Comments on: Best Books About Disney World, Disneyland & Imagineering in Our Library

By: James

James — Tue, 19 May 2026 21:44:37 +0000

I keep coming back to this list time and time again when I’m ready to fill gaps in my collection. I’d absolutely love to see your recommendations for books on Disney films, theme parks in general, and kids books.

Also, big thanks for the recommendation on gifting a Disney encyclopedia to use as an autograph book!

By: Tim K

Tim K — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 01:18:53 +0000

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned, but The Queens of Animation by Nathalia Holt is another great read.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:55:16 +0000

Tom, I’ve used this as my reference for Disney literature for a few years. I’ve now got about 1/4 of it. Have you read Steven Watts’ “The Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney and the American Way of Life”? I wondered how you would rate as a Walt biography.

thanks for all the incredible advice over the years!
Paul

By: Lisa Tate

Lisa Tate — Wed, 10 May 2023 05:32:52 +0000

Hello Tom. Fantastic list, what a collection you’ve made! I wonder if you might know of a book for me?

I find damaged and unwanted vintage books and give them new life as mixed-media journals.

I have plenty of inexpensive vintage Disney storybooks, but a few months ago the recycling bin held a very well-used 1960’s guide to Disneyland. As I wiped away the thick grime, illustrations of 1960’s Disneyland came to life, and I fell in love with them.

“The Art of Disneyland” might be perfect but it’s definitely not something I’d cut up for a journal, LOL.

A photo exists of a 1955 color newspaper supplement of Disneyland but I don’t own the supplement or the copyright of the photo, so that’s probably not going to work either. (Library has only poor-quality b&w pdfs.)

So, can you think of a book or other printed material I can buy or be on the lookout for that has mostly illustrations (as opposed to photos) of Disneyland in the 50’s and 60’s?

Damaged is preferable for my purposes.

This may well be like asking where to find a unicorn, but if anyone would know it would be you. Any suggestions most welcome.

Many thanks.

By: Steve Brang

Steve Brang — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 19:59:58 +0000

Thanks for the great list of books. Another title that compliments The Disney War, is Storming the Magic Kingdom. It’s the story of how Michael Eisner snd Frank Wells came to run the company.
I’m looking forward to finding a few of yhe books on your list
Thanks,
Steve B.

By: Virgil Richardson

Virgil Richardson — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 14:54:48 +0000

This is a great list! For me, Creativity, Inc by Ed Catmull would be a must-add. Though technically not a Disney book (since it’s about the conception, birth and early years of Pixar) it is among the best books I’ve read regarding the incredibly difficult balance between business and creativity. I’ve bought, given away and re-bought this book five times now. My most recent copy was delivered a couple days before you published this post. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone who nerds out on Pixar, but more specifically for anyone who has ever tried to thread the needle when it comes to managing the dissonance between doing something that’s an inherently creative enterprise with trying to run a successful (and profitable) business.

Plus, my 10th grade band nerd self gets irrationally excited every time I see Buzz Lightyear conducting a symphony on the cover