If you’re a fan of the Disney theme parks, you’ll love these books that give behind-the-scenes looks and some nostalgic moments of the past.
Looking for some fantastic books about Disney World and Disneyland? We’ve gathered some of the best!
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If you’ve been to Disney World or Disneyland, you already know that magic abounds around every corner.
Every inch has been crafted with such intentionality, from sights to sounds to smells, allowing you to feel like you’ve stepped into a completely new world.
Maybe you’re a long-time Disney fan who wants some new books to give a behind-the-scenes look at the history and imagineering behind the parks.
Or maybe you’re about to embark on your first Disney trip and want to know what’s in store!
Perhaps you’re curious about the visionary mastermind behind it all, or you need the perfect gift for the Disney lover in your life.
Either way, we’ve selected some amazing books about Disney World and Disneyland for your reading pleasure.
Nonfiction Books About Disney World and Disneyland
Here are some of our top picks for books about Disney World, along with a few about Disneyland as well.
Looking for kid-friendly options? Skip down to the list of Disney World books for kids!
Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real
This book provides a fascinating inside look at the wizardry of the Disney Imagineers, who work behind-the-scenes to combine imagination with engineering.
Their work creates everything that makes Disney theme parks such a spectacular and immersive experience.
You can check it out here.
Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai
I spent many years of my childhood poring over the maps of Disney World.
Not only that, but I saved them as souvenirs and loved memorizing where my favorite attractions and restaurants were within the parks.
This book chronicles the changes that have taken place over the past few decades of Disney Parks in a visual way–how fun is that?
You can get a copy here.
Poster Art of the Disney Parks
This stunning book is a collection of poster art featuring attractions throughout the Disney theme parks.
A compendium of illustrations and imagination, this book of poster art is organized by land, so you’ll see all of your favorite attractions. It’s like a walk through Disney history!
You can get it here.
Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: Celebrations Around the World from Fall to Winter
Spending the holidays at Disney World is a unique opportunity to see even more sights, sounds, and celebrations!
Whether you’re spending Christmas at Disney World, Halloween at Disney World, or any other number of special occasions, this stunning coffee table book showcases some of the additional magic you can experience, from Main Street, USA to Disneyland Paris.
It’s a great book that’s more of an anthology of beautiful photos, rather than one you would read–I highly recommend it. You can find it here.
Delicious Disney: Walt Disney World: Recipes & Stories from the Most Magical Place on Earth
I purchased this book as soon as it came out, because I have a soft spot in my heart for the amazing food and beverages of Disney World!
It’s just so much fun to recreate some of the theme park classics at home, which is why I have recipes for the Dole Whip, Tatooine Sunset drink, Bantha blue milk, Epcot’s violet lemonade, and more.
I love that this book is more than just a collection of recipes; it also provides a lot of background history for many of the foods included.
Definitely a great option for someone who enjoys cooking! You can get a copy here.
The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook: From Delicious Dole Whip to Tasty Mickey Pretzels, 100 Magical Disney-Inspired Recipes
This book includes 100 recipes inspired by offerings of the Disney parks, including lots of beverages and sweets.
As an “unofficial” Disney cookbook, it doesn’t have a lot of photos, which is one of my biggest criticisms of the book.
However, if you’re a Disney foodie, you’re sure to find some recipes you want to try!
You can check it out here.
The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky
The Disney Monorail is practically an attraction in and of itself, and this book chronicles its creation.
Whether you stay at a Disney monorail hotel or simply use it as part of your Disney World transportation, it’s a fascinating part of Walt Disney World–especially when you consider how “ahead of its time” it was when it was constructed.
You can get a copy here!
Buying disney’s World: The Story of How Florida Swampland Became Walt Disney World
The story of how Walt Disney covertly bought massive amounts of land in Florida is a fascinating one.
A CIA operative, Disney executives and attorneys executed a nearly impeccable plan for securing land for the future Disney World, turning swampland into the most magical place on earth.
One of the biggest differences between Disneyland and Disney World is size, and this book gives insight as to why.
It’s an interesting look at everything that went on behind the scenes before Disney World opened.
Get it here to learn the full story!
The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World: Over 600 Secrets of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom
If you love finding “easter eggs” of hidden treasure around the theme parks, this book is for you!
This trivia book is a great read that elaborates on hidden features and designs throughout the theme parks of Disney World.
You can get your copy here.
The Wonders of Walt Disney World: Your Guidebook for Uncovering Secrets, Stories, and Magic
This book combines historical information, secret stories, and a helpful guidebook all in one!
Both entertaining and informative, it’s sure to make your visit even richer, as you learn tidbits of trivia about the magical theme park.
You can check it out here!
A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of the Most Magical Place on Earth
Celebrating 50 years of Walt Disney World, this coffee table book showcases the Florida resort over time, from inception to modern day.
It includes photographs, concept art, and stories of the beloved theme park’s evolution over time.
A great gift for the Disney lover!
You can get your copy here.
Birnbaum’s 2022 Walt Disney World: The Official Vacation Guide
If you’re looking for a guide to Disney World, Birnbaum’s is one of the most long-running guidebooks.
They release a new version each year in order to stay as current as possible, and the 2022 edition includes all of the 50th Anniversary fun!
You can check it out here.
The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic
If you’ve visited the theme parks before, you know how iconic the Haunted Mansion is.
This book gives a fascinating look inside the process of developing one of the most popular attractions at Disney World and Disneyland, including concept sketches, detailed photographs, and architectural drawings.
You can get a copy here.
Walt Disney’s Disneyland
This pictoral collection showcases photographs and imagery from Disneyland, taking you on a journey through the history of Disney’s first theme park.
You can get your copy here.
Related: Check out our Disneyland planner guide!
Disney’s Land
Learn more about the history of Disneyland, including its rocky start through its development to the iconic theme park it is today.
You can get your copy here.
Books About Walt Disney
Although the following books aren’t specifically about Disney World or Disneyland, these Walt Disney biographies give quite a bit of insight into Disney’s life.
These books include details of his early years, the creation of his animation studios, as well as the development of the theme parks.
Walt Disney: An American Original
Although not specifically about Walt Disney World, this biography of Walt Disney details the success story of Walt’s impact on modern culture.
If you’d like to learn more about Disney and a portrait of his life, you can check it out here!
The Disney Story: Chronicling the Man, The Mouse, and the Parks
This book is more of a collection of stories over a timeline, giving decade-by-decade details and memorable moments of Walt Disney’s life and career, from the earliest days of Steamboat Willie and the Disney animation studio all the way to the opening of Shanghai Disneyland.
You can check it out here.
Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination
This doorstop biography is quite a compendium of Walt Disney’s life, from his childhood years in Missouri to his creation of Disney studios through his death prior to the completion of Walt Disney World resort.
It’s a definitive portrait of the creative visionary, showing us just how revolutionary Disney was.
You can get your copy here.
Best Kids Books about Disney
If you have young readers in your life, these are some of the best kids books about Disney World and Walt Disney himself!
These children’s books also make great gifts.
Birnbaum’s 2022 Walt Disney World for Kids: The Official Guide
If you have kids who like to plan ahead and be “in-the-know,” this guidebook is perfect for them!
They can learn about attractions, view maps of the parks, get insider tips for young visitors, and more.
You can check it out here!
Where is Walt Disney World?
This book unearths the history of Disney World’s development, providing loads of fun facts for curious kids.
You can get a copy here!
Who Was Walt Disney?
Although this book isn’t specifically about Disney World or Disneyland, it gives great insight into the visionary behind it all!
Learn about the humble beginnings of the amazing man who grew up to change the trajectory of Florida. This book makes a great companion to Where is Walt Disney World?.
You can check it out here.
I am Walt Disney
This lively, conversational book showcases the traits that made Walt Disney great, in a kid-friendly way.
The book highlights all the ways Walt Disney created magic for others, focusing on things that inspired him to dream big.
You can get a copy here!
Meet the Disney Brothers: A Unique Biography of Walt Disney
This biography features not only Walt, but also his brother, Roy Disney.
Many people don’t know the integral role Roy played in developing the Disney empire, so this book is a great one for understanding how two siblings changed the world.
You can check it out here!
National Geographic Readers: Walt Disney
National Geographic readers are always well-organized, bright, and fun for kids to read. This Walt Disney biography is no exception!
It includes photographs and fun facts that will keep kids engaged.
You can get a copy here!
Reading About Disney
All of these books are a great way to quench your thirst for knowledge about all things Disney!
Whether you’re interested in Walt himself, have visited the parks more times than you can count, or are about to embark on your first Disney trip, you’re sure to learn something new from these amazing books for Disney fans.
More Disney Parks Trivia:
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