Walt Disney World Hidden History [Paperback]

So you're a Disney fan. You spend way too much time on various Disney sites and blogs and you've got a vast knowledge of all things WDW. Your friends think you're a little nuts, but not too nuts to solicit advice from regarding their upcoming trip. You know all the details, right? The Nautilus carved on Pooh's tree, Mr. Toad handing over the deed; that stuff is just the beginning. No matter how many times you've been to WDW and how many secrets you know, you are guaranteed to learn something from this book. The simplest of details are not left to chance. Every date on a seemingly random box has a meaning and even the names of merchandise carts or food stands tells a story.

The book is presented in an encyclopedia like format with a pretty comprehensive index. Does the name Bwana Bob's have any sort of meaning? Check it out in the index and find your answer. However, the book is actually readable too. Beginning at the TTC ticket booth the details flow like you are 'reading up Main St.' and then around the Magic Kingdom. The same applies to the other parks as well. As you read you'll be making a mental note of hidden details to check out on your next visit.

This is a nice book for any Disney fan. You're guaranteed to learn something. Casual fans will be amazed to know just how much effort is put into detailed theming while Disney veterans who thought they knew it all will be surprised at just how deep Disney goes to honor the past and ensure nothing is left to chance.

The information presented in this book is very fun for everyone who goes to Walt Disney World but never really stopped to notice the details. However the pictures which are fundamental to complement the trivia, are small and of terrible quality, similar to bad xerox.
This book could be a lot better if the printing of the images were of a better quality and in color.

It's an ok purchase for those planning a first trip to Disney to keep an eye for the things mentioned. Not recommended if you already know your Disney trivia though.

About the Author
Kevin Yee, a former Disneyland castmember, is an author and Disney Theme Park Historian. He publishes the Ultimate Orlando blog and is a columnist at MiceAge. He is one of the most prolific theme park-related authors with over 10 titles, including: Mouse Trap: Memoir of a Disneyland Cast Member and the 101 Things You Never Knew About... series.

The Review
Yee know his Walt Disney World details. The book has over 200 pages dedicated to the trivia, minutia, history and details of the theme parks and resort area. Sometimes, I think a review should be as simple as "This is a fun read and you will enjoy it." In this case, that is true, but I should qualify the review with more than that.

Do you know where the last two ticket booths in the Magic Kingdom are?

The book is presented park-by-park and area-by-area. We start at the Magic Kingdom Entrance Plaza and find ourselves strolling under the train station and down Main St. USA. Yee points out the details that honor the builders of Walt Disney World and the little details that make the magic even more arresting. From there, Yee takes us on a journey through each land, reminding us why we love the parks so much.

Have you seen the not-to-subtle nod to the World of Motion in the Test Track queue?

The presentation is fairly simple and is geared towards a blog-reading audience. This is not a slight towards Yee; it was very insightful to present the information in small chunks that the reader can enjoy. This is a book that you can skip around or read land-by-land. It would be ideal to read on your flight to Orlando or to read in the hotel the night before you head to a specific park. Plus, this is a great way to impress your friends and family as you share your new found Walt Disney World knowledge. He also included photographs to help you identify the areas in question. Unfortunately, this is the major negative point of the book because the photos are in black and white. Granted, color photos would have been very cost-prohibitive and not completely necessary.

Did you know there was a scale model of the Gully Whumper Keel Boat somewhere at Fort Wilderness?

Yee also presents a few other goodies in the book. One section is devoted to attraction dates, including all of the former attractions. Another section lists all of the names on the windows on Main St. USA. They are listed by street. The index is broken down by attraction, so you can quickly find your favorite. There is even a small section dedicated to some other place called Universal, or something. Not quite sure what that is.

Where is the reference to Mortimer Mouse at the Disney Hollywood Studios?

Yee presents a work that straddles every Disney level, from the novice to the most veracious and ardent Disney Nerd (yes, nerd with a capital N). No matter how many blogs or books you've read, you are guaranteed to run across something you haven't seen before.