ve never seen–a rarity for Walt Disney World books, which often recycle not just information–but images.
It reads like a love letter to Walt Disney World (or many love letters, as the authors have cleverly inserted essays from key figures in Walt Disney World’s history, bringing other interesting voices and perspectives to the mix) that is for fans–by fans. This is one of the best things to come out of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, and not just in terms of merchandise. You can read our full review if you want, but the bottom line is that this is the best book about Walt Disney World.
The Imagineering Story: The Official Biography of Walt Disney Imagineering – The companion book to the highly acclaimed Disney+ documentary series, The Imagineering Story. This title greatly expands on award-winning filmmaker Leslie Iwerks’ narrative of the fascinating history of Walt Disney Imagineering. If you’ve watched the Imagineering Story on Disney+, that’s likely all you need to know to make this book a must-own. If you haven’t watched the Imagineering Story…well, remedy that immediately!
Poster Art of the Disney Parks, Second Edition – This new title is an expanded and updated edition of the beloved book that ranks highly in our library. The second edition renders the first obsolete, as the 85+ new posters and behind-the-scenes development info nearly doubles the book in length. While the first edition is fantastic and can be purchased even cheaper now, we highly recommend springing for the new edition.
It’s worth it for all of the awesome new posters made for EPCOT’s reimagining alone. These were displayed in the Odyssey/EPCOT Experience, and are absolutely stunning. (If, like us, you were unable to score the limited releases on shopDisney, this is a good consolation prize.) In the decade since the original’s release, Shanghai Disneyland has opened and various expansions pretty much everywhere have resulted in a treasure trove of new poster art. Highly recommended!
Maps of the Disney Parks – The companion piece (of sorts) to the ‘Poster Art’ title above featuring park maps along with map-like concept art from the parks. This one has been met with more of a mixed response from fans, with most negative reviews fixated on it not being simply a collection of park maps distributed over the years, but can you imagine how dull and repetitive that would’ve become? I found this to be much more engaging than a bunch of map reproductions, but perhaps that’s just me. (I will say that if you’re only buying one of these books, go for the Poster Art one. It’s the better of the two.)
Walt Disney’s Disneyland — This oversized title by TASCHEN, the world’s leading art book publisher, is the most beautiful Disney book to be released in years. Walt Disney’s Disneyland is interesting, stunning, and an absolute must-have for Disneyland fans. Even if you’re a more of a Florida person, there’s a good amount on Walt Disney here, making it a worthwhile option for WDW fans, too. Read my full review of it here.
Disneyland: Inside Story – Prior to Disneyland Nickel Tour, Imagineer Randy Bright’s Disneyland Inside Story held the crown as the best and most comprehensive Disneyland coffee table book. At 240 pages, this book balances history with exceptional photos. Although the book was written in the late 1980s, surprisingly, it doesn’t feel incomplete as to Disneyland (it obviously doesn’t cover Disney California Adventure). It’s also much cheaper than it used to be–I paid ~$50 for my copy, and it’s now under $5!
The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky — If you’re a fan of Disney’s monorails (who isn’t?!), you’ll love this. There’s a ton of concept art and photos, as the authors take readers on a historical ride the Highway in the Sky. From Walt Disney’s Progress City ambitions to the future of this innovative transportation system.
Since the World Began: Walt Disney World – Not the best Walt Disney World book, but a cheap way to start your collection. It’s detailed with plenty of interesting text, and is a snapshot in time during a great time in Walt Disney World history. It includes fairly common information, but also more detailed information such as the rationale behind the coloring on the roadway signs at Walt Disney World.
The Art of Walt Disney World – This is my favorite book on this list, but it is a tad pricey. It features mostly concept art and explanations thereof, much of the art predating the Resort itself, and much also never coming to fruition. I consider those shots perfect visual explorations. The art in the book is large while the text is kept small (as it should be), and the layout is wonderful. I found myself captivated by the breathtaking artwork I’d never seen. It’s the perfect coffee table book for any fan who wants something to randomly flip through from time to time.
Gardens of the Walt Disney World Resort – Not to be confused by a newer title with a similar name (Glorious Gardens), this book is absolutely amazing, and shows just how beautiful Walt Disney World once was with its many gardens and water fixtures. Even if you don’t care about gardening, this book is awesome. I gush over it at length in my full review of it.
Disneyland the Nickel Tour: A Postcard Journey Through 40 Years of the Happiest Place on Earth – Unquestionably the best book about Disneyland, Nickel Tour is humorous, detailed, fun to read, and a great resource. The premise of Disneyland Nickel Tour is brilliantly simple: use a complete set of Disneyland postcards (and other photos) as a vehicle for telling the story of Disneyland. Unfortunately, it’s also rare and incredibly expensive.
I was skeptical it’d be worth the money, but I’m very glad I bought it. The authors spent over a decade researching and writing this title, and it really shows. This voluminous 392-page title is quite the page turner as the authors inject their humor into it to make the dense history engaging. The value of Nickel Tour will only increase in the coming years as both authors are deceased and the publisher is out of business. It’s very unlikely that any reprints or future editions will be written. Consider this a true investment.
Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks — This two volume behemoth by Pixar director Pete Docter and Imagineer Christopher Merritt is a passion project about one of the true Walt-era Imagineering heavyweights. Disney Legend Marc Davis is the creative mind behind countless clever gags in iconic attractions, including Country Bear Jamboree!
The Art of Disneyland – This is another expensive title that is an essential for any Disneyland collector. Seeing the early art in this title gives me goosebumps, and reading the story of Herb Ryman being told by Walt that he was going to draw the now-famous concept art for Disneyland always brings a smile to my face. The Art of Disneyland is a visual treat with its amazingly detailed concept art. My favorite portions of the book involve the various incarnations of Tomorrowland. Although I did laugh at the authors’ positive remarks about the warm colors in Tomorrowland ’98. They were joking, right?!
Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of Walt Disney Co — Bob Iger’s memoir from his first run as CEO is shockingly candid and compelling. Iger is clearly a smart and interesting guy, but all of his interviews are played fairly close to the vest and feel meticulously scripted. This is a sharp and fascinating departure from that.
Travels with Figment — The last title by Imagineering Legend Marty Sklar, published posthumously. It’s interesting anecdotes from his globetrotting while developing Disney theme parks around the world. Plus, it has Figment right in the title!
Travels with Walt Disney — “There’s always a Disney connection.” That’s what we find ourselves saying whenever we travel, no matter where we go. This is for good reason, as Walt Disney was a world traveler, and this book chronicles his adventures and how they influenced his movies and parks. Lots of original photos, and it’s unique to have a profile of Walt’s life through the lens of travel.
Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: Celebrations Around the World — A stunning look at (mostly) Halloween and Christmas in the Florida, California, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai Disney theme parks. It is packed with photos and details about what guests see in the parks, but it’s the backstage and behind the scenes insight that make this a special title. Learning about the colossal warehouses and year-round work that goes into the festivities will give you a newfound appreciation for Christmas at Walt Disney World and beyond!
Walt Disney World
Walt Disney’s Epcot: The New World of Tomorrow – Any fan of EPCOT Center owes it to themselves to have this book in their collection. There are actually four versions of this book and they’re dramatically different from one another. There are two large ones that are 240 pages each and two smaller ones that are 127 pages each.
The biggest difference between the larger books is when they were produced, either pre-opening or post-opening of EPCOT Center; they also have different titles (EPCOT v. EPCOT Center in the names). The pre-opening versions contain more photos of models, whereas the post-opening version contain photos of actual pavilions. The 240 page version is obviously the better version to get, but it’s difficult to determine which version you’re getting until it arrives in the mail.
Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary Edition – The proper title of this book is simply “Walt Disney World” but I added the 15th anniversary portion to differentiate it from 1993’s book by the exact same title. This is a souvenir book in premise, but the photos are gorgeous and this book probably has the coolest cover of any souvenir book ever released. Given its price and the photos, it’s an absolute must-own.
The Making Of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park – This book, by Joe Rohde’s wife, is far more text-heavy than any of the other titles on this list. The author had amazing behind the scenes access during the construction of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and this book reflects that. It’s not simply a fluff piece. This will definitely make you appreciate the park more, and its low price and uniqueness make it a must-own.
Walt Disney World: A Magical Year By Year Journey – Another great option because of its price and due to the time period in which it was produced (1998), this book has become a real favorite of mine as a Wikipedia-style source of background information concerning attractions, and a timeline of the resort in general. Most of the photos are overly-staged or edited “Guide Map Style” pictures, but they’re cool and different, nonetheless.
Around the World with Disney – This book is an interesting departure from the standard souvenir books produced each year, as it compares and contrasts attractions from the global parks to one another with a strong emphasis on Walt Disney World. It hasn’t been out of print for more than a few years, but it’s surprisingly cheap given its out-of-print status and unique nature. Well worth purchasing.
Walt Disney World Then, Now, and Forever – One of the more recent titles, this is one of the few titles that showcases current attractions and extinct attractions that were previously there in their place. This book was co-authored by the now deceased Bruce Gordon (buy any book you can bearing his name–they’re all gems), which means it has shot up in price since going out-of-print. Even though it was released, copies of it regularly sell for $50.
Walt Disney World: The First Decade – The content of this book is fairly similar to the 15th anniversary edition, but it does contain some really cool photos, notably of Cinderella Castle. If you’re a casual collector, owning this or the 15th anniversary version is probably sufficient. The obvious advantage to the 15th anniversary edition is that it includes EPCOT Center.
Walt Disney World (1993) – Fairly unique photos (including a hilarious one of some tourists wearing decidedly 90s Little Mermaid shirts) in a book organized by attraction, this book is one to definitely check out. Features fairly in-depth coverage of The Disney-MGM Studios and the Vacation Kingdom. If you can find it for $10 or less, get it.
Walt Disney World Resort 100 Years of Magic – This is incredibly similar to the Souvenir for the New Millennium title. Near the same number of pages, 80% of the same photos similar. They basically have different covers and layouts. Buy one or the other.
Walt Disney World Resort: A Souvenir For The New Millennium – Nearly identical to 100 Years of Magic title above.
Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years – This title is pretty similar to the 15th anniversary title, but does feature some new photos. Because it’s relatively cheap, I think it’s also worth picking up. There is another title, released the year before this, simply called Walt Disney World with a white cover, the Castle, and fireworks, that I’ve heard is almost identical to this.
Disneyland
Disneyland Then, Now, and Forever – This is a great place to start your collection. It’s not the best title on the Disneyland list, but it’s relatively inexpensive, accessible, and offers some information about extinct attractions that pre-dated present favorites at Disneyland. My personal favorite is the section on the Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland. It’s not as comprehensive as some of the titles that follow, but it’s a great way to get your feet wet without breaking the bank.
Disneyland Hotel – The Early Years – As soon as you open this book, you can tell it was a passion-project. It’s such a niche title, but it is so incredibly well-researched and presented that I think it could be of interest to most Disney theme park fans. Kudos to Mr. Ballard for creating this title!
Disneyland Hotel 1954-1959 – This is Donald Ballard’s follow-up title to The Early Years, and it offers some great insight into the beginnings of the hotel. It is hyper-focused and really interesting for those interested in the early years of Disneyland.
3D Disneyland: Like You’ve Never Seen It Before — This is a really unique, seemingly gimmicky title that just flat-out works. It offers a rare collection of 3D photographs of Disneyland captured from its opening week in July 1955 through the 25th Anniversary in 1980. The stunning photos have an immersive, ViewMaster-like quality.
Disneyland the First Quarter Century – The books made for Disneyland’s 25th to 35th Anniversary are over 75% identical to one another, with minor differences. One of them is worth owning because they are all cheap and offer a nice snapshot in time of Disneyland, but since the photos and text is largely the same in all of these titles, there’s little sense in owning all three. I like this one best.
Imagineering, Details & Design
These are books that might cover Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, and/or Hong Kong Disneyland. Basically, books that can’t be specifically placed on only either list above. Plus, some excellent titles on Walt Disney Imagineering.
Designing Disney’s Theme Parks: The Architecture of Reassurance – This is considerably more academic in nature than the books above, with more text and fewer diagrams and photos than in other books, but don’t let that scare you away. Editor Karal Ann Marling and the essays in the book provide a very thought-provoking, but not unapproachable, glimpse into the design of Disney. It seems to be a more objective title than others on this list as it’s academic, rather than trying to market the parks. This is my “sleeper hit” of the list; I really enjoy this book for its depth.
The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – The newest land at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and a high-water mark for Imagineering. This provides a thoughtful look at the design influences, both from the Star Wars universe and the real world, and offers hundreds of concept artworks, sketches, blueprints, photographs, and more. That includes a several things that never came to fruition for the land, making it somewhat bittersweet.
One Day at Disney – As the name suggests, it’s one day in the worldwide Disney theme parks, presented as the day unfolds around the world. It’s visually engaging, with contrasting photos presented next to one another. While it’s daytime in one park, it might be nighttime in another. The photos, largely, are beautiful, too. The text only really offers explanatory captions, which is absolutely fine. This book is on the expensive side, but I feel it’s worth the money given the quality and concept.
The Magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World – I expected very little from this book by Valerie Childs. It was a $.99 purchase, just something to fill out my bookshelf. I was floored when I found a plethora of unique and well-composed photos and a rather nice book. Don’t expect an amazing book, but for the low prices, it’s well-worth purchasing!
The Imagineering Field Guides – Imagineer Alex Wright has done an excellent job with these titles, and they are great take-to-the-park books for guests who want to a bit more background information about the parks or the “why” behind the attractions and lands. If you’re going to Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort, especially for the first time, these titles are a great in-park companion to give you a greater understanding and appreciation of the parks.
Walt Disney’s Imagineering Legends – Jeff Kurtti authors this title that offers mini-biographies of a number of early Imagineers who all had ties to Walt Disney, in some way, and provides anecdotes, quotes, and some background information about each and how they worked in the grand scheme of the design of the theme parks. Definitely a worth addition to any collection.
The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies – This is an incredibly detailed and well-written book that covers the Haunted Mansion attractions in all of the worldwide parks inside and out. Best of all, it dispels a lot of fan-generated myths about the Haunted Mansion. If an attraction-based film is what it takes for more books like this to be written, I hope Disney keeps churning them out.
Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies – Same idea and quality as the Haunted Mansion book, except for Pirates of the Caribbean. This is another must own.
The Disney Mountains: Imagineering At Its Peak – A book featuring text and art of the Disney mountains, this title is somewhat superficial as compared to the Pirates and Haunted Mansion books. To be fair, the former are focused on one attraction each, whereas this was focused on multiple mountains, so it necessarily couldn’t have been as in-depth as those titles. There is a lot of concept art, which is great, but the mountains in this book existed at the time of the publication, so more photos would have been appropriate. Still a great book. If you can find a copy for $25 or less, get it.
Building a Dream: The Art of Disney Architecture – This is another title that pertains to the architecture of the Disney Parks, mostly from the Michael Eisner era. It isn’t exactly critical, but it’s a nice coffee table book that provides insight into design choices.
Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea Books – I’m going to lump all of these books together because they probably don’t interest many of you. All of these books are entirely in Japanese and are overpriced on eBay (about the only place to find them short of going to Japan). The upside? They all feature breathtaking photos of the Tokyo parks, and the photos are the stars of the show, so not reading Japanese makes no difference. I only recommend the 5 books pictured above; there are a lot of other books, but they are all character photos.
Disneyland Paris: From Sketch to Reality – This book is right up there with Disneyland Nickel Tour, which is incredibly high praise. For a while, it was cost-prohibitive for me, as list prices soared above $500. Prices have since come down, and I finally purchased it. This book is a big part of the reason why we visited Disneyland Paris. Enough said.
Hidden Mickeys Guides – The Hidden Mickeys Guides (to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Lines) are books that are really fun to take on your trip to give the experience some extra dimension. Fun “game” for vacation, and a good gateway to noticing other depth in the Disney Parks!
Biographies & Misc.
Many other books in my collection are independent titles produced by third party publishers (ones that Disney doesn’t own). With the proliferation of self-publishing and the interest in the Disney theme parks, in general, it’s not pragmatic to list every Disney book I own here. Here are the highlights…
The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney – For many Disney fans, Walt Disney is the ultimate hero. Between that and the company’s attempt to market Walt as a caricature of a real person, he is often viewed is infallible, more creative than any other human ever, etc. This book does not do that. It also doesn’t demonize him as other books have tried to do. It presents a balanced view of Walt Disney, both good and bad. The stories aren’t as humorous or enthralling as those in some other books, but it’s very interesting.
Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food — Thankfully, this is NOT A COOKBOOK. It’s a book about historical stories through the lens of food. With tons of original photos, it feels like taking steps back in time to the early days of Disneyland. It’s an excellent history book and features a ton of striking photos we had never seen before. We highly recommend it—just don’t expect much in the way of recipes!
It’s Kind of a Cute Story – Imagineer Rolly Crump is one of the last Walt Disney-era Imagineers, and this book covers everything from the design and approval process for Disneyland projects to Crump’s relationship with Walt Disney. The best thing about this book is that it was not published by Disney, so instead of trying to sugarcoat Walt Disney’s personality, it presents a more candid take. It is still far from a ‘tell-all’, but you just feel a different tone with it. Another incredibly well done book.
Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation — This book is an overdue celebration of the women who played a pivotal role in the early years of Walt Disney’s animation department. The result is a beautiful, informative book that’s shockingly large (at least, its size surprised us). Thoroughly researched and infinitely fascinating, this is a must-have new release.
Marc Davis: Walt Disney’s Renaissance Man – Biography of another Disney Legend, this one is sort of hit and miss. The art that was curated for the title is mostly stunning, but there are some notable omissions and the text isn’t all that special. If you’re looking for a coffee table book featuring art from one of the most legendary Imagineers of all-time, I recommend it. Read my full review of this book here.
Dream It! Do It! – Marty Sklar’s autobiography is interesting in that Sklar is the only person who has had a hand in opening every single Disney theme park to date. Sklar also had a lot of relationships with key individuals in Imagineering and elsewhere within Disney, and he covers both the good and bad of that. Despite being published by Disney, this book is surprisingly frank. Read my full review here.
Designing Disney – Legend John Hench is easily one of the greatest Imagineers of all time. This book is a thoughtful examination of how he and others designed the parks. It’s approachable-enough for the Disney newcomer, but still has enough depth to satisfy a die-hard fan. A lot of Hench’s later writings come across as intellectual justifications for why these gut decisions were made. A must own.
A Brush with Disney – Disney Legend Herb Ryman had an illustrious career with Disney, working side-by-side with Walt Disney and doing concept art for the parks for decades. His Disney work is breathtaking, and this book gives insight (perhaps too much) into his non-Disney work as well. It’s pricey, and probably best for the serious Ryman fan.
Travels with Walt Disney — “There’s always a Disney connection.” That’s what we find ourselves saying whenever we travel, no matter where we go. This is for good reason, as Walt Disney was a world traveler, and this book chronicles his adventures and how they influenced his movies and parks. Lots of original photos, and it’s unique to have a profile of Walt’s life through the lens of travel.
One final note: when buying older Disney souvenir books, make sure the item listing includes a photo. Most of these books do not have ISBN numbers and have similar-sounding names, and are thus prone to being mis-listed by sellers if there is no photo on the item page. I’ve received the incorrect book a couple of times.
I have a lot of other Disney books in my library, but these are the highlights that pertain to the Disney Parks. I have several other souvenir books and miscellaneous biographies, so if you have questions about other titles not listed here, ask!
We hope this helps you fill your bookcase with Disney Parks titles! If you are considering a purchase of any of these (or anything else for that matter) just click the affiliate links here to get to Amazon and navigate to any items you might need. Using these links benefits the site, doesn’t cost you anything, and helps us to keep providing you with useful content!
Your Thoughts…
Which books in this list do you own? Do you have any favorites? Which Disney theme park books do you own that aren’t listed here? Do you agree or disagree with any of our recommendations? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Hi, thanks for the interesting list. I’m especially interestes in Disneyland Paris. I do have the from sketch to reality book and the 20th anniersary book but dident know the one in the middle … can you tell me the name of this book?(the purple one) thanks so much!
It’s simply called “Euro Disney”. No ISBN, nothing. I assume it was a souvenir book sold back in the day.
Hey Tom, thank you for the information. Actually I really got inspired by your beautiful collection and I would like to start one myself 🙂 As I told you i focussed on Disneyland Paris until now. You have so much great books in your collection so it would be very helpful if you could give me a hint how to start the project. Maybe 2 musthaves for Disneyland Anaheim and 2 for Disneyworld. Even if most of them aren’t that expensive I have to pay the shipping to Europe (super expensive), that’s why I can’t buy the whole list at once and sadly most of these books aren’t available in Europe. Thank you very much for every information and even more important: thank you for the inspiration!! 🙂
Great list and post as always Tom. I want to order “Dream It! Do It!”, but it seems as if the version you post a link to isn’t available in the UK?
The UK version only has 368 pages – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-Do-Half-Century-Creating-Kingdoms/dp/1423174062/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418806970&sr=8-1&keywords=marty+sklar
Whereas the US version that you posted the link to is a Deluxe version with 384 pages – http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Do-Half-Century-Creating-Disney%C2%92s/dp/1423174062/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418807168&sr=8-1&keywords=marty+sklar
Do you have any idea what the difference might be? I’ve checked the ‘look inside’ option on both books, and both seem to have the identical 20 chapters. I may just have to bite the bullet and pay the extra for shipping from the US.
I’ve kept track of my Disney book list on Pinterest:
Here’s the link: http://www.pinterest.com/tennor/my-disney-book-collection/
You missed a few:
http://themeparkpress.com
All available via Amazon, some via the Walt Disney Family Museum, and (soon) the Disney theme parks (one or two titles, anyway).
Jeff Baham’s “The Unauthorized Story of Walt Disney’s Haunted Mansion”, recently featured on Gizmodo.com, is currently my best-seller, and makes a great stocking stuffer.
And Original Mouseketeer Bobby Burgess wowed them at the Walt Disney Family Museum during a book signing this past weekend: his autobiography “Ears & Bubbles” will fit nicely into that stocking, too.
Thanks, Bob. I haven’t had a chance to read Baham’s “The Unauthorized Story of Walt Disney’s Haunted Mansion” yet, but it’s on my radar.
Jim Korkis’ “Who’s Afraid of the Song of the South” (http://amzn.to/1upcRYh) might actually be my favorite book that TPP has published. Don’t know why I forgot to include it on this list. Like I said, I have a lot of Disney books…guess it got lost in the shuffle!
Can’t see what else you come up with; I think it’s great that you are a dedicated publisher of theme park books!
I know your fantastic article focuses on books, but I would be remiss in not mentioning The
E-Ticket Magazine formerly published by Leon and Jack Janzen. The amount of information, articles, rare photos, and interviews (with Imagineers & various Disney legends) contained in these issues is treasure beyond belief. The love and admiration the brothers had for Disneyland shines through on each and every page. Issues are out of print and hard to come by, but I’m pretty sure CDs containing the entire run is still available at the Walt Disney Museum.
Oh yes, E-Ticket, Tales from the Laughing Place, Vacationland, etc. – there are a TON of great magazines to own that cover or covered the parks. I haven’t started collecting a lot of these yet, but I think that will be my next mission. Sadly, some of those cost a lot more than the books–and there are more of them!
I have a lot of Disney books, but there are still a ton from your list that I need to grab. I wish some of the best ones weren’t so expensive! Another one that I like is Vinyl Leaves, which takes a sociological approach to Disney World. The best part is the way he describes the EPCOT attractions that are long gone in close detail.
Hi Tom,
Great post as usual. I just started my Disney books collection with: Since the World Began and WDW 15th Year Anniversary. I can’t wait to add some of the other titles you recommended to my collection. The big question is, when will you write a book or books about the parks? With all your amazing pictures and information I’m sure it would be great. I would definitely buy it! 🙂
The two Imagineering books…do they cover different things or simply different eras? Should I buy both? If I only purchased one should I begin with the earlier book or go for the more recent, updated one?
Love the Poster Art one. It’s amazing!
Your posts are so helpful and your photography is incredible!
Great list, Tom. Like many of the others posting responses, I also own a great many of those titles and I agree with your descriptions. May I suggest another book I think you would like a lot? It goes under the “Independent Titles” heading. It’s titled “Every Guest is a Hero: Disney’s Theme Parks and the Magic of Mythic Storytelling”:
http://www.amazon.com/Every-Guest-Hero-Disneys-Storytelling/dp/0615925596/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385168482&sr=1-1
Here’s what Melody Malmberg, the author of “Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind-the-Dreams Look at Making MORE Magic Real” had to say about it:
“Want a great way to view Disney theme parks? Every Guest is a Hero provides a unique lens–Joseph Campbell’s pioneering work on storytelling–that helps explain just how and why the parks continue to exert such a hold on audiences worldwide. After reading this book, you will see the parks in a new light.”
That is a great tip especially to those new to the blogosphere.
Short but very accurate info… Many thanks for sharing this one.
A must read post!
Hey Tom,
I love this post. It’s so thorough and I’ve put a few of the titles on my to-read list. I was wondering if you’ve ever heard of Walt Disney’s America? There seem to be two books with this title. The one I am talking about was written by Christopher Finch and was published in the late 1970s. It’s about Walt’s vision of America in his movies and theme parks. I just picked up a copy at a local used bookstore. I’m looking forward to reading it!
Tom, have you looked into Walt Disney’s Railroad Story by Michael Broggie? There’s a lot of early DL pictures I’ve never seen anywhere else in that book. Also, at some point I picked up an incredible 24 page book created for the opening of Expedition Everest which details the behind the scenes prep work of the Imagineers for that ride.
I own the Haunted Mansion book, bought it as a “present/souvenir for my young daughter ..actually it was for me ..love it ..this is the one thing I wished I bought more of on my two trips ..thanks for the tips on purchasing at Amazon. One book that I should have purchased when I saw it at Pop Century Resort in 2012 was one about the behind the scences people …whose name could be found on the display windows etc. That one I wanted to serve as inspiration for my kids to dream big ..however on my trip in 2013… I stayed at a different resort and did nit get time to go back for it ..May be next time .
The Imagineering Field Guide to Disney California Adventure just released today and out of stock at Amazon already!
http://www.amazon.com/Imagineering-Disney-California-Adventure-Disneyland/dp/1423180003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395771054&sr=8-1&keywords=disney+california+adventure
Hi Tom 🙂 Couple questions…. I have a couple Walt Disney Biographies but purchased them (years!) ago, Walt Disney – An American Original and Walt Disney The Triumph of the American Imagination (Neal Gabler). Gablers is one I put down being I continually found myself drifting. I since have gone on to other “Disney” books.. wondering if you have a favorite Walt Disney Biography you could recommend. Also, in reference to Walt and the Promise of Progress City …. do you think this book is worth purchasing and reading? I am just about to finish Dream It! Do It! and my take on the book very closely mirrors yours 🙂 Thank you for your time 🙂
What’s the best book that compares all the Disney theme parks (Euro/Disneyland/WDW/Tokyo/etc) over the years? Is there anything like it out there?
To my knowledge, there is no such book. If you find one, let me know!
Tom – Your book collection is incredible and it’s really going to help me put together my wish list for Christmas this year! The Imagineering Field Guides are some of my favorite books for interesting Disney theme park trivia. 🙂
GiggleGoddess – If you are looking for a book that compares Disneyland and Walt Disney World, I just wrote one that was released last month. It’s called “A Tale of Two Resorts: Comparing Disneyland and Walt Disney World – A Traveler’s Reference”. It is available at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1941500218/). Hope this helps!
Thanks, Kristi. I will have to check that out!
Very interesting reading Tom. Having been on the hunt for a few disney related books a number of these have poped up along with others you didn’t talk about. So have decided to take the plunge and get a few. The only down side I’ve found is that the ones I would really like don’t come cheap, either through the conversation from dollers to pound sterling or I get stung on the postage. But I’m sure with a bit of searching and patients I’ll build my self a lovely collection. Keep up the good work.
Great article, thank you! Like many of your readers, I have a good number of these books too. My all time favorite:’DL Paris from Sketch to Reality’. Last year I bought ’20 Years of Dreams’, a nice companion ($) to the above mentioned tome. I’m a HUGE Epcot fan and fondly remember the 1967 model atop DL’s Carousel of Progress; so recommend ‘Celebration the story of a town’. Lots of great photos. Also the 2011 ‘Walt and the Promise of Progress City’. Question: I have the 2007 edition of ‘The Disney Mountains: Imagineering @ it’s Peak.’ Do you know if this was updated? Seems I heard that somewhere, but can’t find anywhere. Thanks from Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.
I’ve recently added both Disneyland Paris books you mentioned to my collection (haven’t had the chance to update this page yet!), and you’re right, both are great. I don’t believe Imagineering at its Peak has been updated.
Great list! I have Designing Disney and it’s fantastic and I got Disney War a few weeks ago and am itching to start it. And now I think I’ll know what I’ll be asking for if any family has no clue what to get me for Christmas.
If I may make a suggestion (since you seem to enjoy your Disney books), I would strongly recommend “Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination” by Neal Gabler. I am almost done with it now and it may be one of the most fascinating biographies I’ve ever read and a must-read for any Disney fanatic. It paints a great portrait of Walt as both a complicated and not-perfect figure but simultaneously dispels a lot of the negative rumors that have haunted his legacy. It also just puts you in awe of how Disney Studios came to be, survived and flourished and eventually became the Disney Company. Plus, you’ll be spouting new Disney trivia to everyone you talk to.
I’ll put that title on my “to buy” list. Thanks for the recommendation!
I totally agree with DRToohey. The Neil Gabler Disney Bio is probably my favorite of the many, many I have read. In fact, I have read it a handful of times. It’s that good.
Love your recommendations on this list and have a remarkable number of them. Thanks for putting this together. Already adding new ones to my Amazon wishlist.
Ha, I said I’d add it to my “to buy” list over two years ago, and I *still* haven’t read it. I really need to get on that. I’ve found that many Walt biographies are either rosy pictures that paint Walt to be the Santa Claus of animation, or a Hitler-like figure–neither of which are accurate. Few seem to treat him as a real human being.
Tom,
Are you aware of any English-language books that focus on Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea? I’ve been struggling to find more extensive information before a trip I’m making this fall and would love to find a book…in a language I can actually read!
I’ve found a few souvenir books, but they wouldn’t help with trip planning. There are a couple of planning books out there, but I’ve never read them. Make sure to drop me a line after your trip. I’d love to hear about it–seriously.