Walt's Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive

by Dick Nunis

Walt’s Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive is the memoir of Disney Legend Dick Nunis. It is a warm personal reminiscence of learning directly from Walt Disney for 12 years, followed by more than 30 years devoted to championing his vision and standards as the Disney empire grew.

The story covers Disney’s highlights, including the 1960 Winter Olympics, 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, and the development and opening of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. Unlike other Disney books, this story is told from the perspective of operations rather than Imagineering. It touches on decisions that defined the guest experience and Disney’s reputation for quality in areas ranging from capacity and people-moving, training, delivering a consistent “good show,” food service, and more. This first-person narrative is presented as a series of wide-ranging vignettes. Some vignettes focus on personal, character-shaping events, such as the injury that ended his collegiate football career. Other stories touch on national events, such as Nikita Khrushchev’s derailed visit to Disneyland, the decision to close the park following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan’s assistance in expediting the visa process for cast members staffing the Epcot World Showcase. Few people have enjoyed a life so immersed in Disney magic.

These stories share that magic through the memories of one of the original doers and dreamers.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 11, 2022

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing memoir. Dick’s insight on the beginning of the Disney franchise, Walt’s vision and the success came through in this book. If you love Disney, this is a must read. I really enjoyed this book! I wish that the current executives would read the book to understand the foundation the business was built on.

Thanks to Hyperion Avenue for an E-ARC via NetGalley. Anticipated publication date is Oct. 11, 2022.

[Nel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I am just giddy after reading this excellent memoir🤗🤗🤗! Dick Nunis gave me an even greater appreciation for Walt Disney and solidified my assumption that he was an absolute genius! It was such a joy to relive the experiences that this "apprentice" journeyed through with his Master. Nunis shared so many rich historical details of the early days in the Disney Parks, as he was front and center with all the action.

Some of the facts were eye opening. Back in the day, Disneyland was a place not only for the common family, but for Presidents and Dignitaries alike. The park stood as a symbol for American ingenuity, and the world was intrigued. To that end, they were a constant presence at The World's Fair, drawing millions of visitors.

I also learned that Walt Disney was a media guru - he knew how to work all the angles, even having a television show promoting Disneyland and all of its attractions (I vividly remember watching the Sunday night specials as a child).

It fell upon a select number of individuals to keep Walt Disney's dream alive, and Nunis was one of the lucky few at the helm, to make sure each step was Walt Disney inspired. I love how each of his chapters offers a lesson learned from his experience.

This is an excellent gift book for any Disney fan and would also make an awesome grad gift with sage advice in every chapter! With full-color photos, historical facts, behind-the-scenes info, and wonderful insight, Dick Nunis has written a wonderful memoir that doubles as a history of the Happiest Place on Earth!

Please check out more of my reviews on my book blog at www.mamasgottaread.blogspot.com or follow me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mamasgottaread!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to tlc tours and disney books for #gifting me a copy of Walt’s Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream of Alive by Dick Nunis, Disney Legend. This book is now available.

✨ My Thoughts ✨

I don’t normally find memoirs enjoyable, I LOVED Walt’s Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream of Alive by Dick Nunis, a Disney Legend. Dick is a visionary who played a pivotal role in the creation of Disney World and its Parks after the death of Walt Disney. Walt’s Apprentice is filled with anecdotal stories that had me laughing for hours. It spotlights the time a group of people rioted at Disneyland to free Charles Manson and roast porky pig! [Porky Pig is not Disney. 🫠]

Dick was present from the beginning of Disneyland, Disney University and Walt Disney World.  He played a key role in the creation of one my favorite attractions: the Haunted Mansion 🔮.

This memoir highlights how revolutionary, innovative, and imaginative Walt Disney and his apprentice are. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more behind the scenes magic of Disney Parks. This is the untold behind the scenes story from Disney cast member to Disney Legend. Anyone who loves Disney Parks or plans to visit the Parks soon should add this book to their to be read list. 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

[Claire Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who had the honor of hearing Nunis, the author, speak to Disney College Program participants in the spring of 2023, I can confirm his writing is the same as the way he speaks. This is a great book for someone who wants to learn more about the the creation of the Disney theme parks from someone who breathed the experience firsthand. However, since there is so much information to cover, there was not a ton of detail about every moving piece.

It’s more in depth than a disney traditions class, and was a very easy read. I could tell that the same humor and personality Nunis spoke with was the same as his book. I am admired that he wrote this book 2 years prior to his death and published it a year before his death. Lots of rich history about the theme parks and his experience truly does show the way someone moves up in the Disney ladder. As someone who worked for the company, it also shows how Disney is extremely money and family focused with more behind the scenes decisions.

[Sandi Jerome · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew everything "Disney" until I read this book. My mother's family is from Anaheim and my grandmother lived a mile from Disneyland which was built the year I was born. My great-grandmother owned an orange grove where Disneyland now sits. I was surprised at how many secrets I learned after reading this book, especially about the early years and then during the turbulent times after Walt's death. Dick has been on the inside from the start - AND I had never heard of him. This is an exciting tale and I recommend it for both crazy Disneyites like me and for those that only see the huge completed Walt Disney World today and think - "that's pretty big."

[Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually ended up enjoying this a lot more than I expected to. Dick Nunis is a huge part of Disney history, but in so many histories and books, the focus is on Imagineering rather than operations. And even though Imagineering is magical and always at the cutting edge, to me, what makes Disney so impressive is literally that they manage to run, maintaining their standards, at the scope they encompass. This book provided a great peek behind the curtain look at the operational side of Disney. Written in first person, Nunis’ memoir is conversational from start to finish, and reading it feels like you’re listening to a story. A great addition to any Disney lover’s library.

[Hots Hartley · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK.

Short chapters, matter-of-fact, down-to-earth language, captivating stories, easy to read.

Still, it left much to be desired. Like most other Disney Editions, there wasn't much detail to the conflict or controversy. Dick Nunis wrote that "opposing views can lead to creative solutions" but rarely delved into any detail about those conflicts. Tell us who you fought, and what small details you quibbled over. He writes about strikes but not about what ultimately resolved them. Michael Eisner wasn't always on the same page, but how so? Most of the detailed characters in the story were good guys, like John Hench, with his palm-reading quirks.

"Most great ideas got recycled or reapplied to future projects." Tell us more about those recycled ideas, and the people behind them! Cut the fluff. We don't need to hear chapters praising each of your administrative assistants and how they managed your calendar. We don't need to read about your love of walking Disneyland, and how you commanded others to do the same. Or how much hard work went into clearing Florida swampland. These are givens, and any Disney fan that has picked up another book on Disney World will have already read this common knowledge. Give us more detail about your business dealings, how you "moved" people as the infamous People Mover, tactics you used to communicate the Disney culture to the Japanese Oriental Land Company during the early days of Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. Tell us why Eisner rejected Australia, and what debates you had about building Disneyland Australia. Don't just say that's why you retired, without delving deeper. The devil is in the details!

The book's one saving grace is its "Lesson Learned" quotes. Each chapter ends with a short lesson learned that concisely sums up the vignette or anecdote's takeaway message. Those lessons kept me reading! Otherwise, the book is passable.

[Mediaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very dull book with few insightful stories from the man who oversaw so many major Disney projects. It's disappointing that Nunis fails to really provide any new details about the company's history and instead works hard to keep up the corporate PR image. Everything is vague and fake-smile positive, with few of real behind-the-scenes stories of the many difficulties at Disney.

I technically worked under Nunis' leadership in the early years of Disney World as a cast member and he was known as a bear of a boss. People feared him and the hierarchy below him. The park honestly wasn't that well run from an employee perspective, the company almost abused its workers with low wages and high expectations. Simply trying to get to work each day at Disney World could take up to an hour or more and cost lots in gas money to drive all the way to the employee entrance, so while Nunis was highly paid and building a mansion in a rich part of town the rest of the cast wasn't fairly compensated. And I could tell you many, many behind-the-scenes stories of the Disney World workplace that would shock readers.

Where are those things in this book? Nunis ignores all that and simply skips through each event of his life in two- or three-page summaries that sound like he pulled them off of Wikipedia because his memories aren't strong. Other than a little extra time spent on EPCOT, most of this is the Cliff Notes version of his story with the Disney company. So few details, almost no compelling anecdotes, and way too much praise for upper management co-workers that the rest of us don't know.

As a typical rich corporate leader, he humble brags throughout, tries to give credit to his "team" (including the 4 or 5 people he needed to put this bare-bones book together), and paints his second marriage and family life as perfect (avoiding divorce details or acknowledging the impact of him being gone from the family most of the time or that his first wife hated Disney). Nunis also insists on trying to turn the book into something educational by adding simplistic one-sentence "Lessons Learned" at the end of each chapter. They don't work and often are meaningless or repetitive.

I'm not sure what reviewers are giving this 4- and 5-star reviews; they must have never read anything about the Disney organization nor are aware of the vast amount of information that Nunis could have provided but chose to not include. Ultimately this book is a failure as inspirational corporate executive history and instead is more of public relations publication to make sure others remember his major place in the Disney theme parks legacy. Like any other cast member, he's putting on a show on paper and not letting you see what really goes on behind the scenes.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

From BetweenDisney.com


It is a harsh reality that Walt Disney passed away over 55 years ago. And sadly it means that many of Disney’s close colleagues and acquaintances have been taken from us. Dick Nunis represents one of those colleagues who worked with Disney over half a century ago, who we have heard others talk about but who had not yet captured his memories working at Disney until now.

Walt’s Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive by Dick Nunis collects Nunis’ memories. Nunis outlines his youth including his college football career at the University of Southern California. After suffering a significant injury, Nunis moved into education, then training and development where Disney hired him as part of the Disneyland opening day training team. After a successful launch, Nunis found himself in operations where he oversaw lands within the park. His focus on capacity, efficiency, and maintaining Walt Disney’s standards led to his oversight of park operations. Working closely with Disney, Nunis would find himself added to projects as assigned. This would include participation in a World’s Fair, an Olympics, and eventually Disney’s move to the east coast with Walt Disney World. Nunis would successfully lead operations on both coasts until his retirement. Nunis then describes his post-Disney years as ones where he remained active and shared Walt Disney’s standards with others.

Nunis was assisted by a book team that created an outline for his recollections. Chapters tend to be topical and do not fully link to each other. The writing is clear, his team likely included editing skills, and he is easy to understand. Nunis has a reputation for being gruff. And his writing at times leans into this image with one section including phrases that support the story of the taskmaster general. The value is to see and hear these stories in Nunis’ voice. For example, he clearly was proud of his actions during the Yippie invasion of Disneyland. The text allows him to share his thoughts on this historical moment instead of letting others describe his actions for him. The pages allow him to tell the story in his voice and as he would shape it. The interesting piece to me however was how little was new. So many writers and colleagues have talked about the man that stories are not generally new information. Instead, they are about Nunis, by Nunis, and all of them are collected in one volume. Each chapter ends with a business lesson from Nunis, Disney, or other colleagues. I found these quotes somewhat unneeded as I read the volume less as a business book than a memoir. And some of these lessons seemed a little stretched to fit.

Walt’s Apprentice by Dick Nunis paints the former executive as a student of Walt Disney. And for some who see Disney as creative or affable may not take to the imagery. But we must also remember that Walt Disney was not a man who issued praise, worked hard, and demanded high standards. And while Disney may not have seen himself as a general like Nunis is willing to do, in many ways Nunis learned much from Disney. We must never forget that people are complex and do not always fit the stereotypes we place within our heads. The great benefit of Walt’s Apprentice is this book captures Nunis’ memories in Nunis’ words including his impressions of Walt Disney and himself.

[Jessica Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal parts memoir, history, and business leadership! A terrific read!

Dick Nunis has led a very interesting life. He was a high-level football player in high school with some great coaching mentors and was able to obtain a scholarship to play at USC in college with dreams of making a professional career out of the sport. But an unexpected injury sidelined his dreams and coming out of college took a job working as a supervisor trainer for the release of a new amusement park called Disneyland. This first job would change his life and eventually become his career. As one of the original workers for Disneyland, he had the opportunity to work alongside Walt Disney the man for a decade. Dick rose through the ranks of leadership and eventually become the chief of Disney World Resort parks. His experience included opening Disneyland, the 1964 Worlds Fair, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM Studios, EuroDisney, and Disney Tokyo. In his memoir, Dick shares his memories and life lessons for others to enjoy.

I’m typically a little skeptical about picking up a memoir of someone that I haven’t really heard much about, but sometimes those are the best stories out there. That proved true in Walt’s Apprentice. I love how this book was equal parts memoir, Disney history, and business leadership! The chapters are short and read fast but contain lots of information held within. My favorite part concerned the history of the Disney Parks and how they were developed and the process that took place. There was so much that I didn’t know about and loved getting to discover it. It was like the magic behind the magic. Plus understanding the challenges and obstacles that they had to overcome to make it what it is today was very inspiring.

If you’re a fan of Disney or just like discovering new things, give this book a try! Or maybe give it as a gift!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

[Ronald J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dick Nunis joined Disneyland at the age of 23, as the park was under construction. He did many jobs and rose to orientation instructor at the start of what is now Disney University, founded by his first boss, Van France. He worked with Walt Disney’s side for more than a decade helping him bring his visions to life. His career with Disney spanned 44 years, ultimately rising to Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, a Disney Legend, and opening Disneyland Tokyo, Paris, and Walt Disney World. There are a lot of interesting stories for Disney fans here. The chapters are short, and there are insipid “Lessons Learned” at the end of each one (some of which are decent though, such as: Genuine hospitality runs deeper than any management or customer service fad).

Nunis was involved in trying to add a Russia and Australia country exhibit to EPCOT, but it never materialized (Michael Eisner didn't get behind it, and it's obvious that he was no fan of Eisner). He was also involved with the New York World’s Fair, the 1960 Olympics, Mineral King (the winter ski resort that never happened), as well as Celebrity Sports Center in Denver, CO, sold to investors in 1979. He discusses early location ideas for Walt Disney World, such as St. Louis, Niagara Falls, New York, New Jersey. He has a Window Main Street in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom. Also, the Nunis family coat of arms inside Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom on the walls of Cinderella’s Royal Table restaurant.


Notable

Disney operated the Queen Mary and Spruce Goose attractions in Long Beach, CA.

Golf was a loss leader for Disney because it attracted guests, especially from Japan.

When EPCOT opened on October 18, 1982, two Concorde aircraft landed at Orlando International Airport simultaneously, one from British Airways and the other from Air France. Nunis says it was just as thrilling to see as a space shuttle landing.

D23 Expo features exhibits, fan trading, exclusive merchandise and is a celebrity-packed event. The Disney Legends awards ceremony is now part of it as well.

The question inside Disney wasn’t so much, “What would Walt do?” It was, “Would Walt be proud of this?”

[Sean Gill · Rating 3 out of 5]

More memoirs than autobiography, perhaps a bit of "business how too"- that befits a company man, one initially hired to help run the training program at Disneyland that would become the well known "Disney University" approach. The book is approachable and the chapters almost too short... more like yarns than fully fleshed out recollections. The "lessons learned" are stated seperately at the end, but are pretty superficial. It's curious the editors didn't try to distill more discipline in how they are ordered, they are chronological at times, but the 80s and 90s are a jumbled blur. I suppose they were trying to balance "big" stories with "little" lines, like getting Reagan to help approve visas for those foreign exchange kids staffing EPCOT is more dramatic (although not much) than noting that Disneyland Paris almost went to Spain because of tax incentives (I actually would have liked more of his thoughts there). As a tried and true Disneyland fan, I enjoyed learning a few new things. You get a lot about design from Disney, less about operations, so it's nice to see the other side. It's a curious tome because you really do need to know the history of Disney Parks to make much sense of it all, Dick rarely provides much details, but yet he doesn't really say a whole lot about the people he was working with or even what his exact position was at the end (he retired as chairman of the entire theme park division!). He only barely kind of hints at disliking Michael Eisner for example, and only then because Eisner picked Hong Kong over Australia. I believe Nunis died in December 2023, so this book was written near the end of his life, the earlier stories are longer, more vividly retained in his mind. I don't know if I really know Dick Nunis, but I did enjoy the stories he tells.

[Living My Best Book Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dick Nunis's memoir takes readers on a behind-the-scenes look at Disney worldwide. It's an insightful and inspirational read about building relationships, learning from experiences, and the magic of Disney.

I love Disney, and this book explains how Dick worked with Walt Disney to bring Walt's dreams to life. He talks about how he first got hired at Disney when Disneyland first opened and how he used his character and work relationships to the next level. When I was reading, I can tell how much he adored Walt. He paid attention to detail whether it be ride time or the scenery around the parks all because he was trained by the best. His friend gave him that extra gusto to want to make Walt's vision a reality even after the passing of the legend.

It was really cool how Dick wrote a lesson after every section in his book. He didn't shy away from taking every good and bad moment and making it a life lesson to help him succeed. His work ethic and advice can help anyone because his writing is so personable.

For all the Disney fans out there, you will enjoy so many behind-the-scenes moments at how the parks run and the process of keeping Disney magical each and every time.

I give Walt's Apprentice 4 stars. It's an enjoyable memoir that made me excited and motivated. This is a must have for every Disney fan!

[Jim Gallen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a long time Disney fan, I was delighted when my daughter gave me “Walt’s Apprentice”. Identified as a “Disney Legend”, author Dick Nunis has crafted vignettes of life, primarily on his career from May 24, 1955, even before the opening of Disneyland, through retirement on May 24, 1999. Presented in four Acts, the 78 entries each measure two to seven pages and conclude with a “Lesson Learned.” From Operation Instructor to Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Nunis experienced Disney from bottom to top.

The development and operation of theme parks, hotels and rides were all within Dick Nunis’ purview. From Disneyland, the New York World’s Fair, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, the Big Red Boat and other sites, Nunes was part of the Disney enterprises. His insights are broad: the walks through Disneyland with Walt, behind the scenes moments, opening days, triumphs and disappointments. He presents stories that drove success and the dreams that never came true, such as Mineral King and Disney St. Louis Riverfront Square. Pixie dust could not prevent a strike and Nunes’ dream of an Australian Park was not to be.

This short book is an easy read with something for many. It will spark memories of visits, teach business leaders and entertain Disney aficionados. If you fit in any of these categories, pick up and read.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️( 5 Stars)
Fantastic read written by a Disney Legend who was one of Walt’s Apprentices! Not only did Nunis witness so many monumental moments in Disney History, but also helped guide and direct the company in so many rides and attractions that are operating today.
This book is part Memoir, Business Leadership Manual, Disney Trivia, and Inspirational Stories! I felt as if I was sitting down for a cup of coffee with Mr. Nunis, like a beloved Uncle or Grandfather, as he shared his wisdom on all things business, life, and of course, Disney.
There were short chapters and a “lesson learned” at the end of each one. There is a lot of great well-known and not-well known facts about the origins of the Disney Parks and amazing historical figures that Dick Nunis got to meet, such as President Ronald Regan and Kennedy, Jim Henson, and more! Dick Nunis has been involved with so much with the Disney corporation from the training of the first Disneyland employees, the Mary Poppins movie premiere, The Matterhorn, international parks, and EPCOT World Showcase Pavilions.

This book would be perfect for any Disney fan, but also for business students and those looking for an honest voice in leadership in the “Disney Way”.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher, the author and Net Galley for the opportunity to review . My review opinion is my own.

As life long Disney fans from opening day of Disneyland to present , I was pleased to read this wonderful memoire by Dick Nunis a Disney Legend. What sets this book apart is the author tells his experience throughout his exceptional career, his devotion to Walk's vision and shares what he learned in 44 years with the Disney company. Each chapter includes life lessons that apply to everyone. This is told with honesty, love for Walt and Disney and with candor for his amazing career.

It is rare to read the insights of Walt and I appreciate that the author shared so much of our beloved Walt here with us . The author includes how during his careeer he stayed true to Walt's vision and brought much of Walt to life through his work. This is a book that appeals to all true Disney fans . I highly recommend this wonderful memoir that will touch your heart, teach you valuable life lessons and bring Disney to life through the author's words.

[Jay Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always fun to take a peek behind the scenes at the Disney Parks while they were coming together and Dick Nunis does his best to tell his story while taking us there.

Walt Disney was Dick's mentor for many years before Walt's untimely death just after the start of the Disneyworld project. We get a look into this relationship and understand that serendipity had a lot to do with Nunis' entry into the heart of Disney.

The book is a quick read and offers a "lesson learned" at the end of each chapter. Some of these are cliched but benefit from the telling of the story that got to the lesson. Some are a bit contrived, but that is what happens when your goal is to offer a lesson from each of a few dozen chapters. Some of them are things my Dad taught me but having a story leading to the lesson here was valuable.

My take: If you love Disney parks, this book is a must-read if only to round out your understanding of how things came to be and continue to evolve. If you're a manager of people, some of the lessons delivered here could be valuable to add to your arsenal.

[The Keepers of the Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Handpicked by Walt Disney to define the park experience, Dick Nunis has worked for Disney for 44 years. In this book, Dick talks about his life growing up, the ups and down and twists and turns of working for Disney, people he met along the way, and the lessons he learned along the way. He also shares thoughts from several Disney leaders.

This is a humorous, insightful memoir with gems of advice applicable to life as well as business. It’s engaging, informative, and unique. Photos included help bring the memoir to life and shed a light on Dick’s life. Fans of Disney, business non-fiction, and the history of Disney through the eyes of an icon will want to pick this one up. Recommended for library collections where business and non-fiction books about Disney are popular.

Please Note: A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own. No other compensation was received.

[Helena Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I loved the little insider tidbits about Disneyland and the construction of WDW, this book was a little too self-congratulatory for me. There was a lot of back-patting and generalization when I wanted a deeper dive into challenges or the nitty-gritty of a situation. Also, the lessons at the end were cute and nice but sometimes a bit too aspirational in their connection to the chapter.

I also really appreciated some of the details about the authors personal life, and I wish there was a little more detail in that arena. The end of the book drug a little for me as the flow of the chapters really seemed to get disjointed.

Overall, this was a fun and easy read that made me thankful to know more about Disney.

[Andee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Full disclosure: I am a full Disney freak. So of course a behind the scenes look at the beginning of Disney parks is something I am already passionate about. Getting Dick Nunis' perspective was like being a fly on the wall.

He writes his views and sides of each story - he doesn't paint a different picture than he sees. He admits to being no nonsense and strict with Cast Members and contractors. The bits of his personal life let us see the man he is. But I was in it for takes on Walt Disney and life after Walt passed away.

Love this book and should be added to any Disney fan's library.

[Kevin Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read that imparts wisdom from one man's career with the Disney Company. This isn't so much a Disney history book but it does look at the history of the Disney Parks through the eyes and experience of Dick Nunis. The author spent his career with Disneyland beginning with the inception of the first theme park and overseeing the growth to Florida, Paris, and Tokyo. There is much be to learned from his experiences. This is a great book to read to learn about leadership and business. He provides lessons he learned which are valuable to anyone looking for personal growth within their job.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who has worked as a Disney theme park Cast Member. Dick did an amazing job of "keeping the Disney dream alive" as well as crafting the narratives in this book. It is an easy and enjoyable read with short chapters each punctuated by leadership and life lessons. I appreciated his ability to own up to his mistakes as well as assert his confidence in the decisions he made along the way of his Disney journey and beyond.

Looking forward to discussing this on Notably Disney as a joint leadership selection between that podcast and our own, Book of the Mouse Club, in September and October!

[Drucilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5 stars. This is definitely one of those reviews you take with a grain of salt, but I just didn't vibe with this guy. He seems like a real hardass. Maybe if you had worked with him, that side would be balanced with his every day self, but just reading it in the book makes him seem like a difficult guy to work for. It also didn't help that this guy has the nerve to call himself Walt's apprentice. Maybe my understanding of an apprentice is different from his, but in no way, shape, or form did this book display that kind of relationship between the two. Nunis definitely took lessons from Walt, but it wasn't an apprentice-like relationship.

[Terri Wangard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dick Nunis worked at Disneyland, Disney World, Epcot, etc., for 44 years. He learned under Walt Disney himself, walking the park with him, studying what could be improved. Walt’s basics were: deliver quality, keep the park clean, and be friendly. You could always make things better and if you could, you should. Walt vetoed air conditioning in the Main Street offices because he wanted managers to be out among their “guests” instead of sitting in the office all day.

Insightful biography of a man in the happiness business who turned crowd management into a science.

[Kate Rock · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who loves Disney and Disney Parks, reading this felt like getting a peek behind the curtain.

As someone who has done extensive research into Walt Disney and the Disney Parks and studios, I still found myself fascinated by both details of park development and the awe Nunis clearly had for Disney from day one. Reading these memories was like a cross between catching up with a friend and going home.

My only complaint was the jump around in timeliness that seemed to happen, as not all of the memories were told in a linear fashion. As someone who has studied Disney, I had no problem following this, but the average person may find it a bit confusing.

To lover's of the Disney Parks or Disney history, this book feels like a warm hug. I would recommend picking up on a rainy afternoon, or any day when you are longing for some of the magic that can only be found at Disney. Thank you to Mr. Nunis for introducing these stories to the world and keeping Walt alive through these memories.

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

[Stephanie Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the dedication to Cast Members at the beginning to every chapter ending with a piece of wisdom, this was a fantastic and magical read.

I’ve experienced Traditions at Disney University, the Keys to the Kingdom tour, lived in Disney Housing, visited 3/6 parks, sailed on a Disney Cruise, been to the Walt Disney Family Museum and hold an Annual Pass yet STILL learnt so much about Disney, specifically Walt himself and the Parks from this book. Absolutely amazing, Dick Nunis is truly one of THE greatest Disney Legends

[Sarah Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 3.5 stars. The stories were interesting and learning more about the operations side of Disney was intriguing. The chapters are short and the language is approachable—a light, easy read. The tone threw me off from time to time though… sometimes it felt a little too much like forced humility rather than genuine. I enjoyed the content and would recommend as a quick read for Disney fans who are interested in how the parks developed (though more details there would have been welcome from time to time, too!) but the writing and voice were a bit lacking for me.

[Glenn Welch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad Mr. Nunis wrote his story and I'm glad I read the book. I have been an admirer of his for a long time. But, the book was only OK for me. Maybe I just had high expectations going in, and he was such a colorful character, that it didn't really come across in the book. Also, he buried the lede for a few things (won't spoil it here), and one thing had me scratching my head until it was resolved a few chapters later.

[Ellen Quicksell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a biography/memoir reader but when I saw I had the chance to read Walt’s Apprentice I knew I had to take the opportunity. Mr. Nunis infuses his memoir with the same magic that he’s infused into Disney Parks around the world. Candid, self-deprecating, and humorous, this memoir is a must read for any fan of Disney parks. I can’t wait to buy it for all the Disney lovers in my life.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an amazing book for anyone who manages other staff. In very short chapters (2-5 pages, generally), Dick Nunis provides Disney anecdotes and memories that each demonstrate an important business or managerial lesson. Probably not a popular title for personal or public libraries, but every corporate library and business school should have at least one copy.