My reivew of "The Wisdom of Walt" by Jeffrey A. Barnes

"Big dreams require big canvases."

As I started reading Jeffrey Barnes book "The Wisdom of Walt - Leadership Lessons from the Happiest Place on Earth", this particular sentence on page 51 hit me upside the head. Like all good advice, it's succinct but powerful. Not only did it resonate with me, it also set the stage for the remainder of the book.

Mr. Barnes is an author, professional keynote speaker and university professor who gives a wonderfully unique and interesting perspective about using lessons from Walt Disney's life, and the creation of Disneyland, as inspirations for success.

With chapters titled "Taking Care of Your Team", Listening to your 'Walter Ego'", "Using Forced Perspective" and my personal favorite, "Telling Stories," Mr. Barnes relays how you the reader can gain leadership skills by using the lessons of Walt Disney and the creation of Disneyland.

One of my favorite sections of the book is Chapter 6, "Mastering the 4 Cs" of Curiosity, Confidence, Courage and Constancy." I've re-read this section a few times - SO many great lessons.

I also really enjoyed that Mr. Barnes gives you space within the chapters to write down your own ideas and thoughts; this was a nice surprise, something you don't see in other books. He asks questions related to the chapter material, and then encourages you to think about what you just read and apply it to your own life. I jotted down some of my own notes; it'll be very interesting to read those a year from now, 5 years, etc and see if any of the answers have changed, or what action steps I was able to put into place.

Some of you might wonder if this book is a good fit for you; I would argue that we're all working towards a goal. Maybe you're working on accomplishing a dream and are looking for some inspiration as you start your journey. Do yourself a favor, and pick up this book!

There's so much I could talk about in relation to the book but we'd be here all day (and for quite a few days, actually). If you're a Disney fan and always like learning more about the history of Disney (from Walt's life to the theme parks), this book is for you. If you're someone who's looking for a "how-to" to jumpstart moving towards your goals, this book is for you. Even the non-Disney fans (or perhaps, not as passionate fans) in your life will really enjoy "The Wisdom of Walt." I plan on sharing it with my parents, my uncle and brother, as I think there are great principles and ideas they could apply to their particular businesses.

As Mr. Barnes states, "Reading this book will change the way you see and experience Disneyland. Instead of being a place of escape, Disneyland will become for you a model of success. Learn how the Park can challenge you to live your dream, inspire you to take action, and teach you how to create your own magic so that every day for you is as fun as a day at Disneyland."

You can purchase the book through Mr. Barnes' website www.thewisdomofwalt.com or on Amazon. Please treat yourself and pick up this book - you'll be glad you did!

Have a magical day!

I was provided a complimentary copy of Mr. Barnes book for my review. All opinions are my own.

Book review - 501 Ways to Make the Most of your Walt Disney World Vacation

Today, I'm excited to bring you a book review! I was given a copy of Kristi Frederick's book 501 Ways to Make the Most of Your Walt Disney World Vacation. 501 ways, you say? I'm in!

Kristi is a frequent traveler to Walt Disney World, and according to her author bio, "she is thrilled to share her passion for the Disney parks and feels that there is nothing better than enjoying a Disney vacation with the ones you love." I couldn't agree more!

In addition to 501 Ways, Kristi is the author of A Tale of Two Resorts: Comparing Disneyland and Walt Disney World: A Traveler's Reference. She's also a blogger for TouringPlans.com, operates her website www.DisneyWorldEnthusiast.com, and lives in Colorado with her husband and two sons.

Kristi asked if I'd like to read her book, and share my review with all of you. Even though I've been to Walt Disney World somewhere between 25-30 times (I lost count a while ago!), I'm always game to read about ways to enhance my vacations. To me, you can always learn something from another WDW fan and I was excited to read her tips.

She divides the book into 6 sections; Before You Arrive, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Mousecellaneous. I loved this way to format the book, because although you can read tips 1-501 in order, you don't have to - it's super easy to go to the section you're most interested in, and start there. As you can see in my picture, I used sticky notes to tag all the tips I was most interested in, so I could reference them for later.

Some of my favorite tips of the 501 were:

 - If you like to wear hats and plan to ride lots of wild rides, buy an inexpensive carabineer at your local sporting goods store to clip your hat onto your belt loop so that you won't lose it while experience rough attractions. (page 112, Mousecellaneous) Raise your hand if you've lost a hat (or multiple hats) at WDW. Yep, I see you!

 - If you would like to get some incredible photos of the Tree of Life, don't snap them as soon as you get into the park. Instead, take one of the Discovery Islands Trails near the tree itself. These tranquil paths will take you up close to the park icon for a spectacular photo opportunity. (pages 81-82, Animal Kingdom)

 - Believe it or not, gum is not sold anywhere on Disney property. If you're a fan, you'll need to bring your own, (page 11, Before You Arrive) - this is a tip I knew about, but it bears repeating and most guests don't realize it. No gum is sold at WDW!

Kristi's book is a great resource for Walt Disney World novices, as well as experienced travelers. Those of us who've been to Walt Disney World can attest - you can NEVER know everything about the parks, touring, planning, etc and having a resource like 501 Ways is a great way to learn more about Walt Disney World, and also get yourself excited for your upcoming trip! And I have to say, Kristi's final tip in the book is my absolute favorite; you'll have to get a copy yourself to see what that is!

You can purchase Kristi's book on Amazon (link HERE). It comes in both softcover AND an ebook format (the ebook format would be GREAT for taking on vacation - just link to your smartphone and you can have the tips on the go!) Please make sure you check it out, and let her know you read about the book on The Most Delightful Place!



In addition to www.DisneyWorldEnthusiast.com, you can also find Kristi at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Disneyworldenthusiast?fref=ts and on Twitter @DWEnthusiast.

Thank you Kristi, for sending me a copy of your book!

If you're a writer who'd like me to review your Disney-centric book, please email me at katie@mouseworldtravel.com.

Have a magical day!

I was provided with a complimentary copy of Kristi's book for the review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Every Guest a Hero

I'm super excited today to bring you the first book review on the Most Delightful Place!

I received a copy of Adam Berger's book, Every Guest A Hero - Disney's Theme Parks and the Magic of Mythic Storytelling, and from the onset I knew it would be a cool and very interesting read. I love "behind the scenes" information and learning more about my favorite places, and when you combine that with Disney? It's just awesome.

Adam is President and Senior Show Writer at Berger Creative Associates, Inc, based in Orlando. He's an attraction designer and show writer whose credits include projects for Dollywood, Disney Event Productions, Kennedy Space Center, Paramount Parks, and many more.

If you've been to a Disney theme park, you know the importance of storytelling and how it impacts every decision that was made in the construction of the attractions and the creation of the parks. Nothing has been done by accident, or "just happened that way." There is a story behind every single aspect of the experience. If you're a person who would love to learn more about that rich history of storytelling at the Disney parks, this book is definitely for you.

In Every Guest A Hero, Adam invites you to use the book to "embark on your adventure through the world of Disney's mythic storytelling". He outlines the concept of the Hero's Journey, and how that concept permeates nearly every story out there.  Adam outlines the common elements of the Hero's Journey, and then shows you how those elements combine at Disney attractions to create rich stories and truly immersive experiences.

I was super impressed with Adam's level of detail, and just how deep he goes into the narrative and explanations of the the Hero's Journey concepts, as well as the Attraction Case Studies (which you can read in Part II). As the Haunted Mansion is in my Top 3 favorite theme park attractions, my personal favorite chapter was "Tomb It May Concern - Haunted Mansion." Having been on the ride at least 30 times, I felt like I had a pretty good handle on the story telling behind the attraction, but after having read Adam's take on it, I can't wait to ride again with the lens of his ideas and thoughts. Super interesting, AND very thought provoking.

I'm very glad I was introduced to Adam's book, and I hope you buy a copy for yourself. If you're at all a fan of the Disney theme parks and attractions, this book will blow your mind and give you some great food for thought the next time you're at the parks. I'm taking it with me on my Disney Cruise in a few weeks, so I can read it AGAIN because I want to make sure I didn't miss anything! I know you'll love it, so please do Adam a solid and pick it up on Amazon.com or wherever you buy books. (Click here to buy on Amazon!)

Thank you, Adam for the opportunity to read your great work, and to share it with my readers!

Have a magical day, everyone!

I was provided with a complimentary copy of Every Guest A Hero for this review; all opinions are my own.