George’s Favorite Books of 2020
Each year, there are more and more Disney- and theme park-related books published. As a theme park nerd, this makes me very happy, but it also means there’s a lot of wheat to separate from the chaff. And that’s part of why ImagiNERDing exists; I always want to present a fair and unbiased look at Disney and theme park books.
With the ease of self-publishing, it means that everyone can tell their theme park story or create their own Disney book. This is a double-edged sword: not only do we get an enormous amount of material, but it also means that quality control (editing, proof-reading, copy-editing, design, etc.) is often neglected. Regardless of the content, grammar, spelling, and style are all important and are a big part of whether a book makes my list.
Books, Books, and More Books from 2020
What follows is the list of my favorite books from the past year in chronological release date.
- Rolling Through the Years: a Cedar Point Atlas & Chronology by Ken Miller—This is the ultimate history of Cedar Point and might be one of the greatest amusement park books ever written. It’s a huge book and is the most comprehensively detailed book about Cedar Point. And I always recommend that Disney park fans spend time visiting regional parks, like Cedar Point, because they offer a look into the growth and development of themed entertainment.
- Disney Maps: a Magical Atlas of the Movies We Know and Love—this is a fun title that is perfect for the Disney animated film fan. It’s not earth-shattering, but it is a unique take on the films.
- The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky by Jeff Kurtti, Vanessa Hunt, and Paul Wolski—talk about the ultimate release for fans of Walt Disney and the history of the monorail! The book takes us on a trip through the different iterations of the monorail through history (no, Disney did not invent the monorail) and the development of monorails at Disney parks. Every Disney fan needs to own this!
- Imagineering an American Dreamscape: Genesis, Evolution and Redemption of the Regional Theme Park, by Barry Hill—this is an important and engaging book about the oft-overlooked regional theme parks, like Cedar Point, Six Flags, Kings Island, Carowinds, and so many more. Barry’s book is a great look at how regional theme parks grew and filled a much needed void in the industry. It’s also a great trip down memory lane if you visited any of these parks.
- Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: Celebrations Around the World from Fall to Winter by Graham Allen, Rebecca Cline, and Charlie Price—this is a book that Disney fans have been waiting years for. It’s a massive book that looks at all the how the holidays are celebrated in all of parks, resorts, hotels, and cruise ships. There is a smattering of history, which is nice, but the majority of the 1900 photos are from the past few years. This is an important release, especially concerning the lack of celebrations happening in the parks in 2020 and for the many fans that aren’t able to travel. I enjoyed the book, mainly for the photos, but really with there had been more of a vogue on the history of the holidays in the parks.
- Polishing the Dragons: Making EPCOT’s “Wonders of China” by Jeff Blythe—Polishing the Dragons is a perfect example of how small and independent publishing houses can offer incredible content that is well-written, well-designed, and, fortunately, well-edited! Disney fans will relish every sentence and they will devour Jeff’s book about the making of the Circle-Vision film. Seriously, I’m still amazed that there is a whole book dedicated to one subject. The book is awesome.
- Boundless Realm: Deep Explorations Inside Disney’s Haunted Mansion by Foxx Nolte—I’ve known Foxx for more than ten years and her blog has been one of the main inspirations for what I do at ImagiNERDing. The Haunted Mansion is a fan favorite and the attraction has been plagued by a lack of a stated backstory. Foxx takes us very deep to explore all of the influences of the Imagineers that led them to make the spooky house on the hill. This book is amazing and deserves to be in every Disney and theme park fan’s collection.
Haven’t Quite Finished It Yet…
- A Magical Half-Century: Stories Celebrating Walt Disney World’s First 50 Years by Christopher Smith—I’ve only had Christopher’s book for a few days, but I’m tearing through it. Christopher taels a unique look at the first 50 years of Walt Disney World by sharing a number of articles and essays about very specific attractions and themes. I’ve reviewed a few of Christopher’s titles and I’ve enjoyed them all. I have a feeling that this book would definitely make my list of favorite books from 2020.
My Favorite Books of 2020?
There you have it: my favorite books from 2020. I’m often asked what my favorite book of the year is, and I’ve offered the ImagiNERDing Book of the Year in years past. But this year, there are so many books that deserve the title that I can’t make an effective choice. If you’re on a limited budget, the Disney Monorails, Polishing the Dragons, Imagineering an American Dreamscape, and Boundless Realm, are all fantastic titles that shed light into Disney history from vastly different points-of-view and offer a wonderful reading experience.
What Are Your Favorite Books from 2020?
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Thanks for your summary. A good year for books. I love the Monorail book. The holiday coffee table book is wonderful. So many pictures and details. Massive!