When one hears the phrase, “ The Happiest Place on Earth,” the first thing that may come to mind is Walt Disney World. Disney World has be known to be one of the biggest and most popular vacation destinations in the world. In the book Walt Disney World: Then, Now, and Forever by Bruce Gordon and Jeff Kurtti, an overview is given about of one of the greatest entertainment achievements of the twentieth century. This magical place alone has impacted generation after generation, and it continues to grow to be one of the most successful companies of all time.
This book takes you on a journey through the evolution of Disney World, from opening day, to the creation of four major theme parks with attractions in all of them, to resort hotels, water parks and shopping for guests. It goes into depth of the theme parks, with Magic Kingdom being considered the heart of Disney World, EPCOT being the innovative park, Hollywood Studios being the glamorous, dreamlike, filmmaking park, and Animal Kingdom being the park filled with adventure and animal life. Also, this book lets you live the experience of fun by reading about the resorts, water parks, parades, fireworks, and celebrations of the world. It also gives behind the scenes look at new attractions coming along with never-before-seen photos.
One of my favorite parts about reading this book was the chapter titled Adventures. This was when the park Animal Kingdom was introduced, which is my favorite park at Disney World. I also enjoyed the chapter titled, Thrills, because it mentioned each of my favorite rides, including Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, and Rock ‘N Roller Coaster. Reading this made me think of my trips to Disney World, and this brought back happy memories wishing I was there.
The main idea of this book and the message it gives is to tell the story of how Disney World evolved, from when it opened on October 25, 1971 to now, with previews of the latest innovations that are to come. This story is to show people how much Walt Disney World has impacted lives all around the world. This wonderful place is so much more than a vacation hotspot. It truly is a magical place filled with dreamers, new ideas, happiness, wonder, and excitement. Walt Disney World: Then, Now, and Forever gives us the message telling us it is okay to be a kid again because everyone needs a little magic in their lives.
My overall opinion about this book is that it is probably one of the best books I have ever read about Walt Disney World. Not only does it give facts about when each Disney theme park and when some of the biggest attractions opened, it allows the reader to go behind the scenes and know all the classic Disney traditions. From learning about the tradition of cast members, castles, ticket booths, and memories, this book has made me appreciate the whole world of Disney even more.
Anyone who is a Disney lover and would like to learn more about the facts and secrets to Disney World, I would definitely recommend this book too because it is very well written. From kids in middle school to elderly people will love and enjoy this book about Walt Disney World giving information from the past, present, and future.
This book is a history book but not likely in the way it was originally conceived. It follows the theme of the similarly titled Disneyland version. However, the main difference is that this book relies more on contemporary highlights of WDW. It does give us some reflections of the past; one in particular is maybe the first real photo of the infamous Orange bird in a Disney publication in 30 years.
Looking back on the book over ten years after publication many noted attractions have been replaced or heavily altered. It’s funny thinking back to then when the big additions were toy story mania and some plussing to the Haunted Mansion. The resort featured in this book almost feels quaint and of a bygone era in comparison to today.