David Koenig (1)

I love most everything to do with Disney, even though I don't go to the Park as much as I'd like. This book was published relatively recently (2015), but covers many claims, arbitration and lawsuits filed against the Park. Lots of crazy stories in here but some go back to the time of Walt which is interesting, There are many attractions which no longer exist, so it's nice to hear about what used to be. I don't look favorably on people suing anyone, especially Disney, but I like to hear about the crazy situations where people claimed to be injured while on the property. Overcrowding from excessive admissions and the absence of courteous behavior by the guests have made life almost unbearable for the cast members and management who try their best ensure a pleasant experience. Case & Name Index, Bibliography, B&W Photos.… (mais)

This one is ore background and the corporate side of Walt Disney World than the author's other books. It starts with before the parks even existed and Walt was looking for a place for a new theme park. It then goes on to explain in great detail the building of Magic Kingdom. The nightmare construction of Epcot. Briefly talks about Hollywood Studios and the rivalry with Universal. Slightly more detailed about Animal Kingdom. It's filled with information but not really a behind the scenes or sensational book about the parks. Good for what it is, but was not what I was expecting.… (mais)

This one is much more fun than the previous Mouse Tales. This book focuses more on historical information on Disneyland and former operators and managers. Stories of necking teens on Pirates or passengers passing gas on the defunct submarines. Skippers who added clothes to the animals in Jungle Cruise. Tales of the costumed characters doing things definitely out of character. Each of the parts of the park have there own section in the book. The book ends on kind of a sour note though talking about the Eisner regime taking over and how the bottom line is the most important thing. Fun to read but skip the last chapter or two if you want to keep the feel good attitude about the park.… (mais)

2 1/2 stars: I didn't particularly like it or dislike it; mixed or no real interest

From the back cover: Realityland takes the first ever in depth unauthorized look at the creation and operation of the world's most popular vacation destination. Step backstage and witness:

-Walt's original plans for WDW, and how his dreams completely changed in the hands of his successors
-His undercover agents who secretly bought 44 square miles of swamp
-The chaotic construction and frantic first years of the Magic Kingdom
-The underground caverns that wind beneath the theme park
-Disney's unconventional, initially disastrous foray into operating its own hotels
-The behind the scenes machinations that led to EPCOT
-How safety and security are maintained on property, at all costs.
-The tumultuous change of leadership that turned the cherished "Ways of Walt" upside down

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Yep. That description should have warned me--- that the book would be a lot of sensationalized story. It was. I had expected to have the humor of the "backstage stories" of Koenig's fabulous "Mouse Tales" regarding Disneyland. Instead, this was a straight nonfiction book about the building of WDW and Epcot. There were interesting parts to it, including the chaos to get to opening day and how Walt's passing in the infancy stages of building caused the project to change and the politics of getting FL politicians to secretly let him build there. Walt had envisioned EPCOT as being what later became "Celebration" -- and entire community / city on Disney property. (and as of this writing, has all been sold off and was unsuccessful).

I enjoyed parts of this book, but because I was expecting humor and small anecdotes, it wasn't what I particularly wanted at the time. I did read in preparation for a future WDW trip.… (mais)