The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland

Imagineering Field Guides

by Alex Wright, The Imagineers

The fourth in a series of pocket-sized paperbacks answers the question, "What would it be like to walk through Disneyland with an Imagineer by your side?" The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland provides that experience: pointing out details and telling stories, back stories, and Imagineering insights never before heard, condensed into a portable, easily-referenced park guide. You'll never spend time at Disneyland the same way again.

Each spread contains fascinating textual information and related images (drawings, photos, graphics) such as:

Set-up, backgrounds, and origins of each park/land/mini-land

Concept art to compare to the finished show

Timeline information (opening dates, previous shows in the same venue, alterations and updates)

- Photography of the details and big pictures being discussed

Special props, design sources, artistic inspirations, nomenclature gags

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Reference

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2008

About the author

Alex Wright is a show designer for Walt Disney Imagineering in Orlando, Florida. His credits include concept and set-design work for Disney's Animal Kingdom and Journey Into Imagination with Figment, as well as various enhancement projects all over the Walt Disney World Resort. Alex received a BA in design theory from the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1992 and an MFA in scenic design from the California Institute of the Arts, in Los Angeles in 1994.


Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Sesana]

All of the Imagineering Field Guides do essentially the same thing: they give you a virtual imagineer lead tour through one of the Disney parks. I've never been to Disneyland (it's sad, isn't it?) and so can't compare to my memories of the place. So it didn't work quite as well for me as it did with the others in this series I've read, all set at parks that I have vivid memories of. If I ever get out to Disneyland (not if! when!) I might want to bring this along so I can make comparisons. Of course, this is really for the Disneyphile, and it doesn't serve as any sort of guidebook for the park.

Side note: Obviously, California Adventures isn't included in here, but it doesn't seem like there's any intent to make a DCA volume of the series. I just found that interesting.

[Bekki]

The size and shape of this book make it difficult to read. Additionally, I was hoping for more of an "insiders" look at Disney attractions...little secrets, hints, hidden surprises, etc. I am a Disney nut, and was just not very interested in this..

[Tamara]

Interesting book about Disneyland attractions from the point of view of the Imagineers. Too short though, I wish it was bigger with more info.

[Katy Pugh]

I LOVE this book! It's a great size, and I always pack it in my Park bag when I go to Disneyland (and D23) so I have something to look through while I'm in line. I have read this book over and over again, and honestly I probably learn something new each and every time! They have one for every one of the American Parks.

I love to pursue through this book when I'm in a "Disney Mood" (when I'm missing being in the Parks) I totally recommend this one!

[Charissa]

A fun, quick read with insiders' views and interesting tidbits about a beloved place. :)

[Avvie Cunnington]

As a fan of all things Disney and Disney Parks, this is my kind of book. I have never been to Disneyland California but still thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Its small enough to fit in your bag, and not an overload of information. The images provided are priceless and it teaches you things that you may never find out about the park.
I just wish their were more photos of the original rides that are no longer then, but i accept that it would have made the book alot longer.

Its a perfect size and gives you a quick Disney fix, this book is for every Disney fan out there. Until i can get to DLC and appreciate the park for myself, this book is the next best thing.

[Dawn]

Having already read the four books on the Florida parks, I knew what to expect from this one, in format and content. It did not disappoint. I love the layer of history these books provide for the park covered. My one disappointment in this one was a decrease in backstory given and tiny "easily overlooked" details pointed out, as were scattered throughout the books on WDW. Perhaps with there being considerable overlap between Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, it was felt to be redundant? Regardless, I enjoyed the tour through each land of the park, and found this book a quick comfortable read.

[Mark]

As others have noted, the small size of this book can be an irritation - both for content (give us more!) and for difficulty in seeing the pictures. (I would love to see full-size shots of some of the concept art, esp. for Indiana Jones).

OTOH, I'm a Disney Parks fan and there was stuff in here I hadn't read before + the interesting perspective of the Imagineers themselves.

I think the book would be best as an intro for those who want to know more about the process of creating the park rather than a long-time parks fan.

[Jeff]

This is a fun little pocket sized book/pamphlet I picked up at the park a few years ago. It's chock full of information about easter eggs put in by the Imagineers, or explanations about parts of the park, rides, restaurants, and the early design of Disneyland. Would make a fun addition to a family's treasure hunt in the park, or just a fun and handy book to bring along on the plane ride down to Anaheim.

[Ian]

A survey that doesn't have the time or space to delve into anything interesting. What's more, there are many sections that are poorly phrased, which is surprising, because the other Imagineering Field Guides that I've read weren't. The subject just seems too big for Wright to get his arms around.

That said, it's always fun to watch him contort himself into rationalizing all the crappy changes in the park as being "for the benefit of the story."

[Melissa]

As someone who loves everything Disney, I really enjoy reading the Imagineering Guides to see what is behind all the things we see in the parks. Never having been to Disneyland, it was interesting to read about some of the original attractions and what the reasoning behind them were. I truly enjoyed it. It gives you a little glimpse into what Walt was thinking.

[Kristi]

Love stuff like this - insiders look at Disneyland. Facts, figures, history of the happiest place on Earth! Only wish is that it was longer & had more photos. Glad the hubby bought several books about Imagineering! :)

[Jennifer]

Well I'm taking this one off of the list for now, as it appears to be permanently lost. That's two out of two books lost on trips this year. pffft Only got up to page 28, but I definitely want to pick it up again later when I start reminiscing about the trip.

[Katherine]

Interesting, but not a whole lot I didn't already know.

[Christina]

Nothing original to add to other reviewers', um, reviews. More please. And make it bigger! We want to look closely at the details, and not go blind doing so:)

[Joshua Salvatierra]

I loved it!, my aunt works there and I love going there. So I had to find out more on the happiest place on earth.

[Lex]

While anything like this is great. It could have offered a lot more overall. Good to read and have though among others like it.

[Richard Downey]

These Field Guides let you see the magic in the Disney Parks through a new set of eyes. Remarkable.