What do you think?
Rate this book
Imagineering Field Guides
The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World--Updated!
The Imagineering Field Guide series answers the question “What would it be like to walk through a Disney park with an Imagineer by your side?” A lot of fun, actually! And extremely interesting. The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World?Updated! provides that experience, explaining large concepts and pointing out subtle details, revealing stories, backstories, and Imagineering insights never before revealed; and showing the sketches, paintings, and schematics used to develop the look of each attraction?all condensed into a portable, easily referenced park guide.
These user-friendly, beautifully illustrated guides are innovative and entertaining books that will enrich the guest’s time at the happiest places on earth. And now the series is being updated to include all the new attractions, shows, and lands in the Disney parks.
Who better to tour you around these Disney parks than the Imagineers who created them? And what better than to have the most recent insider information? It’s all in the Imagineering Field Guides.
These user-friendly, beautifully illustrated guides are innovative and entertaining books that will enrich the guest’s time at the happiest places on earth. And now the series is being updated to include all the new attractions, shows, and lands in the Disney parks.
Who better to tour you around these Disney parks than the Imagineers who created them? And what better than to have the most recent insider information? It’s all in the Imagineering Field Guides.
128 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Alex Wright
11 books6 followersAlex Wright is a show designer for Walt Disney Imagineering in Orlando, Florida. His credits include concept and set-design work for Disney's Animal Kingdom and Journey Into Imagination with Figment, as well as various enhancement projects all over the Walt Disney World Resort. Alex received a BA in design theory from the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1992 and an MFA in scenic design from the California Institute of the Arts, in Los Angeles in 1994.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 29, 2011
A sort of just-below-the-surface overview of Epcot. Like the Magic Kingdom version, it has plenty of interesting bits of information and even more interesting art straight from the imagineer files. This is the sort of book that almost needs to be read in the park, so you can see and understand what it's talking about. Of course, a hardcore Disneyphile knows the parks well enough to picture them while reading, but they probably know most of this stuff already anyways. Epcot has a lot less hidden secrets and history than the Magic Kingdom does. I love Epcot every bit as much as the Magic Kingdom, so it was a fun read for me.
March 17, 2021
EXPERIMENTAL . PROTOTYPE. COMMUNITY OF . TOMORROW
Good:
In depth look at all the tiny details that make Epcot Center what it is. Incredible explanation behind the story, and creation of Epcot! Love all the tiny details of why each pavilion is designed how it is, and how future world is split into two, the mechanical and natural world, and how it represents the brain. All those tiny imagineering details are so impressive!!! EPCOT is my favorite theme park so I am very biased but this book is an incredible feat of concept art, story, and like a tiny tour of the park in your hand! I got this when I was a kid, and this is probably why I want to be an Imagineer when I grow up! This book I can't stress is amazing and perfect for anyone wanting to study engineering, design, and theme park concept design.
Bad:
Is of course dated badly! EPCOT has changed so much since this book was published, so the designs and rides present inside the book do not exist in modern EPCOT today. Nonetheless it is like a history guide of what once stood there.
Personal Opinion:
Out of all the Imagineer tour guides, this one is my favorite! EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS PERFECT, and is so educational, and entertaining just as EPCOT was designed to be. One of my favorite books ever!!!!
Paging Tom...Morrow..
Good:
In depth look at all the tiny details that make Epcot Center what it is. Incredible explanation behind the story, and creation of Epcot! Love all the tiny details of why each pavilion is designed how it is, and how future world is split into two, the mechanical and natural world, and how it represents the brain. All those tiny imagineering details are so impressive!!! EPCOT is my favorite theme park so I am very biased but this book is an incredible feat of concept art, story, and like a tiny tour of the park in your hand! I got this when I was a kid, and this is probably why I want to be an Imagineer when I grow up! This book I can't stress is amazing and perfect for anyone wanting to study engineering, design, and theme park concept design.
Bad:
Is of course dated badly! EPCOT has changed so much since this book was published, so the designs and rides present inside the book do not exist in modern EPCOT today. Nonetheless it is like a history guide of what once stood there.
Personal Opinion:
Out of all the Imagineer tour guides, this one is my favorite! EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS PERFECT, and is so educational, and entertaining just as EPCOT was designed to be. One of my favorite books ever!!!!
Paging Tom...Morrow..
March 10, 2016
Epcot is my favorite place on earth. I enjoy reading and watching all things Epcot, and this book is a good addition to my collection.
The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World was updated in 2010, post-refurbishment. After reading, I almost wish I had purchased the older edition. While this field guide was definitely true to Epcot and all of its attractions, I wish it had included more background into each area. There is no mention of the late Wonders of Life or World of Motion Pavilions, and the reader is left mostly unaware of the previous Living Seas Pavilion and Sea Base Alpha.
I enjoyed the brief look into the World Showcase and each of its pavilions. Again, I feel that more could have been said about each of them. The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World is a great guide if you're in search of a quick overview of the current line-up at Epcot. However, if you're interested in the history of Epcot or just an in-depth look at its attractions and evolution, there are better books out there.
The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World was updated in 2010, post-refurbishment. After reading, I almost wish I had purchased the older edition. While this field guide was definitely true to Epcot and all of its attractions, I wish it had included more background into each area. There is no mention of the late Wonders of Life or World of Motion Pavilions, and the reader is left mostly unaware of the previous Living Seas Pavilion and Sea Base Alpha.
I enjoyed the brief look into the World Showcase and each of its pavilions. Again, I feel that more could have been said about each of them. The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World is a great guide if you're in search of a quick overview of the current line-up at Epcot. However, if you're interested in the history of Epcot or just an in-depth look at its attractions and evolution, there are better books out there.
August 4, 2023
Great quick read that gives you a taste of Imagineer's design language and concepts, plus (bonus!) the small form factor of the book means it's easy to slip into your backpack so you can bring it with you on your next Park trip and while you're waiting in lines, you can impress your friends with all kinds of behind-the-scenes intel on how certain attractions were designed or why certain country pavilions were created the way they were.
Published in the mid-aughts, there are some references to attractions you'll no longer see (i.e., the Maelstrom), so it doubles as a history text that captures the Park at a certain point in time about 25 years after opening.
Here's hoping we get a revised edition to dive into similar levels of detail for newer attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure!
Published in the mid-aughts, there are some references to attractions you'll no longer see (i.e., the Maelstrom), so it doubles as a history text that captures the Park at a certain point in time about 25 years after opening.
Here's hoping we get a revised edition to dive into similar levels of detail for newer attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure!
September 18, 2023
I enjoyed this for what it was, but it fell short of what I hoped it would be. A book written by, and with the enclosed knowledge of, the fabled Imagineers, should be chock full of behind the scenes facts, stories, and designs, right? Well, yes and no.
What there is, is interesting. We learn a little of the design and development process, how certain things are done and why they are done. It is, however, written in a very dry, factual style which doesn’t sit well with the things it is talking about. There is a fair bit of repetition, notably about things like forced perspective and how wonderful Walt was, but very little actual depth on anything.
All that being said, if you like theme parks and Disney this is a fair read, and at just 124 pages (with some very nice design illustrations) you can’t really go wrong.
What there is, is interesting. We learn a little of the design and development process, how certain things are done and why they are done. It is, however, written in a very dry, factual style which doesn’t sit well with the things it is talking about. There is a fair bit of repetition, notably about things like forced perspective and how wonderful Walt was, but very little actual depth on anything.
All that being said, if you like theme parks and Disney this is a fair read, and at just 124 pages (with some very nice design illustrations) you can’t really go wrong.
January 5, 2019
Second book finished in 2019! I am going to Epcot next month so I thought this book would be fun preparation. It's not a guide to the park but more of a history of the planning and information about the exhibits and rides. I have not been to Epcot in so long so it brought back memories and reminded me of things I had forgotten. Also, since the last time I have now been to actual Paris and UK so I found the section on the World Showcase particularly interesting. A fun addition to your reading list if you're planning a trip to Orlando.
July 7, 2017
Just amazing. I love these books! They are so detailed and really open up your eyes when you go into the Parks.
However, it just makes me want to go to Epcot all the more. I had a bit of a difficult time relating to this book because I've never been anywhere near WDW Resort and I hadn't a clue about the layout of Epcot itself! It was still amazing, though.
However, it just makes me want to go to Epcot all the more. I had a bit of a difficult time relating to this book because I've never been anywhere near WDW Resort and I hadn't a clue about the layout of Epcot itself! It was still amazing, though.
January 2, 2013
We had the chance to spend New Years Eve 2012 in Epcot, and it really renewed some of the faith I'd lost in the park. Test Track 2.0 had recently opened, and it's a fantastic overhaul. They've given the experience a very modern, high-tech appeal, without losing the commitment to education that has always been the hallmark of Epcot. Innoventions has also been given a face lift, and it's in better shape than its been in quite a while.
One of the things that has frustrated me and much of the a Epcot fan community since the late nineties is the move away from edutainment style attractions in favor of character based ones (like The Seas with Nemo). There is an interesting passage in this book's description of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience that illustrates the problem with this trend:
"Had we simply dropped in the characters in from the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids films, the show would have no context to connect it to the rest of the park."
I hope updates like the one made to Test Track are a sign that the imagineers are still concerned with the park's "context", and not just whatever franchise is selling at the moment.
It's interesting that this book was published in 2006, and less than a decade later, it's pretty dated. Wonders of Life, The Living Seas, River of Time, and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience are still featured. The cover of the book even features the much maligned sorcerers hand over Spaceship Earth. Overall the book is decent, but suffers from the same issues as the other Imagineering Field Guides that I mentioned in a previous review. For a much more comprehensive exploration of Epcot not influenced by Disney corporate, check out The EPCOT Explorer's Encyclopedia.
One of the things that has frustrated me and much of the a Epcot fan community since the late nineties is the move away from edutainment style attractions in favor of character based ones (like The Seas with Nemo). There is an interesting passage in this book's description of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience that illustrates the problem with this trend:
"Had we simply dropped in the characters in from the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids films, the show would have no context to connect it to the rest of the park."
I hope updates like the one made to Test Track are a sign that the imagineers are still concerned with the park's "context", and not just whatever franchise is selling at the moment.
It's interesting that this book was published in 2006, and less than a decade later, it's pretty dated. Wonders of Life, The Living Seas, River of Time, and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience are still featured. The cover of the book even features the much maligned sorcerers hand over Spaceship Earth. Overall the book is decent, but suffers from the same issues as the other Imagineering Field Guides that I mentioned in a previous review. For a much more comprehensive exploration of Epcot not influenced by Disney corporate, check out The EPCOT Explorer's Encyclopedia.
December 4, 2013
While I can't give this book five stars, I enjoyed this even more than the Magic Kingdom one. All the rides at the time of publication got even coverage this time and much of it is interesting. With the World's Showcase and all the rides in Future World, it feels like this book is more full than the Magic Kingdom. The background information on Walt Disney's idea behind Epcot was also pretty interesting. I also appreciated how they talked a little bit about the history of some of the rides that have since been replaced. While it is safe to say my love of Epcot had a big part of why I liked this book so much, I think that the content here is just a little better as well.
One of my only criticisms is that the idea of forced perspective which was well-covered in the Magic Kingdom is repeated three or four times in this book. Perhaps this is because they didn't have something better to say, but it still feels like missed potential. The tone is still praising Disney a little too much, but I don't think anyone expected that to change dramatically from volume to volume.
As enjoyable as these books are, it is a shame that Disney hasn't released a more comprehensive book that covers each park in detail. These books pique your interest and leave you wanting for something even more satisfying.
One of my only criticisms is that the idea of forced perspective which was well-covered in the Magic Kingdom is repeated three or four times in this book. Perhaps this is because they didn't have something better to say, but it still feels like missed potential. The tone is still praising Disney a little too much, but I don't think anyone expected that to change dramatically from volume to volume.
As enjoyable as these books are, it is a shame that Disney hasn't released a more comprehensive book that covers each park in detail. These books pique your interest and leave you wanting for something even more satisfying.
April 27, 2012
A great read and a great addition to the library of any fan of Disney theme parks.
The Imagineering Field Guides are some of my favorite Disney Imagineering books. They not only provide lots of interesting details about the design of the parks, but they are also a great look at the design principles used by Walt Disney Imagineering in the design of all of the parks, resorts, and attractions they create.
This is the "revised and updated" edition of this book. I'd previously read and enjoyed the original version (multiple times, in fact), but this edition includes information about some of the newer attractions and recent changes at Epcot (since 2006 when the first edition was published), including The Seas with Nemo and Friends (formerly The Living Seas), updates to Spaceship Earth, and Disney's Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure (which is currently in the midst of being updated to Disney's Phineas and Ferb Agent P's World Showcase Adventure). I haven't closely compared this edition to the original yet, but I plan to do a page-by-page comparison to satisfy my curiosity about how much has been updated and revised.
I highly recommend this book to any fan of Disney theme parks, or anyone interested in the fields of Imagineering and theme park design.
The Imagineering Field Guides are some of my favorite Disney Imagineering books. They not only provide lots of interesting details about the design of the parks, but they are also a great look at the design principles used by Walt Disney Imagineering in the design of all of the parks, resorts, and attractions they create.
This is the "revised and updated" edition of this book. I'd previously read and enjoyed the original version (multiple times, in fact), but this edition includes information about some of the newer attractions and recent changes at Epcot (since 2006 when the first edition was published), including The Seas with Nemo and Friends (formerly The Living Seas), updates to Spaceship Earth, and Disney's Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure (which is currently in the midst of being updated to Disney's Phineas and Ferb Agent P's World Showcase Adventure). I haven't closely compared this edition to the original yet, but I plan to do a page-by-page comparison to satisfy my curiosity about how much has been updated and revised.
I highly recommend this book to any fan of Disney theme parks, or anyone interested in the fields of Imagineering and theme park design.
April 28, 2011
This book was disappointing, to say the least. I understand that this "Field Guide" series from Disney is written from a top-level perspective and is basically a franchise of books. But the amount of PR spin and retroactive rewriting of history was a bit much for me, especially when it came to the origins of what became EPCOT Center. I don't expect Disney to dish the dirt in their own book, but they also seemed to apply way too much polish to stores of interest.
The inclusion of concept art was the positive of this book, unfortunately given the small size of the pages, one could not appreciate it. Additionally, many illustrations were seeming included at low-resolution, and were obviously very "bitty" in nature.
The most ironic part was how the book completely ignored the "Wand" having over Spaceship Earth on the cover.
A new edition of this book is now available, but overall, I'm not impressed with the concept.
The inclusion of concept art was the positive of this book, unfortunately given the small size of the pages, one could not appreciate it. Additionally, many illustrations were seeming included at low-resolution, and were obviously very "bitty" in nature.
The most ironic part was how the book completely ignored the "Wand" having over Spaceship Earth on the cover.
A new edition of this book is now available, but overall, I'm not impressed with the concept.
December 28, 2010
EPCOT is my favorite park by far. Learning about all of the detailed architecture, use of forced perspective and the history behind each country's pavillion in the World Showcase will certainly enrich my experience of them. It was also interesting to learn the history of each Future World attraction's corporate sponsorship. Disney knew how to get other people to pay for his income generating entertainment.
August 21, 2012
A tour around Epcot from the imagineers. I love these books. Full of the little details that you might not notice but you would definitely miss if they disappeared. So much work and thought goes into everything Disney does and I've never been anything but impressed with anything they have made. I love Epcot, along with Animal Kingdom it's in joint first place as my favorite Disney Park. World Showcase is fantastic. I love Japan. Only 29 more days until I'm back there :)
April 8, 2008
My only complaint is that I don't think I learned anything new. I wish they had more in there about the older attactions and went into more detail about the attractions themselves and how they run. I know its an offical Disney publication so maybe that is its problem, still it was interesting and I always like reading about the World.
October 19, 2009
This very short travel guide is basically a Epcot advertisement put out by Disney. It really offers nothing if you've been to the park before other than a tiny bit of interesting insight into some aspects of the park that may not be there anymore. There's a new edition coming out in 2010, so if you're headed to Epcot, wait for that one.
July 3, 2013
It's fascinating learning about the Disney parks from the people who design them and the entire series of these books are wonderful! I'd highly recommend them for any fan of the Disney company and the parks especially. The amount of inside information in areas that most people wouldn't even consider is amazing!
August 27, 2009
I thought this guide would be a lot more packed with unusual facts than it is - as a major Disney fan, I didn't learn much that I didn't already know. Fun anyway, though, especially for someone who's been to Epcot a few times but may have missed some hidden treasures.
July 10, 2011
Solid guide to EPCOT with lots of behind the scenes information for casual Disney fans. However, if you are more of a diehard Disney fan (especially in regards to Disney World), then chances are you know most of this information. Nonetheless, still a short and solid book put together.
September 13, 2008
Read it before going and then carry it with you your second more leisurely day in EPCOT
April 10, 2013
this book gives you tons of info to learn about disney world.
April 26, 2013
It's in the shop, but has nothing about technology, as the description promises.
July 27, 2013
A short, informative guide to Epcot. Filled with lots of general info and some great hidden gems to look out for.
September 10, 2016
Bought the whole set of these - they're super entertaining and useful.
![Profile Image for Amanda [Novel Addiction].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1415744673i%2F4886503._UX200_CR0%2C36%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 4, 2014
some fun background information about my favorite park. I will check out the rest of the series.
January 2, 2017
A great behind-the-scenes book on how the Imagineers come up with their ideas and bring them to life in the Parks.
June 21, 2008
Thank you, Troy! This was a wonderful Christmas present! :)
April 10, 2010
LOVE LOVE LOVE these books! Fantastic behind the scenes info!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews