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Beyond the Wisdom of Walt: Life Lessons from the Most Magical Place on Earth
How Do You Go from Dreaming to Doing? Walt Disney never stopped dreaming about the future. And neither should you! Learn how you can use Walt Disney's final dream of EPOCT--the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow--to see your own dreams come true. In Beyond the Wisdom of Walt, Jeffrey A. Barnes challenges you to transform your life by applying the lessons that Walt Disney, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and EPCOT teach us. In the follow-up to his best-selling book, The Wisdom of Walt , Barnes takes us on a magical journey through the history of Disney in Florida beginning with Walt's decision to do a "sequel" to Disneyland. Learn how the parks continue to change and thrive today--and how you can too! Beyond the Wisdom of Walt is a story that teaches us how to create a vision for our dreams, cope with change, leave a lasting legacy, and so much more! Whether you love Disney, Disneyland, or Walt Disniey World--or just need a little of the inspiration and insight that Walt Disney had--you will find a whole new world of magical possibilities for your own life within Beyond the Wisdom of Walt . After reading this book, you'll want to start applying a little of that Disney magic to your life right away. Mickey Mouse Ears not required!
- GenresBusinessNonfiction
262 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2017
80 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 23, 2023
An inspiring MUST read for anyone who loves Disney history and is pursuing a dream goal!
December 1, 2022
The book had a few tidbits about WDW that I didn’t know, but overall does not measure up to the author’s early book about Disneyland. This edition is stuffed with personal anecdotes that are only tangentially, at best, related to the Disney parks. Many of the Disney-related stories seemed forced, as if the author knew what he wanted to say and was searching for a way to tie it to Walt or the parks. I really liked “The Wisdom of Walt” but this “Beyond” version seemed thrown together and unnecessary.
October 23, 2017
Dr. Disneyland has done it again!
In The Wisdom of Walt, Jeff Barnes shared lessons in leadership inspired by Walt Disney and America's first theme park, Disneyland. In this new book, Jeff goes beyond the berm of Walt's original magic kingdom to share with us lessons in pursuing our dreams inspired by "The Place Where Dreams Come True" - Walt Disney World.
The lessons in this book include:
* Expanding Your Expectations
* Learning to Let It Go
* Choosing to Change
* Leading Yourself
* Finding the Time
* Having to Hustle
* Overcoming Obstacles
* Dealing with Doubters
* Financing Your Future
* Cultivating a Crazy Culture
* Communicating Clearly
* Keeping it Clean
* Leaving a Legacy
Like in the author's first book THE WISDOM OF WALT, each chapter is structured in the same way. Each opens with a quote, followed by a story or anecdote about Walt and/or Walt Disney World that illustrates a leadership or personal development lesson. Following this is a story from the author related to the lesson (how he applied the lesson himself or how he helped others do so). After this each chapter includes a "Souvenir Stop" that includes questions for the reader and/or other ways in which the reader can apply the lessons to their life (more on this below). Each chapter ends with a section called "Getting Your Hand Stamped" that feature stories that (in the author's words) are "meant to be memorable and, hopefully, they will leave an lasting impression, thus "stamping" the lesson from each chapter on you, the reader."
I especially like the "Souvenir Stop" and "Getting Your Hand Stamped" sections in each chapter. The former provides suggestions and guidelines for how you can apply the principles and ideas from that chapter. Beyond just telling stories and describing ideas, the author provides ways for readers to apply what they're reading about to their own lives in simple and practical terms. Likewise, the "Getting Your Hand Stamped" sections serve as an excellent way of further reinforcing the message in each chapter.
I love books about Walt Disney and Disney parks, and I enjoy books about personal development and leadership, and I loved Jeff's first book, so this book was a must for me. I pre-ordered this book, and was lucky enough to be able to read a pre-release version of it, and just like THE WISDOM OF WALT, it didn't disappoint.
The writing is engaing, approachable, and friendly, and the author does a great job of wrapping his lessons in stories that help the reader understand how each lesson can apply to their own life. Even if you've read other books about Walt Disney, Walt Disney World, or personal development before, as I have, you'll find something new and valuable in this book. I found myself pleasantly surprised at some of the insights and lessons I encountered in this book - both about Disney and personal development - and I defnitely plan to read it again.
I have one minor quibble with the book: I would have liked the book to have an index, as there are lots of concepts and stories in this book, and finding them after the fact is difficult without an index.
With examples from every corner of Walt Disney World and topics ranging from managing your time to overcoming obstacles to communicating clearly to leaving a legacy, Beyond the Wisdom of Walt offers success lessons for all of us.
As you can probably guess, I definitely recommend this book. If you're a fan of Walt Disney, Disney parks, or personal development, buy and read this book! You'll be glad you did!
In The Wisdom of Walt, Jeff Barnes shared lessons in leadership inspired by Walt Disney and America's first theme park, Disneyland. In this new book, Jeff goes beyond the berm of Walt's original magic kingdom to share with us lessons in pursuing our dreams inspired by "The Place Where Dreams Come True" - Walt Disney World.
The lessons in this book include:
* Expanding Your Expectations
* Learning to Let It Go
* Choosing to Change
* Leading Yourself
* Finding the Time
* Having to Hustle
* Overcoming Obstacles
* Dealing with Doubters
* Financing Your Future
* Cultivating a Crazy Culture
* Communicating Clearly
* Keeping it Clean
* Leaving a Legacy
Like in the author's first book THE WISDOM OF WALT, each chapter is structured in the same way. Each opens with a quote, followed by a story or anecdote about Walt and/or Walt Disney World that illustrates a leadership or personal development lesson. Following this is a story from the author related to the lesson (how he applied the lesson himself or how he helped others do so). After this each chapter includes a "Souvenir Stop" that includes questions for the reader and/or other ways in which the reader can apply the lessons to their life (more on this below). Each chapter ends with a section called "Getting Your Hand Stamped" that feature stories that (in the author's words) are "meant to be memorable and, hopefully, they will leave an lasting impression, thus "stamping" the lesson from each chapter on you, the reader."
I especially like the "Souvenir Stop" and "Getting Your Hand Stamped" sections in each chapter. The former provides suggestions and guidelines for how you can apply the principles and ideas from that chapter. Beyond just telling stories and describing ideas, the author provides ways for readers to apply what they're reading about to their own lives in simple and practical terms. Likewise, the "Getting Your Hand Stamped" sections serve as an excellent way of further reinforcing the message in each chapter.
I love books about Walt Disney and Disney parks, and I enjoy books about personal development and leadership, and I loved Jeff's first book, so this book was a must for me. I pre-ordered this book, and was lucky enough to be able to read a pre-release version of it, and just like THE WISDOM OF WALT, it didn't disappoint.
The writing is engaing, approachable, and friendly, and the author does a great job of wrapping his lessons in stories that help the reader understand how each lesson can apply to their own life. Even if you've read other books about Walt Disney, Walt Disney World, or personal development before, as I have, you'll find something new and valuable in this book. I found myself pleasantly surprised at some of the insights and lessons I encountered in this book - both about Disney and personal development - and I defnitely plan to read it again.
I have one minor quibble with the book: I would have liked the book to have an index, as there are lots of concepts and stories in this book, and finding them after the fact is difficult without an index.
With examples from every corner of Walt Disney World and topics ranging from managing your time to overcoming obstacles to communicating clearly to leaving a legacy, Beyond the Wisdom of Walt offers success lessons for all of us.
As you can probably guess, I definitely recommend this book. If you're a fan of Walt Disney, Disney parks, or personal development, buy and read this book! You'll be glad you did!
March 8, 2018
Amazing book! Just like another person mentioned in Barne’s book, I’ve been struggling with depression since my second child. It’s been difficult getting my professional life back. With so much transitions in my life and so many overwhelming possibilities to choose from while balancing new motherhood life, I went through a phase of shutting down and giving up. However, I was able to thrive off of the connections made through Walt Disney and lessons from Barnes to motivate myself. I’ve used these lesson to help me transition from elementary teacher to real estate agent and from post-pregnancy obesity to starting a lifestyle with fitness and Crossfit. I’m not saying that by reading this book you’ll automatically be successful. It’s up to you to make the change, but it’s definitely a motivator.
September 8, 2020
"The first limitation that you have is your imagination. After that, the limitations are what is physically possible to build. It's surprising sometimes the things that you think are impossible that turn out to be doable and what you thought made them impossible was really an opinion. Not a fact."
"We were all born into this world as blank pieces of paper."
"The morning Walt Disney died, so too did his dream for EPCOT. Walt's Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow became EpNOT... The whole company was lost without him."
"What's missing is the Walt Disney for our times and our challenges -- the risk taker who loved to begin again and again with a new blank sheet of paper."
"Disneyland is not an escape; it is an example. Walt Disney World isn't the place where 'dreams come true. It is showing us how to make our own dreams come true."
"When leading, people don't care about where you've been--past credentials, past experiences, past exploits. What they care about is their future--and as much as Walt Disney was patriotic about the past, he was equally fervent about moving forward into the future."
"That's the way it goes with dreams and deadlines. You will never find the time unless you become intentional about making the time."
"Invent your own job; take such an interest in it that you eat, sleep, dream, wak, talk, and live nothing but your work until you succeed."
"Because once you have a big enough 'why,' your 'how' will naturally follow.... Today I am happy to report that success is 99 percent 'why' and only 1 percent 'how.'"
"Having stamina, a willingness to stick with your goals for the future -- day in and day out -- is the determining factor between those who achieve their goals and those who do not."
"The biggest mistake you can make is listening to people who've given up on their dreams telling you to give up on yours."
"The point [of Walt raising money for Disneyland from employees] wasn't to raise the $17 million that would one day be needed for Disneyland. Rather, the point was to needle Roy into reconsidering his opposition... The strategy worked."
"By opening day, Walt's greatest critic was now his greatest convert. Who was the first person to spend the first dollar to purchase the first ticket to get into Disneyland? It was Walt's own brother, Roy."
"Believe in yourself and your ability to improve."
"The bottom line is that our five-dollar coffees and fifty-nine-dollar video games are distractions from the daily grind and an escape from our meaningless jobs that only allow us to make enough money to survive but never really thrive. Too many of us are okay with this because excuses are cheap--cheaper than what it would cost us to find out whether our dream really could make it out of our head and into the marketplace."
"His premature death in 1966 prevented his full vision of EPCOT from ever being realized. You can, however, experience a bit of what Walt wanted for EPCOT by venturing into the park's largest pavilion, The Land."
"More than money, people are looking for purpose. Make sure everyone knows why they do what they do and that each person and each task are of equal value."
"People are emotional beings and we always remember how something, or someone, made us feel. Culture is king."
"Listen has the same letters as silent. The average human says 10000 words a day. Maybe cut that in half. When you listen, you add. When you talk, you subtract."
"Exceeding our expectations is what makes the parks so appealing and why we keep coming back again and again."
"Everything about the park, including the behavior of the 'guests,' is engineered to promote a spirit of optimism, a belief in progressive improvement toward perfection."
"When Walt built Disneyland, he insisted that a trash can be available to guests every thirty steps. Why thirty steps? Because Walt's favorite food was a hot dog, so he measured out how many steps it took him to eat his favorite treat before finishing and looking for a trash can to toss the wrapper. To this day, this is the standard that every Disney park follows."
---------
Equal parts an anthology of anecdotes in the building of Walt Disney World and leadership manual, Beyond the Wisdom of Walt inspires us to pursue our dreams through lessons learned from Walt Disney, EPCOT, and the Florida Project.
Calling this a business or leadership book would be selling it short. Rather, behind-the-scenes stories compiled from a hundreds of sources imbue the decisions and intentions of Disneyland and Disney World with personal meaning. For example, we see some of Disney's less-publicized obstacles in pitching the World Showcase to pavilions that never happened, and hear some of the stories behind Walt's fundraising tactics, or his interactions with Roy. You can read about many of these interactions in other books and articles, but it is the thoughtful curation of them and the life lessons pointed out that make this book worth reading.
One of the most actionable, applicable collections of Disney stories put into print out there. Don't pick it up expecting to read business tips from Disney University, or customer service pointers. It's so much more -- a collection of anecdotes and lesser-known Disney stories that real-life visionaries faced during the park's evolution from swampy Florida Project to 27000-acre+ experience today.
"We were all born into this world as blank pieces of paper."
"The morning Walt Disney died, so too did his dream for EPCOT. Walt's Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow became EpNOT... The whole company was lost without him."
"What's missing is the Walt Disney for our times and our challenges -- the risk taker who loved to begin again and again with a new blank sheet of paper."
"Disneyland is not an escape; it is an example. Walt Disney World isn't the place where 'dreams come true. It is showing us how to make our own dreams come true."
"When leading, people don't care about where you've been--past credentials, past experiences, past exploits. What they care about is their future--and as much as Walt Disney was patriotic about the past, he was equally fervent about moving forward into the future."
"That's the way it goes with dreams and deadlines. You will never find the time unless you become intentional about making the time."
"Invent your own job; take such an interest in it that you eat, sleep, dream, wak, talk, and live nothing but your work until you succeed."
"Because once you have a big enough 'why,' your 'how' will naturally follow.... Today I am happy to report that success is 99 percent 'why' and only 1 percent 'how.'"
"Having stamina, a willingness to stick with your goals for the future -- day in and day out -- is the determining factor between those who achieve their goals and those who do not."
"The biggest mistake you can make is listening to people who've given up on their dreams telling you to give up on yours."
"The point [of Walt raising money for Disneyland from employees] wasn't to raise the $17 million that would one day be needed for Disneyland. Rather, the point was to needle Roy into reconsidering his opposition... The strategy worked."
"By opening day, Walt's greatest critic was now his greatest convert. Who was the first person to spend the first dollar to purchase the first ticket to get into Disneyland? It was Walt's own brother, Roy."
"Believe in yourself and your ability to improve."
"The bottom line is that our five-dollar coffees and fifty-nine-dollar video games are distractions from the daily grind and an escape from our meaningless jobs that only allow us to make enough money to survive but never really thrive. Too many of us are okay with this because excuses are cheap--cheaper than what it would cost us to find out whether our dream really could make it out of our head and into the marketplace."
"His premature death in 1966 prevented his full vision of EPCOT from ever being realized. You can, however, experience a bit of what Walt wanted for EPCOT by venturing into the park's largest pavilion, The Land."
"More than money, people are looking for purpose. Make sure everyone knows why they do what they do and that each person and each task are of equal value."
"People are emotional beings and we always remember how something, or someone, made us feel. Culture is king."
"Listen has the same letters as silent. The average human says 10000 words a day. Maybe cut that in half. When you listen, you add. When you talk, you subtract."
"Exceeding our expectations is what makes the parks so appealing and why we keep coming back again and again."
"Everything about the park, including the behavior of the 'guests,' is engineered to promote a spirit of optimism, a belief in progressive improvement toward perfection."
"When Walt built Disneyland, he insisted that a trash can be available to guests every thirty steps. Why thirty steps? Because Walt's favorite food was a hot dog, so he measured out how many steps it took him to eat his favorite treat before finishing and looking for a trash can to toss the wrapper. To this day, this is the standard that every Disney park follows."
---------
Equal parts an anthology of anecdotes in the building of Walt Disney World and leadership manual, Beyond the Wisdom of Walt inspires us to pursue our dreams through lessons learned from Walt Disney, EPCOT, and the Florida Project.
Calling this a business or leadership book would be selling it short. Rather, behind-the-scenes stories compiled from a hundreds of sources imbue the decisions and intentions of Disneyland and Disney World with personal meaning. For example, we see some of Disney's less-publicized obstacles in pitching the World Showcase to pavilions that never happened, and hear some of the stories behind Walt's fundraising tactics, or his interactions with Roy. You can read about many of these interactions in other books and articles, but it is the thoughtful curation of them and the life lessons pointed out that make this book worth reading.
One of the most actionable, applicable collections of Disney stories put into print out there. Don't pick it up expecting to read business tips from Disney University, or customer service pointers. It's so much more -- a collection of anecdotes and lesser-known Disney stories that real-life visionaries faced during the park's evolution from swampy Florida Project to 27000-acre+ experience today.
May 30, 2024
Another great book by Jeffrey Barnes. I must admit that I enjoyed the first book a bit more. Nevertheless, it was wonderful to return to Jeffrey's writing style and immerse myself in Disney history combined with real-world application. I recommend both the author and the duo to anyone interested in casual Disney history reading.
April 11, 2024
Using Disney History to Make Your Dreams Come True
Have a dream that you want to make true, but that never seems to go beyond the dreaming stage? Of course you do - just about everyone does. The difference between most of us and the people that made their dreams real is that they committed themselves to take that first step.
In “Beyond The Wisdom of Walt”, Jeff Barnes shares stories of how Walt Disney, the people who followed him, and Jeff himself took to achieve success. In Jeff’s first book, he concentrated on stories about Walt and the creation of Disneyland; in this book, Jeff shares stories from the creation of Walt’s final dream -Walt Disney World - and from his own experiences to provide advice on how to figure out what’s holding you back from achieving success, and what steps you should take to get on the road to making dreams a reality.
While Jeff claims this book is more about motivation and not so much about history, it’s clear that Jeff did a lot of historical research on Walt and his company, and even if you aren’t quite ready to take that first step towards your dream, Disney fans and fans of popular culture should enjoy hearing a few stories that they haven’t heard before. It’s a quick but interesting read - and as Bill Cosby used to say at the beginning of “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids”, “If you’re not careful, you may learn something before you’re done.” Recommended!
Have a dream that you want to make true, but that never seems to go beyond the dreaming stage? Of course you do - just about everyone does. The difference between most of us and the people that made their dreams real is that they committed themselves to take that first step.
In “Beyond The Wisdom of Walt”, Jeff Barnes shares stories of how Walt Disney, the people who followed him, and Jeff himself took to achieve success. In Jeff’s first book, he concentrated on stories about Walt and the creation of Disneyland; in this book, Jeff shares stories from the creation of Walt’s final dream -Walt Disney World - and from his own experiences to provide advice on how to figure out what’s holding you back from achieving success, and what steps you should take to get on the road to making dreams a reality.
While Jeff claims this book is more about motivation and not so much about history, it’s clear that Jeff did a lot of historical research on Walt and his company, and even if you aren’t quite ready to take that first step towards your dream, Disney fans and fans of popular culture should enjoy hearing a few stories that they haven’t heard before. It’s a quick but interesting read - and as Bill Cosby used to say at the beginning of “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids”, “If you’re not careful, you may learn something before you’re done.” Recommended!
January 27, 2018
A great read for Disnerds
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and content of this book. I am a huge fan on Walt Disney and his influence on American culture. Like the author, I visit the theme parks as often as I can and draw inspiration from the imagination and sheer resolve of the man responsible for the creation of such an iconic American institution. Mr. Barnes does a very good job of using Walt's life to help us apply his lessons to our own lives. As an educator, I also weave his creations and life into my lessons for my high school seniors.
Read the first book as well, both are well worth the time of true Disney fans.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and content of this book. I am a huge fan on Walt Disney and his influence on American culture. Like the author, I visit the theme parks as often as I can and draw inspiration from the imagination and sheer resolve of the man responsible for the creation of such an iconic American institution. Mr. Barnes does a very good job of using Walt's life to help us apply his lessons to our own lives. As an educator, I also weave his creations and life into my lessons for my high school seniors.
Read the first book as well, both are well worth the time of true Disney fans.
September 24, 2017
There are times when you expect something to not be as good as its predecessor, especially when it is a sequel. This is one of those times when your expectations would be wrong. Beyond the Wisdom of Walt may actually be even better than author Jeff Barnes' first book, The Wisdom of Walt. If you need help realizing your dreams and putting them into action, read this. If you need a pick-me-up, read this. If you just love Disney, read this! This book was fantastic! I can see myself re-reading it again and again.
December 6, 2017
How fitting to finish this book on Walt’s birthday, especially as I start pursuing my own dreams more diligently. This book and its companion have helped convince me that there is no better time than the present to pursue what I really love. My whole life I have made such safe choices. I don’t consider myself a risk taker, but if I can’t risk on things I love, then what is there to be gained but the same thing I’ve always had? Thank you for this book, Doctor Disneyland, for helping to pull me out of a depressed funk and push me into finally taking the leap.
February 25, 2020
Fantastic Book!
I love how this book doubles as both a self-improvement and a history of WDW. There's a lot of great life wisdom in here related to Walt Disney and the author. I highly recommend reading this along with the first WOW.
I love how this book doubles as both a self-improvement and a history of WDW. There's a lot of great life wisdom in here related to Walt Disney and the author. I highly recommend reading this along with the first WOW.
December 10, 2018
Reading this makes me wish I were able to take the real course. There were lots of hilarious moments throughout as well as moments that got me thinking deeply about my own life.
June 24, 2019
Must read
Very nice book to give you ideais for T&D setup with Disney theme. It is a fast and enjoyable time reading
Very nice book to give you ideais for T&D setup with Disney theme. It is a fast and enjoyable time reading
October 31, 2025
I enjoyed everything about this book!! Bravo
September 8, 2018
Great book, very motivational. I highly recommend!
June 10, 2019
What happens when you step out of Disneyland or Walt Disney World? You take the shuttles, monorail, or boats back to your vehicle… But what then? What happens after you’ve been to a place of magic and you come back to the “real world?” Do you bring a bit of the magic with you to nurture and spread, or do you leave it all behind with the hopes of returning real soon? Jeffrey Barnes’ vision in Beyond The Wisdom of Walt: Life Lessons from the Most Magical Place on Earth is for you to take the magic beyond the parks.
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