What do you think?
Rate this book
Disney Magic: The Launching of a Dream
The dreammakers of Disney have done it again! Disney Magic celebrates the creation of a cruise ship different from all others. This keepsake volume reveals how the Disney Cruise Line creative team turned a dream, long held by Walt Disney, into reality. It documents the care, innovation and originality that led to the birth of a remarkable ship. Discover why the Walt Disney Company decided to enter the cruise industry, what prompted the decision to design a fanciful, modern classic, and how the ship's storyline sets it apart from all others in the water today.
Richly illustrated with more than 180 never-before-seen images, Disney Magic includes preliminary exterior design sketches, photographs of the ship's bow being towed up the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Italy for the "Float Together" and a vintage shot of Walt Disney himself aboard the Italian luxury liner The Rex. The images provide a taste of the ship's evolution, examining what went into designing and building not only its body, but the highly distinctive interiors. Be dazzled by insights into little known details of the Disney Magic.
~ dustjacket synopsis
Richly illustrated with more than 180 never-before-seen images, Disney Magic includes preliminary exterior design sketches, photographs of the ship's bow being towed up the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Italy for the "Float Together" and a vintage shot of Walt Disney himself aboard the Italian luxury liner The Rex. The images provide a taste of the ship's evolution, examining what went into designing and building not only its body, but the highly distinctive interiors. Be dazzled by insights into little known details of the Disney Magic.
~ dustjacket synopsis
96 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 1998
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 22, 2018
Published in 1998, this keepsake book focuses on the development of the Disney Cruise Line, with special focus on the ship Disney Magic. This ship's build began in 1997 in the port of Marghera, Italy. Disney CEO Michael Eisner was inspired to create a cruise line exclusive to the company after touring various popular cruise lines and noticing too much of what he saw as "glassed over floating hotels". Eisner wanted the Disney ships to have a more classic look, something that harkened back to the halcyon days of luxury sea travel. He also wanted to offer a more magical and cozy experience to families. Following an initial billion dollar investment, the dream gradually became a reality.
Disney Magic, the flagship, was built with inspiration primarily being pulled from two sources: the Queen Mary and a general incorporation of Scandinavian ship design. This book gives readers not only text detailing the project but also a step-by-step visual of the ship (and thus the Disney Cruise Line itself) slowly coming to fruition. Looking at the pictures of the interior now, many will see the chosen fabrics seem pretty dated now (they read VERY 90s, lol) but still, there's something about the nostalgia it now brings forth. Along with the photos of the project itself, also incorporated around the text are vintage photographs of the days of sailing that inspired the vision for the Disney Cruise Line, sketches of the ship design (preliminary suggestions for styling, cabin set up, etc) as well as some rarely seen photographs of the man Walt Disney himself.
It's an interesting and easy read if you have interest in Disney history or shipbuilding techniques (or both!). The bonus of the photographs is extra fun!
Disney Magic, the flagship, was built with inspiration primarily being pulled from two sources: the Queen Mary and a general incorporation of Scandinavian ship design. This book gives readers not only text detailing the project but also a step-by-step visual of the ship (and thus the Disney Cruise Line itself) slowly coming to fruition. Looking at the pictures of the interior now, many will see the chosen fabrics seem pretty dated now (they read VERY 90s, lol) but still, there's something about the nostalgia it now brings forth. Along with the photos of the project itself, also incorporated around the text are vintage photographs of the days of sailing that inspired the vision for the Disney Cruise Line, sketches of the ship design (preliminary suggestions for styling, cabin set up, etc) as well as some rarely seen photographs of the man Walt Disney himself.
It's an interesting and easy read if you have interest in Disney history or shipbuilding techniques (or both!). The bonus of the photographs is extra fun!
August 30, 2023
A lovely quick read about the design process for the first Disney Cruise Ship. The pictures are wonderful, though I wish there were a few more stories!
October 5, 2016
Bookworm Speaks!
Disney Magic
The Launching of a Dream
by John Hemingway
****
Acquired: Rudi Steele Travel
Series: Disney Editions Deluxe (1998)
Hardcover: 96 Pages
Language: English
****
Note: Bookworm’s speciality is fiction, no surprises there. That is what he chooses to read most of the time but he also dives into the world of the factual. However It is difficult to review non-fiction. It follows a different set of rules and its hard to say how a story flows when dealing with facts. How do you review a textbook? Thankfully, many non-fiction books also use literally techniques in order to truly convey a story and that is something Bookworm can work with! So without further ado…
Disney Magic: The Launching of a Dream!
The Story: The dreammakers of Disney have done it again! Disney Magic celebrates the creation of a cruise ship different from all others. This keepsake volume reveals how the Disney Cruise Line creative team turned a dream, long held by Walt Disney, into reality.
It documents the care, innovation, and originality that led to the birth of a remarkable ship. Discover why The Walt Disney Company decide to enter the cruise industry, what prompted the decision to design a fanciful, modern classic and how the ship’s storyline sets it apart from all others in the water today.
Richly illustrated with more the 180 never-before-seen images, Disney Magic, includes preliminary exterior design sketches, photographs of the ship’s bow being towed up the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Italy for the “Float Together,” and a vintage shot of Walt Disney himself aboard the Italian luxury liner The Rex. The images provide a taste of the ship’s evolution, examining what went into designing and building not only its body, but the highly distinctive interiors. Be dazzled by insights into little know details of the Disney Magic.
The Review: When Bookworm was a kid, he and his family went on one of the inaugural voyages of the Disney Magic and it remains one of his most memorable experiences.
In the age of the airline, it is easy to overlook the cruise liner as being little more than a novelty, used solely for vacationing. Many go out of their way to vilify the whole experience of cruising, saying its a ripoff or its unpleasant. Whether or not they are right or wrong, the fact remains that the cruise liners of yore were an essential part of the global transportation system. Those mighty ships proved an essential link between the continents, carrying passengers on tour or those seeking a better life, like what the Titanic could’ve been. While briefly, the book provides a snapshot of that bygone era, and set the stage for what the Disney Cruise Line would try to become, capture that lost age.
What does well is the best kind of non-fiction, one that tells a story. The book is filled with personal anecdotes of then Disney Personnel that were involved in the project. There is plenty of technical stuff to be had but it is carefully balanced by the imagery and how the author presented them. We are not reading facts about the Disney Magic, we’re reading the story of how the Disney Magic Came to be.
One of Bookworm’s favorite parts is the showcasing of concept artwork for the ship, particularly the futuristic SS Fantasia. It would have been interesting to see that one built. The Disney is regarded as modern classic and through the text, it shows.
It goes into far more detail than just design work though. Nearly every detail of the ship’s, design, construction, and assembly is shown to the reader without getting too much into the nitty-gritty which would most likely bore all but nautical nerds. Even though the Disney Cruise Line has been in existence for over twenty years, reading this book make’s it all seem new again.
Final Verdict: Disney Magic: The Launching of a Dream is an excellent addition to the collection of any Disney fan and/or fan of the high seas. It showcases a slice of history from a legendary company. It makes Bookworm want to go at sea once more.
Five Anchors out of Five
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
Disney Magic
The Launching of a Dream
by John Hemingway
****
Acquired: Rudi Steele Travel
Series: Disney Editions Deluxe (1998)
Hardcover: 96 Pages
Language: English
****
Note: Bookworm’s speciality is fiction, no surprises there. That is what he chooses to read most of the time but he also dives into the world of the factual. However It is difficult to review non-fiction. It follows a different set of rules and its hard to say how a story flows when dealing with facts. How do you review a textbook? Thankfully, many non-fiction books also use literally techniques in order to truly convey a story and that is something Bookworm can work with! So without further ado…
Disney Magic: The Launching of a Dream!
The Story: The dreammakers of Disney have done it again! Disney Magic celebrates the creation of a cruise ship different from all others. This keepsake volume reveals how the Disney Cruise Line creative team turned a dream, long held by Walt Disney, into reality.
It documents the care, innovation, and originality that led to the birth of a remarkable ship. Discover why The Walt Disney Company decide to enter the cruise industry, what prompted the decision to design a fanciful, modern classic and how the ship’s storyline sets it apart from all others in the water today.
Richly illustrated with more the 180 never-before-seen images, Disney Magic, includes preliminary exterior design sketches, photographs of the ship’s bow being towed up the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Italy for the “Float Together,” and a vintage shot of Walt Disney himself aboard the Italian luxury liner The Rex. The images provide a taste of the ship’s evolution, examining what went into designing and building not only its body, but the highly distinctive interiors. Be dazzled by insights into little know details of the Disney Magic.
The Review: When Bookworm was a kid, he and his family went on one of the inaugural voyages of the Disney Magic and it remains one of his most memorable experiences.
In the age of the airline, it is easy to overlook the cruise liner as being little more than a novelty, used solely for vacationing. Many go out of their way to vilify the whole experience of cruising, saying its a ripoff or its unpleasant. Whether or not they are right or wrong, the fact remains that the cruise liners of yore were an essential part of the global transportation system. Those mighty ships proved an essential link between the continents, carrying passengers on tour or those seeking a better life, like what the Titanic could’ve been. While briefly, the book provides a snapshot of that bygone era, and set the stage for what the Disney Cruise Line would try to become, capture that lost age.
What does well is the best kind of non-fiction, one that tells a story. The book is filled with personal anecdotes of then Disney Personnel that were involved in the project. There is plenty of technical stuff to be had but it is carefully balanced by the imagery and how the author presented them. We are not reading facts about the Disney Magic, we’re reading the story of how the Disney Magic Came to be.
One of Bookworm’s favorite parts is the showcasing of concept artwork for the ship, particularly the futuristic SS Fantasia. It would have been interesting to see that one built. The Disney is regarded as modern classic and through the text, it shows.
It goes into far more detail than just design work though. Nearly every detail of the ship’s, design, construction, and assembly is shown to the reader without getting too much into the nitty-gritty which would most likely bore all but nautical nerds. Even though the Disney Cruise Line has been in existence for over twenty years, reading this book make’s it all seem new again.
Final Verdict: Disney Magic: The Launching of a Dream is an excellent addition to the collection of any Disney fan and/or fan of the high seas. It showcases a slice of history from a legendary company. It makes Bookworm want to go at sea once more.
Five Anchors out of Five
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews