Walt Disney World Resort: A Magical Year-By-Year Journey

by Pam Brandon

A look at the sights, sounds, and history of Walt Disney World Resort.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

Published December 30, 1997

Reviews

[Kimberly Karalius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh I LOVE this book! I just found it at an antique store and I knew I needed to buy it after cracking it open and seeing Goosebumps’ Horrorland Funhouse - a Ride I swore existed at MGM when I was a kid, but one that no one really talks about. And here was proof! The book is mainly photos of past rides, hotels, and areas, chronicling from the 1990s backwards the changes the parks have gone through. I wish there were more pictures (each thing got only one page of photos and text), but I feel like I have a library of park history at my fingertips. It feeds to nostalgia I’ve been feeling at the recent closures going on at the parks that have taken away so many of my fav rides. I think reading this book often will help with that.

[Theresa F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides a useful overview of the Walt Disney World Resort at various points in it's history. The photography is stunning, and the book includes images from many attractions that were either retired or were modified from their original form. That said, because the book is meant to be an overview and not a more in depth analysis, some of the entries have more visuals than others.
I did like the fact that the book is in reverse chronological order. I felt that it helped the work stand out from other books of this type. Overall, this 1998 publication is both a decent encapsulation of the history of Walt Disney World, and serves as a time capsule of what was happening at the resort in the late 90s.
Did I like it? Yes.
Would I reread it? Possibly.
Would I recommend it? Yes.