• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • PODCAST
  • DISNEY WORLD
    • DISNEYLAND
  • UNIVERSAL
  • RECOMMENDED
  • ADVERTISE
  • UTM TRAVEL
  • CLUB UTM
Unlocking The Magic

Unlocking The Magic

We talk about Disney World, Disneyland and Universal

  • START HERE
  • ADVERTISE
  • MERCH
  • UTM IN THE WILD
  • ASK UTM
  • BOOK A TRIP

17 Disney Books Every Disney Fan Should Read

May 17, 2022 by Unlocking the Magic

If you’re a Disney fan, then you know that there’s nothing quite like reading about your favorite characters and stories. In this blog post, we will share with you the ultimate list of the best Disney books! These books are perfect for any Disney fan out there. Whether you’re looking for something to read on a rainy day or something to keep you occupied during your next road trip, these books are sure to please. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this list of 17 of the best Disney books!

Table of Contents
  • From Imagineers
    • Dream It Do It: Marty Sklar Disney
    • It’s Kind of A Cute Story: Rolly Crumb
    • Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks
    • The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic (A Walt Disney Imagineering Book)
    • The Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney’s Great Animators
    • Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation
  • About Walt Disney
    • How To Be Like Walt: Pat Williams
    • Walt Disney The Triumph of the American Imagination
    • Walt Disney an American Original
    • Walt Disney’s Disneyland 
  • Disney Parks 
    • The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
    • The Unofficial Walt Disney World 1971 Companion: Stories of How the World Began
  • Disney Movies
    • Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kindom to the Movies 
    • Mary Poppins
    • Peter Pan
    • The Jungle Book
    • The Walt Disney Film Archives. The Animated Movies 1921–1968
    • Conclusion

From Imagineers

Dream It Do It: Marty Sklar Disney

Marty Sklar, the very first Imagineer and creator of so many iconic moments in Disney history, shares his incredible story from a young college student to writing for THE Walt Disney to many more incredible achievements. With all this success he remains so humble and easy to talk to. It really felt as if we were sitting around the table chatting with a good friend.

Dream It! Do It!: My Half-Century Creating Disney s Magic Kingdoms (Disney Editions Deluxe)
Dream It! Do It!: My Half-Century Creating Disney s Magic Kingdoms (Disney Editions Deluxe)
$21.45

Marty Sklar was hired by The Walt Disney Company after his junior year at UCLA, and began his Disney career at Disneyland in July 1955, the month before the park opened. He spent his first decade at Disney as “the kid,” the very youngest of the creative team Walt had assembled at WED Enterprises.

Buy Now Our Interview w/ Marty
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/24/2025 11:41 pm GMT

It’s Kind of A Cute Story: Rolly Crumb

 IT’S KIND OF A CUTE STORY is the life story of one of the most beloved Imagineers, Rolly Crump. Covering his long and varied career, including designing some of Disney’s most famous attractions and working directly with Walt himself, Rolly’s stories weave into a lighthearted yet riveting narrative of his life and accomplishments.

It goes without saying that we couldn’t be more excited and honored to have Rolly Crump join us on our show. He and his wife Marie share the incredible story of Rolly’s career and a very difficult decision that he was faced with early on. 

It's Kind of a Cute Story
It's Kind of a Cute Story
$23.99

 IT'S KIND OF A CUTE STORY is the life story of one of the most beloved Imagineers, Rolly Crump. Covering his long and varied career, including designing some of Disney's most famous attractions and working directly with Walt himself.

Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/24/2025 11:42 pm GMT

Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks

When Marc Davis, one of the most renowned animators at Walt Disney Feature Animation decided to transition into designing theme parks for the beloved company he had already put in thirty-plus years with them. It’s no wonder that such dedication and hard work it paid off when this brilliant designer was given total creative control over an entirely new division within WDFA which would be called “Imagineering”.

Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks
Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks
$54.85
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/24/2025 11:11 pm GMT

The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic (A Walt Disney Imagineering Book)

Imagineering a Disney Classic takes an in-depth look at how the attraction’s “999 happy haunts” were brought to life. Rare early concept sketches, detailed architectural drawings, and stunning still photography illustrate this magical place. It evolved from the design phase through construction at each Magic Kingdom park around the world – including Mystic Manor located within Hong Kong Disneyland!

The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic (A Walt Disney Imagineering Book)
The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic (A Walt Disney Imagineering Book)
$17.60
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/24/2025 11:11 pm GMT

The Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney’s Great Animators

Walt Disney’s team of animators, who he affectionately called his “Nine Old Men,” were known for creating some of the most famous works in cinema. They also refined 12 basic principles that still govern how animation is made today!

The Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney s Great Animators: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney s Great Animators
The Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney s Great Animators: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney s Great Animators
$32.00
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/24/2025 11:42 pm GMT

Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation

The women of Walt Disney Studios who made the animated features ‘Snow White’, ‘Moana’ and more have been largely forgotten by time. Their story is one that should be remembered, especially in this day when there are still few female directors or animators working on major projects for Hollywood’s most famous film company.

In order to make sure their important work doesn’t go unnoticed again these fallen stars need your help so please spread awareness around what they accomplished!

The Queens of Animation: The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed the World of Disney and Made Cinematic History
The Queens of Animation: The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed the World of Disney and Made Cinematic History
$14.99
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/25/2025 08:22 pm GMT

About Walt Disney

How To Be Like Walt: Pat Williams

An inspiring biography of one of the most influential and beloved figures of the 21st century, based on more than a thousand interviews.

How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life
How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life
$14.67
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/24/2025 11:42 pm GMT

Walt Disney The Triumph of the American Imagination

Walt Disney was a true visionary whose desire for escape, iron determination and obsessive perfectionism transformed animation from a novelty to an art form, first with Mickey Mouse and then with his feature films–most notably Snow White, Fantasia, and Bambi. In his superb biography, Neal Gabler shows us how, over the course of two decades, Disney revolutionized the entertainment industry.

Walt Disney: An American Original (Disney Editions Deluxe)
Walt Disney: An American Original (Disney Editions Deluxe)
$14.18
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/24/2025 11:11 pm GMT

Walt Disney an American Original

Walt Disney is an American hero–the creator of Mickey Mouse, and a man who changed the face of American culture. After years of research, with the full cooperation of the Disney family and access to private papers and letters, Bob Thomas produced the definitive biography of the man behind the legend.

Walt Disney: An American Original (Disney Editions Deluxe)
Walt Disney: An American Original (Disney Editions Deluxe)
$14.18
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/24/2025 11:11 pm GMT

Walt Disney’s Disneyland 

Walt Disney’s fingerprints are all over Disneyland in Anaheim, California. He lived there for weeks at a time and planned this theme park years before he released Snow White–the first feature film of many!

Walt's Disneyland: It's Still There If You Know Where to Look
Walt's Disneyland: It's Still There If You Know Where to Look
$5.99
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
10/15/2024 08:28 pm GMT

Disney Parks 

The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company

When Robert Iger took over as CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005, he faced an extremely difficult time. The competition had never been more intense and technology was changing faster than at any point throughout the company’s history-but this didn’t stop him from continuing to push forward with his vision for what could be accomplished if only there were enough support around him! His three priorities became: recommitting oneself completely towards quality; embracing new technologies instead of fighting them.

The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
$13.99
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/24/2025 11:41 pm GMT

The Unofficial Walt Disney World 1971 Companion: Stories of How the World Began

Once upon a time, the swampy flatlands of central Florida were home to oranges, cattle, and alligators. Then a man came and said, “lo, there shall be a theme park.” A few years later, swampland turned to fantasyland, as Walt Disney World arose. This is the story of how it happened.

The Unofficial Walt Disney World 1971 Companion: Stories of How the World Began
The Unofficial Walt Disney World 1971 Companion: Stories of How the World Began
$7.99
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
09/14/2024 05:47 pm GMT

Disney Movies

Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kindom to the Movies 

So – ye comes seeking adventure and salty old pirates, aye? Sure, ye’ve come to the proper place. But keep a weather-eye open, mates, and hold on tight… with both hands if you please. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kindom to the Movies
Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kindom to the Movies
$39.47
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/24/2025 11:11 pm GMT

Mary Poppins

Experience the fantastical adventures of the magical nanny who inspired the classic film, stage show, and young imaginations the world over in a whole new way. 

Mary Poppins (Illustrated Gift Edition)
Mary Poppins (Illustrated Gift Edition)
$17.99
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/24/2025 11:11 pm GMT

Peter Pan

“Peter and Wendy” or “Peter Pan” is J. M. Barrie’s most famous work, in the form of a 1904 play and a 1911 novel. Both versions tell the story of Peter Pan, a mischievous yet innocent little boy who can fly, and has many adventures on the island of Neverland which is inhabited by mermaids, fairies, Native Americans and pirates. 

Peter and Wendy or Peter Pan (Wisehouse Classics Anniversary Edition of 1911 - with 13 original illustrations)
Peter and Wendy or Peter Pan (Wisehouse Classics Anniversary Edition of 1911 - with 13 original illustrations)
$21.37
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/25/2025 08:22 pm GMT

The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book (1894) is a collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear, though a principal character is the boy or “man-cub” Mowgli, who is raised in the jungle by wolves.

The Jungle Book (100th Anniversary Edition): Illustrated First Edition
The Jungle Book (100th Anniversary Edition): Illustrated First Edition
$34.95
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
12/31/2024 05:58 am GMT

The Walt Disney Film Archives. The Animated Movies 1921–1968

One of the most creative minds of the 20th century, Walt Disney created a unique and unrivaled imaginative universe. Like scarcely any other classics of cinema, his astonishing collection of animated cartoons revolutionized storytelling on screen and enchant to this day across geographies and generations.

The Walt Disney Film Archives. The Animated Movies 1921 1968
The Walt Disney Film Archives. The Animated Movies 1921 1968
$55.99
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
05/25/2025 08:22 pm GMT

Conclusion

These are only a few of the Disney books every Disney fan should read! What others would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check back for more fantastic Disney content here on Unlocking The Magic

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Popular

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Threads
  • TikTok
  • YouTube

Top Posts & Pages

  • 17 Disney Books Every Disney Fan Should Read
  • Kingdom Strollers
  • Unlocking Disney's Magic: Nostalgic Memories, Unexpected Moments, and Creating Lasting Experiences
  • Do's and Don'ts for Ultimate Disneyland Experience: Tips for Every Disney Fan

Join Club UTM

Bonus Member Only UTM Podcast

Access to our Private Facebook group

Join Club UTM
Join Now For Only $5

  • START HERE
  • ADVERTISE
  • MERCH
  • UTM IN THE WILD
  • ASK UTM
  • BOOK A TRIP

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Threads
  • TikTok
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Copyright BGK Media Group LLC © 2025 ·