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The Making of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Book details the planning and development of Disney's Animal Kingdom and allows you to take a thrilling and exclusive behind-the-scenes tour with stories from those worked to turn dream of a new type of theme park into a reality.
- GenresNonfictionTravel
192 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 22, 2024
If you think you know what it takes to stand up a whole new Disney Park, think again.
This story (which sometimes tends to come off like a PR-statement) takes you through the early concept stages when CEO Michael Eisner pushed the team to come up with the concept, which Imagineer Joe Rohde too and literally ran with.
You’ll hear about concepts, inspirational field trips taken round the world as Imagineers hunted for ways to bring the best from faraway safaris to central Florida, construction marvels (you’ll never believe how heavy the Tree of Life is), references to Day 1 attractions/lands like Camp Mickey Minnie (later replaced by Pandora), the challenges, high standards, and breakthroughs associated with Disney’s level of animal care, and more.
It’s similar in scope and style to some of the Imagineering stories on Disney+ that showcase the extraordinary work these magic makers accomplish to bring Rohde’s vision to life (and ultimately Walt’s; don’t forget, he wanted Disneyland’s original Jungle Cruise attraction to include real animals but had to scrap the idea based on animal unpredictability that this crew has solved in some very creative ways).
But it’s also combined with some great photos and concept art that help you understand more of the why behind the design decisions and maybe have you see areas of the park in a new light.
Enjoy!
This story (which sometimes tends to come off like a PR-statement) takes you through the early concept stages when CEO Michael Eisner pushed the team to come up with the concept, which Imagineer Joe Rohde too and literally ran with.
You’ll hear about concepts, inspirational field trips taken round the world as Imagineers hunted for ways to bring the best from faraway safaris to central Florida, construction marvels (you’ll never believe how heavy the Tree of Life is), references to Day 1 attractions/lands like Camp Mickey Minnie (later replaced by Pandora), the challenges, high standards, and breakthroughs associated with Disney’s level of animal care, and more.
It’s similar in scope and style to some of the Imagineering stories on Disney+ that showcase the extraordinary work these magic makers accomplish to bring Rohde’s vision to life (and ultimately Walt’s; don’t forget, he wanted Disneyland’s original Jungle Cruise attraction to include real animals but had to scrap the idea based on animal unpredictability that this crew has solved in some very creative ways).
But it’s also combined with some great photos and concept art that help you understand more of the why behind the design decisions and maybe have you see areas of the park in a new light.
Enjoy!
June 1, 2021
This is a fantastic treasure if you are a fan of Disney's Animal Kingdom, Imagineering, or the development of a theme park. Melody Malmberg captured a lot of the comraderie and some of the setbacks in constructing this newly themed park. While she touched on it's early concept period, the chapters "feel" like you are part of the team as they approach opening day.
There are fun anecdotes and a lot of unique photos and illustrations. It is essential for anyone keeping a Disney Parks library. Also helpful as of now, 2021, that you can find used copies in good condition for very little money.
There are fun anecdotes and a lot of unique photos and illustrations. It is essential for anyone keeping a Disney Parks library. Also helpful as of now, 2021, that you can find used copies in good condition for very little money.
June 4, 2020
Essential reading for a Disney Parks fan, this is a really interesting look at the creation of the park from conception to opening day. I would love to see a revised edition released, given that the park currently in operation is a very different beast to the one which opened in 1998.
September 10, 2012
Nicely done. Malmberg charts the course of Animal Kingdom's creation from concept to opening day. As a former imagineers herself, she does an excellent job of giving attention to every facet of theme park design from ride creation to maintenance. She focuses on the actual people performing the jobs, and their unique backgrounds. More than anything else, a reader comes away with a better understanding of just what a monumental job it is to build a completely new theme park from scratch.
I've had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time at Walt Disney World over the years, and Animal Kingdom has become my favorite park to visit. The attention to detail and theming there really stands well above its three sister parks. In Walt and the Promise of Progress City, Sam Gennaway discussed the "higher quality of life" that Disney parks tend to exhibit. A certain "quality without a name" that makes a place feel inviting, comforting, or special. Animal Kingdom more than any other place in WDW is, to me, the embodiment of this quality. Walking through the park, one can't help but feel surrounded by the imagination and creativity of it's designers. Furthermore, Animal Kingdom has retained a commitment to education through entertainment, which is something EPCOT used to pride itself in, but has sadly been lost over time.
All the above sentiments were feelings I already had before reading Malmberg's book. After reading, I can honestly say I have an even greater understanding and appreciation of the place. She treats her subject matter with a great deal of respect, but doesn't fall into the trap of elevating the Imagineers to the status of living gods (like many Disney books). She presents them as real people, with real problems to solve. The text is also supported with an enormous amount of beautiful photography. Hats off to Melody Malmberg, this is definitely a stand-out among books on Disney Imagineering.
I've had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time at Walt Disney World over the years, and Animal Kingdom has become my favorite park to visit. The attention to detail and theming there really stands well above its three sister parks. In Walt and the Promise of Progress City, Sam Gennaway discussed the "higher quality of life" that Disney parks tend to exhibit. A certain "quality without a name" that makes a place feel inviting, comforting, or special. Animal Kingdom more than any other place in WDW is, to me, the embodiment of this quality. Walking through the park, one can't help but feel surrounded by the imagination and creativity of it's designers. Furthermore, Animal Kingdom has retained a commitment to education through entertainment, which is something EPCOT used to pride itself in, but has sadly been lost over time.
All the above sentiments were feelings I already had before reading Malmberg's book. After reading, I can honestly say I have an even greater understanding and appreciation of the place. She treats her subject matter with a great deal of respect, but doesn't fall into the trap of elevating the Imagineers to the status of living gods (like many Disney books). She presents them as real people, with real problems to solve. The text is also supported with an enormous amount of beautiful photography. Hats off to Melody Malmberg, this is definitely a stand-out among books on Disney Imagineering.
July 27, 2015
Fascinating, a great behind the scenes look at DAK and how it came to be.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews