Within the last couple of years, I have begun to read numerous books all about the world Walt Disney created from animated films, tv shows, theme parks, and stage shows. What sets this Disney book apart from so many others is the access to the Disney archives Jim Fanning had. That means the reader gets to see so many long-hidden photographs, artwork, artifacts, and ephemera not seen for many decades. That adds a richness to the pages as the book divides itself up into animated works, live action movies, and theme parks.
There are lots of new details revealed about the creation of films like "The Little Mermaid," "Snow White," "Mulan," and "The Lion King." We get to see the inspiration sketches used for rides like The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and it's a small world. We see collectibles and pins from the 1930s on. But my favorite, favorite parts of the book were the pages dedicated to revealing the hidden Easter eggs sprinkled throughout Disney and Pixar films. For years and years, I have always heard about them, but, truthfully, I have never been able to spot them on my own. The book actually pinpoints where each of these hidden treasures are and even circles them in the scene, so it's even more apparent. I am looking forward to now going back and watching the films to spot them on my own. These pages were the ones that really tickled me.
This is a short book, but DK always jam packs each page with visuals and information, both old and new. It's not the most in-depth reading and may be not the most insightful or critical, but it does the job. It's a good addition to one's Disney book collection based on its own merits.