Recently, author Kevin Yee, from MiceChat and Ultimate Orlando Blog, released a new book: The Unofficial Walt Disney World ’Earbook 2012.
The Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts are constantly changing. Attractions are added, attractions are removed. Shows run their course, parades change, new hotels are built, old favorites are lost. The concept of a “yearbook” for Disney World is a fantastic idea. In each year’s edition, Yee has detailed all of the changes that happened on Disney property that year. This is a must-have for anyone who wants to keep track of how Disney World got to where it is now. Imagine looking back 5, 10, or 15 years from now, and remembering when Test Track closed for its refurbishment, how Dumbo was moved across the park for the opening of Storybook Circus, how excited we all were when Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom first debuted, and the joy of walking around the brand new Art of Animation resort. Yee has written descriptions of all of these events and more, and included multitudes of his own personal photographs from each event. I consider this book an essential piece of Disney World history, both to read now and to save for many years.
If you are interested in Disney World, if you like to see how the parks change from year to year, if you read about old attractions now and think either “Wow I wish I’d been there for that” or “Wow I remember that, that was great!”, this book is most definitely for you.
(Full Disclosure: the author is a friend, and he gave me a free copy of the book in exchange for helping him proofread the draft. Nonetheless, at a purchase price of $10, this is a no brainer, and I’d absolutely have my own even if I’d never met him.)