Here are the books we recommend written by current or former Walt Disney Imagineers. These books give a unique insight into the world of themed entertainment and theme park design. Like the many facets of theme park design, our recommended books cover a broad range of topics covering many aspects of Disney theme parks and Walt Disney Imagineering.
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Books By Current and Former Walt Disney Imagineers
Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look At Making the Magic Real (A Walt Disney Imagineering Book)
The original by the Imagineers is a look behind the curtain of WDI’s history, process, and some previously never before seen images of project artwork.
Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real (A Walt Disney Imagineering Book)
An update and companion book to the original, this book by the Imagineers dives deeper into WDI’s history and process.
Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai (Disney Editions Deluxe)
This unique book takes you on a journey through the years of Disney theme park map artwork from the early days of Disneyland through Shanghai Disneyland.
The Imagineering Workout (A Walt Disney Imagineering Book)
This book is for those that want to learn more about the way Imagineers solve unique and difficult problems.
Magic Journey: My Fantastical Walt Disney Imagineering Career
Walt Disney Imagineer Kevin Rafferty has overseen the creation of some of the Disney parks most iconic attractions such as: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach water parks, Cars Land, Toy Story Mania, Test Track, Tower of Terror, and more. You will be taken on a journey through his career with WDI and all the amazing stories along the way.
The Imagineering Field Guide to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World (An Imagineering Field Guide)
Written by the Disney Imagineers, this book is for those who visit the Magic Kingdom and wonder what it would be like to tour the park with and through an Imagineer’s eyes.
One Little Spark!: Mickey’s Ten Commandments and The Road to Imagineering
If you would like to learn more about Walt Disney Imagineering’s principles then you should check out this book written by the iconic Imagineer, Marty Sklar.
The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland (An Imagineering Field Guide)
Written by the Disney Imagineers, this book is for those who visit Disneyland and get a glimpse of what it is like seeing the park through an Imagineer’s eyes.
Theme Park Project Management
This book is by former Walt Disney Imagineer Val Usle. It conveys best practices from taking an idea or concept from Blue Sky to a Project that requires operational, technical, and commercial vetting.
Theme Park Sustainability
This is Val Usle’s, a former Walt Disney Imagineer, second book about theme park sustainability as it relates to the process involved when design new attractions, rides, shows, lands, or entire new theme parks. The books mainly focuses on sustainability best practices as it relates to the built environment and how it can translate into technically and commercially vetting a project for viable green solutions.
The Design Manager: Successful Management of the Design Process
Written by former Walt Disney Imagineer in the Senior Project Design Manager role – J. Daniel Jenkins – this book is helpful if you would like to learn more about the design management principles, design implementation practices, lessons learned leading large scale design teams, integration/collaboration, and techniques used to deliver Walt Disney Imagineering and large scale commercial design projects.