Aaron H. Goldberg

Follows Walt Disney's career inspired by his dreams, including the creation and output from Disney Studio, and the formation of Disney amusement parks around the world, and chronicles important events throughout Disney history.

Chronicling the Man, the Mouse, and the Parks

The Disney Story

In November of 1965, after numerous months of speculation surrounding a mystery industry that had been purchasing large amounts of land in central Florida, Walt Disney finally put an end to the rumors. He announced to the public his grandiose plans for the thousands of acres he had secretly purchased. For the eighteen months prior to the announcement, Walt entrusted a small group of men to covertly make these purchases. Next, they were tasked with drafting a legislative act to submit to the state of Florida that would allow Disney to wield nearly absolute legal control over the property under a quasi-government municipality. Staying true to its storytelling roots, Disney wove a tale of mystery centered around a high-ranking CIA operative, who was rumored to have been, just a few short years before, the paymaster behind the Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba. This savvy and well-connected CIA agent became the de facto leader for the group of Disney executives and attorneys who orchestrated and executed a nearly perfect plan to keep Disney’s identity a secret from the public by utilizing aliases, shell corporations, and meandering travel itineraries, all in an effort to protect the company’s identity during the land acquisition process. As told through the personal notes and files from the key figures involved in the project, Buying Disney’s World details the story of how Walt Disney World came to be, like you’ve never heard before. From conception to construction and everything in between—including how a parcel of land within Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort was acquired during a high-stakes poker game—explore how the company most famous for creating Mickey Mouse acquired central Florida’s swamps, orange groves, and cow pastures to build a Disney fiefdom and a Magic Kingdom.

The Story of How Florida Swampland Became Walt Disney World

Buying Disney's World

WINNER OF THE SILVER BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AWARD FOR JUVENILE NONFICTION You have probably heard the word Disney before. Come on, who hasn’t? You’ve seen Disney movies, watched Disney TV shows, and maybe even visited Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Did you know there were two brothers with the last name of Disney who created this entertainment empire? Walt and Roy Disney built the world’s most popular theme parks and brought to life some of the best-known cartoon characters in family entertainment. The story of their lives is a wonderful tale of hard work, determination, and cooperation. While this book is primarily about Walt Disney, his story can’t be properly told without including his older brother Roy and the strong bond between siblings that propelled them to worldwide fame and fortune. Illustrations throughout this biography help tell the story of how two farm boys from the Midwest went on to build one of the world’s most successful entertainment companies.

Meet the Disney Brothers

Updated annually, this book is part guidebook, part secret stories, and part history, a guide from park to park and attraction to attraction across all of the Disney property, revealing secrets and insider stories. Includes TripAdvisor ratings for rides, restaurants, and resorts.

Aaron H. Goldberg

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