The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World- A Disney Nerds Book Club Review

Have you ever wondered if there was a rhyme or reason for certain details at Walt Disney World? Why is the building that color? Or why the Animal Kingdom benches are different than the other parks? If so, I’ve got a book for you! It’s “The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World” by Susan Veness.

This is probably one of my favorite books because the author explains all those little details in the parks. It really helps to grow your appreciation of the parks. I now walk through the park and know why things are a certain way or notice those small details I didn’t before.

If you’re still wondering why the benches at Animal Kingdom are different than the other parks, I’ll tell you. It turns out that all the benches at Animal Kingdom are made of recycled milk jugs! How cool is that?

Another fun fact I learned from this book is from Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom. The next time you are walking around Liberty Square be sure to look at the two-digit numbers on the doors. Most people think they’re just there to look like an address. But if you put “18” in front of any of those numbers, you would have the year that style of home would’ve been popular in America. That’s a great fact to know!

One of the greatest examples is in Epcot. Did you know that the mosaics on both sides of the walkway to The Land are to represent the layers of the earth exposed after a volcano explosion? I didn’t before I read this book. I also learned that the pavement of the walkway represents the lava flowing from the volcano. The red pavement is hot lava and the black pavement is the cooled lava.

Now this book has been updated so I do recommend getting this latest version to stay up to date on those little pieces of hidden magic. I have read the 1^st edition which came out in 2009. Then there is a 2^nd edition that came out in 2015. But Susan Veness has a 3^rd edition coming out this October 2020 and will include Galaxy’s Edge and other updates. I will be sure to grab the latest version! But for anyone that loves the history of Walt Disney World or the Walt Disney World that used to be, it would be fun to get the 1^st version too.

Have you read “The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World” by Susan Veness? What did you think? Or are you now going to grab the 3^rd edition when it comes out like I am? Let us know and stay tuned next month for another Disney Nerds Book Club Review!!