Jim Hill reviews this new Disney Edition book. Which talks about all of the challenges that Imagineers face these days when they’re creating new rides, shows and attractions for the Parks



Okay. Last week, JHM reviewed a new hardcover that would be the perfect graduation present for any artists and animators that are on your gift list. This time around, I'd like to talk up a book that would be a great selection for any would-be Imagineers you may have in your extended family. And that’s “Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real” (Disney Editions, May 2010).
I know, I know. There have been other books about WDI (1996’s “Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind-the-Dreams Look at Making the Magic RealWalt Disney Imagineering: A Behind-the-Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real” comes immediately to mind). But given that the Imagineers have added a lot of new techniques & technologies to their repertoire over the past 14 years, the folks at Disney Editions felt it was high time to take another trip to 1401 Flower Street.


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Now what makes “Making More Magic Real” different from any earlier Imagineering book is that it talks in depth about all the Parks & projects that WDI tackled from 1996 right through to … Well, tomorrow. The endpaper for this book is actually a beautiful piece of concept art for DCA’s soon-to-be-opening show, Disney’s World of Color.

Take – for example – Don Carson’s 1997 proposed design for Hong Kong Disneyland. Or – as this project was known back then – Disneyland Asia. What Don wanted to do was a pretty significant departure from what Imagineering had typically done with its Disneyland-type parks.



One of the more intriguing aspects of Carson’s plan was this theme park’s castle. Which was going to be located at the very back of the Park, rather than right off the Hub. What Don wanted to do with this iconic structure wasn’t your usual walk-through attraction or restaurant. No, what Carson wanted to do with the Disneyland Asia castle was put a ride inside of it. A Disney Fairy tale-themed “Once Upon a Time” ride-thru attraction to be specific.

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Amazon.com: Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at…
Amazon.com: Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at…

Will be adding that one to my wish list.

Awesome! I've read the 1996 version, so I'll be excited to see this next one.

I love watching any shows on Imagineering so this will be quite the read for me