People Behind the Disney Parks - Stories of Those Honored with a Window on Main Street, U.S.A.

Informationen zum Autor Chuck Snyder Klappentext "Meet the people who created Disney theme parks around the world! Through rare Disney theme park concept art and photographs, this must-have collector's book showcases more than 280 biographies and features more than 50 pages on the evolution and behind-the-scenes of the Main Street, U.S.A. areas across the globe, up to and including the fairytale castles at the end of each street. Keen observers will notice intricate details throughout the Disney parks, including names emblazoned on building windows. In particular, the windows lining Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom are designed as calling cards for fictionalized shopkeepers. These names belong to the real life "all-stars" who helped make Disney's theme parks a reality around the world. The people listed on these windows are skilled actors, artists, business leaders, Imagineers, songwriters, and more. With their imagination and sharp skills, each person has made an important contribution to The Walt Disney Company" -- Leseprobe PROLOGUE It Takes People   It has often been said, even originally by Walt Disney himself, that The Walt Disney Company was all started by a mouse. Perhaps it could be said, then, that the Disney parks were all started by a polo injury. For it was after Walt suffered a back injury playing the game in the 1930s that his doctor encouraged him to find a new hobby.   Walt had a love of miniatures and of railroading; thus his new hobby turned out to be miniature railroading. Walt immersed himself in his railroad hobby, working after hours in the studio Machine Shop, where he eventually built his own miniature steam engine, the Lilly Belle. With this little locomotive, Walt’s imagination and creativity were forever set free from the limitations of the two-dimensional world of the Disney animated movies—to roam in a new and exciting three-dimensional world.   On December 16, 1952, with his mind full of new ideas, Walt formed his own creative company, WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering), to develop plans for a family entertainment venue, which came to be known as Disneyland. There would be no miniature train in this park; his interests and ideas had progressed to the point where everything would now be life-size. He wanted his park to be of the highest quality, like his motion pictures, and he hired only the best people to assist him. Some were already on his staff, working at the studio in Burbank; others would be hired specifically for the project. But they all shared one characteristic: a belief in an idea that existed only in Walt’s imagination and that had never been realized before.   Today the idea to build Disneyland seems like an easy decision. At the time, however, the risks for all involved were great, and success was far from guaranteed. But the crowds came on July 17, 1955, and they have continued to come ever since.   Walt Disney World was risky in another way. Built partly on swampland, the “Florida Project” was, at the time, the largest privately funded construction project in the world, costing $400 million. The 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair, which featured four Disney-created attractions, proved the viability of and interest in an East Coast park. Roy O. Disney, who headed the project after Walt’s death in 1966, built a vacation kingdom that is still the most visited resort destination in the world.   This book is about the men and women whose creative visions, tireless efforts, “can-do” attitudes, teamwork, and ability to dream have brought a smile to the face of anyone who has visited a Disney park. The ultimate honor for these cast members, as employees are known, is to have their name emblazoned on a window on Main Street, U.S.A.   To the typical park guest, these names appear to be the calling cards of make-believe shopkeepers. In reality, the names...

About the author

Chuck Snyder took his first trip to Walt Disney World in October 1974, when he was five years old, and immediately fell in love with the place. Nearly fourteen years later, he began his Disney career as an EPCOT street sweeper, through the Disney College Program in February 1988. That spring he transferred to the Magic Kingdom for the opening of Mickey's Birthdayland, where he joined the entertainment department and later met his wife, Tracy. Upon moving to Los Angeles, Chuck wrote for several sitcoms before becoming a Disney Channel writer/producer in marketing for nine years. He wrote the initial book, Windows on Main Street: Discover the Real Stories of the Talented People Featured on the Windows of Main Street, U.S.A. (2009), which was sold exclusively at the Disney parks. He has been delighted to extend his research on this new and much-expanded project.

Josey Tsao is an illustrator and designer based in Los Angeles, creating work for animation, books, and theme parks. She has had the pleasure of working with Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Publishing Worldwide, Disney’s WonderGround Gallery, Bento Box Entertainment, and Cartoon Network Studios. While she thrives collaborating with studios and clients, she also continues to develop her own illustration work to tell her own stories. She often finds inspiration exploring new places and looking for buildings with stories to tell. One of her fondest memories is walking down a quiet Disneyland Main Street before park hours at sunrise.

Product details

• Authors: Chuck Snyder
• Publisher: Disney Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 27.08.2019
• EAN: 9781484748725
• ISBN: 978-1-4847-4872-5
• No. of pages: 352
• Dimensions: 225 mm x 285 mm x 25 mm
• Series: Disney Editions Deluxe; Disney Editions Deluxe
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Biographies, autobiographies; Travel > Travel guides