New Book: The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland

Last week I received my copy of the latest entry in Disney's IMAGINEERING FIELD GUIDE series, THE IMAGINEERING FIELD GUIDE TO DISNEYLAND.

The IMAGINEERING FIELD GUIDE books also include volumes on Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom.

A book on the fourth Disney World park, Disney's Hollywood Studios, will be released next April.

Each book takes the reader on an "Imagineer's-Eye Tour," pointing out interesting details throughout the park. For instance, the chapter on Disneyland's Main Street includes original concept art, details on each of the park's train engines, pages on the windows which pay tribute to Disneyland legends, trivia, and a nice bit on the light kept on in Walt's Fire Station apartment.

The New Orleans Square chapter includes pages on the use of "forced perspective" in the area's architecture, bits of trivia about the Haunted Mansion, the design of the ships' sails visible behind the buildings, and information on the telegraph office in the train station. I didn't know the telegraph taps out the first two lines of Walt's dedication speech from Opening Day!

The books are filled with similar interesting details and are small enough to easily accompany visitors on trips to each park. They're worth reading whether one is a first-time visitor or a Disney park veteran.

Around Disney has an interview with Alex Wright, the Imagineer who headed the creation of the new book on Disneyland.

Jim Hill Media and Brady MacDonald of the L.A. Times have more about the latest FIELD GUIDE.

Disney was also in the news today due to an interesting story about plans for Disneyland guests to be able to use their cell phones as a park guide. It sounds as though this builds on the concept first used with Pal Mickey, which informed visitors where to find characters, short lines, and more when visiting Disney World. Pal Mickey is no longer sold, but those previously purchased still work at the present.