Playdom and ESPN Games Debut ESPNU College Town

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September 27, 2010

Playdom, in collaboration with ESPN Games, today launched a sports-themed social game on Facebook titled ESPNU College Town. Fun, engaging and easy to play, ESPNU College Town gives sports fans a chance to create and run their own virtual college campus, build an elite athletic program, and compete against their friends for bragging rights.

Sports fans in the game are given all the tools to create their own university, complete with academic buildings, major athletic venues – including football stadiums and basketball arenas – and ESPN-branded assets such as an ESPN College GameDay set and production truck. Other buildings and campus must-haves include dorms, a fraternity/sorority row, student unions, restaurants, libraries, walkways, streets, parking lots and more.

Also, fans can play the role of Athletic Director by recruiting fictional star athletes to build a top sports program ready to go head-to-head against other ESPNU College Town teams. Fans compete for points and bragging rights by matching up against other friends in the game.

To make each ESPNU College Town their very own, fans have access to authentic assets from more than 60 real universities, including iconic campus buildings, nationally recognized stadiums, mascots, logos and more. As fans gain points and move up levels, sports venues can be upgraded from simple fields with bleachers to state-of-the-art domed stadiums with lights, Astroturf, JumboTrons, box seats and more.

“College sports fans have a voracious appetite for their teams and we are doing what Playdom does best by leveraging our expertise in the social games space to create an immersive game experience for a dedicated audience,” said Mike Rubinelli, Playdom Vice President of Studio Operations. “We are extremely proud to be working on this game with ESPN, they have been an outstanding partner.”

Facebook users can play the game at: http://apps.facebook.com/espnucollegetown/

“ESPNU College Town presents a huge opportunity for us to reach a broad audience of both casual and hardcore sports fans, and we look forward to rolling out other social games within the sports category,” said Raphael Poplock, vice president of games and revenue strategy & development, ESPN Digital Media. “The possibilities are endless when it comes to the creative, sports-themed social games we can produce, and this is only the beginning of what we have in development with Playdom.”

Online social games are the fastest growing category in the games industry – having recently surpassed email as the second most popular online activity – behind only social networking sites themselves – and are projected to be a one billion dollar industry by 2011, according to Nielsen.

ESPN Games has a history of successful collaboration with leading developers, bringing fun and entertaining games to sports fans across all game platforms, including console, casual and social. ESPN Arcade, ESPN’s casual games brand re-launched in 2009, logged 95.5 million minutes of total time spent on ESPN.com last year, according to comScore. Most recently, ESPN Games announced an agreement to deliver to Xbox 360 ESPN3.com’s live events and ESPN.com’s video-on-demand clips and sports highlights, as well as other interactive features.

For more information and photos check out the link here.

New Tron Legacy Posters

By

Chip

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September 27, 2010

“TRON: Legacy” is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world’s leading video-game developer.

When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn’s Arcade—a signal that could only come from his father—he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe—a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before-imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape.

Presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and scored by Grammy® Award-winning electronic music duo Daft Punk, “TRON: Legacy” hits U.S. theaters on Dec. 17, 2010, in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D.

TRON P232 GARRETT CMYK

TRON P232 JEFF CMYK

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D23 Announces The Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament

By

Chip

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September 27, 2010

This weekend D23: The Official Disney Fan Club announced The Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament as an exciting addition to the already highly anticipated D23 Expo 2011. The tournament will allow Disney enthusiasts to compete for the title of Disney Trivia Champion at “The Ultimate Fan Event” to be held next August 19–21 in Anaheim, California.

In a little more than a year, D23 has grown into a community of tens of thousands of Disney fans from every state in the U.S. and more than 30 different countries.

“D23 Members often surprise us with the vast knowledge they possess of all things Disney as well as their passionate nature when it comes to who knows the most about the magic,” said Steven Clark, head of D23. “So we’ve decided to feed their competitive spirit with a new signature event, The Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament at the D23 Expo, as well as D23’s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt at Walt Disney World, which will take place in conjunction with our Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary celebration next spring.”

Upcoming D23 Expo 2011 announcements include:

Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament. The Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament is an exciting new addition to the D23 Expo 2011. The eccentric, professorial quack-meister Ludwig Von Drake will be presiding over the festivities as competitors demonstrate their deep knowledge of all things Disney, including park attractions and shows and parades, past and present; films and TV shows through the years; consumer products, games, company history and, of course, Walt and his family. No corner of Disney’s magical kingdom will be left unexplored in this quest to find that uniquely talented individual who knows more about Disney than anyone else.

Potential champions can test themselves and hone their skills by visiting the Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament Web page, which will launch soon. A new sample question will be posted each week as well as lists of suggested reading/cramming materials, the official contest rules and exactly how to participate. Details will be available soon at D23.com and D23Expo.com.

Fan Art Contest. The One Hundred and One Dalmatians Fan Art Contest invites members of D23 to depict those classic canines in almost any type of art installation. The contest is in honor of the 50th anniversary of the beloved animated feature, and the winners will have their work displayed inside the Fan Art Gallery, which will be themed to the infamous House of de Vil at the D23 Expo 2011. Following “The Ultimate Fan Event,” these works of art will become a part of the Walt Disney Archives permanent collection.

To enter, Disney fans must submit sketches of proposed artwork no later than April 4, 2011. Entrants must be members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. More information and art specifications available at: http://D23.disney.go.com/expo/articles/20100819-disneysfanartcontesthonor.html

Collectors’ Forum. The Collectors’ Forum is the ultimate Disney marketplace for fans. Collectors, dealers and other vendors have the chance to showcase their collections in this ultimate forum for buying, selling and trading Disney merchandise and memorabilia. This year, in addition to Disney, Pixar and ABC collectibles, the Forum will feature items from the amazing world of Marvel, the newest addition to the Disney family, and Star Wars, in celebration of the reimagined attraction Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort.

Following the successful and sold-out Destination D: Disneyland ’55 event this past weekend, as well as the equally exciting (and sold out) D23’s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt—which offered Disney’s most competitive fans the chance to be a part of Disneyland’s first-ever official scavenger hunt—D23 has announced two exciting new events coming soon to Walt Disney World in Orlando.

Destination D: Walt Disney World 40^th Anniversary. Following the rave reviews of Destination D: Disneyland ’55, D23 has announced Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary to be held in spring 2011 (exact dates TBD). The event will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Orlando resort, its history and heritage. Panels will include all-new presentations that echo the successful panels at Destination D: Disneyland ’55, including “Walt Disney World: The Way We Were,” hosted by Disney Legend Dave Smith, “Weird Disney” with Walt Disney Archives director Becky Cline, “From Quirky to Collectible: The Wonderful World of Walt Disney World Merchandise,” “Walt Disney World Through the Eye of Television” and “Walt Disney World in Pop Culture,” as well as a special evening event featuring musical memories from throughout the history of Walt Disney World. Other panels, featured speakers and details will be announced soon on the D23 Web site.

The Destination D events were created to celebrate the rich legacy of The Walt Disney Company and each event focuses on a different part of that legacy.

D23’s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt: Walt Disney World. The race is on… again! Following this past weekend’s first Great Disney Scavenger Hunt at Disneyland with 2,000 people and 575 teams, D23 is inviting guests to the Walt Disney World Resort for a fun-filled, two-day hunt around the World. In spring 2011, for the first time in the 40-year history of Walt Disney World, guests will have the chance to scour all four theme parks to win incredible Disney prizes in this official Disney scavenger hunt. The cost will be $50 per team for D23 Members and $75 per team of non-members. Each team will consist of between 2-4 participants, and additional rules and registration information will be available soon at the D23 Web site.

Since launching in March 2009, D23 has hosted more than 50 member events, from special screenings, one-of-a-kind experiences and prestigious panels with Disney Legends to the hugely successful D23 Expo, “The Ultimate Fan Event,” and the recent D23’s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt which turned Disneyland into an open playing field that contestants scoured for answers to clues.

How to prepare your Kids for their First Disney World Vacation

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 27, 2010

In December, my parents announced that they were taking my family to Disney World in October. It would be my kids first trip to Disney. My oldest was 8 at the time and the twins were 6. They were excited but they really did not understand what to expect. They kept making comparisons to Six Flags which seemed silly but what could they compare it to? Not much compares to the Disney World experience so it was time to introduce them to all to the Disney magic.

First, I went onto the Walt Disney World vacation planning site and selected customized maps. Here I chose all of my favorite attractions to be highlighted on the maps. I made one for each park – the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Disney will send you the set of customized maps once every 6 months. Of course, having three kids I needed three sets. So, I repeated this at my parent’s house and at my in-laws. A couple of weeks later all three sets arrived and I was ready to give them to the kids. The maps are beautiful – written on thick parchment paper they resemble old fashioned treasure maps. The kids went wild over them. They each sat down pouring over the maps and asking what each of the rides were that I had marked. Also included was a map of the whole Disney World complex. They were finally beginning to comprehend how big the whole place was.

I had also ordered from the Disney World website a current Disney World Vacation Planning DVD. As a family, we all sat down to watch it. And not for the vacation planning information – that was done already. But now the kids could put the pictures and sights to the names they had seen on the maps. Certain parts were watched a couple of times and now they were really starting to feel the magic and the excitement.

Next, I bought Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World for Kids – basically a travel book aimed at kids for them to read. I started by reading aloud from it before bed to all three kids. They really liked all the descriptions of the rides. It rated them by fun factors and scariness and gave any height restrictions. Soon, my oldest took over the book reading it every night before bed. He even did a book report for school on it. By the time we left for vacation, he had everything he wanted to see memorized. (He still won’t give up that book.)

As the summer progressed, I dug out all the old Disney cds that I had played for them when they were little. We would listen to them in the car and the kids would have to guess which movie the song was from and who was singing. It was a great way to get familiar with all the classic characters. We also started re-watching all the Disney movies. My oldest is still disappointed that I can’t find a copy of Song of the South to watch.

The last thing I did was order matching Disney t-shirts for everybody. The kids had heard all about the Disney trip that my extended family had taken when I was in high school. 20 people all wearing the same red shirts. This time I found matching Mickey & Minnie Mouse t-shirts for everyone. Armed with autograph books, pens, maps and all that information in their heads they were ready to meet Mickey Mouse. And I knew all the prep time was worth it, when we walked on to Main Street for the first time and R.J. said, “Lets go left to Adventure Land.”

Jennifer Webster
[email protected]
847-909-4575

Why Didn’t Disney Get Harry Potter?

By

Chip

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September 27, 2010

It might have been the “Wizarding World of Walt Disney,” but the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the hottest thing to hit Orlando in decades, opened at Universal Orlando instead. How come?

It’s a question that has a lot of people scratching their heads. After all, with its fabled “Imagineers” and deep pockets, Walt Disney World seemed the logical choice to bring the phenomenally successful Potter franchise to vivid life.

So why did the Boy Wizard take up residence at Universal’s Islands of Adventure? It seems Universal made Ms. Rowling an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Seth Kubersky, a former Universal team member and Orlando journalist, will discuss the behind-the-scenes story of how Universal’s Wizarding World came to be in a series of talks at Barnes and Noble stores in Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville, Florida from October 5 to 9.

Kubersky, a former stage technician and special event supervisor at Universal, is co-author of Universal Orlando 2011: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Theme Park Adventure (The Intrepid Traveler, $15.95).

Among the other insider stories and little-known facts Kubersky will unveil are how Universal’s designers got around the Federal Aviation Administration’s height limit for buildings when they created Hogwarts Castle, and the best ways to beat the enormous crowds that have packed Harry’s world since its opening.

Titled, “Hidden Harry Potter: Seven Insider Secrets of Universal Orlando’s New Wizarding World,” Kubersky’s presentation will also unveil some of the surprising ingredients in butterbeer, as well as where to grab a mug of the wildly popular brew with the least waiting time.

Kubersky is uniquely qualified to reveal the secrets behind Harry Potter’s theme park magic. As technician for the Terminator 2: 3-D attraction, he has ridden the Terminator’s motorcycle on stage. As stage manager for Halloween Horror Nights, he spent whole nights in a haunted house, and performed on stage at the Universal Cineplex as producer of the Rocky Horror Picture Show “Live.” Kubersky also keeps an eagle eye on Orlando’s theme park scene as the culture columnist for the Orlando Weekly, and has contributed to Visit Florida and Virgin Airlines magazines as well as Rudy Maxa’s radio shows.

Universal Orlando 2011 can be ordered at a discount at
http://www.intrepidtraveler.com/universal

The “Hidden Harry Potter” events will be held at the following Barnes and Noble locations. All events are free.

October 5, 7:00 p.m.
Colonial Plaza Market Center
2418 E. Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32803
407-894-6024

October 7, 7:00 p.m.
Carrollwood
11802 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
Tampa, FL 33618
813-962-6446

October 9, 1:00 p.m.
Mandarin Village Shopping Center
11112 San Jose Blvd., Suite 8
Jacksonville, FL 32223
904-886-9904

New Disney Princess Doll & Fashion Line Designed For Older Girls Launches For the Holidays

By

Chip

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September 27, 2010

Disney Consumer Products and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. introduce the new Princess & Me lifestyle brand of large “friend” dolls inspired by beloved Disney Princess characters, now available at Toys”R”Us stores nationwide. The new collection creates a world where girls can deepen their friendship with their favorite Disney Princess characters through an all new assortment of beautifully sculpted 18″ scale dolls, fashions, accessories and dress-up that appeal to a slightly older Disney Princess fan (girls ages 5 — 8). Beloved as a lifestyle brand for girls around the world, Disney Princess ranks among the top choices for dolls and girls role play in the United States.¹ Already a leading brand in the fashion doll category,² Disney Princess now offers girls a new way to play with their favorite characters with the Princess & Me line, the first foray into the large doll category for the powerhouse brand.

For the first time ever, girls can dress their favorite Disney Princess dolls in sleepwear and ballet outfits in their signature colors and styles. Stunning matching dress-up ball gowns for girls from JAKKS’ Creative Designs International (CDI) division allow girls to mimic the exact outfits their dolls are wearing — just like real friends do. Designed with special attention to detail and high-end fabrications, Princess & Me delivers an aspirational look and feel that envelopes girls in a royal world and allows them to “grow” with their favorite Disney Princess characters.

Toys”R”Us is the first retailer to showcase the collection of more than 25 Princess & Me products, available now in its stores nationwide and at Toysrus.com. The retailer recently named Princess & Me dolls to their list of ‘Fabulous 15’ toys for the holiday season. At a holiday preview event this summer, moms and their daughters gushed over the beauty and quality of the dolls, role play dresses and accessories. In July, the Princess & Me 18″ dolls made their initial debut on QVC®’s CHRISTMAS IN JULY® as one of the top selling items during the event. Disney Stores will also carry the Princess & Me line later this fall.

“This new line of ‘friend’ dolls is perfect for young girls as they get older,” notes Elaine Carovilla, director of girls’ toys for Disney Consumer Products. “Princess & Me dolls invite girls to develop a deeper relationship with a trusted companion — a Disney Princess character who they know and love and whose stories they’ve grown up with — while also allowing girls to continue playing out the thrills of any adventure she can dream up.”

On October 16 from 2 — 4 p.m., girls are invited to attend the Princess & Me Royal Party at their local Toys”R”Us store to participate in royal activities, including a decorate-your-own Princess & Me tiara, story time, and more. Attendees will also be given information on how to enter the Princess & Me online sweepstakes to win a Princess & Me doll, a set of fashions and the entire collection of accessories.

“The sophisticated styles and attention to detail, as well as the new activity themes, should resonate with girls who grew up with Disney Princess and are now looking for new ways to relate to the characters as they get older,” added Jennifer Caveza, vice president, girls marketing, JAKKS Pacific. “Princess & Me will appeal to all girls who love everything ‘princess.’ The entire line provides a royal world where girls can play out what they love to do with their favorite Disney Princess friends.”

Each doll comes with a booklet filled with Disney Princess fun facts and activities including a “Princess Personality” quiz, doll accessory features and tips for how to live like a princess including smile, hair styling, tea party and slumber party tips. Girls can even send in a card to become an honorary princess and will receive a special card from their favorite Disney Princess on their birthday.

The Princess & Me product line includes:

The Princess & Me 18″ friend dolls have sweet faces and beautiful long silky hair; girls can choose from Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella and Tiana, or collect them all! Each Princess & Me doll wears a tiara and comes dressed in her exquisitely detailed, signature ball gown. Also included is an invitation for girls to become a member of the Disney Princess royal family so girls will get a birthday card from their favorite Disney Princess, as well as a small magazine featuring the full product line and helpful princess lifestyle tips.

The Princess & Me doll fashions include the Royal Sleepwear Ensemble which comes with a nightgown, robe and slippers in each of Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, and Tiana’s signature styles. Perfect for slumber parties! To set the scene for a slumber party, Princess & Me doll accessories include the Royal Wardrobe to store all doll fashions and the Princess Canopy Bed, a fancy doll-size canopy bed fit only for a princess.

The Princess & Me Ballet Recital collection includes a tutu dress, lace up ballet slippers and a headband for girls. Princess & Me Royal Vanity Set assortment includes a tray, brush, comb and hand mirror, and perfume atomizer. The Royal Tea Time For Two Set comes with a tiered cake platter and a complete tea set for two, including a tea pot, two cups and saucers, and spoons, napkins, a sugar bowl, creamer and a tray of pretend petit fours.

Stunning dress-up from JAKKS’ CDI division allow girls to mimic the exact ball gowns their dolls are wearing — just like real friends do! Girls can dress up in matching dresses and have tea with their Princess & Me doll with the Princess & Me Deluxe Dress Assortment. The Princess & Me Belle Deluxe Holiday Gown & Cape for the 18″ Doll with velvet and fur trim also comes with matching cape and gown for girls.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Builds Better Futures with Support from Disney

By

Chip

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September 27, 2010

Recently recognized by Walt Disney World Resort for its proven track record in improving children’s lives, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida receives ongoing, comprehensive support from Disney for its youth development efforts.

Locally, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 570 children who are considered at-risk and need encouragement to thrive. The organization helps youth in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard and Lake Counties reach their greatest potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships. Every week, hundreds of Central Florida volunteers known as “Bigs” spend time with their “Littles,” sharing experiences, mentoring, providing tutoring, and improving social skills.

Disney’s involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters includes thousands of VoluntEAR hours, charitable support and leadership through board service.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters is a great fit for me and for Disney,” says Jacquee Wahler, director of internal communication for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, who became the organization’s board president last month. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the difference this program makes for kids.”

Independent research shows kids with Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors are more likely than their peers to finish and succeed in school, avoid violence and resist other negative, harmful behaviors and activities.

The need for volunteers, especially “Big Brothers,” remains a constant for the nonprofit, which currently has children on a wait list for a match. Interested in helping this great effort? Visit http://www.bbbscfl.org/ to learn more.

Disney Food Confession – New England Lobster Roll

By

Chip

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September 27, 2010

What is it? The New England Lobster Roll

Where can you get it? At the Hops and Barley marketplace is a guest favorite during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Oct. 1-Nov. 14 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

More than 25 marketplaces also shine a spotlight on traditional ethnic foods like South Korea’s Lettuce Wraps with Roast Pork and Kimchi Slaw. Winemakers, brew masters and chefs from Disney and around the world welcome guests to sip and savor during the six-week festival. (Diana Zalucky, photographer)

Two Lonely Deeks is Now Live.

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 27, 2010

Just wanted to let you all know that Chip from Chip and Co and George from Imaginerding have teamed up to do a Video Blog called Two Lonely Deeks. The first one is up now and it’s pretty funny. (Psst, Chip made me say this or he won’t help me with my computer problems anymore. Don’t tell him I told you. It is funny, though).

In other news, I am going to Disney World in 85 hours and 42 minutes. Not that I’m excited, or anything. I’ll be tweeting from the parks and I’m also doing a very small meet and greet on Saturday at the Haunted Mansion. Check out the Chip and Co Facebook page for more information.

Yay, happiest place on earth!

Everything You always Wanted to Know about Walt Disney World!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 26, 2010

UPDATE! New titles added.

A frequent request we receive at 2719 Hyperion/Imaginerding is for books about the history of Walt Disney World. While there isn’t one book that covers it completely, there are several titles you can digest that will give you a very good picture. There are a lot of titles available and they come from different sources; check out the ones that look most interesting.

The definition of a bibliography is:

a complete or selective list of works compiled upon some common principle, as authorship, subject, place of publication, or printer.
—http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bibliography

This bibliography is by no means a complete list of books available on Walt Disney World; I have only added books that I own. Feel free to leave a comment if I have missed something good!

You can always keep up with the Walt Disney World-related titles we have reviewed by clicking here.

General Interest
The books included in this set focus on more than just Walt Disney World. I consider each title an essential part of any Disney enthusiast’s library.

The Imagineers. Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind-the-Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real. 1998. A spectacular title that looks at how the Imagineers create the theme parks. Concept art, anecdotes and pictures fill the volume. Has information on the development of attractions, lands and resorts. A must have!
The Imagineers. Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real. 2010. A completely re-vamped update to the 1998 classic. Shares concept art, photos and paintings from Disney Parks around the world. The focus is mainly on developments of the past 15 years.You can read my review here.

Kurtti, Jeff. Walt Disney’s Imagineering Legends and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park. 2008. Kurtti looks at Imagineering’s (WED) heavy hitters and discusses their contribution to the modern theme park. Rare concept artwork and loads of biographical anecdotes present a look at early Imagineering. You can read my review here.
Ridgway, Charles. Spinning Disney’s World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent. 2007. Mr. Ridgway recounts his years with the Walt Disney Company and what it was like to work at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. It reads like a love letter to the theme parks.
Smith, Dave. Disney: The First 100 Years. 1999. An essential part of every collection, Disney Archives Head Smith has put together a chronological look at the Disney Company.

History
The following titles are specific to Walt Disney World and cover more than just an attraction. The Kurtti, Koenig and Beard titles are a must!

Everything You always Wanted to Know about Walt Disney World!

Beard, Richard F. Walt Disney’s Epcot Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow. 1982. This is the book that every fan of Epcot should own. An amazing amount of conceptual artwork and photos of the park during its first few months. In-depth information on the pavilions and anecdotes from the Imagineers. There are three editions: a pre-opening, post-opening and a short version. The difference in the post- and pre- is whether some of the pictures are in-park photos or close-ups of models.
Emerson, Chad. Project Future: The Inside Story Behind the Creation of Disney World. 2009. Emerson takes an in-depth and straightforward look at the creation of Walt Disney World. It covers the purchase of the land and the political machinations tat took place. It includes a great timeline and listing of key players. You can read my review here.

Gordon, Bruce; Kurtti, Jeff. Walt Disney World Then, Now, and Forever. 2008. Theme Park Exclusive. Gordon and Kurtti have written a history/souvenir guide for Walt Disney World. It does act more like a family scrapbook than a history book, until you delve into its pages. You can read my review here.

Koenig, David. Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World. 2007. Koenig looks at the creation, construction and development of Walt Disney World. There is not another title that talks to as many former employees to reveal anecdotes and what happened politically. You can read my review here.

Kurtti, Jeff. Since The World Began: Walt Disney World, The First 25 Years. 1996. The seminal title in any theme park enthusiast’s library. Kurtti explores the first 25 years of Walt Disney World with photographs and rich historical detail. You can read my review here.

Malmberg, Melody. The Making Of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. 1998. This book goes into an incredible amount of detail on the initial ideas, design and implementation of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You can read my review here.

Mannheim, Steven.Walt Disney and the Quest for Community. 2003. This book could almost be considered a biography of the Epcot that could have been. Mannheim writes a very through-provoking and enjoyable work on Walt Disney’s plans for EPCOT Center and how they germinated and became reality (or didn’t, in some cases). You can read my review here.

The Story of Walt Disney World, Commemorative Edition. Various Years (1971, 1973, 1976). An official publication that looks at the first few years of Walt Disney World. It focuses on the building of the Magic Kingdom, the resorts and the rest of the vacation kingdom. It has a great stylized map and lots of pictures.

Walt Disney World, The First Decade.1982. An official publication that looks at the development of the Magic Kingdom, hotels and the Village Marketplace. The book is like a time capsule with lots of great photos. You can read my review here.

Walt Disney World, 20 Magical Years. 1991. An official publication that is part history and part souvenir guide. Great for pictures and as a time capsule. Updates Walt Disney World, The First Decade. You can read my review here.

Attraction Specific

Broggie, Michael. Walt Disney’s Railroad Story: The Small-Scale Fascination That Led to a Full-Scale Kingdom. 1998. Broggie presents a fascinating look at Walt’s Railroad–part biography and part theme park history. The majority of the book focuses on the Carolwood-Pacific, but Broggie does discuss the Magic Kingdom and Ft. Wilderness Railroads. You can read my review here.
Leaphart, David. Walt Disney World Railroads Part 1: Fort Wilderness Railroad. 2010. David has compiled an monumental and magnificent look at the Fort Wilderness Railroad. A must for any fan of Fort Wilderness, trains or early Walt Disney World anecdotes. Visit the author’s website for more information.
Leaphart, David. Walt Disney World Railroads Part 1: Fort Wilderness Railroad Gallery Companion. 2010. A companion guide to David’s work on the Fort Wilderness Railroad. More pictures than you can shake a stick at!
Surrell, Jason. The Disney Mountains: Imagineering At Its Peak. 2007. Surrell takes an in-depth look at every Disney mountain, from Matterhon to Everest, with side trips to some un-built mountains.
Surrell, Jason. The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies. 2006. If you are a fan of the Haunted Mansion, you need to own this book. Surrell starts at the earliest concepts and takes us through to the final incarnations, step-by-step. The concept art is wonderful.
Surrell, Jason. Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies. 2006. An in-depth history of Pirates of the Caribbean, from concept stages to Disneyland Paris. We experience all versions of the attraction through the script, artwork and photographs.

Artwork
There would be no Walt Disney World without these artists.

Hench, John. Designing Disney. 2009. Hench shares his thoughts on helping to design every Disney theme park. The text is insightful and the artwork is astounding. There is also a 2003 edition.
Kurrti, Jeff; Gordon, Bruce. The Art of Walt Disney World. 2009. Theme Park Exclusive. Jeff and Bruce have collaborated again to create a sister volume to the wonderful Art of Disneyland. This large-scale book presents concept artwork from every phase of Walt Disney World’s history. Many of the images are seen here for the first time. Every fan of Walt Disney World should own this title. You can read my full review here.
Mumford, Dave; Gordon, Bruce.A Brush with Disney : An Artist’s Journey, Told through the words and works of Herbert Dickens Ryman. 2000. A look at Herb Ryman’s art–not just work done for Disney, but over his entire career. You can read my full review here.

Miscellaneous
Detailed-inspired travel guides, academic treatises and amazing photographic titles. Usually more of a time-capsule than a history title.

Burns-Clair, Pam and Peri, Don. Walt Disney’s First Lady of Imagineering Harriet Burns. 2010. Harriet’s daughter Pam and Disney Historian Don Peri craft a fascinating and beautiful collection of anecdotes and tributes to Harriet Burns, as told by her family, friends and co-workers. You can read my review here.
Childs, Valerie. The Magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World. 1979. I reviewed the book here. This work is mainly a pictorial essay about Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Geared mainly for park detectives and people who visited the parks in the 1970s. You can read my review here.
Hannaford, Dee. The Gardens of Walt Disney World Resort. 1988. One of the most beautiful coffee-table books ever produced about Walt Disney World. Amazing photographs of the gardens and natural areas help to create a snapshot of Walt Disney World Resort in 1988. Absolutely gorgeous and belongs in every collection.
Imagineering Field Guide Series: Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdomand Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 2005-2009. Written by The Imagineers, this series of guidebooks discusses some of the details and histories of the parks. They are designed to be taken into the park with you; hence the artwork can be fairly small, but exciting.
Marling, Karal Ann. Designing Disney’s Theme Parks: The Architecture of Reassurance. 1998. Marling presents a series of academic articles written by historians, critics and architects that look at the development of the Disney theme park. Wonderful photographs.

Geeks, Nerds, and Disney Fans Unite..Our first video podcast is now live!

By

Chip

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September 26, 2010

We have been talking about it for weeks now. The premiere you been waiting for is here.

Here is the first Episode of 2 Lonely Deeks!! Join Chip of Chip and Company and George from Imaginerding as they bring to you the best in Disney News & Views every week.

Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on this funny Disney Video Blog!

I hope you enjoy it!

Coming to Bluray & DVD Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2

By

Chip

-

September 26, 2010

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 is coming to Blu Ray and DVD February 1, 2011. The direct to dvd film stars Zachary Gordon, and Ernie Hudson. You can preorder the movie at the links above. Stay tuned to Chip and Company for box art and details on the movie.

Check out the preview below.

Photo credit Walt Disney Pictures