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Dream Chasing
Disney experiences enthrall millions of guests around the world. How does it all become a reality? Find out in this action-packed narrative journey!
Dream Chasing is a recounting by author Bob Weis of four decades of creating and seeing to completion challenging projects, leading teams from the top secret, high-tech corridors of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) to the highest levels of The Walt Disney Company. Our author recounts working on and overseeing projects that took him from Anaheim, California, to the swampy wetlands of Central Florida, and even on to Paris; Washington, D.C.; Russia; Tokyo; Shanghai; and the massive shipyards of Papenburg, Germany.
As a former Imagineering president, Bob Weis was part of the second generation of Imagineers. His page-turner of a story follows the path of someone who never lost his passion for chasing big innovative dreams in spite of having to navigate over bumpy roads tied to a slew of issues and concerns—grounded in design, technology, politics, and culture (to name a few) just to bring an array of Disney experiences to reality. Bob’s drive was fueled by a belief in something Walt Disney once “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible. ”Dreams, as Weis writes, “come from a place of infinite possibilities, from a part of us that doesn’t recognize limits.
Dreams are exciting, frustrating, and sometimes illusive, as hard to hold on to as pixie dust, like glitter falling through your fingers.” Sometimes they are meant to happen, and they do; sometimes they are meant to happen, and they don’t. But every dream is an adventure, driven by the vision and passion of teams that believe any dream worth doing, is worth chasing.
Dream Chasing is a recounting by author Bob Weis of four decades of creating and seeing to completion challenging projects, leading teams from the top secret, high-tech corridors of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) to the highest levels of The Walt Disney Company. Our author recounts working on and overseeing projects that took him from Anaheim, California, to the swampy wetlands of Central Florida, and even on to Paris; Washington, D.C.; Russia; Tokyo; Shanghai; and the massive shipyards of Papenburg, Germany.
As a former Imagineering president, Bob Weis was part of the second generation of Imagineers. His page-turner of a story follows the path of someone who never lost his passion for chasing big innovative dreams in spite of having to navigate over bumpy roads tied to a slew of issues and concerns—grounded in design, technology, politics, and culture (to name a few) just to bring an array of Disney experiences to reality. Bob’s drive was fueled by a belief in something Walt Disney once “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible. ”Dreams, as Weis writes, “come from a place of infinite possibilities, from a part of us that doesn’t recognize limits.
Dreams are exciting, frustrating, and sometimes illusive, as hard to hold on to as pixie dust, like glitter falling through your fingers.” Sometimes they are meant to happen, and they do; sometimes they are meant to happen, and they don’t. But every dream is an adventure, driven by the vision and passion of teams that believe any dream worth doing, is worth chasing.
446 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2024
165 people are currently reading
1185 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 13, 2024
I was so eager to read this, and it was not my cup of tea. Too often we would skim through a topic, and not dive any deeper than something I could read on the Disney Blog. There are so many great imagineering books out there, I am sad to say this is not in my top 5.
February 20, 2025
My friend Brett asked me to read this and join him on his podcast (Notably Disney) along with my Book of the Mouse Club cohost, Emily. We'll chat soon, and I am looking forward to doing so. I appreciated the vulnerability and transparency Bob displayed in this memoir. I especially enjoyed hearing more about the creation of Disney's Hollywood Studios and his experiences with the never-realized Disney's America. I recommend this book to other Disney parks fans who want a glimpse into someone's personal experience over a long tenure in theme park history.
November 24, 2024
“Dreams are elusive, and always pulling at you. They seem always to be right around the corner. But you never really know what you’re chasing, until you catch it. If it turns out to be real magic, the chase will have been worth it.
“If a dream is truly a ‘Wish Your Heart Makes,’ then I plan to keep chasing them for a long, long time.”
Fantastic book! As both a creative and a Disney enthusiast, I was inspired, challenged, and exhorted to keep chasing the dreams that seem impossible and important. Highly recommend!
“If a dream is truly a ‘Wish Your Heart Makes,’ then I plan to keep chasing them for a long, long time.”
Fantastic book! As both a creative and a Disney enthusiast, I was inspired, challenged, and exhorted to keep chasing the dreams that seem impossible and important. Highly recommend!
September 28, 2025
I really enjoyed what turned out to be a "walk down memory lane" for me as I read about the work of Bob Weis as a Disney Imagineer. He worked on so many projects for Disney and I especially loved his recounting the work to bring MGM Studios to Walt Disney World. There were so many projects he touched and it was fun to learn more about the creativity and construction of these magical parks.
April 11, 2025
A number of fascinating stories... but the incredibly episodic structure of the memoir works against readability and following the thread of Bob's life.
Bob also glosses over his non-Disney work (nearly 10 years of his career) - which I would have liked to have learned more about. (I get it - it's published by Disney Editions.. but still.)
Bob also glosses over his non-Disney work (nearly 10 years of his career) - which I would have liked to have learned more about. (I get it - it's published by Disney Editions.. but still.)
October 30, 2025
The best parts of this book were the early moments, which snapshotted poingnant moments in author Bob Weis' life.
For example, the book starts with him waking up in a sweat, clearly suffering from some COVID-like illness, possibly from a trip to Shanghai Disneyland, or some incident. I appreciated his level of detail both as a popcorn vendor working at Disneyland, as well as his journey coordinating Disneyland for Dick Klein and Don Edgren.
Highlights:
1.) Refusing to be rejected for his first full-time job at Disney:
"My sister, showing more compassion than normal, had insisted I call up WED personnel to find out if the [rejection] letter I had received was a mistake. I knew it wasn't. A week later my portfolio had been unceremoniously mailed back, without a note of any kind. It was more likely a helium-balloon conspiracy, a life's mistake that would follow me forever. I finally relented, and sheepishly called. I was glad I did. The HR rep didn't admit to any mistake or collusion with Outdoor Foods but just immediately invited me out for another interview."
He got the job, and never looked back.
2.) Observations on his first assignment to Japan: "The workmen (and they were all men) were conscientious about every detail."
"The cafeteria served one item, more or less. In giant dented stockpots, they boiled rice and yellow curry. The curry had long strings of mystery meat in it. When you had been on-site all morning, and it was cold, and the wind was blowing off Tokyo Bay, a big steaming bowl of mystery meat, yellow curry, and rice was, however terrible, still sustenance." (80)
"The OLC sign vendors lacked American fonts, so often sign typography was all being drawn by hand. At the same time, nomenclature was changing constantly. The agreement, at the strong encouragement of OLC, had been made that TDL should have the look and feel of an 'American' visit to Disneyland. Main marquees would carry English only, or sometimes a subhead in Japanese. Secondary marquees would carry informational graphics, and those focused on safety would use Japanese and English, with Japanese as primary. But everything needed themed typography and rich color design, just as was expected at Disneyland." (82)
"As many as five or six vendors could get involved in creating a part of the sign before all those components were brought together to be integrated into one final product."
At Tokyo Disneyland's opening: "And in they came, crowds of students in school uniforms, young professionals taking a team day away from their offices, teens, families, kids in strollers. There was a curious look on their faces at first. Where were they? Then a sense of joy came over them, a freedom, and a sense it was okay to play. I saw grandmothers, some decked out elegantly in full kimonos, do little dances as they walked down the street and toward the castle. I tried to take pictures until my tears clouded the viewfinder. I just lowered the camera and watched." (96)
The yakitori vendor under the railroad tracks, always there for every visit to Japan… The Imperial Hotel, with its ideally architectured lobby… The visit to a woodworking vendor that finally saw Americans in a positive light after the atomic bomb dropping… The late night clandestine meeting with a Japanese coworker to move a sign using a crane and his Japanese ally telling him, "I would follow you, Bob-san, even to hell!"…
so much priceless detail, that only Bob could write.
However, as the book drew on past Tokyo Disneyland and later DisneySea, the telling deteriorated.
- Misnomers of "gates" when none of the parks ever added additional entrances until DisneySea's hotel entrances. Disneyland is well-known for its single entrance, but the author erroneously calls adding a second and third theme park to Disney World "second gate." Call them what they are: additional parks, and leave the word "gate" for what it's supposed to mean: entrances!
- A revolving door of wives and people: We lose track of his relationships, both in and outside work. Georgia, who accompanied him to Japan for his time designing Tokyo Disneyland, mysteriously disappears without mention of why. Diane as well, then when he gives birth to a son, it's a totally new name. Other names -- Howard -- suddenly appear without any introduction or backstory. I couldn't picture most of these people, introduced with nothing but a namedrop and some litany of bland adjectives like "creative" or "very intelligent" that do nothing to differentiate them in the reader's mind. Huh? Make us care about these people!
- Trite metaphors: I don't need to hear that his charrette of executives at Disney locked themselves a room, sliding food under door, fifty times throughout the book. Every time he wanted to express how hard they worked, he used this metaphor, and it wore thin quickly. Other clichés as well, run so rampant in the book they lose meaning.
- “It was tough, but we stayed with it.” (314)
- "It was to be a very comprehensive delivery review."
- "Moving Gabriel… was difficult, but somehow we made it." (269)
- "Mickey Steinberg was generous with his limited time." (190)
- "There were a few Swiss Army Knife people."
- "It was Pudong, a new section of the city, and it was a symbol of where this city was headed: it was headed to its future fast." (307)
- "We brought in Sean Bailey, who was a great ally." (322)
- "The job was daunting, but Jodi McClaughlin, Zach Riddley, and Tom Fitzgerald (first mentions in the book) were up to the task, bringing together new talents and new perspectives." (388)
- Platitudes: trying hard, good people introduced with no backstory, “unknown quantity." You need to show us instead of telling us. Calling people "creative" or "talented" says nothing -- just a waste of words, total wind. You need to include them in your story, and show us through dramatized action rather than telling us in a single line.
- Big company speak — politics, vacation/work dichotomy, thanking people in a namedrop list without giving anybody proper introduction.
- Saying he could go “on and on” about important things but choosing to spend time on platitudes instead. Hey Bob, readers would prefer you go "on and on" about those important design details rather than namedrop people we will never hear again, and forget by the next chapter!
- in and out — After the Tokyo chapter, Bob never shares inner feelings, how he really feels. It becomes a series of emotionless events: this happened, then that happened. it was tough but we got through it. People overworked, but we felt it was worth it in the end. Stop glazing people: just thanking and praising mentors with no substance — and show us like you did with the early chapters!
- Randomly flashing back to Walt aphorisms with a sprinkling of Marty Sklar, rather than using the people around him in the present day, like he did with Dick Klein, Frank Stanek, and Don Edgren in the early chapters.
It's almost as if once Bob Weis became an executive of Walt Disney Imagineering, he lost sight of the trees for the forest. Instead of zooming in on specific interactions and dramatizing scenes at Disneyland Shanghai, he glosses over them by naming people once and then skipping straight to the result, like the park's opening, or a speech from Bob Iger.
If you stop at page 100, this book reads like a gem, a barn-burning page-turner with details about OLC and the communication hurdles and tactics Disney used in training the Japanese operators of TDL.
But the longer beyond page 100 you read, the more it becomes obvious how big company politics and a loose pen -- telling rather than showing -- took precedence over storytelling. The rest of the book after that still contains major events and projects, but the writing becomes a word salad that seems more interested in glossing over years rather than picking, choosing, and culling the most compelling scenes in human interaction.
For example, the book starts with him waking up in a sweat, clearly suffering from some COVID-like illness, possibly from a trip to Shanghai Disneyland, or some incident. I appreciated his level of detail both as a popcorn vendor working at Disneyland, as well as his journey coordinating Disneyland for Dick Klein and Don Edgren.
Highlights:
1.) Refusing to be rejected for his first full-time job at Disney:
"My sister, showing more compassion than normal, had insisted I call up WED personnel to find out if the [rejection] letter I had received was a mistake. I knew it wasn't. A week later my portfolio had been unceremoniously mailed back, without a note of any kind. It was more likely a helium-balloon conspiracy, a life's mistake that would follow me forever. I finally relented, and sheepishly called. I was glad I did. The HR rep didn't admit to any mistake or collusion with Outdoor Foods but just immediately invited me out for another interview."
He got the job, and never looked back.
2.) Observations on his first assignment to Japan: "The workmen (and they were all men) were conscientious about every detail."
"The cafeteria served one item, more or less. In giant dented stockpots, they boiled rice and yellow curry. The curry had long strings of mystery meat in it. When you had been on-site all morning, and it was cold, and the wind was blowing off Tokyo Bay, a big steaming bowl of mystery meat, yellow curry, and rice was, however terrible, still sustenance." (80)
"The OLC sign vendors lacked American fonts, so often sign typography was all being drawn by hand. At the same time, nomenclature was changing constantly. The agreement, at the strong encouragement of OLC, had been made that TDL should have the look and feel of an 'American' visit to Disneyland. Main marquees would carry English only, or sometimes a subhead in Japanese. Secondary marquees would carry informational graphics, and those focused on safety would use Japanese and English, with Japanese as primary. But everything needed themed typography and rich color design, just as was expected at Disneyland." (82)
"As many as five or six vendors could get involved in creating a part of the sign before all those components were brought together to be integrated into one final product."
At Tokyo Disneyland's opening: "And in they came, crowds of students in school uniforms, young professionals taking a team day away from their offices, teens, families, kids in strollers. There was a curious look on their faces at first. Where were they? Then a sense of joy came over them, a freedom, and a sense it was okay to play. I saw grandmothers, some decked out elegantly in full kimonos, do little dances as they walked down the street and toward the castle. I tried to take pictures until my tears clouded the viewfinder. I just lowered the camera and watched." (96)
The yakitori vendor under the railroad tracks, always there for every visit to Japan… The Imperial Hotel, with its ideally architectured lobby… The visit to a woodworking vendor that finally saw Americans in a positive light after the atomic bomb dropping… The late night clandestine meeting with a Japanese coworker to move a sign using a crane and his Japanese ally telling him, "I would follow you, Bob-san, even to hell!"…
so much priceless detail, that only Bob could write.
However, as the book drew on past Tokyo Disneyland and later DisneySea, the telling deteriorated.
- Misnomers of "gates" when none of the parks ever added additional entrances until DisneySea's hotel entrances. Disneyland is well-known for its single entrance, but the author erroneously calls adding a second and third theme park to Disney World "second gate." Call them what they are: additional parks, and leave the word "gate" for what it's supposed to mean: entrances!
- A revolving door of wives and people: We lose track of his relationships, both in and outside work. Georgia, who accompanied him to Japan for his time designing Tokyo Disneyland, mysteriously disappears without mention of why. Diane as well, then when he gives birth to a son, it's a totally new name. Other names -- Howard -- suddenly appear without any introduction or backstory. I couldn't picture most of these people, introduced with nothing but a namedrop and some litany of bland adjectives like "creative" or "very intelligent" that do nothing to differentiate them in the reader's mind. Huh? Make us care about these people!
- Trite metaphors: I don't need to hear that his charrette of executives at Disney locked themselves a room, sliding food under door, fifty times throughout the book. Every time he wanted to express how hard they worked, he used this metaphor, and it wore thin quickly. Other clichés as well, run so rampant in the book they lose meaning.
- “It was tough, but we stayed with it.” (314)
- "It was to be a very comprehensive delivery review."
- "Moving Gabriel… was difficult, but somehow we made it." (269)
- "Mickey Steinberg was generous with his limited time." (190)
- "There were a few Swiss Army Knife people."
- "It was Pudong, a new section of the city, and it was a symbol of where this city was headed: it was headed to its future fast." (307)
- "We brought in Sean Bailey, who was a great ally." (322)
- "The job was daunting, but Jodi McClaughlin, Zach Riddley, and Tom Fitzgerald (first mentions in the book) were up to the task, bringing together new talents and new perspectives." (388)
- Platitudes: trying hard, good people introduced with no backstory, “unknown quantity." You need to show us instead of telling us. Calling people "creative" or "talented" says nothing -- just a waste of words, total wind. You need to include them in your story, and show us through dramatized action rather than telling us in a single line.
- Big company speak — politics, vacation/work dichotomy, thanking people in a namedrop list without giving anybody proper introduction.
- Saying he could go “on and on” about important things but choosing to spend time on platitudes instead. Hey Bob, readers would prefer you go "on and on" about those important design details rather than namedrop people we will never hear again, and forget by the next chapter!
- in and out — After the Tokyo chapter, Bob never shares inner feelings, how he really feels. It becomes a series of emotionless events: this happened, then that happened. it was tough but we got through it. People overworked, but we felt it was worth it in the end. Stop glazing people: just thanking and praising mentors with no substance — and show us like you did with the early chapters!
- Randomly flashing back to Walt aphorisms with a sprinkling of Marty Sklar, rather than using the people around him in the present day, like he did with Dick Klein, Frank Stanek, and Don Edgren in the early chapters.
It's almost as if once Bob Weis became an executive of Walt Disney Imagineering, he lost sight of the trees for the forest. Instead of zooming in on specific interactions and dramatizing scenes at Disneyland Shanghai, he glosses over them by naming people once and then skipping straight to the result, like the park's opening, or a speech from Bob Iger.
If you stop at page 100, this book reads like a gem, a barn-burning page-turner with details about OLC and the communication hurdles and tactics Disney used in training the Japanese operators of TDL.
But the longer beyond page 100 you read, the more it becomes obvious how big company politics and a loose pen -- telling rather than showing -- took precedence over storytelling. The rest of the book after that still contains major events and projects, but the writing becomes a word salad that seems more interested in glossing over years rather than picking, choosing, and culling the most compelling scenes in human interaction.
September 14, 2025
Wow.
This book is fascinating, heartbreaking, powerful, and so much more. It is rare that you find a book that is honest about failures, struggles, speedbumps, and everything in between: yet, still manages to be so full of hope.
I had heard about Bob Weis from the Disney+ series "The Imagineering Story" which fascinated me (and I've rewatched at least 3 times since). It is one thing to hear about these amazing feats from a third person narrator who can see the puzzle pieces fitting together. It is another to see the sacrifice and struggles that went with the incredibly fast pace of the first person perspective.
I love that this pulls back the curtain and reveals the amazing work that goes on to create a magical experience. There is something truly beautiful about the job that is so full of creativity just for others to find joy--other people you have never met and probably will never meet.
This book was amazing, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in Disney. What an amazing story!!
This book is fascinating, heartbreaking, powerful, and so much more. It is rare that you find a book that is honest about failures, struggles, speedbumps, and everything in between: yet, still manages to be so full of hope.
I had heard about Bob Weis from the Disney+ series "The Imagineering Story" which fascinated me (and I've rewatched at least 3 times since). It is one thing to hear about these amazing feats from a third person narrator who can see the puzzle pieces fitting together. It is another to see the sacrifice and struggles that went with the incredibly fast pace of the first person perspective.
I love that this pulls back the curtain and reveals the amazing work that goes on to create a magical experience. There is something truly beautiful about the job that is so full of creativity just for others to find joy--other people you have never met and probably will never meet.
This book was amazing, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in Disney. What an amazing story!!
September 22, 2025
Wow, what a wealth of Disney information. So much in depth information about Tokyo and Shanghai, which was a nice change up from reading so much already about Disneyland or Disney World. The chapters/stories are super short so it makes it easy to read a couple a day
February 8, 2025
What an incredible life!
February 6, 2025
I love books about Imagineering and I can tell that Weis has had a really interesting career, but this book really lacked in the fleshing out of the creative aspects of Imagineering. It seemed much more Disney/corporate driven in order to have something to release rather than being an authentic reflection on the ins and outs of specific ride/idea development.
Some areas were much more interesting and detailed, while other times I got the impression that Weis was much more on the management end and less on the ideas/creativity end of the spectrum. I also found it very funny how careful he was not to speak ill of the company funding the publishing of the book in any way... especially as you could see through his carefully worded glimpses just how much Disney's creative drive was fading away until the last chapters which end with basically nothing but a whisper. It's sad seeing how the last few years of his career he has absolutely nothing to write about and ends up just halfheartedly ending at COVID and tacking on an epilogue wherin he has very little to reflect upon from the last decade or so of Disney work.
Also where was the photo section to illuminate all of the projects that he was describing? Eh in general while I'm super happy for him to have the ability to reflect on such a cool career...this was a disappointment in general compared to other Imagineering books such as Ken Rafferty's.
It's more than anything a sad showcase of just how far Disney has fallen creatively and idealistically in the last twenty years (especially the last 10)
Some areas were much more interesting and detailed, while other times I got the impression that Weis was much more on the management end and less on the ideas/creativity end of the spectrum. I also found it very funny how careful he was not to speak ill of the company funding the publishing of the book in any way... especially as you could see through his carefully worded glimpses just how much Disney's creative drive was fading away until the last chapters which end with basically nothing but a whisper. It's sad seeing how the last few years of his career he has absolutely nothing to write about and ends up just halfheartedly ending at COVID and tacking on an epilogue wherin he has very little to reflect upon from the last decade or so of Disney work.
Also where was the photo section to illuminate all of the projects that he was describing? Eh in general while I'm super happy for him to have the ability to reflect on such a cool career...this was a disappointment in general compared to other Imagineering books such as Ken Rafferty's.
It's more than anything a sad showcase of just how far Disney has fallen creatively and idealistically in the last twenty years (especially the last 10)
January 31, 2025
It starts off strong - the ideals and values of the Walt Disney company and its heyday decades ago is deeply evident in the authors, direct experience and his career growing through that. However, as it reaches modern times the story loses passion, and in fact losses over so much… Perhaps because it was published by Disney, and the reality is in congruent with public relations or perhaps because of the author’s own lamenting, it becomes clear that the great company he worked for early on was muddled and watered down, and the book ends thus accordingly… A feeling of fading off versus continuing the strong and compelling cadence it began with
February 7, 2025
I recently read the definitive book on Walt Disney Imagineering and i thought this would go into more detail, but really this was higher level. I did get some insights into the smaller Disney projects and the failed Disney wharf in Australia. This guy was a manager, not as into the weeds of the tech developments. He talks about the amount of work he took on and all his travels. Meh
August 23, 2025
While better than some other authorized Disney memoirs I’ve read, this does suffer from familiar issues. Especially in the last section, the author feels like he’s repeating press release jargon and corporate speak rather than telling an interesting behind-the-scenes story. Best bits are about Tokyo Disney, Disney-MGM and the early development of Tokyo’s second park.
Read
December 27, 2024👎🏻 DNF I am a HUGE DISNEY fan, was looking so forward to this! Disappointed. Who starts out a book with choking and did I zone out, possibly or was there no resolution to the choking?!
July 24, 2024
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
There is a lot to like here: plenty of behind-the-scenes looks at at nearly every Disney Park that give an interesting picture of the challenges faced when building or updating theme parks. But at the same time, this is very 'clean' and Weis tows the Disney 'magic' line quite dogmatically. Whether discussing Paris Disneyland's rather lackluster opening or Bob Chapek's time, it's all unicorns and rainbows and any 'failure' is his own or outside circumstances. So while this can be frustrating at times in that it can skim through a lot that it would have been great to learn more about (e.g., absolutely nothing about the cancelled two-store platform in EPCOT after COVID and nothing about the Long Beach California cancelled project), there are some good stories about e.g., how Tower of Terror came to be, how Disney America was cancelled, even small bits on Disney Cruise Lines.The book is fairly chronological and there is a chunk of personal history: his schooling and education, his family vacations, his personal life such as marriages and kids. That non-Disney information often ties in or gives relevance to some of his WDI (Walt Disney Imagineering) projects so it isn't too much of a slog to read through someone else's 'vacation photos'. Weis begins his career at WDI doing signage management for Tokyo Disneyland and has some solid perspectives on the frustrations. Along the way he will be involved with Hollywood Studios (then "Disney MGM Studios"), EPCOT's first revitalization only a few years after it opened), Paris Disneyland and then its second park, Shanghai Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Sea, and eventually his move up to lead WDI. He has only recently left Disney so this book also goes through COVID and its effect on the parks.
There are some very interesting observations: e.g., the Tokyo partners wanting an exact copy of Disneyland (even with English signage) which was in contrast to what Shanghai wanted/needed, which was a Chinese specific reinterpretation of a Disney Park. Concerns about EPCOT a year after it opened and being asked to revitalize it (adding more trees and more 'fun') as well as the issues of trying to create a second park in Tokyo that was a copy of Disneyland but somehow new (and the Tokyo partners did NOT want a Hollywood studios there), leading to the creation of Tokyo Disney Sea (arguably the best Disney Park in the world). I also liked that he pointed out that budget constraints on new parks often meant that they were built to be half-day visits for guests (e.g., Disney California Adventure, Hong Kong Disneyland, Hollywood Studios in US and Paris) and they never worked out that way, often being ignored by guests who all wanted full day experiences. And so they all had to be redesigned and added onto in order to make them viable and attractive to guests.
Through it all, Weis was always a champion of WDI and even ended up being in charge of it. No names are mentioned but there were clearly eras when Imagineers were not necessarily appreciated and so Weis champions them quite a bit in this book. Cue the usual pages and pages and pages of plaudits to WDI members and management that felt more like an name dropping Oscar acceptance speech than an informative and interesting read. It comes with the territory of this type of book, I guess.
In all, this is one of the better memoirs in terms of interesting tidbits you can learn about all the Disney Parks. If a park update was done, Weis was likely involved in it some way. Near the end, it feels rushed and there were a lot of subjects making me wish they weren't glossed over (e.g., the most recent EPCOT update and how it fell short after COVID, more on the new Spiderman Ride and its inception, even more about Tokyo Disney Sea's attractions, etc. etc.). But that said, I was glad to read this, even in its sanitized state. Clearly the mission was to lionize Imagineers and WDI and Weis succeeds admirably here. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
November 16, 2024
In addition to purchasing a written copy the day of its release, I was lucky enough to be an early listener to the audiobook of Dream Chasing.
Dream Chasing is an informative yet personal account of Mr. Weis’ endlessly interesting experiences as well as his insightful takes on those experiences.
As a person who has read or listened to many books on the subjects of Disney history and business with the entertainment industry, I found this book incredibly unique and almost an alternative take on some subjects I know the baseline of quite well.
Mr. Weis recounts not only his own experiences, but often what was occurring in the world around him at the time as well and how the goings on of the world influenced his own life. Upon first picking up this book, I did not expect to learn the war-related origins of canned ravioli and reflect upon the impact of such an invention in my own childhood but I did! In a similar vein, solid descriptions and advice in regards to a life in design are shared. This differentiates the book and is most exciting to those also in the field (especially someone earlier in their experience!).
Fans of Disney will find this book compelling in that it gives specific and personal insight into the nitty gritty of Mr. Weis’ career and life. As we enter a new era of the industry, it is most rewarding to hear directly from and about the “second generation” of Imagineers— what they faced and how their accomplishments that we now know so well as fans came to be. Readers who know less about Disney and Imagineering will find this a comprehensive guide to what both are and why they matter as well.
Finally, those going through a life change (especially those who enjoy or work in design or entertainment), such as starting a new job or school or moving to a new place, will find this both a grounding reminder that others have felt similar things as you have and a source some exciting inspiration on approaching a new chapter of life. I especially recommend the audiobook to hear the words written by the author himself, a rare but always rewarding experience.
Dream Chasing is an informative yet personal account of Mr. Weis’ endlessly interesting experiences as well as his insightful takes on those experiences.
As a person who has read or listened to many books on the subjects of Disney history and business with the entertainment industry, I found this book incredibly unique and almost an alternative take on some subjects I know the baseline of quite well.
Mr. Weis recounts not only his own experiences, but often what was occurring in the world around him at the time as well and how the goings on of the world influenced his own life. Upon first picking up this book, I did not expect to learn the war-related origins of canned ravioli and reflect upon the impact of such an invention in my own childhood but I did! In a similar vein, solid descriptions and advice in regards to a life in design are shared. This differentiates the book and is most exciting to those also in the field (especially someone earlier in their experience!).
Fans of Disney will find this book compelling in that it gives specific and personal insight into the nitty gritty of Mr. Weis’ career and life. As we enter a new era of the industry, it is most rewarding to hear directly from and about the “second generation” of Imagineers— what they faced and how their accomplishments that we now know so well as fans came to be. Readers who know less about Disney and Imagineering will find this a comprehensive guide to what both are and why they matter as well.
Finally, those going through a life change (especially those who enjoy or work in design or entertainment), such as starting a new job or school or moving to a new place, will find this both a grounding reminder that others have felt similar things as you have and a source some exciting inspiration on approaching a new chapter of life. I especially recommend the audiobook to hear the words written by the author himself, a rare but always rewarding experience.
September 12, 2024
Dreaming Chasing is a fun and informative look at the life of a Disney Imagineer.
Bob Weis worked at Walt Disney Inagineering (WDI) for many years and helped bring to life many of the parks and especially rides which people will be familiar with. It was a ton of fun to see the conception, development, and final product of many of my favorite rides and lands, including the Tower of Terror, Radiator Springs Racers, and Tokyo DisneySea. It was also incredibly interesting to see how WDI’s role has changed over the years as different projects were developed and different people headed the company. Also interesting to read about were the projects that didn’t become a reality, such as Disney’s America outside DC and Disney Wharf in Australia.
As this is Weis’s personal experience with WDI, readers also get to see how much work goes into developing a Disney park and how that takes a toll on mental and physical health as well as relationships. Weis doesn’t shy away from telling readers that such a career is difficult, but it’s clear that Weis has loved his time with WDI and his memoir provided encouragement for any who might want to seek a career with WDI.
Dreaming Chasing is a book for Disney fans and for those interested in how Disney develops their parks. It’s fun from start to finish and filled with the creativity and magic you’d expect from someone who has worked so hard to bring Disney parks to life.
Bob Weis worked at Walt Disney Inagineering (WDI) for many years and helped bring to life many of the parks and especially rides which people will be familiar with. It was a ton of fun to see the conception, development, and final product of many of my favorite rides and lands, including the Tower of Terror, Radiator Springs Racers, and Tokyo DisneySea. It was also incredibly interesting to see how WDI’s role has changed over the years as different projects were developed and different people headed the company. Also interesting to read about were the projects that didn’t become a reality, such as Disney’s America outside DC and Disney Wharf in Australia.
As this is Weis’s personal experience with WDI, readers also get to see how much work goes into developing a Disney park and how that takes a toll on mental and physical health as well as relationships. Weis doesn’t shy away from telling readers that such a career is difficult, but it’s clear that Weis has loved his time with WDI and his memoir provided encouragement for any who might want to seek a career with WDI.
Dreaming Chasing is a book for Disney fans and for those interested in how Disney develops their parks. It’s fun from start to finish and filled with the creativity and magic you’d expect from someone who has worked so hard to bring Disney parks to life.
November 30, 2024
If you are a fan of Disney Parks and Resorts around the world, you must get the audio book Dream Chasing by former President of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Weis. Bob narrates his personal experience of four decades of working with Disney, sharing firsthand stories from around the world. This is a true treat for anyone who has wondered about how a Disney attraction, theme park or a hotel comes to life. Bob’s spoken words paints such a visual picture of him as a kid, his first visit to Walt Disney World (which reminded me of mine), his college experiences that led to his first job at Disney – then you get into fun, compelling stories of his work with Tokyo Disneyland, Epcot, the then Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios), Disneyland Paris, Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland. The audio book is full of behind-the-scenes stories about his time at Disney – and along with all the successes, he shares some of the more challenging projects that never came to fruition.
Bob is a true Disney Legend, with extraordinary stories to share and I am so thankful he has done so in his Dream Chasing book, but even more so to be able to hear the story in his own words through the audio book. As a former Cast Member and current Disney fan, I learned so much more about things I thought I already knew a lot about! If you, or someone you know, want to learn about the magic behind the magic of Disney, get this audio book today! #disneydreamchasing #bobweis
Bob is a true Disney Legend, with extraordinary stories to share and I am so thankful he has done so in his Dream Chasing book, but even more so to be able to hear the story in his own words through the audio book. As a former Cast Member and current Disney fan, I learned so much more about things I thought I already knew a lot about! If you, or someone you know, want to learn about the magic behind the magic of Disney, get this audio book today! #disneydreamchasing #bobweis
December 18, 2024
A great high-level tour of Imagineering over the last 40 years through the eyes of Bob Weis, the creative leader who led initiatives that brought us so many parks and attractions, like Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Shanghai, revitalized Disney’s California Adventure and launched the original “half day park” Disney MGM Studios before it became the Disney Hollywood Studios of today.
It’s a fascinating story chronicling Disney’s rapid Parks and Resorts expansion plans, ending just after COVID and the delivery id Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and the Wish cruise ship launch (both done via Zoom by individual Imagineers around the world forced to adapt to living life masked and six feet from the nearest human.
One thing I appreciated is there’s an underlying current of what the relentless pace can do to a person, including divorce and strained relationships with your kids. This wasn’t something that was terribly overt, but you defintiely saw the health and wellness impact to an unforgiving schedule of near constant 18 hour days that stretched for 4 decades.
If you’re a fan of Disney Parks history, Imagineering, or both, you should check this out!
Bonus: Bob himself narrates the audiobook version.
It’s a fascinating story chronicling Disney’s rapid Parks and Resorts expansion plans, ending just after COVID and the delivery id Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and the Wish cruise ship launch (both done via Zoom by individual Imagineers around the world forced to adapt to living life masked and six feet from the nearest human.
One thing I appreciated is there’s an underlying current of what the relentless pace can do to a person, including divorce and strained relationships with your kids. This wasn’t something that was terribly overt, but you defintiely saw the health and wellness impact to an unforgiving schedule of near constant 18 hour days that stretched for 4 decades.
If you’re a fan of Disney Parks history, Imagineering, or both, you should check this out!
Bonus: Bob himself narrates the audiobook version.
March 3, 2025
I listened to this on audiobook and I like experiencing memoirs in this format because hearing the author read their own words further humanizes them and their experience. I feel like it’s a co variation with a new friend.
As a Disney parks fan, I enjoyed some backstage stories of the development of the international parks but especially enjoyed the section about Disney’s MGM Studios, now Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
This is Weis’ love letter to WDI and through his journey there is a theme to how important this arm is to the TWDC and how he takes those lessons and growth in his time as an imagineer into his tenure as WDI President. However, I was disappointed how short his chapters on his time as president were. I wanted him explain in more detail the projects he greenlight and oversaw as president but it felt rushed. I wanted him to give this era in his career as much time as the others. But maybe this him being humble that the highlight of career wasn’t being president, but simply being an imagineer in the trenches literally making magic.
I reviewed this book on the podcast Notably Disney and you can find further discussion of Dream Chasing on that podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
As a Disney parks fan, I enjoyed some backstage stories of the development of the international parks but especially enjoyed the section about Disney’s MGM Studios, now Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
This is Weis’ love letter to WDI and through his journey there is a theme to how important this arm is to the TWDC and how he takes those lessons and growth in his time as an imagineer into his tenure as WDI President. However, I was disappointed how short his chapters on his time as president were. I wanted him explain in more detail the projects he greenlight and oversaw as president but it felt rushed. I wanted him to give this era in his career as much time as the others. But maybe this him being humble that the highlight of career wasn’t being president, but simply being an imagineer in the trenches literally making magic.
I reviewed this book on the podcast Notably Disney and you can find further discussion of Dream Chasing on that podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
August 5, 2024
Many thanks to Edelweiss and Disney Publishing Group for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Dream Chasing is a very appropriate name for this book. Bob Weis began his Disney journey when he visited Disney park when he was a young boy. Then in college Bob was studying theater and designing stages and then changed to architecture when people commented on his talent on sets and designs. Bob gets a job at Disney scooping ice cream and blowing up balloons. Bob leaves to finish college and after finishing college gets not one but two job offers at Disney. Bob helps develop Disneyland Paris, Shanghai, and other projects. He talks about the highs and lows of imagineering and how taking time away to start a family made him want to create again and build a lasting legacy and how to never give up. As well as photos from the past to go along with the story. I loved reading every word and normally books like this take me longer but I couldn’t put it down. Bravo , Disney. I hope we get more books like this.
Dream Chasing is a very appropriate name for this book. Bob Weis began his Disney journey when he visited Disney park when he was a young boy. Then in college Bob was studying theater and designing stages and then changed to architecture when people commented on his talent on sets and designs. Bob gets a job at Disney scooping ice cream and blowing up balloons. Bob leaves to finish college and after finishing college gets not one but two job offers at Disney. Bob helps develop Disneyland Paris, Shanghai, and other projects. He talks about the highs and lows of imagineering and how taking time away to start a family made him want to create again and build a lasting legacy and how to never give up. As well as photos from the past to go along with the story. I loved reading every word and normally books like this take me longer but I couldn’t put it down. Bravo , Disney. I hope we get more books like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2025
As a Disney lover, I was thrilled when a friend handed me this book. I’ll admit, I’ve never read an autobiography before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect—but I was pleasantly surprised!
This book is a true testament to perseverance, following Bob Weis’ journey as he worked his way up to becoming an Imagineer. Reading about his passion and dedication made me appreciate the magic behind Disney even more. It was fascinating to learn how Imagineering came to be, and it gave me a whole new perspective on the creativity and innovation that bring Disney’s worlds to life.
I found myself completely immersed in his story, and by the end, I felt inspired to chase my own dreams—no matter how big they might seem. If you're a Disney fan or just love stories about ambition and creativity, this book is a must-read!
This book is a true testament to perseverance, following Bob Weis’ journey as he worked his way up to becoming an Imagineer. Reading about his passion and dedication made me appreciate the magic behind Disney even more. It was fascinating to learn how Imagineering came to be, and it gave me a whole new perspective on the creativity and innovation that bring Disney’s worlds to life.
I found myself completely immersed in his story, and by the end, I felt inspired to chase my own dreams—no matter how big they might seem. If you're a Disney fan or just love stories about ambition and creativity, this book is a must-read!
July 18, 2025
Incredible presentation of a sneak peek inside Disney Imagineering
Such a wonderful book letting you in on the successes and failures of Disney imagineering. It brings a whole new appreciation for all that goes into designing the parks and updating the parks as well as creating fresh new ideas all over the world. I especially loved hearing about all of Bob Wei’s’ travel he did for the Disney company! I also loved hearing about Disney ideas that were created that didn’t get to come to fruition. It then lead me to look up the concept arts to these different projects and was really neat to see! I even learned things that I didn’t know about Disney parks I grew up in such as flamingos in Epcot and live production for the Mickey Mouse club in Hollywood studios! Overall great book!
Such a wonderful book letting you in on the successes and failures of Disney imagineering. It brings a whole new appreciation for all that goes into designing the parks and updating the parks as well as creating fresh new ideas all over the world. I especially loved hearing about all of Bob Wei’s’ travel he did for the Disney company! I also loved hearing about Disney ideas that were created that didn’t get to come to fruition. It then lead me to look up the concept arts to these different projects and was really neat to see! I even learned things that I didn’t know about Disney parks I grew up in such as flamingos in Epcot and live production for the Mickey Mouse club in Hollywood studios! Overall great book!
February 17, 2025
As a someone who loves m books by Imagineers/former casts, I’d say this is a pretty easy and informative book. Especially I enjoyed learning about his experience of working for Tokyo Disneyland as I haven’t encountered books that talk about this topic in detail. His stories about Disney’s America and works outside Disney were also fascinating. I was a bit disappointed in the final chapter as it seemed he rushed into jotting down what he oversaw at WED as an executive. Overall, I enjoyed the book !
April 17, 2025
I highly recommend this audiobook! For anyone whoever dreamed of being an imagineer, this book will put you on a journey. Weis was heavily involved in Tokyo Disney parks, Shanghai Disney, Hollywood Studios, and the massive refurbishments to DCA. There are plenty of other stories in the book but those are the most in depth and they were all very interesting! He was also heavily involved in the failed Disney’s America park which I’ve always found fascinating. I appreciate how the book stayed true to the title, not shying away from failure.
October 12, 2024
This is one of my favorite Imagineer books; Bob Weis clearly understood the assignment and does a great job outlining the challenges of the job along with the highlights. He also gives credit to others and names a lot of talented other Imagineers involved in each project. Weis also talks about the personal toll of his work, which is something we rarely hear about from official Disney books.
My only issue was that Weis seemed to change his tone in the final section. That part felt more promotional and just kind of pointless because we lost the honesty. It felt like PR. Maybe he was too close to the projects when he led Imagineering? Even so, the book is really great overall and a must read for fans of Disney parks and Imagineering.
My only issue was that Weis seemed to change his tone in the final section. That part felt more promotional and just kind of pointless because we lost the honesty. It felt like PR. Maybe he was too close to the projects when he led Imagineering? Even so, the book is really great overall and a must read for fans of Disney parks and Imagineering.
December 17, 2024
(Probably a 3.5 in reality)
A nice peek behind the curtain of Disney theme parks and WDI.
Highlights include stories about:
Disney America!
Disney Wharf Australia
The creation of MGM Studios
The reinvention of California Adventure
Shanghai Disneyland
Disney during COVID
I wish he would have gone deeper on many topics, but I enjoy some of the rare peeks with stories about Disney America and the Disney Sydney Wharf.
A nice peek behind the curtain of Disney theme parks and WDI.
Highlights include stories about:
Disney America!
Disney Wharf Australia
The creation of MGM Studios
The reinvention of California Adventure
Shanghai Disneyland
Disney during COVID
I wish he would have gone deeper on many topics, but I enjoy some of the rare peeks with stories about Disney America and the Disney Sydney Wharf.
January 23, 2025
The first half of this book was definitely more enjoyable and informative than the second half. I think Weiss really began running out of time/pages so he rushed through the latter parts of his career. Eventually, the book became little snapshots or snippets that recounted the basic whos and whats and whens of milestones in his career. I would have liked to hear more about the imagineering process and decisions behind the magic Weiss and his team made over the decades.
January 31, 2025
I picked out this book on a whim at the library as I absolutely adore everything Disney and had seen an show on Disney+ that Bob was in. While some parts of the book were extremely slow (sorry, Shanghai Disneyland), but I found it very interesting to know what goes into planning not only a Disney ride but a Disney park or a Disney cruise. I’m not usually one to read nonfiction but this was a relatively good one!
April 13, 2025
I true joy to read. I was so into this book that I actually was feeling the anxiety of the Imagineers. Bob Weis' writing is so clear and effortless to read. This book opens up all the details to the highest degree of opening a park or a new ride or just any design change. Makes a Disney lover even more appreciative of all the time, effort, and sacrifices made to make every detail as perfect as can be.
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