Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs I figured this would get more answers here instead of posting it in Merchandise. I've already asked about the version sold at DL and the version that I saw on Amazon, and I was told that they are both the SAME book, but with different covers and different prices: it's around $25 on Amazon, is still $50+ at DL? A reviewer on Amazon that you also have to turn the book sideways and turn the pages like an easel. Is that the same with the version that's sold at the parks? And for those of you who own the book, this is an easy question, but I'm curious: is it really good? Could it have been better?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It is pretty awesome, but then again, I am a sucker for Disney coffee table books, they are my main collection. It is not on the same level as say the Nickle Tour, but I think it is a must have a Disneyland fan. FWIW, I never buy retail if it's available on line, much cheaper that way.
Originally Posted By LadyKluck I was wondering if it was any good too. Its available through our rewards program at work (which is basically a super slimmed down version of Amazon) and didn't really want to get it if it wasn't any good!
Originally Posted By DlandDug Yes, I have this book. It originally retailed for $75 at the parks! It later turned up at deep discount at Company D and other outlets. The impression I got is that this was kind of "hurried out" for the 50th. I am sure Bruce Gordon would have preferred a more deluxe volume. The "easel" issue was due to the fact that Disney Editions insisted on a vertical format book, despite the fact that the bulk of the art is formatted horizontally. I recall Jeff Kurrti and Bruce Gordon joking around about the "interactive" element involved in turning the book sideways. This is a very good compilation of Disneyland park art. Many of the pieces have been reproduced in other publications and souvenir material. Many have never been seen by the public before. The text is rather spare, but that's not a problem for me. I really enjoy seeing this art in large format.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs But I thought the Art of DL was released waaaay before the 50th? In fact, it was still $75 at the time of the 50th. Was the cheaper, "rushed" version for the national market? Is there really a difference on which one I should purchase? I have flipped through it before but didn't seem to interested. Now that it's super cheap on Amazon, I'm tempted to get it.
Originally Posted By friendofdd 5br, if you can get anything that might be interesting for the price of two or three lattes, then skip the coffee and buy it. If nothing else, you can always use a book to level a table leg.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>But I thought the Art of DL was released waaaay before the 50th? In fact, it was still $75 at the time of the 50th. Was the cheaper, "rushed" version for the national market?<< The first edition I have is copyright 2005, the year of the 50th. I am unaware of any "cheaper" versions. The Amazon listing is for a book that is the same dimensions as mine, but with a different dust cover. (Disney Editions does this frequently, especially with "park" books.) What is odd is that the Amazon description says there are 144 pages. My first edition has 131 pages. So is this just an error, or... is there a bonus 13 pages??? (13... 13... 13. That would appeal to some here, no?) Please note there are also a lot of these available at other on line sources, both new and used. I am pretty sure these are all the same book.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs Words of wisdom from fodd, no? I honestly thought that Art of DL was one of those park books that was always in circulation and being updated, but then it could have been a different art book. There are so many wonderful and beautiful books on Disney that it's a pity that they aren't updated from time to time...like The Disney Villain or The Encyclopedia of Disney Characters A to Z or The Nickel Tour...
Originally Posted By SIR at X-S Tech My only complaint about the book was the $75 price tag, but as mentioned, it did get steeply discounted. The Nickel Tour was a very thick informative book, page for page well worth much more than it's retail price (what was it $60?) and it was independantly published. To have to pay $75 for this extremely thin "Art of" book really hurt, and just reminds me how little "Disney" knows what it's fans value. Like Doug said, some of the pieces in the book haven't been seen before, but plenty have. Couple that with the small number of pages and I felt like I was shelling out $75 for just a handful of new images. But yes, if you are a completist bookwise, as many of us our, it's still a must have. The quality of each image is good, and info accompanying each is nice (though usually just a small caption and anecdote). So what's my review? I don't know. Here we are 3 years after the 50th and I'm still smarting from the outrageous price. My advice, see if you can look at someone else's first and see if it's worth whatever price is being asked. Keep in mind that the 55th Anniversary is just around the corner and if there's something that Disney likes to do it's recycle- perhaps they'll offer the images that were new in this book in something else in the future.
Originally Posted By schnebs I hear you, SIR - I paid full price when the book came out and nearly fainted when I saw the price tag. But it's a beautiful book in any case, and in the end I decided it was worth the price. Heck, I've spent (or almost spent) that kind of money at collector shows or eBay for books smaller than this one, so it's all relative. BTW, DlandDug's correct - the only real difference between the book sold in the parks around the 50th and the version that went into general release is that's it got a different dust jacket and a couple of typos were corrected. 5Br, Maybe it'd help you decide if you saw the book? If you're anywhere near DL, they have copies available at Compass Books at DtD. I imagine it'd be cheaper at Amazon, but they do offer Premium AP discounts at Compass, so you never know For our folks in Florida: I got an e-mail from Amazon mentioning that Disney's going to be releasing a book called "The Art of Walt Disney World" in September, with Jeff Kurtti and Bruce Gordon listed as the authors. I'm guessing it'll be a similar book to the DL one - it might be worth keeping an eye out for it at the WDW gift shops and WoD between now and then.
Originally Posted By SIR at X-S Tech Yeah there seems to be a whole slew of WDW books coming out! That's great news. Out of curiosity which dustcover do you prefer on the DL book, for those who have it? I got the original which shows Herb Ryman's original overview of the park, but it's got such dingy browns and greens painted in, and is so horribly pixellated, that I prefer the second cover. The second, while I never thought it was very colorful looks positively psychedelic in comparison. It shows a New Fantasyland rendering (Peter Pan's flight I believe?). How bout everyone else- which do you like best?
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs LOL, I've seen the book and flipped through it at The Disney Gallery. I recall a nice portion on the Country Bear Jamboree as most of the bears were featured (and I think Ernest was under a different name).
