Walt Disney World: A Portrait of the First Half Century (Hardcover)

Kevin M. Kern

ISBN 10: 1368052843 / ISBN 13: 9781368052849

Published by Disney Book Publishing Inc., New York, 2021

About this Item

Hardcover. 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 Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781368052849

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Walt Disney World: A Portrait of the First Half Century (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Disney Book Publishing Inc., New York
• Publication Date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1368052843
• ISBN 13: 9781368052849
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

This must-have coffee table book paints a robust portrait of the Walt Disney World Resort through more than 100 vibrant voices and 500 rare Disney theme park visuals, including concept art, photographs, and ephemera.

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, Walt Disney World celebrated its opening in 1971. It featured a theme park dubbed the Magic Kingdom and three exquisitely themed resorts: Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Village, and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

As Walt Disney World consistently grew and evolved through the five decades that have followed, certain themes keep reverberating: there's an appreciation for nostalgia, a joy in 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 options, world-class golf courses, vast shopping villages, and a transportation network unlike any other in the world resulted in fun 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.

A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth serves as a treasure trove for pop culture enthusiasts, students of hospitality, artists, art collectors, and Disney fans.

Searching for ways to celebrate the Walt Disney World Resort? Explore more books from Disney Editions:

• Delicious Disney: Walt Disney World
• Art of Coloring: Walt Disney World
• People Behind the Disney Parks: Stories of Those Honored with a Window on Main Street, U.S.A.

• Poster Art of the Disney Parks, Second Edition

• Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai

About the Author

Kevin M. Kern began his career with the Walt Disney Archives in 2011. As the group's manager of research, he works predominantly with historical documents and artwork, and helps to facilitate company legacy and outreach projects, including oral histories and the development and installation of museum exhibitions. He's hosted special event programming for many business units across The Walt Disney Company and has had his writing featured in numerous publications.

Tim O'Day is a successful writer, public relations executive, ideation consultant, and events producer. His creative spark was behind creating an Olympic-size lap pool at Disneyland for U.S. Olympian swimmers, procuring a Disneyland star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, placing "Dumbo" in the Smithsonian, securing Dame Julie Andrews as the Disneyland 50th anniversary honorary ambassador, and having the pardoned White House Thanksgiving turkeys retire to the Disney parks. He has worked with almost all the Disney Legends and helped secure the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush for the legendary songwriters Richard and Robert Sherman in a White House ceremony. He most recently contributed to the Behind the Attraction docuseries, which will be releasing on Disney+.

Steven Vagnini is a show awareness producer for Walt Disney Imagineering, where he curates the stories behind the parks, resort hotels, and other experiences of the Walt Disney World Resort. He previously served on the staffs of the Walt Disney Archives, D23, and Disney Corporate Creative Resources after several years as a Walt Disney World cast member. He has produced a variety of special events, including for the Walt Disney World 40th and EPCOT 30th and 35th anniversaries, plus has written for several Disney publications, including having collaborated with Disney Legend Dave Smith on the latest editions of Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia.

Cover artist Fabiola Garza is a character artist at Disney Creative group in Orlando, Florida. During her career she has had the pleasure of working on the Little Golden Book for Pixar's Coco and designing the beloved turtle 'Olu Mel for Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. She is also the author and illustrator of the award-winning children's book A Boy Who Became Pope: The Story of Saint John Paul II. During her free time she enjoys ballroom dancing, the work of G. K. Chesterton, and contributing to Catholic publications and podcasts. Her favorite Walt Disney World attraction is Spaceship Earth.