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

Bruce Steele,

Bob Iger (Introduction)

4.40 · Rating details · 229 ratings · 50 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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· 229 ratings · 50 reviews

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Dec 15, 2019 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: disney, coffee-table-books, nonfiction

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour.

When I first heard about this book I was beyond excited because I actually have the old One Day at Disney book that Disney put out in 2000. That book shows one day at the Disney parks.

This book goes above and beyond the parks and shows cast members in all areas of the company. I loved the range of people and jobs they showcased. One of my favorites was Thomas Self, who checks the underwater mechanics of The Ju ...more

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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 da ...more

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Dec 29, 2019 Madi ~☆TheBookNerdDiaries☆~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-owned, signed

I love Disney so much 🥺🥺🥺

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Apr 02, 2020 Elise rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction-read

I really enjoyed reading the stories of the people who work for Disney and the various jobs they do. I found it to be inspiring.

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Jun 17, 2020 Allison rated it it was amazing

Such a fun read! Incredible to think about all the different jobs going on all day long at any given point in time at the whole of Disney enterprises. It was so interesting to read about various cast members' backgrounds, journeys to Disney, and their current Disney jobs. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. ...more

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Nov 19, 2019 Angela Cuéllar rated it it was amazing

Shelves: on-my-shelves, earc-netgalley-copy, non-fiction, 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 dream ...more

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Feb 03, 2020 Logan Brown rated it really liked it

Super fascinating read! I’m knocking a star off because the book is so big it’s hard to hold comfortably and because I would have liked to see more profiles on “everyday people.” It was interesting to see facets of the company I’d never thought of before, but more frontline theme park and retail CM features would have been nice.

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Dec 15, 2019 Cori rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019-books-read, books-i-want-to-buy

Beautiful, well-photographed coffee table book highlighting different Disney cast members, both those behind-the-scenes and those on stage. Has inspired my children to find more nuances in their future Imagineering dreams.

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Feb 16, 2021 Jordan Lynch rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2021, blog-book-reviews, nonfiction

When snowy winter weather has me stuck inside and wishing for a little sunshine, one of my first reactions is to turn to my go-to sources of smiles and laughter: Disney. No, that doesn’t mean going to one of the parks (I wish!), but it does mean that I pull up a movie or show on Disney+ or listen to some of my favorite theme park area music (the music from Tomorrowland is a particular favorite of mine). This week, however, I found myself pulled towards a Christmas present I had yet to crack: a c When snowy winter weather has me stuck inside and wishing for a little sunshine, one of my first reactions is to turn to my go-to sources of smiles and laughter: Disney. No, that doesn’t mean going to one of the parks (I wish!), but it does mean that I pull up a movie or show on Disney+ or listen to some of my favorite theme park area music (the music from Tomorrowland is a particular favorite of mine). This week, however, I found myself pulled towards a Christmas present I had yet to crack: a copy of One Day at Disney. The coffee table book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the magical jobs of dozens of Disney cast members from all across the world on an “ordinary Thursday in 2019.” From performers in Spain, New York, and Hawaii and wardrobe specialists in California and Hong Kong to engineers, animators, and creators across the world, One Day at Disney shows off the countless facets of the beloved company while showcasing those whose hard work and dedication make the magic happen.

The book is split into eight chapters, each following a three hour period beginning at midnight. This setup is a nod to the international nature of Disney and the Cast Members around the world. While American workers are still fast asleep, Cast Members in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong are in the midst of their day, and the structure of the chapters around time periods allows the book to easily feature these international workers. It also allows a few particularly unique jobs to be featured, such as Thomas Self, an attraction machinist at Disneyland who performs his underwater maintenance overnight so as not to be seen by guests and destroy the illusion, and Anthony Salvaggio, part of Disneyland’s window display team who works through the night and into the wee hours of the morning to make it appear as if the seasonal and holiday window displays magically appear overnight.

As the book moves throughout the day, readers are introduced to Cast Members of all positions and all parts of the Disney company. This includes more recent acquisitions such as Marvel and Lucasfilms in addition to the parks, the animation studios, and merchandising. I personally didn’t care so much for the pieces on the television and film personalities as I feel that these individuals are already well-known; yes, the book did show a more exclusive look at the roles they play as part of the Disney company, but I was much more interested in the “regular” Cast Members who aren’t splashed across screens and magazines, whose names I only know because of this book. That being said, the organizers of this book did make these Cast Members more of the main focus, but I would have rather met a half dozen more of them rather than getting pieces on Robin Roberts or Brie Larson, especially because some of the people included have such amazing jobs.

Take Cyril Soreau, for example. Cyril is a fruit and vegetable sculptor at Disneyland Paris, a position he created for himself by combining his passions for food and drawing. Or security host Peter Dufour who gets to meet military veterans as part of the Flag Retreat ceremony he participates in each day. Or Kenneth Ko, a member of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort’s custodial team who brought the amazing cement water art feature to his home park. The range of jobs at Disney is just astounding, and I loved reading about how the different Cast Members made the jobs their own and really embraced their role in the magic. The gorgeous photography makes these stories shine even brighter, and I could definitely go for another coffee table book just of random park shots and Cast Members going about their day.

One Day at Disney proves that Disney is a place for people from all different backgrounds and interests. It’s also a place where even the smallest or strangest passions can lead to a dream career. A young girl who loved making her own stuffed animals can create interactive animatronic creatures. A scientist researching organic synthesis and polymer can help create a new synthetic skin that makes an robotic alien shaman seem incredibly lifelike. A ranch hand can find herself driving Cinderella’s Coach and ensuring a bride’s big day is as magical as she’s always dreamed. Everyone can find their place at Disney, and every job is important in helping the magic run smoothly. One Day at Disney proves this fact and has fun doing it. If you’re a Disney fan, you need this beautiful book in your collection. ...more

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Sep 02, 2020 Kathleen rated it really liked it

A companion coffee table book to the Disney+ series "One Day at Disney" . Disney fans will enjoy the profiles of cast members who have "dream jobs' and what it took to get there. The profiles span a wide variety of park jobs and those in the entertainment/tv side. Overall, it does show the wide variety of jobs that members have such as underwater mechanic, boat driver for parades, chocolateirs, animators, production assistant, sports announcers. I do wish it had shown a few more regular and entr ...more

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Oct 21, 2020 Brian rated it it was amazing

This was a dazzling book that was a bit sad to read during the current Covid pandemic. This book features about 100 Disney employees that run the gamut from greeters all the way to the CEO of the Disney company. Each employee's job is showcased as well as a brief background of how they got into the job. The pictures are bright and vibrant and the content is very interesting. I sadly wondered if many of them are still working during this crazy time. This is a great book for a Disney fan who wants ...more

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Feb 24, 2021 Nicki Bonczyk rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 21, 2020 James Kennedy Public Library rated it really liked it

Shelves: new-september

This is an interesting and fun overview of all the kinds of jobs at Disney (both the parks around the world and their affiliates) and what those people do. It is amazing to see the variety of jobs at Disney and when they work (note: people are working around the clock). It is 1-2 pages per person in each job. And the photos are amazing! If you are a Disney fan this is an interesting behind-the-scenes peek.

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Apr 15, 2020 Sara rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, 2020

So much fun to read about the wide range of people, positions and places that fall under the Disney umbrella. I appreciated the attention to diversity. This book feels a little bit bittersweet knowing changes will be necessary due to the pandemic crisis and wondering what parts of the company will remain at the end.

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Jan 01, 2021 Danielle rated it it was amazing

It was so interesting to read and learn about just some of the people that work at Disney. This is a great coffee table book. It did make me a little sad though because with Covid-19, I know some of these people did lose their jobs and that is super sad also because everyone in this book gives their heart to the magic of Disney.

PopSugar 2021- Book of a different format (coffee table book)

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Apr 03, 2020 Gina Collett rated it it was amazing

So much love for this! I can’t say enough positive things so I may not even try other then this was a brilliant project to highlight the variety of hardworking Cast Members that collaborate to make the magic! Thank you so much!

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Apr 19, 2020 Lori Lim rated it it was amazing

Gorgeous book! Loved how they put it together and the work all these people do. It was very interesting. The photographs are spectacular. This is not a book to read all in one sitting. Read a few stories or a chapter at a time and savor the beautiful stories.

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Jan 09, 2021 Carter rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, 5-star-reads, young-adult, 2019-releases, read-2021

Disney has been in my life forever like many others. I have wanted to work at Disney for so long and seeing people who actually work there and see a behind the scenes look was amazing.
Loved this book!

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Oct 06, 2020 Laurietocomcast.Net rated it it was amazing

Loved it! So fascinating to discover all of the different behind the scenes jobs across the Disney umbrella.

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Nov 08, 2020 Francine Chu rated it really liked it

Can’t help wondering what happened to all these Disney staff during this difficult time of COVID-19 though 😞

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Nov 20, 2020 Jacob rated it liked it

Cool idea, average execution. I would’ve loved to have seen more behind the scenes photos and more details about the jobs. Cut half of the people out but dig deeper into the other half.

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Dec 08, 2020 Tony & rated it really liked it

I just wish this book was all about cast members and performers in the musicals and stage shows.

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Jan 02, 2021 Zoe Neale rated it it was amazing

Brining the magic of Disney to your home. Although this book was designed to be more of a coffee table book I've got to say I devoured it in all of 2 sittings. It was enlightening and fascinating to read the scope of the Disney company and how there is a magic sparkle inside every role. If you love anything 'behind the scenes' and want to know more about the structure of Disney this book is for you. ...more

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Jan 24, 2020 Christina rated it liked it

Shelves: public-library, biography, disney

I saw this on Amazon, and it seemed interesting, though not interesting enough for me to buy it. Fortunately, I have a wonderful local library. A recent release, they didn’t have it in their collection, and the closest copy available through inter-library loan was several states away. So I suggested it via my library’s on-line form, and in a day or so received an e-mail that the book would be ordered, and shortly after another e-mail to let me know it was a available to check out. (They don’t al I saw this on Amazon, and it seemed interesting, though not interesting enough for me to buy it. Fortunately, I have a wonderful local library. A recent release, they didn’t have it in their collection, and the closest copy available through inter-library loan was several states away. So I suggested it via my library’s on-line form, and in a day or so received an e-mail that the book would be ordered, and shortly after another e-mail to let me know it was a available to check out. (They don’t always agree to requests, but must have agreed this was worth having in the collection.)

Unfortunately, the book doesn’t fully line up with the description. My understanding was this book gave an inside look at the average day of numerous Disney employees around the world all on the same day, giving the reader an idea of what a typical day working for Disney is like. I believe it was probably photographed all on the same day, and the photos are beautifully produced in this over-sized coffee table volume. However, the text doesn’t focus on what they are doing on that day, but is rather a one page biography following a standard Disney-relevant format. Where they are from, their job title, a favorite Disney movie or ride, how they came to work for Disney, what they love about their job at Disney, maybe a brief anecdote featuring a special Disney memory. Also, the majority of the employees (probably 90%) are American, so if you’re looking for insight into the parks in other countries, you’ll find limited information. The employees seem carefully selected to showcase the whole Disney empire, not just the obvious parks and Disney movie people, but people involved with ABC, ESPN, Marvel, Star Wars, Disney Plus, Disney Cruise Lines, and Disney musicals. I recognize that Marvel and Star Wars are now part of the Disney empire, but as they were well established before acquired, the heavy focus on Marvel in a “Disney” book feels off-brand.

Being published by Disney Press, it’s not surprising that everything is positive, and many of the employees conclude with a statement of how much they love working at Disney, their dream job. Granted, I know it may be a great job, but it’s still a job and every job has down sides. The overall effect feels less like an insightful look at reality and more like an expensive, 200-page piece of marketing from Disney Human Resources. There’s even a vaguely sycophantic two page spread full of photos of Disney CEO Bob Iger in a nondescript conference room during a meeting where the two photos on the previous page were enough, particularly as none of the photos are captioned indicating who the people are.

There were some interesting jobs, like a man who is creating animatronic stunt robots that can do aerial gymnastics (but, it’s carefully stated, are not intended to replace human stunt workers), or a man who carves melons and gourds into elaborate images in Disneyland Paris.

Disney fans, the obvious audience, and particularly anyone who dreams of one day working at Disney, will probably enjoy this book as it shows a very wide range of jobs and job skills, from acting and artists to science and construction, to food service and marketing. There are also several celebrities featured, including Robin Roberts, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Anthony Anderson, and Brie Larson.

This is the kind of book that will quickly becomes dated—in fact already feels on the cusp as it focuses on a single Thursday in 2019. But beyond that, they are careful not to reveal anything to early in development, but promote 2019 releases. The result is the book features Frozen 2 and Captain Marvel; The Mandalorian and a High School Musical TV show on the newly launched Disney Plus; the final season of Modern Family and current season of Black-ish; the musicals of Frozen and Aladdin currently on Broadway; and several references to the new Pandora attraction at Animal Kingdom and refurbishments to Pirates of the Caribbean. Most of these, just months after publication, are already becoming old news. Had the book been balanced with more references to classic or just older movies, shows and attractions, the book would have a more timeless quality, but I acknowledge given the premise it’s hard to fault a focus on the present.

Though generally beautifully produced, the text was at times physically difficult to read after a while, as all it’s a white font on a black background, and in the necessary good lighting the glossy pages kept reflecting light and blocking the text. They also didn’t adjust spacing when setting the smooth margins, leaving large gaps between some words. This is the kind of thing that is usually corrected with proofreading after typesetting, but given the scope of the content, the production schedule may have been rushed.

I think avid Disney fans will really enjoy this, but for me it was just okay. I think they prioritized the visual aspect of this book over the text too much for my tastes. ...more

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Mar 16, 2020 Josef Ploski rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction-entertaintment, photography-graphic-arts

I enjoyed this book very much, but make no mistake it is nothing more than corporate propaganda. The majority of the people featured in this are college educated individuals or those who climbed the ladder from hotdog vendor to director of print advertising. I was hoping to find, but not surprised when I didn't, the story of a Disney lawyer or executive who is in charge of mergers, acquisitions, or copyright infringement. Disney has the market cornered on PR and customer service, but there is no ...more

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Mar 10, 2020 Sarah rated it really liked it

A wonderful, behind-the-scenes look at the Disney Company--especially the parts that delved into the lives of "everyday" people rather than those who are always in the spotlight. For that reason, I liked the first half of the book better--which seemed to focus more on security guards, Imagineers, park employees, etc.--and less on people like Brie Larson and other celebrities. Parts of the book were obviously focused on "drumming up" interest in Disney's most recent endeavors, and so could feel a ...more

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Mar 09, 2020 Amanda [Novel Addiction] rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, swon2020, disney-addict

Very cool.

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Feb 28, 2020 Danielle rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, pop-culture, disney

This is easily the longest promotional booklet I've ever read, but it was still fun. It's definitely interesting that that three months after this was published, it's already out-of-date re. Bob Iger.

Obviously it's 100% positive about the Disney experience and doesn't mention anything negative - I was thinking about this while reading about Modern Family's LGBT impact, when Disney+ just passed on the Love, Simon spin-off for their service. Disney is a soulless corporation with no values, but it' ...more

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Feb 29, 2020 Sesana rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, disney

Great pictures, a good diversity of people represented (everything from movie stars to tree trimmers), and it seems to cover all aspects of the Disney company. Sure, it's a sunny look, but I didn't expect anything else. ...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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