Walt's Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive by Dick Nunis

Dick Nunis has written the excellent new book Walt's Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive about his life and work for Disney.

A member of the original 55ers, Dick Nunis played a key role in shaping Disney’s theme parks for 44 years. He describes himself as Walt’s “apprentice“, and it’s clear he took that role very seriously. His window at Disneyland’s Main Street notes “COAST TO COAST PEOPLE MOVING”, which describes both his focus on capacity and strong personality. There are so many engaging stories about Nunis from others, so it’s refreshing to hear the tales from the man himself.

In his new memoir Walt’s Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive, Nunis describes the ups and downs of his life and career at Disney. The 320-page book is a quick read that definitely left me wanting more, but I appreciate that Nunis stays focused. The short chapters are surprisingly brief, and each hits one point quickly. He introduces the topic, includes a few anecdotes, and jumps to the next story. This structure allows Nunis to cover a wide stretch of his career within the fairly condensed book.

Nunis concludes each chapter with a “Lesson Learned” pertaining to each story. I wouldn’t call this a self-help book, as the lessons aren’t the primary focus. A good example is his chapter on “How EPCOT Evolved”. Nunis describes the change from the original concepts of EPCOT the city to Walt Disney World’s theme park. He includes fun points about Walt’s initial plans and shifts to explaining the importance of adding a second gate in Florida. The lesson at the end is “success comes packaged in unexpected ways“, which connects to the chapter but is more of a general message.

A Close Perspective on Disney’s Parks

It’s rare to hear firsthand stories today about Disneyland’s origins. Some of my favorite sections cover Nunis’ arrival at Disney and his interactions with Walt during that time. We also learn about his boss Van France and developing training on “The Disney Way” for cast members. They essentially created the basics of a philosophy that continues to guide Disney today. Nunis was on the ground pushing a broom, working security, and doing whatever was necessary to make Disneyland succeed.

Another cool section covers “Project X” and the work involved to make Walt Disney World come to life. Nunis became the Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World and Disneyland in 1971 and was involved in everything. He constantly describes walking the parks to ensure that everything worked properly. While this probably frightened many cast members, it also made sure he knew what was happening. I suspect leaders in many industries could learn some things from this philosophy.

Nunis also clarifies legends about his signature Bermuda shorts and the short-lived Polynesian wave machine. These fun stories make Walt’s Apprentice more than the typical Disney memoir. Nunis has strong opinions and didn’t mesh well with everyone; he hints at that by saying that Michael Eisner “did not burst into tears” when he retired. Regardless, Nunis was a pivotal figure in the success of Disney’s theme parks. His focus on the guest experience and “people-moving” showed consistently at the parks. I really enjoyed learning more about his story in this informative and entertaining book.

Purchase a hardcover or Kindle copy of Walt’s Apprentice through Amazon; you can also borrow a copy on Hoopla through your local library!