Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/News-ID510710.asp" target="_blank">9/5/06 Greg Maletic: Book Review - The Disneyla</a>
Originally Posted By JohnS1 This is just the sort of book that - if done thoroughly - would intrigue me. I have read everything that can be found regarding the decades-old train and boat attractions proposed for a whole new Frontierland mountain (the name of which completely escapes me at the moment) and was captivated by the brilliance of the idea and saddened that it never took place. Those sorts of stories are what make for wonderful Disneyland lore, but it sounds as though this book would not give me anything I haven't heard before. Still, it a few spare dollars were to come my way, I might order it.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Is that Western River Expedition that you were talking about? That was planned for WDW, as a replacement for Pirates, but when there was a high demand for POTC, it was hurridely built, effectively shelving most of the WRE plans. Big Thunder was the only part of the project to survive, and was built in four of the MK style parks. One area that has always fascinated me was Dumbo's Circus. I've heard a fair ammount about it, but it all seems to say the same things. I've only seen a couple pictures of plans, and I really don't have any feeling for what the land was supposed to be.
Originally Posted By aracuanbird I am two-thirds through this thing. I probably would only be at the halfway mark if it wasn't for the fact that it's way too easy to leapfrog over whole sections of many chapters, given the fact that I HAVE READ ALL OF THIS BEFORE. This is just a collection of stuff most Disnoids have come across before, sans images or anything evocative. I contrast reading about Edison Square in this book, versus the little nuggets that can be gleaned from back issues of The E Ticket or from the '58 Sam McKim park map...there is no comparison. There is already a glut of Disney-related ephemera available to anyone willing to part with their money. Lulu.com is doing no one a service if it is going to churn out more of the same listless product. Save your money, stay clear of this book.
Originally Posted By schnebs I basically agree with Greg's review. Yeah, I've heard most of these stories before, but the one or two I hadn't heard were interesting, and if I was in my earlier stages of Disney geekdom (say, I'd just picked up "Walt Disney Imagineering" or the book from the "Behind the Magic" exhibition and wanted to learn more, this book would be a good start. Greg, just so you know I bought the printed copy and the quality of the binding and printing seems OK. It's not top-notch, but what do you expect for a print-on-demand product on sale for $14.99? The biggest flaw with the book that I see is that this book could have really used a good editor - that's the downside to self-publishing, folks. Factual errors and style errors detract from what otherwise is a decent book, and it could have been organized a little better. But Van France's book and Buzz Price's book had these same problems but still were interesting enough to earn a place on my bookshelf. Hopefully, a standard publisher will pick this book up eventually and fix some of these problems in a later edition. Overall, it's a decent book but not a great one. Until someone at or affiliated with Disney decides to stick their neck out and write a version of this book with Imagineer interviews and concept, it's worth a look.
Originally Posted By schnebs Sorry - correct that last sentence to read "...and concept art." See what I mean about the importance of having a good editor?
