The Happiest Place on Earth: The Unbelievable Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland by Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt is a brand new e book celebrating the seventieth Anniversary. This assessment shares pictures of this large espresso desk version, ideas on whether or not it’s well worth the cash, and the place this ranks in our library of over 100 books about Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Cracking the highest of this checklist is a troublesome process. Walt Disney’s unique magic kingdom (decrease case) has obtained dozens of deep dives into the park’s creation and historical past. Disneyland Nickel Tour, Disneyland: Inside Story, and Walt Disney’s Disneyland are the gold commonplace of those books, constituting the present ‘Holy Trinity’ of Disneyland books that cowl the genesis of the park and its early years.
Of these, Disneyland Nickel Tour is the ‘white whale’ for a lot of collectors and is now stupidly costly resulting from being a restricted run that’s been out of print for many years. Disneyland Inside Story is far more accessible regardless of being older, nevertheless it’s Walt Disney’s Disneyland by TASCHEN that we beforehand really useful most frequently. That’s nonetheless in print, ceaselessly 40% off, and is a beautiful espresso desk e book (simply make sure you get the full-sized copy). I’m additionally notably keen on Artwork of Disneyland, nevertheless it’s not exhaustive in the identical manner as these.
Past this trio, there’s a rising assortment of world titles that features Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Goals Look At Making the Magic Actual
Considered one of my largest frustrations with official Disney historical past is that it’s offered as “company canon” that has been meticulously sculpted over time. Even the imperfections are calculated, an try to feign authenticity that rings hole. Walt Disney is the primary character, and he’s a one-dimensional caricature of an actual individual.
Oftentimes, the result’s an fascinating premise, however stilted and superficial. That is exactly why Walt Disney: An American Authentic is his greatest biography; it avoids these pitfalls with out additionally falling into the opposite pitfall of attempting to be scandalous or judging Walt by twenty first century requirements.
Newer Disney Editions titles have truly been higher about this, presenting much less of a sanitized model of occasions and never essentially sticking to the script. They’ve additionally recruited extra fascinating authors, who share fascinating and recent tales versus remixes of the identical topics they’ve lined in numerous different titles. (All of this can be a bit within the weeds, however when you’re studying a Disneyland e book assessment on a Disney web site, versus simply going off the star rating on Amazon or no matter, we presume you care about these items.)
Like different latest standout titles, Happiest Place on Earth advantages from its authors. Each Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt have spectacular monitor information exterior of the publishing realm. Hahn is a Disney Legend who was mentored by Walt’s “9 Outdated Males” and is known for producing a number of classics through the Nineties Disney Animation Renaissance. He’s had an extended and illustrious profession since, spanning a number of areas of the corporate whereas being nominated for numerous awards.
Merritt has greater than 25 years of theme park design expertise, with an extended profession at Walt Disney Imagineering that took him from California to Florida to Tokyo, Shanghai, and past. After working as an Artwork Director and Manufacturing Designer for the parks, he turned his skills to writing, which included Marc Davis in His Personal Phrases: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks, co-authored with filmmaker Pete Docter. That’s one of many best and most complete theme park titles ever launched, though it’s very area of interest.
I point out this as a result of my impression of Hahn and Merritt is that they’re Disney Editions outsiders, which may be very a lot a very good factor. They didn’t decide up the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary project out of the blue as a facet hustle; it reads as a passionate mission, which is straight away evident from the primary chapter of this e book: “Make Imagine.”
The Happiest Place on Earth begins with photos of Kansas Metropolis’s Electrical Park and Griffith Park’s Merry-Go-Spherical, the latter of which is claimed to be Walt’s inspiration for creating some sort of amusement enterprise of his personal. Readers are then handled to the “first drawing” of Disneyland, which was created by Herb Ryman in September 1953 with Walt by his facet, reproduced in crisp and clear element.
Nevertheless, what stands out right here is the air quotes round “first drawing.” Whereas different authors have gone together with the parable and mystique of the lengthy weekend that birthed this piece of artwork to assist promote the concept of Disneyland to traders, Hahn and Merritt problem it.
They level out that Imagineer Marvin Davis truly had labored on a number of park plans with Walt that concerned a central hub, a number of lands, and practice circumnavigating all of it. With how a lot lore and tall tales have formed the historical past of Disneyland, it’s fascinating to learn this proper from the soar, on pages 3-4 of the e book. It undoubtedly units the tone for what’s to come back.
The e book then pivots to the Chicago Railroad Truthful, and a visit Walt and his eccentric animator Ward Kimball took to the Midwest. The e book continues on with Walt’s varied inspirations for Disneyland together with journeys he and his key animators took that helped form the concept.
Numerous Disney Legends are mentioned, together with the aforementioned Kimball and Marc Davis, Harper Goff, Dick Irvine, John Hench, and extra. Together with them, the primary ~30 pages of the e book function over a dozen drawings of preliminary schemes for a theme park at varied websites in Southern California earlier than the aforementioned “first drawing” for the Ball Street website in Anaheim.
The primary chapter continues with extra acquainted idea artwork from the Anaheim website, because the park begins to extra carefully resemble its closing design. There’s new floor lined all through, particularly in sections dedicated to Walt Disney’s collaborators and opening day. The latter, as soon as once more, rebuts hyperbolic anecdotes of one-hundred-degree temperatures. The primary chapter is my favourite of the e book, which is excessive reward as a result of we’ve heard this story earlier than. Hahn and Merritt current the genesis of Disneyland in a brand new mild, bringing freshness to what ought to be stale for readers of books like this.
After this opening part, The Happiest Place on Earth travels by Disneyland land-by-land and reveals sketches from every land’s growth and pictures from the early days of the park. Fortunately, these is stuffed with uncommon pictures together with many who have by no means been printed earlier than. A lot of idea artwork is current, in addition to pictures of interiors of many outlets–from Kodak to the Tobacconist to the Wizard of Bras.
Shelved plans and lengthy misplaced areas of the park from Disneyland’s early historical past are proven in nice element as properly. A number of pages are dedicated to Edison Sq., Liberty Sq., Worldwide Road, and Chinatown. There are pictures of fashions and idea artwork I’d by no means seen earlier than, which is smart, as previous books like this didn’t pull the curtain again practically as a lot on ‘what by no means was’ from the early period of Disneyland. Most of that is already public data due to Imagineering books, memoirs, and D23–however the stage of element right here is pretty unprecedented. There’s additionally a treasure trove of idea artwork by John Hench–no e book can ever have an excessive amount of of that.
I additionally appreciated new-to-me tales in regards to the challenges of civil engineering in Anaheim, feral cats changing the citadel into their residence (after which all of a sudden overlaying Walt with fleas), the unique walkthrough model of Pirates of the Caribbean, “Misplaced” Land of Oz, Museum of the Bizarre, and extra. Then there’s my private favourite lengthy misplaced attraction, Mine Prepare Via Nature’s Wonderland, which is given appreciable consideration.
The e book concludes with Tomorrowland. The unique model, the 1959 “grand reopening” and and nice large stunning enlargement in 1967. Tomorrowland is my favourite citadel park land, however this e book is an effective reminder that a lot of what I really like in regards to the land is the promise of Tomorrowland versus the way it’s been realized over time. Though there was a window within the Seventies and Eighties throughout which I want I might time journey to see Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. The e book wraps up with a photograph from Walt strolling the New Tomorrowland website with Imagineers in late summer time 1966, which might go on to be his final working session in Disneyland earlier than his passing in December.
This e book is clearly marketed because the unbelievable story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland (it’s proper there within the subtitle!), and is centered round exploring the park’s first 5 lands. It does a very incredible job of this, expounding upon what’s lined elsewhere and retreading surprisingly little in its 300+ pages.
Regardless of this, I’d’ve favored it expanded to incorporate more moderen historical past. There’s nothing in regards to the newer lands, enlargement from a single theme park to a resort, Disney California Journey, or on-site accommodations. Whereas I can respect that the target market for this e book most likely cares extra about Walt-era historical past and fewer about all the pieces that occurred within the twenty first century, it might be good to have a correct successor to Disneyland Inside Story or Disneyland Nickel Tour, each of which predate Disney California Journey.
Disneyland Resort’s second gate now over 20 years previous. It’s time to begin documenting its historical past. In spite of everything, the corporate did study from the early errors made there, so the story has a contented ending. DCA has such a messy and engaging historical past, however at any time when the second gate or more moderen enlargement is talked about, the presentation is much less ‘warts and all’ and extra a method of selling the most recent and biggest additions.
It’s past time for a real historic accounting of Disneyland Resort, the Paul Pressler days, late Eisner and early Iger period, and even the early trials and tribulations of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Heck, the COVID closure was now 5 years in the past–it’s traditionally important! I really hope that by Disneyland’s seventy fifth Anniversary, we get a e book that isn’t afraid to drag again the curtain on more moderen historical past in the identical manner this does with what went down seven a long time in the past. As a result of irrespective of how nice the titles are, they’re nonetheless comparable. Nice as it’s, this e book might’ve theoretically been printed for the twenty fifth, fortieth, fiftieth, or sixtieth anniversaries. Every time such a complete Disneyland Resort historical past is printed, I hope it’s written by Hahn and Merritt.
Finally, The Happiest Place on Earth: The Unbelievable Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland is one other wonderful e book in regards to the unique magic kingdom. It brings a stunning quantity of latest content material and recent perspective to the desk, and is a 5-star e book when judged by itself deserves.
It’s one of many highlights of the complete Disneyland seventieth Anniversary celebration, and suits neatly alongside “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” and the opposite history-oriented additions on Foremost Road. It’s an ideal entry level to the creation and early days of the park. I utterly glossed over the dimensions of this e book and the standard of the print, nevertheless it’s attractive and gigantic. Actually worthy of being displayed in your espresso desk. (I don’t love the quilt artwork, however to every their very own on that.)
Whether or not these with bookshelves full of Disneyland and Imagineering books ought to add this title to their assortment might sound debatable, particularly for individuals who already a number of titles like this. As a ‘recovering completionist,’ what I’ll say is that there’s greater than sufficient daylight between this and the Holy Trinity of Disneyland Books to simply justify including this to my library and proudly owning all of them. I don’t actually assume it’s debatable in any respect: this can be a must-own for lovers of Disney historical past. It’s actually a testomony to the authors that they’ve been capable of revisit the Walt-era properly but once more, and nonetheless handle to publish one of many brisker Disneyland books in years.
The Happiest Place on Earth: The Unbelievable Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland is outstanding–the second consecutive all-star anniversary title that Disney Editions printed, following A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth (extremely really useful and now 42% off–purchase it earlier than it goes out of print when you haven’t already).
Simply as that’s the greatest e book in regards to the Trip Kingdom of the World and was one of many highlights of the complete fiftieth Anniversary celebration, so too is that this. The one distinction is that the competitors is quite a bit fiercer with Disneyland books. This deserves excessive reward for a brand new launch, and goes to be the memento that creates new lifelong followers amongst first-timers, and piques curiosity about Disneyland, Walt Disney, and the legendary collaborators who helped carry his dream to actuality.
The Happiest Place on Earth: The Unbelievable Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland retails for $60 and is obtainable from Amazon.com and at unbiased booksellers. Click on right here to buy The Happiest Place on Earth Disneyland seventieth Anniversary e book. We obtain a small fee out of your buy, so shopping for by that hyperlink helps assist the positioning!
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Your Ideas
What do you consider The Happiest Place on Earth: The Unbelievable Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland? In case you’ve already seen the e book, do you assume it’s on par with the ‘Holy Trinity’ of Disneyland historical past books? Is it one of many highlights of Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary? Will you be shopping for a duplicate? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
