Stories from a Theme Park Insider


Book Description

What time is the 3:00 parade? Why does a child need to be 40 inches tall to ride a roller coaster? What happens when the president of France gets lost inside Pirates of the Caribbean? A former employee, or "cast member," at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom answers these and other questions while sharing humorous stories about working inside the world's most popular theme park. "Stories from a Theme Park Insider" takes you inside the park's famous tunnels and backstage for a look at how theme parks really work, and the funny moments and embarrassments that can happen when your work is someone else's vacation.




JayBangs


Book Description

Jay Stein Builds a Better Mousetrap. After years of sitting fat and happy atop the theme park totem pole, Mickey Mouse discovered a big cat in his backyard named Jay Stein. Against stiff odds, corporate politics, and fierce opposition from Michael Eisner's Disney, Jay Stein founded Universal Studios Florida. This is how he did it.




The Disney Monorail


Book Description

All aboard a lavish visual celebration of one of Disney's most iconic and beloved creations: the Disney Monorail. Through a lively and succinct narrative and a stunning collection of unique historical photographs and rare concept and development art (much of it never before published) readers will be transported through the imagination of one of the great twentieth century geniuses, and into a future where yesterday's dreams are tomorrow's realities! Walt Disney is renowned as a cartoonist, filmmaker, showman, and entertainment icon. But he was also a far-sighted futurist, a transportation buff with practical roots in the past, and visionary sights set on the future. In imagining his Disneyland park, Walt saw it not only as a destination for diversion and entertainment, but also as a means of presenting practical demonstrations of new ideas and new technology with real-world applications. As Walt said, "Tomorrow offers new frontiers in science, adventure, and ideals: the Atomic Age . . . the challenge of outer space . . . and the hope for a peaceful and unified world." In The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky, readers will discover the parallel stories of the development of a new form of transportation and the evolution of Walt's prophetic creative mind, which resulted in the first daily operating monorail in the Western Hemisphere. From that day in June 1959, this mid-century modern marvel has captured the hearts and imaginations not only of theme park and Disney fans everywhere. It has also inspired, as Walt had hoped, the creation of working monorails in practical transit applications in varied locations all around the world.




Stories from the Magic Kingdom


Book Description

Admit One to Magic In this collection of fanciful stories set in Disney's Magic Kingdom, one for each of the six lands in the park, you'll take a grand circle tour of exploration, mystery, intrigue, exotic thrills, and things that go bump in the mansion. Brave danger with the intrepid skippers of the Jungle Cruise, team with Mr. Tom Morrow as he fights galactic crime in Tomorrowland, attend a swingin' birthday party in the Haunted Mansion, delve into the fearsome bowels of Big Thunder Mountain, take the villains' side in an all-out assault on Fantasyland, and ride a Main Street train to an enchanted station not on any map. Tickets, please!




Cleaning the Kingdom


Book Description

What is it like to be the eyes and ears of the institution known as "The Happiest Place on Earth?" How does it really feel to work day in and day out leading part of the world famous Disneyland Custodial Team? Just how do they keep such a busy place so clean? Find the answers to these questions and more as secrets are revealed in this unauthorized, honest, and affectionate memoir from insiders who struggled to keep guest happy, tame wild new cast members, and keep the original Disneyland clean through a time of tremendous change, growth, and controversy for the Resort. You'll discover that cleaning up is just a part of the job as you experience heartwarming triumphs, heartbreaking tragedies, and hearty laughs along with the people who lived them.







Theme Park Design


Book Description

If you've ever visited a theme park and wondered how the magic is created, this is the book for you. Theme park design invites you to become an apprentice Imagineer. Inside, you'll: - Explore the different types of rides and shows- Experience creating an attraction from conception to opening day- Discover the different professional roles in Imagineering so you can determine which best suits your interestsAnd for avid fans and gearheads, a special section takes you on a deep dive into show control, ride control, audio, video and special effects.Whether your goal is to become an Imagineer, or you're just curious about how theme parks are created, Theme Park Design pulls back the curtain on what goes into creating the greatest attractions on Earth




Cast Member Confidential:


Book Description

This is the story that Disney would never tell you. What do you do when everything in your life falls apart? If you're Chris Mitchell, you run away from home--all the way to Disney World, a place where no one ever dies--and employees, known as Cast Members, aren't allowed to frown. Mitchell shares the behind-the-scenes story of his year in the Mouse's army. From his own personal Disneyfication, to what really happens in the hidden tunnels beneath the Magic Kingdom and what not to eat at the Mousketeria, it was a year filled with more adventure--and surprises--than he could ever have "imagineered." Funny and moving, Mitchell tracks his ascent through the backstage social hierarchy in which princesses rule, and his escapades in the "Ghetto" where Cast Members live and anything goes. Along the way, he unmasks the misfits and drop-outs, lifers and nomads who leave their demons at the stage door as they preserve the magic that draws millions to this famed fantasyland--the same magic that Mitchell seeks and ultimately finds in the last place he ever expected. Chris Mitchell is an action sports photographer and journalist who grew up in Los Angeles. He was a senior at UCLA when he started his first magazine, an inline skating publication, and sold it to Sports & Fitness Publishing. Within a few years, he was working on five magazines within The Surfer Group. He continues to work closely with a number of publications and websites, as well as event and TV production companies like ESPN, ASA Entertainment and Lifelounge. He is a recognized expert in action sports, and as such, has stunt coordinated dozens of productions, including Batman and Robin, Brink! and Airborne. He is also the Chairman of the International Inline Stunt Federation for the advancement of extreme skating as a healthy and safe activity. After spending a year working as a photographer at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, he moved back to Los Angeles, where he currently lives.




Spinning Disney's World


Book Description

Disney Legend Charles Ridgway looks back over forty years of working for "the Mouse," from Disneyland, to Walt Disney World, to Euro-Disney and beyond. Filled with light-hearted and hilarious reminiscences of famous people and outlandish publicity stunts, this memoir will delight Disney fans young and old.




Discover the Magic


Book Description

Get the NEW 2nd edition of "Discover the Magic" and discover even more of the Magic of a Walt Disney World vacation TODAY! The 2nd edition of Discover the Magic- updated and EXPANDED for 2015, brings you more magic than ever before! Get more Disney magic including: Updates for all the new Disney rides and attractions! Complete coverage of Disney's FastPass+ reservation system! Expanded coverage of all of Disney's awesome resorts! Over 75 NEW photos!!! ...and much, much, more! You'll be thinking "Disney, Disney, DISNEY!" as you save time and money with the ultimate Walt Disney World theme park guide! Get the ONLY Disney travel book packed with theme park guides, vacation planning tips and travel tips for ALL of the top attractions at Walt Disney World including: The Magic Kingdom Epcot Hollywood Studios Animal Kingdom Disney's awesome water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach! The ultimate all-in-one travel guide is waiting for you to Discover the Magic! This is the one Disney travel guide that will be with you every step of the way as you prepare to embark on the trip of a lifetime- an adventure like no other; a magical vacation to the Happiest Place on Earth: Walt Disney World! Complete theme park guides and trip planning tips will help you make the most of your Disney dollars. Learn all about the various Disney ticket options, and how to maximize your fun with FastPass+. Explore accommodations in the Orlando area and educate yourself on the pros and cons of each so YOU can decide what option is right for YOU. Learn all about the various categories of Disney accommodations, and know the differences between them. Discover the best times to visit Disney to stretch your vacation dollars. Learn all about the hottest rides at Walt Disney World and get the 'inside scoop' on Disney's fantastic closing shows. It's all here and much, much more. You'll enjoy the Ultimate Insider's no-nonsense approach to bringing you the best in Disney vacation travel guides. Presented in exquisite detail and supported by more than 160 photos! NOTE: Due to the high cost of color printing, photos in the paperback version are in black and white. Discover the Magic today...and Let the Memories Begin!