Every Guest is a Hero: Disney's Theme Parks and the Magic of Mythic Storytelling

by Adam M. Berger

Though you may not be aware of it, whenever you’re playing in any of Disney’s many theme parks, the Imagineers who designed those parks are busy playing with your head. EVERY GUEST IS A HERO reveals for the first time how the artists and technical wizards of Walt Disney Imagineering have harnessed the magic of mythic storytelling to press all sorts of psychological buttons you never knew you had, inspiring you and millions of your fellow visitors to return to the parks again and again.

Longtime theme park designer and attraction show writer Adam M. Berger is your tour guide, decoding the mythic themes and archetypes of the Disney parks in an entertaining, engaging, and always accessible manner. You’ll discover page after page of “ah-ha!” moments as you encounter one surprising connection after another. You’ll also find a collection of ten “Mything in Action” case studies that break down the mythic content of some of your favorite Disney attractions, scene-by-scene. There’s even a chapter devoted to the mythic realms of George Lucas, offering tantalizing clues about some of the amazing experiences now being Imagineered for Disney’s forthcoming Star Wars-themed lands.

It’s a must-read volume for Disney enthusiasts and aspiring Imagineers alike. So strap yourself in, keep your arms and legs inside at all times, and prepare to embark on a voyage of mythic proportions. Once you’ve read EVERY GUEST IS A HERO, you’ll never look at your favorite Disney attractions the same way again.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2013

About the author

Adam M. Berger began writing for the themed entertainment and attraction design industry as a freelance contractor in 1992, and later served for five years as senior writer for the international attraction design firm ITEC Entertainment Corporation. Today, he is the president, senior show writer, and, with his wife Julia, co-owner of Berger Creative Associates, Inc., a creative writing and consulting firm based in Orlando, Florida. Since its incorporation in 2007, BCA has been serving companies in the themed entertainment and attractions design industry, as well as clients in the museum and education fields.

Adam's credits include projects for Daytona International Speedway, Dollywood, Disney Event Productions, Disney Cruise Line, Kennedy Space Center, Nickelodeon Recreation, Paramount Parks, Ride The Ducks International, SeaWorld/Busch Gardens, Silver Dollar City, Six Flags, Universal Creative, Walt Disney Imagineering, and many others. Almost all of his projects incorporate elements of the Hero's Journey (though he doesn't always feel obliged to tell that to the client).

Adam's observations about and insights into the Hero's Journey as it appears in contemporary pop culture and entertainment can be read at: http://www.themythinglink.com

Reviews

[Joseph McGarry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

I haven't been to Disney Parks in many years. When I was there, I really didn't think about epic journeys or Innermost Caves or anything like that. I just wanted to get on the ride as quick as possible and not spend all day in line. (This was before Fastpass, which allows guests to bypass the line.) I noticed that Disney spent a lot of time on its waiting area, but I thought it was just to keep everyone occupied while they were waiting in line, especially going by the sign that says "Your expected wait time is 60 minutes." I also knew that Disney was good at storytelling. Now, as Adam Berger informs us, this was all part of the mythic design, to make the guest feel like a hero. He goes through an introduction of the myth-making story of Disney, and then describes 10 rides in detail through the lens of Joseph Campbell's theories about myths and epic adventures. I don't know if all rides are like this--I don't remember any kind of epic journey on It's a Small World--but he does a reasonably good job of explaining everything. I think at times the epic part can go overboard trying to fit epic journeys into the rides. Quite frankly, for most people getting to the end of the ride by itself is epic enough. It does say something about Disney's attitude, though. If they put this much effort into the waiting area of the ride, they really care about the guest experience. It may be a lesson for other businesses as well. The customer needs to feel like they're valued, and not just for their money. They need to feel like they're part of something special. In my experience, this can be rare. The epic journey in a lot of cases is getting through to talk to someone in customer service. Push 1 for this department, push 2 for that department, isn't what customers want. All in all, a good book, and recommended reading for any business pro, or anyone who wants to know more about what's behind all that stuff in the waiting line at Disney.

[Matthew Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered this book as a screenwriter who wanted to learn more about the storycraft behind themed attractions. Even though I was already somewhat familiar with Campbell and his monomyth, this book helped deepen and crystalize my understanding of the tropes that permeate all of our stories—even theme park rides, it turns out. I found it impressively well-researched and enjoyed the balance of mythology, psychology, and Disney parks history. First half of the book is an overview of the Hero's Journey and it's manifestations, then the latter half looks at a handful of specific Disney rides as case studies. Really interesting stuff written with a light yet authoritative voice. Definitely recommend for anyone interested in mythology, writing, or the Disney parks!

[Mathew Duman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book included well thought out explanations of the concept of "The Hero's Journey". I've read many books about Imagineering & attraction design, but this book focuses on concepts that the others only touch upon: the psychology behind the attractions & what makes them so effective. One feature of this book I particularly enjoyed was Berger's explanations of the application of these concepts in specific, well-known Disney attractions.