How Does Disney Do That?: How Disney Makes Us Feel and Why It Matters

How Does Disney Do That has the amazing ability to bring to life a topic that people can both read and tangibly FEEL. James and Theron do a great job of pinpointing the ways that Disney makes us feel, and while there are numerous individual stories, Disney fans can all relate and connect to them in the collective. If you need a Disney fix or a way to get "that magic feeling," you should read (and experience) this book.

When James Warda publicized his book, “How Does Disney Do That?” I eagerly pre-ordered my copy. The title raised a very intriguing premise. As I read the book, I did so via my three optics – Disney historian, supporter of the Disney brand, and Disney stock shareholder (sometimes with a skeptical eye). Let’s start with what I consider the obvious first question. What is the “that” in the title? For Warda, he goes on in detail to describe the emotional experience he had on Pandora’s Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. He writes about how he walked off the attraction in complete awe of the experience, and his lightbulb went off, asking himself “how does Flight of Passage work to leave its guests in a state of bliss and awe?” I believe I can say this for every Disney park fan, that there is some attraction, restaurant or experience that each person uniquely identifies with, and they ask themselves the same question: how does Disney do … impeccable customer service? Park and resort engaging entertainment, such as Yehaa Bob or The Dapper Dans? Timeless attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean or Spaceship Earth? Each Disney fan has their own entry point into Disney fandom, and that’s the beauty of a company that’s been around over a century. My kids’ first trip to the Disney-MGM Studios was when Mickey’s sorcerer’s hat was visible upon entrance to the park. For some guests, this was jarring, as it blocked the original view to the Hollywood-based Chinese Theater. For newer guests, including my kids, the hat was a magical Disney touch they could connect to, since Fantasia’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice sequence is a favorite in our household. On later visits, they were shocked to see that the hat had been removed, restoring the original sightline. Some guests were happy, others disappointed, but in the end, it was still Disney. The point is that every facet of Disney parks, movies and cruise ships touches each Disney fan in different ways. Warda understands this, and tries to answer the seemingly impossible question, how does Disney do that? How do they create the magic that keeps guests coming back, often multigenerational family visits? Warda writes in a comforting and personal, direct style, often with a self-deprecating manner. He knows his audience is just as curious as he is, and he works to peek behind the curtain to learn about the Disney way. He crowd-sourced his community of Disney peers, with each member sharing their stories of being at the parks, creating park attractions, and family experiences. Warda tapped into the mind of a key contributor, former Imagineer Theron Skees, who helped provide deep and meaningful insights into the Imagineering process at Disney. The title of the book is well explored. But the subtitle, How Disney Makes Us Feel and Why It Matters, is up to each reader to decide for themselves, to find what they perceive is Disney’s “secret sauce” and how it relates to them. Warda has brilliantly documented the elusive Disney brand characteristic that makes us want to return to Disneyland, The Magic Kingdom or Epcot as often as possible. His book is a welcome addition to any Disney bibliophile’s bookshelf.

This book reinforces my long held belief that Disney just isn’t a place, rather a state of mind that allows us to believe in magic. It is well written and the author shares his personal experiences, I highly recommend it.

My wife and I and our four boys have always been Disney fanatics. We love the movies and have been to Disneyland and Disney World a number of times over the years going back to our childhood. Even as an adult I still love the Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, and It's a Small World and am blown away by Soarin', Tower of Terror, and many other newer attractions. James Warda asks in important question - one that always lingers in my mind too - how does Disney create such an emotional and often nostalgic response to their story telling? To find out he spoke with numerous former Imagineers and designers, leaders, cast members, and fans. What he learned helped me better understand my love for Disney and the parks. He also provides ideas that I can use in my own career and life. Great read!

While reading the book, I began to understand the details and planning that Walt Disney, the Imagineers and the cast have gone through since the beginning of the Disney organization. From Walt's story regarding he wanted to build a place where families could go and have fun together instead of just watching the kids play.This book contains stories from those that have created and added to the original designs and from those stories you gain understanding of how we are influenced by what we see, felt and yes, even smelled. It was all part of a plan to become immersed in a world away from day-to-day pressures, live stories of our youth and have a bit of fantasy that is enriched while watching something grow in the eyes of a child, a parent or a family.For me, it explained my fascination with Disney that started when as a child, I watched Disney's Wonderful World of Color on a 12 inch black and white tv in 1961. I made my first trips to Walt Disney World in the 80's and to Disneyland a few years later. Now, married with kids and now grandkids, we are passing that tradition on.Check the book out, you may see a lot of names you are familiar with.

There’s just something about Disney. It brings people together in a way that few, if any, other entertainment company does. Folks are left speechless and in awe every day from an experience on an attraction or while watching a movie. James Warda has done a beautiful job explaining the “How” by sharing stories and anecdotes from people in various careers, locations, and different connections to Disney. In doing so, he’s created a book that will draw you in with a giant hug and help you see that when you’re among true Disney fans, you are part of a most wonderful community, something we need so much more of in this world. A quick, fun read that will hit you right in the feels. Great book club option as well with built in discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

Just say the name “Disney,” and there is an immediate connection for so many, with deep meaning. This book delves into how that happens through first-hand account from lifelong Disney fans to Disney cast members and employees who made magic for so many. Authors James Warda and Theron Skees have crafted a book that will resonate with every Disney fan, and anyone looking for positivity and inspiration in their life!

Great stories in a relaxed format.

This book must be the best way to answer the question "How does Disney do that?". It was such a pleasure to read all the different stories from people with a great variety of backgrounds explaining why they feel a certain way as such they call Disney a second home.I enjoyed the chapters "How you can do that, too" and "A designers advice" the most. While they describe so much about the amusement industry and why it's that successful, I think those two chapters are particularly interesting for people who do not (currently) work in this field. The knowledge shared here can be applied in practically any business. In the end, it all comes down to emotion...