Q: A commonly asked question is, "If you could meet anyone, anywhere in time, who would it be?" Until recently I didn't really know. After a visit to Disneyland and several visits to Walt Disney World (WDW) and reading some WDW history, I know for me that person is the legendary Walt Disney. What is the best non-fiction book that most comprehensively covers each of the three following topics: Walt Disney the man, Disneyland and Walt Disney World? Of course, I defer to your expertise if you have other recommendations (I know you have authored several).

Blaine, Wilmington, Delaware

A [Dave Smith]: I don't want to make specific recommendations because I have been involved in the production of almost all of the books and do not want to slight any of the authors, but if you search, you will find a selected bibliography of books on Walt Disney and on other Disney subjects.

[Marcio Disney]

The Walt Disney Company Selected Bibliography

WALT and ROY DISNEY
The Story of Walt Disney by Diane Disney Miller & Pete Martin (Holt, 1957)
The Disney Version by Richard Schickel (Simon & Schuster, 1968, 1985, 1997)
Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas (Simon & Schuster, 1976; Hyperion, 1994)
The Man Behind the Magic; the Story of Walt Disney by Katherine & Richard Greene (Viking, 1991, 1998)
Walt Disney: His Life in Pictures edited by Russell Schroeder (Disney Press, 1996)
Walt Disney's Railroad Story by Michael Broggie (Pentrex, 1997)
The Magic Kingdom; Walt Disney and the American Way of Life by Steven Watts (H. Mifflin, 1997; 2001)
Building a Company; Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire by Bob Thomas (Hyperion, 1998)
Remembering Walt: Favorite Memories of Walt Disney by Howard Green & Amy Boothe Green (Hyperion, 1999)
The Quotable Walt Disney compiled by Dave Smith (Disney Editions, 2001)
Discovering Walt by Jean-Pierre Isbouts (Disney Editions, 2001)
Inside the Dream: The Personal Story of Walt Disney by Katherine & Richard Greene (Disney Editions, 2001)
Walt Disney's Missouri by Brian Burnes, et al (Kansas City Star Books, 2002)
Walt Disney: Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler (Knopf, 2006)
Walt Disney: Conversations, ed.by Kathy Merlock Jackson (Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2006)
The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney by Michael Barrier (Univ. of California Press, 2007)
Walt Disney: The American Dreamer by Tom Tombusch (Tomart Publications, 2008)


WALT DISNEY STUDIOS/WALT DISNEY COMPANY
Donald Duck Joins Up; the Walt Disney Studio During World War II by Richard Shale (UMI Research Press, 1982)
Storming the Magic Kingdom by John Taylor (Knopf, 1987)
The Disney Studio Story by Richard Holliss & Brian Sibley (Crown, 1988)
The Disney Touch by Ron Grover (Business One Irwin, 1991, 1997)
Prince of the Magic Kingdom: Michael Eisner and the Re-Making of Disney by Joe Flower (Wiley, 1991)
Disney Dons Dogtags: The Best of Disney Military Insignia from World War II by Walton Rawls (Abbeville, 1992)
Walt in Wonderland: The Silent Films of Walt Disney by Russell Merritt & J.B. Kaufman (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993)
The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin (Crown, 1973, 1984; Hyperion, 1995)
Work in Progress by Michael Eisner & Tony Schwartz (Random House, 1998)
Disney: The First 100 Years by Dave Smith & Steven Clark (Hyperion, 1999; Disney Editions, updated 2002)
The Little Big Book of Disney by Monique Peterson (Disney Editions, 2001)


INDIVIDUAL ANIMATED CHARACTERS
Mickey Mouse: Fifty Happy Years edited by David Bain & Bruce Harris (Harmony Books, 1977)
Donald Duck, 50 Years of Happy Frustration (HP Books, 1984)
Goofy, the Good Sport (HP Books, 1985)
Mickey Mouse, His Life and Times (Harper & Row, 1986)
Mickey Mouse in Color (Pantheon Books, 1988)
Mickey Mouse; My Life in Pictures by Russell Schroeder (Disney Press, 1997)
Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters by John Grant (Hyperion, 1998)
Disney's Winnie the Pooh: A Celebration of the Silly Old Bear by Christopher Finch (Disney Editions, 2000)
Mickey Mouse: The Evolution, the Legend, the Phenomenon by Robert Heide & John Gilman (Disney Editions, 2001)
The Mickey Mouse Treasures by Robert Tieman (Disney Editions, 2007)


DISNEY ANIMATION HISTORY/BEHIND-THE-SCENES
The Art of Walt Disney by Robert D. Feild (Macmillan, 1942)
The Art of Animation by Bob Thomas (Simon & Schuster, 1958)
The Art of Walt Disney by Christopher Finch (Harry N. Abrams, 1973, 1995, updated 2004)
Fantasia by John Culhane (Harry N. Abrams, 1983)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs & the Making of the Classic Film by Richard Holliss & Brian Sibley (Simon & Schuster, 1987; Hyperion, 1994)
Walt Disney's Bambi: The Story and the Film by Ollie Johnston & Frank Thomas (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1990 )
Art of Animation: From Mickey Mouse to Beauty and the Beast by Bob Thomas (Hyperion, 1991; updated to Hercules, 1997)
Aladdin, The Making of an Animated Film by John Culhane (Hyperion, 1992)
The Art of The Lion King by Christopher Finch (Hyperion, 1994)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: An Art in Its Making by Martin Krause & Linda Witkowski (Hyperion, 1994)
The Art of Pocahontas by Stephen Rebello (Hyperion, 1995)
The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation by Frank Thomas & Ollie Johnston (Hyperion, 1995)
The Disney that Never Was by Charles Solomon (Hyperion, 1995)
Toy Story; the Art and Making of the Animated Film by John Lasseter & Steve Daly (Hyperion, 1995)
The Art of the Hunchback of Notre Dame by Stephen Rebello (Hyperion, 1996)
Before the Animation Begins: The Art and Lives of Disney Inspirational Sketch Artists by John Canemaker (Hyperion, 1996)
Animation Magic: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How an Animated Film Is Made by Don Hahn (Hyperion, 1996)
The Art of Hercules by Stephen Rebello and Jane Healey (Hyperion, 1997)
The Art of Mulan by Jeff Kurtti (Hyperion, 1998)
A Bug's Life: The Art and Making of an Epic of Miniature Proportions by Jeff Kurtti (Hyperion, 1998)
The Tarzan Chronicles by Howard Green (Hyperion, 1999)
Fantasia/2000: Visions of Hope by John Culhane (Disney Editions, 1999)
Paper Dreams: The Art & Artists of Disney Storyboards by John Canemaker (Hyperion, 1999)
Dinosaur: The Evolution of an Animated Feature by Jeff Kurtti (Disney Editions, 2000)
Walt Disney's Nine Old Men & The Art of Animation by John Canemaker (Hyperion, 2001)
The Art of Monsters, Inc. (Chronicle Books, 2001)
Lilo & Stitch: Collected Stories from the Film's Creators (Disney Editions, 2002)
Treasure Planet: A Voyage of Discovery (Disney Editions, 2002)
The Art of Finding Nemo by Mark Cotta Vez (Chronicle Books, 2003)
The Art and Flair of Mary Blair by John Canemaker (Disney Editions, 2003)
Brother Bear: A Transformation Tale by H. Clark Wakabayashi (Disney Editions, 2003)
The Art of the Incredibles by Mark Cotta Vaz (Chronicle Books, 2004)
Chicken Little: From Henhouse to Hollywood by Monique Peterson (Disney Editions, 2005)
Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies by Russell Merritt & J.B. Kaufman (La Cineteca del Friuli, 2006)
The Art of Ratatouille by Karen Paik (Chronicle Books, 2007)
Working with Walt: Interviews with Disney Artists by Don Peri (Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2008)
The Idea of Nature in Disney Animation by David Whitley (Ashgate, 2008)
The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company by David A. Price (Knopf, 2008)
The Alchemy of Imagination: Making an Animated Film in the Modern Age by Don Hahn (Disney Editions, 2008)
The Art of WALL·E by Tim Hauser (Chronicle Books, 2008)
The Art of Bolt by Mark Cotta Vaz (Chronicle Books, 2008)
Disney Lost and Found: Exploring the Hidden Artwork from Never-Produced Animation by Charles Solomon (Disney Editions, 2008)
Walt Disney Animation Studio The Archive Series: Story (Disney Editions, 2008)
The Art of the Disney Princess (Disney Editions, 2009)
Walt Disney Animation Studio The Archive Series: Animation (Disney Editions, 2009)

MUSIC
The Musical World of Walt Disney by David Tietyen (Hal Leonard, 1990)
The Golden Age of Walt Disney Records, 1933-1988 by R. Michael Murray (Antique Trader Books, 1997)
The Illustrated Treasury of Disney Songs (Hyperion, 1998)
Walt's Time by Robert B. Sherman & Richard M. Sherman (Camphor Tree, 1998)
Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records by Tim Hollis & Greg Ehrbar (Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2006)
Disney's Lost Chords by Russell Schroeder (Voigt Publications, 2007)


THEME PARKS
Walt Disney's Epcot Center by Richard R. Beard (Harry N. Abrams, 1982)
Disneyland: Inside Story by Randy Bright (Abrams, 1987)
Gardens of the Walt Disney World Resort by Dee Hansford (Walt Disney World, 1988)
Disneyland: The Nickel Tour by Bruce Gordon and David Mumford (Camphor Tree, 1995; updated 2000)
Building a Dream; The Art of Disney Architecture by Beth Dunlop (Abrams, 1996)
Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic (Hyperion, 1996)
Since the World Began: Walt Disney World's First 25 Years by Jeff Kurtti (Hyperion, 1996)
Designing Disney's Theme Parks, ed. by Karal Ann Marling (Flammarion, 1997)
The Making of Disney's Animal Kingdom by Melody Malmberg (Hyperion, 1998)
Riding the Black Ship Japan and Tokyo Disneyland by Aviad E. Raz (Harvard University, 1999)
Walt Disney World Resort�A Souvenir for the Millennium (Disney Editions, 1999)
Once Upon an American Dream: The Story of Euro Disneyland by Andrew Lainsbury (U. of Kansas Press, 2000)
Disneyland Resort: Magical Memories for a Lifetime (Disney Editions, 2002)
Disneyland Paris: From Sketch to Reality by Alain Littaye & Didier Ghez (Nouveau Mill�naire, 02)
Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets by Steven Barrett (Intrepid Traveller, 2003)
Designing Disney: Imagineering and the Art of the Show by John Hench (Disney Editions, 2003)
The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies by Jason Surrell (Disney Editions, 2003)
Around the World with Disney by Kevin Markey (Disney Editions, 2005)
Disneyland: Then, Now and Forever by Bruce Gordon & Tim O'Day (Disney Editions, 2005)
Disneyland Hotel: The Early Years (1954-1988) by Donald W. Ballard (Ape Pen Pub., 2005)
The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World by Alex Wright (Disney Editions, 2005)
The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot by Alex Wright (Disney Editions, 2006)
Behind the Magic: 50 Years of Disneyland by Karal Ann Marling (The Henry Ford, 2005)
Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies by Jason Surrell (Disney Editions, 2005)
Birnbaum's Walt Disney World and Birnbaum's Disneyland (Disney Editions, 2006)
Spinning Disney's World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent by Charles Ridgway (Intrepid Traveller, 2007)
The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at Its Peak by Jason Surrell (Disney Editions, 2007)
Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Disneyland Resort's Best Kept Secrets by Steven M. Barrett (Intrepid Traveler, 2007)
The Disneyland Encyclopedia by Chris Stodder (Santra Monica Press, 2008)
Imagineering Legends and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park by Jeff Kurtti (Disney Editions, 2008)
Disney's California Adventure Detective by Kendra Trahanl (PermaGrin Publishing, 2008)
Walt Disney World: Then, Now and Forever by Burce Gordan and Jeff Kurtti (Disney Editions, 2008)
The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland by Alex Wright (Disney Editions, 2008)


TELEVISION
Mickey Mouse Club Scrapbook by Keith Keller (Grosset & Dunlap, 1975)
The Official Mickey Mouse Club Book by Lorraine Santoli (Hyperion, 1995)
The Wonderful World of Disney Television by Bill Cotter (Hyperion, 1997)


COLLECTIBLES
Disneyana: Walt Disney Collectibles by Cecil Munsey (Hawthorn, 1974)
Disneyana Catalog and Price Guide (5 vols.) by Tom Tumbusch (Tomart, 1985-89)
Mickey Mouse Memorabilia (Abrams, 1986)
Disneyana: Classic Collectibles 1928-1958 by Robert Heide & John Gilman (Disney Editions, 2002)
The Mickey Mouse Watch Book by Robert Heide & John Gilman (Hyperion, 1997)
The Disney Poster Book (Disney Editions, 2002)
The Disney Treasures by Robert Tieman (Disney Editions, 2003)
The Disney Keepsakes by Robert Tieman (Disney Editions, 2005)
Official Price Guide to Disney Collectibles by Ted Hake (Gemstone Pub., 2005)


REFERENCE/TRIVIA
The Ultimate Disney Trivia Book by Kevin Neary & Dave Smith (Hyperion, 1992); Book 2 (Hyperion, 1994); Book 3 (Hyperion, 1997) Book 4 (Disney Editions, 2000)
Disney A to Z; the Official Encyclopedia by Dave Smith (Hyperion, 1996; updated eds. 1998, 2006)
Disney: The Ultimate Visual Guide by Russell Schroeder (DK Publishing, 2002)


MISCELLANEOUS
Beauty and the Beast; a Celebration of the Broadway Musical by Donald Frantz (Hyperion, 1995)
The Lion King: Pride Rock on Broadway by Julie Taymor (Hyperion, 1997)
Disney on Broadway ed. by Michael Lassell (Disney Editions, 2002)
A Day at the New Amsterdam Theatre by Dana Amendola (Disney Editions, 2004)
Celebration: The Story of a Town by Michael Lassell (Disney Editions, 2004)
Mary Poppins: Anything Can Happen If You Let It by Brian Sibley and Michael Lassell (Disney Editions, 2007)
How Does the Show Go On? An Introduction to the Theater by Thomas Schumacher and Jeff Kurtti (Disney Editions, 2007)