Walt Disney World Hidden History: Remnants of Former Attractions and Other Tributes, by Kevin Yee, Ultimate Orlando Press, 2010, 225 pp.
Most visitors to Walt Disney World are unaware of what lies behind and beyond the attractions they experience, the restaurants where they dine, or the settings in which they are immersed. For ardent Disney fans, however, the history behind the magic, the “backstory” in Disney-speak, is nearly as important as the magic itself.
Many Neurotic Disney people enjoy reading books about various Disney topics, but did you know that some people in our community also enjoy writing them? Kevin Yee is an author and blogger, he is our very own NDD #198, and he has written a new book called Walt Disney World Hidden History.
This book exposes the remnants of previous rides and attractions still visible at Walt Disney World, including many elements that were folded into the shows and rides that replaced them. There are also numerous intentional reproductions of parts of former rides, planted as a kind of ultimate inside joke. Interwoven with these remnants is a rich tapestry of homages throughout the Walt Disney World parks, there to pay respect to the designers, artists, and engineers who built these magical realms. These references are often hidden in plain sight, and many are given without explanation. This book uncovers so many tributes and homages, you’ll forever see the Disney parks in a whole new light. Everyone has their favorite rides that no longer exist, but do you know where you can find homages to them? You may need to read Kevin’s book to find out!