America, Fantasyland, Worlds of Nature and Stories from Other Lands

Q: When I was a child back in the '80s, my parents gave me an older set of Disney books that I absolutely loved. There were four books in the set, they had dark green covers and each book had a different color binding (red, yellow, blue or lighter green, I think). One book had nursery rhymes and fairy tales featuring great illustrations of Disney characters, another had stories like Pollyana, Old Yeller and Darby O'Gill, etc. I don't know what these books were called, but I would love to get copies of them. Do you know the titles, when they were printed and if it is still possible to find these books? I would love to purchase them for my daughter!
Elaine, Orlando, Florida 

A [Dave Smith]: This was a popular mail-order set, called The Wonderful Worlds of Walt Disney, published by Golden Press in 1965, with the four books titled America, Fantasyland, Worlds of Nature and Stories from Other Lands. More than a million of the sets were sold. Copies can be found through used book dealers or on eBay. 

Map of Fantasyland

"Published by Golden Books from 1961 to 1965, this is one of four books in a slip-cover set designed to excite families about the joys that awaited them in the World of Walt Disney. The books included: Fantasyland, Nature, America, and Stories from Other Lands. I found this copy of the Fantasyland book for $4 at my Friends of the Library Bookstore. Boxed sets on eBay run about $30 on the lower end. I like the old-school feel of the illustrations--this is the Disney I grew up with."

- by By Calsidyrose

 

What is Cinderella's last name?

Q: My parents were visiting Walt Disney World and their bus driver would asked them trivia questions. They couldn't answer this one: "What is Cinderella's last name?" Would it be Charming?

Melinda, Chubbuck, Idaho

A [Dave Smith]: Her stepmother is Lady Tremaine, so Tremaine would likely be Cinderella's last name.

[Marcio Disney]

During my researchs, I found 3 VERY OLD books telling Cinderella story. The first one below was printed in London and it is a children's book with a lot o painting and just a few words. The second one is the classical tale and the third one is a 1893's book with 345 variants of the Cinderella Story!

[Price Sixpense] Adventures of Cinderella

[George Routledge] Cinderella

[1893] Cinderella - 345 Variants by Marian Roalfe Cox

What Year did the Characters Start Appearing in the Park?

Q: I have some old A-E tickets from Disneyland. Is there a way to tell what year they are from? Also what year did the characters start appearing in the park? I love your column and have learned so much about Disney from it.

Paula, The Colony, Texas

A [Dave Smith]: The old ticket books usually had coded dates on them, but the tickets did not. Sometimes you can narrow down the years because of the attractions listed on the tickets. There were characters in the park since Opening Day.