Summary
Richard Snow recounts how Walt Disney conceived, financed and built Disneyland. The account follows his plan for Anaheim farmland, the team assembled to build it and the work under a tight deadline. It also covers the troubled July 1955 opening and the visitors who kept coming afterward.
Why read it Our view
Useful for examining how an ambitious product reaches customers. Snow’s account connects a clear idea with financing, a team and a fixed opening date, then shows how that first public launch can differ from the plan.
Decisions from the book
Funding Disneyland
- Decision: Disney faced skepticism from bankers and his own family about building an amusement park.
- Action: He first borrowed against his life insurance policy, then gained support from ABC and merchandise sales.
- Outcome: Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955. Its troubled first day was followed by a continuing flow of visitors.
Written about
- Walt DisneyBook subjectSnow’s history follows Disney’s role in conceiving and building Disneyland.Source