Strodder’s Disneyland Encyclopedia Review
If you’re heading to Disneyland and are unfamiliar with Los Angeles, this book will show you everything you need to know about where to go.
Disneyland Encyclopedia: The Unofficial, Unauthorized, and Unprecedented History of Every Land, Attraction, Restaurant, Shop, and Event in the Original Magic Kingdom
Review: “Strodder’s love of Southern California’s famous theme park shines in this essential reference book. . . .Complete in every way. . . fun to read. . . . Essential for a Disney collector. “ —Library Journal
Product Information:
Spanning the entire history of the park, from its founding more than 50 years ago to the present, this fascinating book profiles 500 attractions, restaurants, stores, events, and significant people from the history of Disneyland.
Each of the main entries in the book examines in detail the history of a Disneyland landmark, including how many of the most popular attractions went through several incarnations before becoming what they are today—Tomorrowland’s Hall of Chemistry and Hall of Aluminum were transformed into the groundbreaking Adventure Thru Inner Space in 1967, and then became the popular ride Star Tours 20 years later.
Read about unbuilt concepts, including Rock Candy Mountain and Chinatown, and delight in fascinating trivia about the park, such as ride statistics and attendance records.
With a daily list of events, openings, and closings in the park’s history, a yearly summary of attractions that came and went, simple and clear maps that correspond to the book’s 500 entries, and sidebars with additional information on each ride, this is a comprehensive and entertaining book overflowing with detail on the most-renovated, most-loved, and most-visited theme park in the world.
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(Not sure why the first reviewer gushed about the book but only gave it two stars. ) Author Chris Strodder has written a very comprehensive but easily readable history of just about everything that’s ever existed in the Original Magic Kingdom. This is the kind of book I like–one where I can just pick it up and start reading anywhere. The book looks at every attraction, store and restaurant that’s been in the Park since 1955, and he does a good job of covering them in informative, concise entries. The entries are alphabetical, and there’s a huge index at the back. Black and white maps and photos are interspersed throughout the text. As an encyclopedia, the book does not try to cover each entry in extraordinary detail, but all the basic information–such as dates of operation/closure, brief histories and descriptions and locations are all there. There are also a few entries on some of the personalities and Imagineers who created the Park. It’s a great introduction to the history of the Park for newer fans, and experienced Disneyland hands may find morsels they may never have known about. Overall, I don’t think you’re going to find this much information, squeezed into such a compact package (you could easily bring it to the Park for reading in line), for the price. It is a great addition to my Disney library. –Steve DeGaetano, Author, “Welcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad” and “From Plantation to Theme Park–The Story of Disneyland Railroad Locomotive No. 5, The Ward Kimball. ” From Plantation to Theme Park: The Story of Disneyland Railroad Locomotive No. 5, the Ward KimballWelcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great information
This is not a good read if your looking for a story. This is an encyclopedia. I love the format of this book there are two way to look up information.
This is an impressive book. It contains a lot of entries that I have never seen documented anywhere else, particularly in regards to obscure shops and shows/parades. A fun feature are the many lists that are sprinkled within the text. This book is obviously a labor of love for the author and will be enjoyed by any fan of the Happiest Place on Earth
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must have for every disneyland fan!
Very interesting, tells you absolutely everything about every attraction, restaurant, shop, parade, show and event that has ever existed on the original Magic Kingdom in short…
A fantastic book detailing Disneyland over the years. It’s hard to believe that it took this long for someone to compile a history of all the attractions, shops, and shows since the park opened. This book is highly recommended for the many Disneyland fanatics out there. –M Worley, creator of WaltsMagicKingdom. com
5.0 out of 5 stars
More information than you’ll use
I bought this book for myself, after reading it I then purchased more copies for every Disney nut I know.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful walk down memory lane…
Even though I’ve been to DisneyWorld *many* more times than Disneyland (and I live on the *west* coast!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth every penny and more
I love this book, I got this as a gift and loved all the information it has. I even took it to Disneyland and felt that I knew so much about the park that I was even giving my…
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you love Disneyland…you will enjoy this book!!!
I love going to Disneyland, and after reading this book I want to go back and look at things again, knowing that attractions that have left still have some sort of memento left…
2.0 out of 5 stars
There are better Disney books
I bought this book for the kids to read before and during our trip to DisneyLand. Bo-ring. Couldn’t get anyone interested.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply beautiful
Simply A wonderful encyclopedia of every possible thing you could want to know about Disneyland.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, but could use just a little more information.
This book is definitely a great read. It works well because you can read it cover-to-cover (as I did), or you could just pick out an entry and start reading.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable and Informative
I ordered this book in a fit of enthusiasm after my first return visit to Disneyland as an adult (the enthusiasm persists, incidentally.