Book review: Maps of the Disney Parks
I love libraries. They offer endless opportunities to escape to other worlds and learn something new. A few days ago, as I was looking through the aisles for something completely unrelated, I stumbled across Maps of the Disney Parks by Kevin and Susan Neary. It’s Disney-related and free, which is not all that common of an occurrence, so naturally I took it home with me. I’m glad I did.
Maps of the Disney Parks is basically a picture book, or a “coffee table book” in adult-speak. The images outnumber the words. I spent an hour or two over the course of a few days soaking in the details. You could definitely finish it in one short sitting. The book is a collection of maps organized by decade, starting with the introduction of Disneyland in the 1950’s and ending with Shanghai Disneyland in 2016. Each chapter loosely documents the changes in existing Disney parks and the addition of new parks in the United States and abroad. There’s a lot to like about the book and a few things that might keep me from purchasing it. I’ll start with the latter, because I want this post to have a happy ending. (Surprised?! Disney fan!)
Magic Kingdom Fun Map 1979. Artist Unknown. Published in Maps of the Disney Parks
When I opened the book for the first time, which is a little awkward due to its tri-fold cover, I had hoped it would offer a walk down memory lane. In some ways it does, but not as much as I expected.
Each chapter includes a one-page summary of the significant changes or events taking place at the Disney parks within a particular decade. The rest of the chapter is a collection of maps from the same time period with minimal written description. Through the artwork you can get a sense of what the parks were like at different time periods. However, the images are too small to track changes in individual attractions and the maps are too varied to provide year-over-year comparisons. I’m a linear thinker, so that bothered me more than it probably will you. I also thought the distribution of maps by a particular attraction or park seemed a little uneven, such as the volume of pages dedicated to Tom Sawyer’s Island or Tokyo DisneySea.
Epcot Center Fun Map, Artist Unknown, Published in Maps of the Disney Parks
Now for the good stuff, and there is quite a bit of it. First, the maps themselves are truly works of art. You could frame some of the pages. It’s entertaining to see the changes in artistic style and font choices over the years. Second, I learned (relearned?) some things, particularly related to the overseas parks. Disneyland Tokyo opened in 1983, just six months after Epcot. Really? I also thought it was interesting to note the similarities in the park layouts and classic attractions around the world. (Country Bear Jamboree in Disneyland Paris? Oui.)
Third, I loved the reminder from Walt Disney himself that “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”
In other words, it was Walt’s goal to constantly change and reinvent his parks. I think this will be comforting the next time I learn that Disney corporate is closing one of my favorite attractions to make way for something new.
Disneyland Park Aerial Overview Map by Herbert Ryman, 1953. Published in Maps of the Disney Parks
I saved the best part for last. My favorite image in the book, for its appearance as well as its significance, is an aerial overview of the original Disneyland Park from 1953 (pictured above). According to the book, this is the exact image Roy Disney, Walt’s brother and business partner, took to New York to share with investors in order to secure funding for Disneyland. It varies quite a bit from the final park that was built, but it doesn’t matter. It’s beautiful because it’s a visual representation of a bold and unbelievable dream.
When Walt Disney started making plans for Disneyland there were many critics that discouraged him. It reminded me of the hurdles he encountered making Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, referenced in a previous post. As he did then, Walt chose to ignore the critics and press forward. He hired the best artists he could find and, through them, turned his “crazy” dream into a realistic map that all the world could see. In other words, he documented his vision in a way that couldn’t be ignored and committed himself to making it happen.
How inspiring is that?
Overall, I enjoyed Maps of the Disney Parks and would recommend it to other Disney fans with an interest in the company’s history. As stated above, I found the book entertaining and surprisingly inspiring.
If you have a “crazy” idea or a dream you’ve been debating, why not write it down? Better yet, draw a picture! I bet you can achieve more than you think. Add some magic to your world.
