Mouse Extra

I just want to apologize for the delay in updating the site.  We had some technical problems at the end of last week, and then I was out of town over the weekend.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by, and keep a weather eye for lots of new stuff in the next couple of days.  We start with a book review from contributing writer Mike.  He takes a look at on of the Imagineering Field Guides.

Disney has begun publishing a series of “Field Guides” dedicated at least to this point on their Florida theme parks. I will discuss the first, the Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The subtitle is “An Imagineer’s-eye view.” The authors are listed simply as the Imagineers.

The book begins with an interesting review of what Imagineering is, entitled “Imagineering 101.” This chapter of the book gives a relatively short synopsis on the history of Imagineering from its foundations in 1952. It also breaks down the various aspects from concept/design to engineering, props, graphics, construction, media design and other disciplines. There is also two pages of definitions for Imagineering terms of art.

We then get to an overview of the Magic Kingdom itself. The park’s history is detailed with early conceptual designs and photographs of Walt working on his secret project. The book goes into some detail about how Walt wanted to avoid creating a Disneyland East and his instructions to the Imagineers on that problem. It also demonstrates how Imagineers want you to experience the park itself. It shows you how they design the way you fist glimpse the castle and how you only really view what’s inside after you walk under the train station.

The book is then broken down into the various Lands at the Magic Kingdom. This is where we get to the meat of the book, and its where it really shines. Disney fans will love the inside dirt on how attractions and buildings are designed and themed. Each section is chock full of facts, figures, pictures, and perhaps of most interest, conceptual art. For example, under the Liberty Square section, we learn about the origins of the colonial section of the park and the styles behind the architecture. The Hall of Presidents is discussed in detail as we are told the story behind the sculpting of the figures and the use of massive illustrations during the show. There is also a “Quick Facts” section.

The idea behind the book is simple. Like nature field guides, the book is small for easy transport. You can easily take this book to the Kingdom and spot the Imagineering points of interest as you walk around. You can note, for instance, the jousting lances holding up the medieval tent of It’s a Small World. Or you can note how as you travel “west” across Frontierland, the architecture itself becomes more “westerly” from old St. Louis to gold-rush California.

I do love this book. The concept art is a big highlight for me. Real Disney fans will get a huge kick out of the historical information and the details of the Imagineering process behind some of the most (and least) popular attractions. I hope these keep coming. They have already done an Epcot book (perhaps I will review that at some point) and this June will see a Disney’s Animal Kingdom volume. I hope someday to see Imagineering guides to Disneyland and the Resorts, as well.