Introducing a different kind of guidebook for a different kind of theme park experience. This is a guide for those ready to immerse themselves in the magnificent achievement that is Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Wallace goes beyond the average guidebook to provide a lighthearted but scholarly look at the history, lore, and literature that inform the designs and storylines of every ride and attraction in the Magic Kingdom.

Learn to Slow Down and Savor the World's Boldest Theme Park There's no place like Epcot. It's the theme park that endeavored to change the world. Now, more than 30 years later, Aaron Wallace dives deep into the heart of Epcot. Step beyond the typical rush-here, do-that frenzy of most guidebooks to truly appreciate the park's history, storytelling, and controversies. The Thinking Fan's Guide is a lighthearted but scholarly tour through every Epcot ride and show. You'll learn to unpack big questions like: - Should a Future World attraction ever take place in the past? - Are Frozen's Anna and Elsa holding World Showcase hostage? - Do Disney characters belong in Epcot? - Why does the park spend so much time in Ellen DeGeneres's head? - Has Epcot lost its way? - Did the park really change the world? This is a guide for those ready to immerse themselves in the wondrous achievement of 1982's EPCOT Center and the multi-faceted, modern-day Epcot it has become. Longtime Disney buffs will find new insights and surprising perspectives, while newcomers will get more out of their vacations by learning to look at Epcot as a work of art. Fall in Love with Epcot for the First Time... or All Over Again.

"In 1993, Walt Disney Pictures released a movie that would change a generation...but it took a while. Hocus Pocus flopped upon release, and critics everywhere scoffed at this oddball comedy about three wacky witches back from the dead. But then something changed. Far from the forgotten relic it was destined to become, Hocus Pocus has taken its place alongside The Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter, and Home Alone--a bona fide classic that's sure to stay alive for generations to come."--Back cover.

"A guide to the flora, fauna, and fun of the world's greatest theme park"--Cover.

This expansive, must-have coffee table book paints a robust portrait of the Walt Disney World Resort, across half a century, through diverse and vibrant voices and mostly unseen Disney theme park concept art and photographs. Walt Disney's vision for the Florida Project begins with Disneyland and the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. After an imaginative and expansive design, a unique land acquisition process, and an innovative construction period, the Walt Disney World Resort celebrated its Grand Opening in October 1971. It featured a theme park dubbed the Magic Kingdom and three recreational resorts: Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Village, and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. As Walt Disney World consistently grew and further evolved through the five decades that followed, certain themes reverberated: an appreciation for nostalgia, a joy for fantasy, a hunger for discovery, and an unending hope for a better tomorrow. Inspirational and memorable theme parks, water parks, sports arenas, recreational water sports, world-class golf courses, vast shopping villages, and a transportation network unlike any other in the world resulted in fun, festive, and familiar characters, traditions, spectacles, merchandise, and so much more. The resort has come to represent the pulse of American leisure and has served as a backdrop for life's milestones both big and small, public and private. Walt Disney World: A Portrait of the First Half Century serves as a treasure trove for vacationers, students of hospitality, artists, and all Disney collectors. Searching for that perfect gift for the Disney theme park fan in your life? Explore more archival-quality books from Disney Editions: Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky Walt Disney's Ultimate Inventor: The Genius of Ub Iwerks One Day at Disney: Meet the People Who Make the Magic Across the Globe Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks Yesterday's Tomorrow: Disney's Magical Mid-Century Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic Poster Art of the Disney Parks

The latest edition to the successful Hidden Magic series features updated information on the latest attractions at Walt Disney World, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway! Whether it’s your first or fiftieth visit to Walt Disney World, you’ll be surprised at how much you can miss during your trip. But with this guide to Disney’s hidden treasures you’ll learn: -You can search for more than the usual hidden Mickey. There are other beloved characters like Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse hidden around the parks. -The book Belle reads in Beauty and the Beast is a real book...and you can find out what it is by heading to Maurice’s cottage. -Imagineers hide symbols of themselves around the park to “sign” their work. Including all-new information on Toy Story Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World, 3rd Edition will inspire you to relive the magic year after year!

Get the Trusted Source of Information for a Successful Walt Disney World Vacation The best-selling independent guide to Walt Disney World has everything you need to plan your family’s trip—hassle-free. Whether you are planning your annual vacation to Walt Disney World or preparing for your first visit ever, this book gives you the insider scoop on hotels, restaurants, and attractions. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2021 explains how Walt Disney World works and how to use that knowledge to make every minute and every dollar of your vacation count. With an Unofficial Guide in hand—and with authors Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa as guides—find out what’s available in every category, from best to worst, and get step-by-step, detailed plans to help make the most of your time at Walt Disney World. There have been lots of changes at Walt Disney World, from park opening procedures, to rides, restaurants, and hotels. Here’s what’s NEW in the 2021 book: When to visit Walt Disney World to get lower crowds and bigger hotel discounts Details on how COVID-19 and social distancing measures have impacted Walt Disney World Resort Tips on how to get a spot to experience Disney's fantastic new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance blockbuster attraction How to "Rope Drop" Disney theme parks to get on the most popular rides faster Ten tips for finding the cheapest Disney World tickets (and a free online search tool to do all the work for you) The latest on discounted stroller rentals, car rentals, and vacation homes Reviews of Disney's swanky new Riviera Resort, plus the new Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure rides for families The best hotel rooms to request at every Disney resort