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But a new edition, with new stories, is available: The REVISED Vault of Walt.
But a new edition, with new stories, is available: The REVISED Vault of Walt.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Jim Korkis is an internationally respected Disney historian who has written hundreds of articles about all things Disney for over three decades. He is also an award winning teacher, professional actor and magician and author of several books about animation. He grew up in Glendale, California, right next to Burbank, the home of the Disney Studios. His third grade teacher at Thomas Edison Elementary School was Mrs. Disney, the wife of one of Walt Disney’s brothers. Upon discovering this fact, Jim took a large sheet of easel paper and drew a huge picture of Jiminy Cricket, his favorite Disney character at the time. He gave it to Mrs. Disney in the hopes that she would immediately take it to the Disney Studios where he would be offered a job and not have to learn his multiplication tables. He was not hired and still has trouble with math to this day. As a teenager, Jim wrote down the names he saw on the credits of Disney animated cartoons and went to the Glendale-Burbank phone book and cold called some of them. Many were gracious enough to ask him to visit them with the resulting articles sometimes appearing in the local newspapers or various “fan-zines” and magazines. Over the decades, Jim pursued a teaching career as well as a performing career but was still active in writing about Disney for various magazines. In 1995, he relocated to Orlando, Florida to take care of his ailing parents. He got a job doing magic and making balloon animals for guests at Pleasure Island. Within a month, he was moved over to the Magic Kingdom, where he “assisted in the portrayal of” Prospector Pat in Frontierland and Merlin in Fantasyland for the Sword in the Stone ceremony. He has pictures, videos and pay stubs to prove it. In 1996, he became a full time salaried animation instructor at the Disney Institute where he taught every animation class including several that only he taught. He also instructed classes on animation history and improvisational acting techniques for the interns at Disney Feature Animation Florida. As the Disney Institute re-organized, Jim joined Disney Adult Discoveries, the group who researched, wrote and facilitated backstage tours and programs for Disney guests and Disneyana conventions. Eventually, Jim moved to Epcot where he was a Coordinator with College and International Programs and then a Coordinator for the Epcot Disney Learning Center. During his time at Epcot, Jim researched, wrote and facilitated over two hundred different presentations on Disney history for Disney cast members and corporate clients including Feld Entertainment, Kodak, Blue Cross, Toys R Us, Military Sales and more. He was the off camera announcer for the syndicated television series Secrets of the Animal Kingdom, wrote articles for Disney publications like Disney Adventures, Disney Files (DVC), Sketches, Disney Insider and more. He worked on special projects like writing text for WDW trading cards, on camera host for the 100 Years of Magic Vacation Planning video, facilitator with the Disney Crew puppet show and countless other credits including assisting Disney Cruise Line, WDW Travel Company, Imagineering and Disney Design Group with Disney historical material. As a result, Jim was the recipient of the prestigious Disney award, Partners in Excellence, in 2004. Jim is not currently an employee of the Disney Company.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
72 of 73 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a wonderful collection of stories about the world of Disney, including stories about Walt himself. I am a huge Disney fan but do not typically read "unauthorized" books for fear of them being explotative and inaccurate. This volume is sanctioned by Disney's own daughter, Diane Disney Miller, by way of the foreward. If it is good enough for Disney's daughter, it is good enough for me. The stories are well researched and well written. Many of them are quite charming. The book is split into four areas of interest: Walt, the films, the park, and miscellaneous. The stories are self-contained and can be read in any order. Reading them is both easy and addictive, as they are formatted in bite-sized chunks that are hard to put down. Disney fans everywhere will love this volume.
I heartily recommend this book!
I heartily recommend this book!
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By Didier Ghez
Format:Paperback
This book clearly ranks among the 3 best Disney History books of 2010. Jim Korkis' research is precise and in-depth. The book focuses on rarely discussed areas of Disney history and manages to uncover countless facts and stories that had never appeared in any other books. A critical book to own for all serious Disney historians and enthusiasts.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By T. Stretch
Format:Paperback
Jim Korkis is the most respected and knowledgable Disney Historian I know. His stories capture the truth, while preserving the magic. A most read for every Disney Fan.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Korkis shines a light on nooks in Disney history that previous writers bypass or miss, revealing telling details about Walt's character and personal philosophy. His method is to gather source material when possible, so you will not find cut-and-paste passages from other writers' works. The Disney bibliography is huge, so it's impressive that Korkis reveals so much new information here. His love for Disney is apparent, but he is not a company bootlicker, and his tone is objective and fair. No scandals or unflattering tales are revealed, and frankly there aren't many when it comes to Walt Disney. Walt was a most decent person. The foreword by Diane Disney Miller (Walt's daughter) is sweet, and her endorsement is all you need to know that this book is on the right side of history.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've known Jim Korkis for several years and have enjoyed us sharing our love for the creative works of Walt Disney and the Disney Company. Over the years, Jim has shared many of his special Walt and Disney Co. tales with me. I'm glad that this book has finally been published to allow other Disney fans to enjoy a honest sharing of stories about Walt and the Disney Co. More than any other Disney historian I've known, Jim combines rare gifts in storytelling, liking Walt Disney without the hero worship, and not making too big a deal about Walt's faults - realizing Walt was human like the rest of us. I loved some of the stories in this book that I hadn't heard before and enjoyed the way the chapters are organized into different subject matter. I would very much welcome similar future books by Jim. He has numerous more stories to share - he is truly most deserving of the title DISNEY HISTORIAN.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By M.B.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an awesome book written so that you can read the chapters in any order you choose. A series of stories that you will most likly not find anywhere else. Disney Historian Jim Korkis is a great writer and speaker who has done great research and interviews with those who were there making history with Walt Disney. Walt's daughter, Diane Disney Miller wrote the foreword to this book and she consults Jim when she is unsure of things about her father. One of the few Disney History books I recommend...and I have read most of them.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By donmil
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have enjoyed the stories in this book so far. It is nice to be able to pick it up and read a complete story in just a few pages. Jim Korkis is a great storyteller!
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By qwerty
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is filled with really unique and interesting stories. I have read countless books about Disney, and still came across many factoids in this book that I had never seen before.
However, I cannot give it a glowing review because of Korkis' writing style. It is choppy and does not flow well. It isn't even particularly captivating, which is strange because the stories themselves should be far more interesting to read. In addition, the book is riddled with grammatical errors, something that is unforgivable in an era of spell-check.
Overall, the stories are great but the way in which they are presented is not.
However, I cannot give it a glowing review because of Korkis' writing style. It is choppy and does not flow well. It isn't even particularly captivating, which is strange because the stories themselves should be far more interesting to read. In addition, the book is riddled with grammatical errors, something that is unforgivable in an era of spell-check.
Overall, the stories are great but the way in which they are presented is not.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Vault of Walt.
This is so interesting and if you are a Disney Fan it is well worth the read. Things I never knew.
Published 11 days ago by Cynthia Schafer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!
Finally a book with fun and interesting facts that we haven't all heard before. If you want the truth, buy this book!
Published 1 month ago by Claude Herbert
5.0 out of 5 stars
Always a great read
Jim Korkis always fills his books chock full of great and interesting stories. Reads quick, and if you buy the printed version this could make a great "bathroom book" for... Read more
Published 3 months ago by R. Sohor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vault of Info
This book covers lots of disney stories in a well organized manner, very easy to read and fun. Has a few stories never read in other Disney books, and tells stories told elsewhere... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Disney Fans
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heartwarming & humorous
A selection of great little stories by a Disney insider & historian, this book is a must read for any Disney fan. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Wulfstan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice
My husband loves this book. It was a stocking stuffer and he stills flips back through it a year later finding new facts.
Published 5 months ago by Angela Concannon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun to read
I only wish there were more stories, The stories are very interesting for any Disney fan. I could not put it down when I first got it. Read more
Published 6 months ago by C. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Disney Gold
Jim Korkis knows more about All Things Disney than anyone alive, and he's a pretty good story-teller too. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Richard Mercer
5.0 out of 5 stars
My First Review....Ever!
A lot of reviews have been posted about The Vault of Walt, and I'm not sure what I can add to the mix, but I do have two cents and they're burning a hole in my pocket. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Don Lockwood
2.0 out of 5 stars
Failed to deliver on the promise
As a few others have pointed out, the author clearly knows his Disney stories, and apparently knows many former Disney employees. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Jeffrey I. Gordon
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