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

Bruce Steele,

Bob Iger (Introduction)

4.39 · Rating details · 217 ratings · 48 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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Average rating 4.39 ·

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· 217 ratings · 48 reviews

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Dec 15, 2019 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: disney, nonfiction, coffee-table-books

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: earc-netgalley-copy, on-my-shelves, 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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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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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: 2020, non-fiction

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, read-2021, 2019-releases, young-adult

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, disney-addict, swon2020

Very cool.

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Feb 28, 2020 Danielle rated it liked it

Shelves: disney, pop-culture, nonfiction

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: disney, nonfiction

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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Nov 15, 2019 Jess 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 you “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: family, nonfiction, adult-books, owned, fav-adult

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 P 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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