How Does Disney Do That? - by James Warda (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

There are plenty of books on Disney, but James Warda, in collaboration with former Imagineering Creative Executive Theron Skees, approaches things from a different angle-Why and how does Disney make such an emotional, life-changing connection with us? There's something very profound and deep that begins with the storytellers and designers and reaches deep into our hearts. After having conversations with numerous former Imagineers and designers, leaders, cast members, and fans, James has identified patterns that not only help explain our love for Disney and the parks, but also provide ideas we can apply in our own workplaces and lives. It's a fun, sometimes whimsical, always thoughtful journey, enriched by Theron's professional insight from his years of leading major projects at Disney, including overseeing Disney Springs, cruise ship design, and more.

The book's foreword is by former Imagineer and Disney Legend Joe Rohde, and a portion of the book's proceeds will be donated to Give Kids The World Village in Kissimmee, FL.

Story quotes from the book

"We started with story. And, though many guests won't notice all the details...they can feel them."

-Dan Cockerell, former VP of EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom Parks; author and consultant

"You have to be emotionally sincere (when designing experiences). Emotions override our intellect...to create valid emotion, you have to have valid emotions. You have to feel them yourself, and then you have to be able to say, 'How could other people feel them based on what I intend to do?'"

-Joe Rohde, former Disney Imagineer and Disney Legend, Chief Experience Architect for Virgin Galactic, Recipient of the TEA Lifetime Achievement Award, and Explorer's Club Member

"When I was twelve, I remember standing on Main Street in Disneyland as it got dark. The lights started coming on along all those gingerbread buildings, a horse car was clopping quietly by, I could hear the whistle of the steam train, and suddenly it was twilight on a tranquil American small city street in 1908. And I thought, 'I want to stay here forever.' And, in a way, I did."

-Richard Snow, author, Disney's Land; former editor-in-chief of American Heritage magazine; consultant for Glory and other motion pictures; writer for PBS on Burns brothers' Civil War and Rick Burns' Coney Island

Review Quotes

"This very fun-to-read book is a heartfelt study of the science, creativity, and just plain hard work that makes Disney magic so uniquely potent. (As Arthur C. Clarke famously said, 'Magic's just science that we don't understand yet.') Anyone who has been swept away by Bambi, or Mary Poppins, or the Haunted Mansion, or whatever first 'got them into Disney' will enjoy this deep dive into Disney's creative process, told through the author's personal experience and interviews with Imagineers, themed entertainment designers, authors, and other Disney fans."

-The Walt Disney Birthplace

"In How Does Disney Do That? James Warda explores an important subject. You see, Walt Disney was many things: a film maker, a dreamer, an innovator, an idealist and a futurist, but perhaps his greatest title was that of "storyteller." Indeed, perhaps Disney was the greatest storyteller of the 20th century. Certainly, the company he created was an extension of his genius. Ultimately, it's through the storytellers, visionaries, and architects of today that we learn to draw the blueprints for tomorrow. Could there be any more important instruction manual than one that teaches us how to do just that?"

-Robert J. Sherman, chairman, Sherman Theatrical Entertainment, Ltd. and son of songwriter and Disney Legend Robert B. Sherman

"James Warda invites us to board the emotional roller coaster of Disney's enchanting universe, where every ride, every detail, is a testament to the power of imagination. With anecdotes that blend humor and sincerity, he peels back the layers of wonder and invites us to ask, 'How does Disney do that?' Strap in, hold tight, and prepare for a journey that will touch your heart and reignite your sense of awe."

-David A. Bossert, former producer and creative director, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and author of The House of the Future and The Nightmare Before Christmas Visual Companion

"If you ever wondered, 'How Does Disney Do That?, ' then you will enjoy this book by the same name. With it, James Warda has figured out what I have known for a long time. That Disney does it with a special kind of Magic. But it's not magic that makes Disney World work; it's the way we work that creates the magic. Magic is actually created when you perform so well that nobody can figure out how you did it."

-Lee Cockerell, former executive vice president at Walt Disney World Resort (retired & inspired) and author of Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life At Disney