Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World » (New Edition)

"Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World" takes the first-ever in-depth, unauthorized look at the creation and operation of the world's most popular vacation destination. Step backstage and witness: Walt's original plans for Disney World-and how his dreams completely changed in the hands of his successors. His undercover agents who secretly bought 44 square miles of swamps. The chaotic construction and frantic first years of the Magic Kingdom. The underground caverns that wind beneath the theme park. Disney's unconventional, initially disastrous foray into operating its own hotels. The behind-the-scenes machinations that led to EPCOT Center. How safety and security are maintained on property-at all costs. The tumultuous change of leadership that turned the cherished "Ways of Walt" upside down.

Introduction     10
Waltopia: Mr. Disney's last and greatest dream     13
Project X: The undercover expansion     17
Planning the Invasion: Preparing for the ground attack     34
Trouble Building: The fight to finish on time     57
A Grand Opening: Through the gates of the Magic Kingdom     85
Room Change: Turmoil and turnover at the hotels     102
Power Plays: The energy crisis, Reedy Creek and rocky community relations     118
Crash Mountain: Space Mountain and the never-ending quest for safety     133
Showcase for Sale: Sponsoring a piece of the kingdom     156
Constructing the Future: The hardships and headaches of breaking new ground     176
Starring in the Show: Making little money and lots of magic for a living     201
EPTPOT: Experimental Prototype Theme Park of Tomorrow     229
Upheaval: A coup at the kingdom     246
Reel Competition: Disney vs. Universal-and everyone else     258
It's a Jungle in Here: Survival of the shrewdest     278
The Polite Force: Security with a smile     303
Backwards to the Beginning: The Homogenized Mouse     315
Notes     325
Index     331