Mouse Extra

Disney was scheduled to release their newest imagineering field guide on June 1st, but instead it has already been released. This last one is based on Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You may have read my glowing review of the Magic Kingdom edition of these guides. Like that book, the premise is based on the wildlife field guides so popular with hikers, birders, and other nature buffs. The book itself is thin and small for easy use “in the field.”

Like the other guides, I very much enjoyed reading the information on how the Animal Kingdom was imagineered. Also, like the previous books, this one provides a wealth of photos, illustrations, and concept art. These alone are worth the $9.95 sticker price. Some examples include early depiction by Joe Rohde of the entrance where guests cross a bridge and walk-thru a giant Noah’s ark. An early design of a carousel (something I think the park could use) for the Oasis also sheds light on some of the early ideas.

Any Disney fan, even those not particularly enamored of this park, will find something interesting in this volume. If you own the other books in this series, you will note that the Animal Kingdom’s design is very different from the other parks. Landscaping is a very important aspect, for example. Perhaps most notably, this park is in part a zoo which makes it a different breed of animal (pun intended) in the theme park world. Feeding, caring for, housing, and exhibiting live creatures separates this park from the others and the book spends a considerable amount of space on those distinctions. As an example, the book illustrates the differences between the Oasis and Main Street, USA. Both areas provide similar functions, i.e. funneling people to the center of the park. However, the Oasis hides the centerpiece, the Tree of Life, from view until you are nearly on top of it, making it more impressive when first seen. There is a discussion on the landscaping issues as well as the choice in animals- all non-aggressive, calm species.

Another difference with the Animal Kingdom is the travel schedule of the imagineers. These designers traveled periodically to Africa, Asia and other places to research motifs, architecture, and exhibitory in order to gain inspirations for Harambe and Anandapur, the fictitious places at the park. You will also note the design of Discovery Island which is influenced by various tropical island cultures. Each section of the park gets its own section, including for some reason Theater of the Wild, as its own chapter.

There are some minor drawbacks to this book. First of all, out of the 125 pages, the first thirteen is reprinted information in the other books of the series. This section , titled “Imagineering 101″, gives you the basic background and glossary of terms for the discipline. I understand why its in every volume, but I would think the vast majority of people who book this book also have the Epcot and Magic Kingdom versions, as well. Still, there are new illustrations and pictures in this section such as a mold from the Yeti’s head or an early survey of the park. The authors also spend a decent amount of time explaining the choices behind Chester and Hester’s Dinorama, the often ridiculed mini-land at Dinoland USA. While I have never had as big of a problem with the area as many others (heck, I have fun on Primeval Whirl), I’m not sure we need several pages of how difficult it is to make the concrete look cheap or the area to look cheesy.

My biggest problem is actually with omission. Perhaps the most famous “lost land” of any Disney park, is the legendary Beastly Kingdomme, the would be land of mythical beasts such as dragons. Even up to and well past the park’s opening, Disney was planning to create this area. Even today, we still get rumors of its impending construction. Numerous articles, both unofficial and official, describe the imagineered ideas that we were being conceptualized. Yet, there is not one peep about it in the book.

Still, all in all, I love this series and I hope it continues to the Studios, to California, and beyond-perhaps even a volume on the Resorts or the Cruise line. Pick this book up and enjoy the background information it provides on how this places are dreamt up. Its fascinating. And bring it with you to the Animal Kingdom.

 Today’s merchandise review is from Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra