Who doesn’t love a good book? They have the ability to transport you away from your everyday life and immerse you in extraordinary places, not unlike a visit to a Disney Park. Perhaps that is what makes Disney books even more enticing; they not only offer fanciful distractions but also recall that nostalgic, childlike wonder we associate with the brand. And they aren’t just for kids either; new Disney books geared towards adults are released all the time in all sorts of genres, like cookbooks, pop-up books (yes, there are ones that adults can enjoy, too), and history books.
We collected a sampling of new and upcoming books for Disney adults that caught our attention – read on to learn more!
“The Unofficial Disney Parks Holidays Cookbook” by Ashley Craft (Available September 3, 2024)
People visit Disney Parks for many reasons, and one of the big draws is the food. “The Unofficial Disney Parks Holidays Cookbook” is part of a long-running series that features recipes of beloved Parks fare recreated by the author, in this case, food and drinks from different holidays.
The book offers an impressive spread of dishes taken from different seasonal celebrations at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. I like the ones the author selected for the book, many of which are items that I had always wanted to try but, for one reason or another, missed out on during past events. The variety of celebrations included adds to the appeal.
The menu also caters to all sorts of tastes. In the sweets department, there are offerings with fruit flavors, chocolate, and nuts, among others. And for savories, cheesy, meaty, spicy, and more are represented.
Resort maps that highlight where the original food is located during the appropriate season add to the book’s appeal.
The book does have a few quirks that might not appeal to everyone. Notably, many recipes are missing photos—a forgivable omission for simple dishes, but less so for those with more complex assembly steps that could really benefit from some visual guidance. Additionally, several recipes, like the Mickey Gingerbread, rely on pre-packaged ingredients like cake mixes and frosting. While this does simplify the process, it might disappoint those who prefer the Martha Stewart approach of making everything from scratch. Depending on your cooking style, this could be a point of consideration.
“Disneyland Pop-Up Park Tour” by Matthew Reinhart, Charlie Price, and Rui Ricardo (Available October 22, 2024)
While not a book in a traditional sense, “Disneyland: Pop-Up Park Tour” still offers a Disney-themed immersive diversion. Being only one page, it can also be considered a “plussed” version of a park map. Open it up, and suddenly, Disneyland is standing before you on your coffee table.
This title was on display at the Disney Publishing area at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience. Photos do not do it justice, but they help give a sense of the scale once the book is opened up. I was impressed by the detail in the illustrations and the different layers in several of the structures (especially Sleeping Beauty Castle).
“Scoundrels, Villains, & Knaves: Disneyland, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Pop Culture” by Foxx Nolte (Available Now)
If you are a frequent reader of MiceChat, you have likely encountered articles written by Foxx Nolte. Each piece is a fascinating read that digs deep into the art and history behind beloved Disney parks, attractions, and traditions. I must confess I am a fan. So when I discovered that they had recently published a book exploring The Pirates of the Caribbean, you had best believe I immediately made a beeline for the Kindle listing (what can I say? I like my books in digital form) and dove right in.
This 346-page Disney book is ideal for fans who want to know absolutely everything about an attraction. Not just the lore. Not just how it was made. Everything. This tome first explores how the modern-day concept of the pop culture pirate evolved. After all, there wouldn’t be The Pirates of the Caribbean if America didn’t start romanticizing these seabound rogues. The narrative then transitions to how Walt Disney became interested in pirates as a subject in film and later in the form of an attraction.
As we move further through time (it is written in chronological order), we learn more about the different versions of the attraction around the world. My favorite part is Disneyland’s walkthrough, scene-by-scene, as details are pointed out with Imagineer’s backstories and historical explanations.
Foxx also discusses the films and how they went on to change the Disney Parks experience (Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer’s Island and the addition of the Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa animatronics, for example).
If you are particularly interested in one part, you can easily skip to that section of the book and not miss a beat. The text is peppered with diagrams, floor plans, photos (some historical and others taken by the author), and original art. I enjoyed my time with the book and will certainly reread it in the near future.
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More Merchandise Reading
Halloween merchandise is already available at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and DisneyStore.com, and more items are coming! Stay updated on all the Spooky Season’s best merchandise with our guide:
UPDATED! Disneyland Halloween 2024 Merchandise Puts a Spell… On Our Wallets!
Want more Disney book suggestions? Take a look at MiceChat’s previous coverage of Little Golden Books and lesser-known graphic novels:
New Little Golden Books: The Little Man of Disneyland Returns & More
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