Spinning Disney's World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent

by Charles Ridgway

Disney Legend Charles Ridgway looks back on over forty years of working with 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Business, Memoir, Travel

240 pages, Hardcover

First published April 10, 2001

Reviews

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! If you love Disney, want to learn more about Walt and Roy, are interested in how the parks began or have a clue as to how important public relations is, this book is for you. It made me laugh and it made me cry. These are really career goals and I encourage everyone to read it!
"Nobody does it like Disney."

[Alex Baron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir is most definitely a must-read for Disney fans. Readers get the opportunity to relive some interesting stories from a true Disney Legend. Ridgway is one of the few that could say that they worked for the Disney Company when Walt was still alive and kept working all the way into the 21st century. As a result this is an individual who has seen a lot in his role as a publicist for the Disney parks. Ridgway started at Disneyland, then moved to Walt Disney World upon its opening and even spent a year in France supporting Disneyland Paris. Through it all you can tell that Ridgway loved his career and the ability to be part of the Disney magic.

Ridgway has the honour of creating some signature Disney events. This includes coming up with the idea of having 50 Peking ducks follow Donald Duck down Main Street at the Magic Kingdom for the famous fowls' fiftieth birthday. The spectacle was unique and memorable and created a lot of publicity buzz at the time. Ridgway would also become very friendly with celebrities when they would visit the parks. As a result he often would get them to become part of the celebrations for the day. This included getting comic legend Bob Hope to lead the afternoon parade on one occasion at the Magic Kingdom.

This book is presented as though Ridgway is writing down stories as he remembers them. While it does go somewhat chronologically, if he feels a particular story fits good in that section Ridgway will place it there regardless of when it happened in real time. While that might bug some readers I was personally fine with it. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and hearing about all the ideas and life experiences Ridgway had. He worked in marketing at a time when it was a much smaller and less scrutinized part of the Disney machine. The freedom he had to experiment and work creatively is something out of a different time and may not happen again. But it is nice to read about it for a couple hours.

[James Baird · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this a disappointing read, where writing style let down what could, and should, have been a fantastic body of reminiscence and "behind the stage curtain" recollection. To me, the anecdotes always skated above the really interesting detail, as if there was a nervousness not to give too much away. The structure, while built around the progressive evolution and spread of the parks, was rambling, with sections within chapters which wavered way off subject and never actually came back to finish what a chapter had started or promised. The book read like a rambling conversation with a hugely interesting man, where much more effort should have been put into how to engage with the remote reader and how to tell the story in a powerful and coherent, rather than scatter-gun and superficial, way. A shame.

[Jodi Geever · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a delightful read, especially for a Disney nerd/history fan like me.

The reader is taken through a history of the various iconic rides, the construction of Walt Disney World, the move to Florida, Paris, and Hong-Kong. I really felt like I was getting a sense for Walt Disney himself and for the family's work ethic that would later come to be known as "The Disney Way".

As an added bonus, the book is a star-studded stroll down the memory lane of old Hollywood, showcasing how Walt drew celebrities and average folks alike in and made them fans of Mickey Mouse and the Disney Way for life.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Disney fanatic, I loved this inside look into the inner workings of publicity for the Disney Parks. Although the writing could be repetitive, nonlinear, and at times a bit confusing, I could very much picture Charles sitting down and dictating his memories as they came to him. It’s the narrative of a man who helped create the Disney we know today and for that, I respect him and would share this book with any Disney fan. His memories with Walt himself are few, but the inspiration that cultivated from those few meetings echoes throughout the book. A very special, magical read!

[Brandon Billings · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid Disney book, with fun stories especially about a guy that knew Walt personally (and took the last photograph of him at Disneyland). I think it suffered from editing problems, where it felt disjointed and meandered a bit too much. After the second half of the book, it felt like more of a collection of stories instead of a professional memoir with a cohesive timeline. I think it is a cool read and I believe it’s out of print now, so if you get your hands on it, it’s worth a read, but there are other Disney books I’d recommend before this one

[Amanda Yuzzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great perspective from a 50-year Disney employee who saw the company from Walt Disney through Michael Eisner (and Frank Wells). Thoroughly enjoyed reading his stories, although I will admit some melancholy as there are so many people who have passed away (including the author) and things that are no more. If you enjoy the history of the company this is a shouldn't miss read.

[Sean Vaughn McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was wonderful reading the stories of someone who has been part of the Disney company for so long and had such lovely stories to tell. It was a refreshing account of what it is like working for the valves for a lifetime. Any Disney fan would enjoy this recollection.

[Gemma Searle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was such a positive look at the happiest place in the world, you could truly believe that the author was happy there, he found a great place to work and wanted to shout about it.
This book was well written interesting and uplifting.
A must for all true Disney fans

[Anthony Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great historical book on Disney parks. If you are a Disney fan then this is a great book for you to read.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book I read for my marketing class

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting perspective on Disney, more than 14 years out of date
might want to read if you are planning on going to Disney soon

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Disney trivia stuff. This book is written in a journalist way because it was written by one. There are lots of tidbits and interesting facts. Mr. Ridgeway provides quite a few early Disneyland memories that I thought were interesting. Especially around the opening of Disneyland and construction.
Their were moments I skimmed thru the chapters. I would say that if you needed to, you could jump into any chapter and get a few journalistic facts and memories from the author. Vintage Disney memories are always fun to read.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading a memoir like this, it’s important to remember the author’s bias and adjust your expectations accordingly. Ridgeway is a former press agent for Disney, thus it’s unrealistic to go into the book expecting dirt. However, if you begin the book imagining that your uncle is going to sit down and spin you folksy stories about the past, then you’ll enjoy the next 23 chapters.

Ridgeway doesn’t tell his story sequentially–it often feels like he’s just writing his stream of consciousness. One minute he’s talking about Nixon dedicating the monorail, then he talks about why he dislikes the term “amusement park,” he goes forward in time to talk about trash collection strategies, then we are given this tidbit–

Because at ground level the store fronts along Main Street U.S.A. took a daily beating from guests – little nicks and scratches – while the upper level stayed in good shape for a couple of years at least, the painters had a set of colors for the lower half that matched the upper half after it had faded for a year. (12%–sorry, my kindle edition doesn’t give me page numbers, so I’ll note the percentage point where I found the quote)

Then we’re back to trash collection followed by crowd control techniques.

It may sound like a jumbled mess, but it actually works quite well. Ridgeway genuinely loves his subject material and it shows. Even when he talks about things like how changes in media (the invention of satellites, the internet, etc) have changed how PR works at Disney he’s as enthusiastic as a kid at Christmas, which makes what might otherwise be boring seem like an interesting tidbit of knowledge

read more at Be Quiet! Mommy's Reading... http://bequietmommysreading.com/2014/...

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't the typical "tell all the dirt behind" the scenes kind of book--and I appreciated it for that. Halfway through, it occurred to me that so many articles and books and general commentary is all about tearing down any and all cherished illusions people might hold. For example, I was on a Disneyland discussion board and someone was asking whether the bag checked policies had been changed after the Boston Marathon bombing. The poster wanted to know if they needed to be prepared to be patted down or for an extra wait. She was reassured that it was the same as always, but then some idiot felt the need to post that it was all for show and no one was really safe at Disneyland. Well, obviously no one is really safe anywhere, but why is there such a need to point it out every. single. time?

In that light, this book was refreshing, both for my outlook on humanity and as a way of extending the really fabulous time we had during our Disneyland trip a couple of weeks ago. It doesn't mean that I don't know that every organization/person/whatever has a downside. It just means that it's nice to read something that looks on the bright side--and this book was a great way to do that.

[Feistytiger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was written from a journalist viewpoint, which made reading a little dry. I was hoping for another side to behind the scenes gossip, but i didn't feel like i learnt anything new. In most part, although i feel i know some about Disney lands i could not relate to any of the areas he was talking about from the book and it felt like a completely different place.

On the positive side it was nice to read about Disney world from the beginning. Ridgeway knew and met Walt which gave an interesting insight into how Disney began, but again i felt some of the stories and information was a little disjointed.

Overall i was a little disappointed with this book, I did not get into it as much as I liked and I could not enjoy it. I felt the stories a little dry and not enough 'gossip' about behind the scenes as I would have liked.

[Josh McConnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very surprising read. From start to finish, the book is filled with lots of great stories from the (former) head publicist of Disney Parks. He was there from the opening of the original Disneyland all of the way to the opening of Hong Kong's Disneyland. He has rubbed shoulders with Walt Disney himself as well as countless other celebrities, political figures, millionaires, billionaires and more due to his work. Refusing to take sides in the whole Michael Eisner vs Roy E Disney debacle, this is simply a collection of stories from a man who sincerely loved his career with Disney. It makes you wish you had his job. Any Disney Parks enthusiast should pick this one up for their collection.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A memoir of a man who's been involved in the Disney publicity machine for over 50 years - he covered the opening of Disneyland in 1955 as a reporter, and a few years later was hired on by Walt himself; his last job was to write the press book for Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened in 2005. A basic knowledge of Disney theme park history is helpful as the book is mostly recollections & stories and jumps around chronologically quite a bit. I noticed a few editing flaws (typos) but otherwise quite enjoyed reading about this aspect of the House of Mouse.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second time I have read this book. I enjoyed even more the second time, perhaps because I am no longer working in public relations and I miss it.

Ridgway's book is filled with tidbits and behind-the-scenes gems about many of the parks and Walt Disney himself. While it does read a bit like the rambling stories your grandfather might tell you, the stories are interesting and well-told.

What a job! What a legacy Disney has left behind. And Charles Ridgway played his own important role in that.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest a lot of what was found in this book I had read elsewhere. Thus it didn't come across as exciting as I would have liked. I also didn't love Charles Ridgway's writing style. I would occasionally find myself lost or thinking I missed a word when reading. When I would double back I found I had read it right and just didn't grasp what he was trying to convey.

What really thrilled me about the book was imagining myself in Charles Ridgway's shoes and being in an influential player in the development of the Disney Parks & Resorts. Very fun I'm sure.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is clear this book was written by someone who is used to doing only short-form writing. The book was wandering, like talking to your grandfather about his life. He would mention something and then not explain it, only to come back to it three chapters later and talk about it again. Still, this gentleman has so much experience with Disney, it was fun to hear about how their strategies for PR and Marketing changed from the 1960s through the early 2000s. He could have done with some better organization, but for a Disney superfan, this is still an interesting read.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles Ridgway, a Disney legend after spending years in Disney's publicity department, spins tales of his career with a folksy style and a dry sense of humor. It's no tell-all, and fans of Disney will probably recognize much of the history laid out in the book. But people who work in the industry will enjoy Ridgway's take on Disney lore. As a reporter I found it particularly interesting how Ridgway built relationships with editors and reporters around the globe.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie has shared some wonderful memories with us in this book! I enjoyed getting a behind the scenes look at the beginning of the Disney parks. The book is a little scatterbrained in it's organization...I'm not really sure why it's broken into chapters because each one doesn't really seem to have any sense of theme...but it's still fun to read.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual subject for a book, PR for Disney's many parks, made this a must-read for me. I was not disappointed. The author sprinkles amusing celebrity anecdotes throughout and tells the reader about the PR vision of Walt Disney, who the author clearly adored. Fun to read about the evolution of the "empire."

[Cristine Anthony Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book would be a great read for any Disney lover. I appreciated, as did a previous poster, that he did not dwell on any negativity or in-fighting that occurred since he was friends with so many of the executives. Mr. Ridgway tells tales of all of the Disney parks, all but two of which I have visited, so it was a treat! Walt truely was one of a kind!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me feel like I was listening to a grandfather figure telling stories, and I like that feeling, especially for this book. Charles Ridgway may not have the most organized book, but it's an enjoyable read, especially if you've been to multiple Disney parks.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great insight into working with Walt Disney. Goes mostly chronologically through Ridgway's career, and includes fun behind-the-scenes stories of the evolution of Disneyland, and the creation of Disney World and other parks throughout the world.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe my expectations were too high. Not much I hadn't heard before. Kinda boring.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stories but horribly edited, and I'm usually not one to notice those things.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting- but not as much new information as I'd hoped for. There are a few funny anecdotes.