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One Day at Disney: Meet the People Who Make the Magic Across the Globe

Bruce Steele,

Bob Iger (Introduction)

4.54 · Rating details · 13 ratings · 9 reviews

Discover what it's like to report to work every day for The Walt Disney Company. Step behind the scenes to immerse yourself in one "ordinary" day at Disney. In addition to the book, the Disney+ team was on hand to capture stories along the way. A full-length documentary and 52 short-form episodes expand the profiles and delve deeper into the essence of what it's like to be ...more

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Hardcover, 224 pages

Published December 3rd 2019 by Disney Editions

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Dec 03, 2019 JenLovesBooks rated it it was amazing

This book had me all kinds of happy. Not only does it completely pertain to all things Disney, but the colors in here, with the stories of those working to keep that fantastical world going for many of us, the joy that exudes from these pages, is completely magical in itself.The pages come to life with all those stories and one full day of events and attractions becomes a lifetime of unforgettable memories.

And there is so much to choose from when reading One Day at Disney. In a span of a full ...more

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Nov 19, 2019 Angela (Pooled Ink Reviews) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, on-my-ebook, earc-netgalley-copy, on-my-shelves, arc-paperback

pooled ink Reviews:

One Day at Disney is a fascinating global look into what goes on in just one day at Disney and the expansive truth of it will drop your jaw. Stunning pictures that draw you in and dazzle your imagination, perspectives and personal pieces that give a foundational dose of reality upon which the magic is crafted, and page after page of experience and behind-the-scenes content that will have you clutching this book to your chest leaving you lost in thought in the endless dreams ...more

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Dec 01, 2019 Paige Green rated it it was amazing

Disclaimer: I received this book from the Mouse himself for this tour! Thanks Disney! All opinions are my own.

Author: Bruce Steele, Bob Iger (introduction)

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: December 3, 2019

Publisher: Disney Editions

Recommended Age: 10+ (great for anyone really!)

Synopsis: Discover what it's like to report to work every day for The Walt Disney Company. Step behind the scenes to immerse yourself in one "ordinary" day at Disney. In addition to the book, the Disney+ Disclaimer: I received this book from the Mouse himself for this tour! Thanks Disney! All opinions are my own.

Author: Bruce Steele, Bob Iger (introduction)

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: December 3, 2019

Publisher: Disney Editions

Recommended Age: 10+ (great for anyone really!)

Synopsis: Discover what it's like to report to work every day for The Walt Disney Company. Step behind the scenes to immerse yourself in one "ordinary" day at Disney. In addition to the book, the Disney+ team was on hand to capture stories along the way. A full-length documentary and 52 short-form episodes expand the profiles and delve deeper into the essence of what it's like to be a Disney cast member.
On a Thursday in 2019, a small army of photographers and videographers scattered across the globe to capture what goes on beyond those tantalizing "Cast Members Only" doors - whether eavesdropping on historic endeavors or typical tasks. All the photos in this book were taken on that single Thursday, beginning early in Tokyo and following the sun around the world through Shanghai, Hong Kong, Paris, Madrid, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, and dozens of places throughout the United States. More than 40 hours after it began, the day ended as the sun set on the Aulani resort in Hawaii.
On that day, some 80 Cast Members agreed to open up their workshops, dressing rooms, kitchens, cubicles, TV studios, labs, locomotive engines - and some even more surprising and diverse work spaces. They also shared their stories: childhood dreams and chapters, career pivots and triumphs, workaday hurdles and joys. It was just a day in the life, as extraordinary as any other day at Disney. As any Cast Member can tell you, a Disney job is less a destination than a limitless journey. And for just One Day at Disney, we can all tag along for the ride.

Review: Okay let's start off this review by saying this is an amazing book. It's a documentary that covers the behind the scenes of Disney and... Guys... I'm in awe. I'm a Disney lover and I loved seeing all the bits and pieces that go into making every kid and kid at hearts dreams come true. The book is so cool and so special, definitely should be on your buy list if you or someone you know is a Disney lover. The writing makes you feel like you're having a personal conversation with these people and the art and pictures in it really make it a collectable of sorts. Definitely will be on my coffee table forever.

Verdict: Definitely a must for this holiday season. ...more

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Nov 15, 2019 J. rated it it was amazing

“A Disney job is less a destination than a limitless journey.” And boy, what a journey it is – even just in one day!

The unprecedented book-and-documentary collaboration between Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney+ explores what an “ordinary” day might look like for cast members at The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) across the globe and in various roles.

Cast members’ stories are captured by astonishing behind-the-scenes photos and engaging text. Safe to say, you are going to want this book on “A Disney job is less a destination than a limitless journey.” And boy, what a journey it is – even just in one day!

The unprecedented book-and-documentary collaboration between Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney+ explores what an “ordinary” day might look like for cast members at The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) across the globe and in various roles.

Cast members’ stories are captured by astonishing behind-the-scenes photos and engaging text. Safe to say, you are going to want this book on your coffee table. I was lucky enough to receive a pre-release copy, and I enjoyed it so much that I simply had to chase up editorial director Wendy Lefkon and author Bruce Steele to chat about it. Check out my interview with them at www.thedisneyblog.com

Wendy says, “[t]he team was surprised over and over by how many fascinating roles there are at the company.” From Bob Iger’s position as CEO; to Thomas Self, an attraction machinist who works predominantly under water(!); to Cyril Soreau, Disneyland Paris’s unique food sculptor; and lawyer-turned-Photopass photographer Fabiola Kersul De Salles, there are countless interesting and exciting roles and personalities at TWDC at every level.

There are some great trivia tidbits in there too: did you know that Disney Cruise Line required special permission from the U.S. Coast Guard to have yellow lifeboats instead of regulation-required orange? Naturally, the lifeboats had to be the same yellow as Mickey Mouse’s shoes!

My favorite story comes from Animator extraordinaire and Director of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Eric Goldberg. He recalls one phone call with a Disney recruiter: “Directors John Musker and Ron Clements are doing a movie of Aladdin and they’re getting Robin Williams for the genie. I don’t know if you’re interested.” You just can’t make that stuff up!

Each featured cast member’s favorite Disney film or attraction is another fun inclusion in the book – and the answers are equally diverse! Their input and experiences are just as magical as the memories they create, and TWDC need not look far for new story content. Every cast member’s journey could be the storyline for the Company’s next big hit.

One Day at Disney makes you feel like you can do it – whether that is pursuing your own dream of working at TWDC, or more generally applying the lessons therein to your everyday life. Ultimately, “one day” you’ll reach to infinity – and beyond! ...more

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Nov 26, 2019 Elisquared rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adult-books, family, nonfiction, owned, ya-middle-grade

When I was selected for this blog tour, I screamed. I have been wanting this book since I found out about it, and I have another copy waiting to ship out on December 3rd. Why you may ask? Because I am a DISNEY FANATIC!

My whole family lives, eats, and breathes Disney. We've been Annual Passholders since I was a child. We've seen almost every Disney movie (both animated and not), and yes, I'm talking even the old ones. We've been to both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, with plans on Disneyland When I was selected for this blog tour, I screamed. I have been wanting this book since I found out about it, and I have another copy waiting to ship out on December 3rd. Why you may ask? Because I am a DISNEY FANATIC!

My whole family lives, eats, and breathes Disney. We've been Annual Passholders since I was a child. We've seen almost every Disney movie (both animated and not), and yes, I'm talking even the old ones. We've been to both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, with plans on Disneyland Paris next year. We only go on Disney cruises (5 and counting). We've been to D23 (and would love to go again). We decorate our house with Disney. We collect Disney. WE LOVE DISNEY. So to be able to get my grubby mitts on this book all about working at Disney was amazing!!

Now, no matter how you feel about the Walt Disney Company, you have to admit, they put on a show for their guests. And in order to put that show on, they have to have a lot of help! Each cast member I have ever interacted with, from the maintenance staff to the head chef, has been welcoming and full of that Disney magic. To get to see the breath of jobs at the Walt Disney Company, and read about that cast members individual experience was so cool. You learn exactly what they do, and the possibilities are endless. While reading this book, I also learned some new things, which always makes me smile. Like the one cast member, Thom Self, who is an Attraction Machinist at Disneyland. Part of his job entails him diving under water to fix machine parts, like the animatronics in The Jungle Cruise, for example!! I didn't know that was a job!

Each chapter within the book is broken down into periods of time, starting with 12:00AM all the way through 12:00PM (hence, the title). This allows the book to focus not only on the U.S. Disney properties and jobs, but the international ones too! Besides the very cool interviews with actual working cast members, the photographs that accompany each essay are gorgeous! They showcase the cast member and some other bits that involve their job. Also, the addition of the documentary will really connect with the book. You can do a trial of Disney+ if you want to check the documentary out on December 5th! As a subscriber (pay for it all myself), I feel like it is definitely worth it.

I loved One Day at Disney, and it is the perfect coffee table book for my Disney crazy house. ...more

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Nov 28, 2019 BreeAnn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: childrens, middle-grade, non-fiction, disney

What I Loved:
The photographs in this book were amazing! Each page is filled with beautiful photos giving the reader a wonderful look into each cast member’s day. Some photos are head-shots of the cast, or while they are working. Other pages have multiple shots of the person working on something.

One of the many that I loved was Thomas Self. His page tells us that he is a machinist on The Jungle Cruise. The page talks about Thomas and his job. His photos though, were of him working on The Jungle ...more

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Nov 18, 2019 Olivia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: other-reviews

ONE DAY AT DISNEY is the charming coffee table book all Disney fans need. The book takes you on a photographic journey through many of the different jobs held by employees around the globe. The blurbs give a great idea about their job and why love doing it as well as the breadth of experience and job types. This was a really fascinating book to flip through and read.

Each person is featured in their job, from animatronics to analysis to hosting television shows on subsidiaries, and the fun detail ...more

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Dec 03, 2019 Holly (Texan Girl Reviews) rated it liked it

This was a really interesting book about what goes on behind the scenes at a place that everyone loves or wants to go visit!

With jaw-dropping photos of scenes that we all know and love from Disney to what it takes to run a company of that size, this book is truly amazing. My only issue with this book is the simple fact that it was focusing more on the shows than the actual park itself. Don't get me wrong, the pictures were breath-taking but I would have loved to see more of the park itself than ...more

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Jennifer Rummel rated it it was amazing
Nov 22, 2019

Mary Kate Heaton rated it really liked it
Dec 10, 2019

George Taylor rated it liked it
Nov 22, 2019

多奈 rated it really liked it
Dec 13, 2019

Dec 04, 2019 Callie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adorable, beautiful, creative, enchanting, eye-opening, non-fiction, one-sitting, powerful

“I believe that where words end, art begins.” - Jose Zelaya

What a beautiful book! If you love Disney, have ever dreamed of working for Disney, or are just curious about the people who make the magic, this is the book for you.

Definitely glad I added this one to my collection.

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