Customer Reviews

Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real

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well, it finally arrived today. like many disney releases, this one had been pushed back more than once for release, and when it finally settled in for a may pre-order, i got the jitters and plunked down my cash.

soooooo glad i did. disneyphiles, armchair imagineers and theme park design buffs--buy this book, and buy it NOW.

the design is unbelievably lavish and jam-packed with never (i have every book ever written about the disney parks, and i mean NEVER) before seen photographs and concept art. there were maybe only about ten or so images in the entire 192 page volume i recognized. the layout style and writing tone (cute puns for subheads, etc) are very consistent with the original book, and even the form factor is the same, making it a perfect companion up on your shelf.

since the first volume came out in 1996, we've seen the openings of animal kingdom, tokyo disneysea, california adventure, disney studios paris and now hong kong disneyland. as such, this new book focuses on pretty much 1983 to the present. earlier works are presented only in limited nostalgic contexts, but even then, they try to use art that wasn't in the first book. and from the looks of things, they were adding content right up until the publisher deadline, because there is a lot of "blue sky" material from DCA's current billion-dollar makeover.

the most rewarding goodies, however, are the numerous multi-page gatefolds and "mini" content pockets scattered throughout the text. they are all thoughtfully covered with tissue sheets to prevent damage during shipping, so just carefully remove those when you unwrap the book and enjoy. i know disney fans hate spoilers, so i won't even hint at what these special bits contain--but know that disney put extra love and care (and added expense) into designing a book that is worth every penny you'll pay for the (discounted) amazon price.

i loved the first book, and this second one is truly a knockout. can't wait to read it cover to cover, captions and all.

This is definitely the best Imagineering book I own. The pictures alone are worth the price. I really like all of the little surprises they hide in the pages, it shows you they put a lot of effort into this one. If you are a fan of Imagineering in any way this book is a must have and if you are looking to get your first book on the subject I would definitely suggest this one.

This is a wonderful follow up to Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making The Magic Real. It takes on a slightly different approach to explaining the creative process of the Imagineers. It is divided into three main parts; Part I Theory, Part II Tools, and Part III Portfolio. This book is so much fun to read with some of the most amazing and colorful photos, concept art, and drawing. It also has some special treats packed inside like many fold-out pages and a brochure. This is the most amazing Imagineering books I've read and one of the greatest Disney books in general. If you have any interest in how they create Disney Parks, by all means get this book. It looks great inside and out and you'll have a blast reading it!

Okay, I admit it. I'm a Disney Parks junkie. I've only been to Disneyland twice, but I've been to Disney World only a few more times than I care to admit.

I read the first Imagineering book several years ago, and always thought with the advancements and new attractions in place, there should be another. Well Uncle Walt's minions have answered the call. I have the first Imagineering book in soft cover, but this tome is an imposing 10.25" x 13.25" hardcover coffee table book, 200 pages of gorgeous Disney eye candy.

From a transparent blueprint overlay on a picture of Cindy's Castle, to a couple of booklets pasted to some pages (ala Disney Treasures, but not as artifact heavy), to several fold out pages, it keeps the kid in you fiddling with the book while looking at all the pictures. You can always read the text later. It's Disney Imagineering showing off their best stuff.

The first book covered a lot of the history of the parks. That covered, this one is more attractions, future plans and the act of being an Imagineer. It won't give you everything you want to know, but it gives enough to make you smile. I hope we won't have to wait over a decade for the next volume...

Highly recommended for the Disney Parks fan. (All of them, from Paris to Tokyo, not only the American parks.) Less so for the cruise people, but Disney Cruise is in the book too.

I adored the earlier Imagineering book and have been waiting years for a follow-up. This is more than worth the wait as rather than just update the previous volume, you get slews of brand new insight to how Imagineering works. The categories are great, ranging from model work (computers may be nice but you can't beat good old-fashioned models to show how things will look and work in real life) to painting, sculpting, robotics, electronics, effects and more. It's not just the parks but hotels and the Disney Cruise Line, keeping the magic overseas. All that I expected but there are other great tidbits that were fun:

*How they remade and updated classic attractions like the Haunted Mansion in 2007 and It's a Small World.
*Adapting favorite attractions for oversea audiences. For example, because "The Twilight Zone" isn't big in Japan, the Tower of Terror for Tokyo Disneyland had to have a completely different story.
*The directors of "The Little Mermaid" movie working with the Imagineers on bringing a ride based on the film to life.
*The rules of Imagineering, showing that, despite what detractors say, they always have the guests in mind when they come up with stuff.

There's also great looks at what to expect with the redo of California Adventure and "Cars Land," the new Fantasyland, Hong Kong Disneyland attractions and more. For any fan of Disney, this is a must-have volume that makes what Imagineers do all the more fantastic and impressive.

I have every book I can find from the Imagineers. This book is the best of them all! The renderings are stunning, and the fold out displays are brilliant! Amazing book! Lots of details on Tokyo Disney and DisneySea.

This long awaited companion sequel to the first Disney Imagineering book is well worth the purchase. The Imagineers take you layers and levels deeper into the the magic making process in a way that is educational, intrigueing, inspires creativity, and best of all enhances the Disney magic. One might think that letting the "cat out of the bag" would reduce the magic--not true, it actually increaces it. This book is equally suited for both the individual who has a passing curiosity about how "they" do it, to those who are would be imagineers. IT IS A MUST HAVE!!!

The book has tons of amazing photos of the parks - many from Tokyo Disney Resort, which is in itself an amazing park.

Bravo! I was a big fan of the original book that came out in the 90's so I was excited to finally see an updated version. This book offers a beautiful, behind-the-scenes look at everything it takes to truly make theme park magic. Well done!

Very informative and great pictures with lots of details. Very nice "coffee table" book.