Author Jim Korkis has carved out quite a niche as a story teller with extensive knowledge of Disney history. His books from The Vault of Walt series and others like Who’s Afraid of Song of the South occupy plenty of Disney fans’ shelves. What makes Korkis stand out is his insider’s perspective from working at Disney. He’s compiled many interesting stories about Walt Disney and each aspect of the company. Released this past November, Korkis’ new book Secret Stories of Walt Disney World: Things You Never Knew You Never Knew focuses on the world’s most popular resort.
I’ve enjoyed Korkis’ other books, though I’d always wished that he’d focus more on the parks. While I’ve found the history engaging, my interest level has varied depending on the topic. Concentrating on Walt Disney World here gives Korkis the chance to streamline his efforts. This slim 180-page book provides an easy read that’s a good companion for the flight to Orlando. It’s more of a collection of short articles than a detailed history. Most chapters are just a few pages, which keeps the tone light and allows you to jump around to different sections.
My favorite parts were the tiny details that are rarely included in typical Disney books. A good example is the list of the authentic details used by Imagineers in Spaceship Earth. Most guests would never realize that the steam press was created from actual patent drawings filed in 1863 or that the switchboard was fabricated from an actual 1898 model. Knowing these details brings depth to experiencing the attraction, especially for frequent guests. The first half of the book about the four parks is the highlight and feels like it could easily have been much larger.
There’s a risk in placing too high of expectations on this type of book. Korkis describes it as the “foundation to help others do further research”, and that’s a key point. The articles feel like short blog posts, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It allows Korkis to cover quite a large number of topics including the intricacies of the Wilderness Lodge, resorts and World Showcase pavilions that never came to be, and lesser-known figures in Walt Disney World’s history. He even takes a moment to clear up the origins of the famous “If you can dream it, then you can do it” quote at Horizons. There’s a wide range of material from all corners of the resort.
The downside of this approach is the disjointed feeling in spreading so thin. The final section “The Rest of the Story” is such a hodgepodge that it loses any clear flow. There are also quite a few typos, which add to the sense that the book could have better organization. None of these issues are deal-breakers, but they limit the effectiveness of such a promising title. I expect this is the first of multiple volumes, so just focusing on the parks this time might have been wiser. I also would have enjoyed a bibliography or notes section to expand the topic. Korkis is a reliable source for information, but it seems odd to not cite at least some other resources.
Despite a few reservations, I still enjoyed this trip through the past and present of Disney World. There are so many interesting stories from the past 50 years at the resort, and Secret Stories of Walt Disney World includes plenty of memorable tales for Disney fans. I’m approaching the book as someone who’s read quite a lot about the parks, and that perspective might explain why I wanted even more. Less obsessive readers would probably have an even more positive reaction to this material. I’d love to see Korkis focus even further in a future volume, and this is a good start.
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