Disney World doesn’t have any bookstores. Which is weird because the number of books about and by the Disney company are numerous enough to fill Belle’s Library. There’s really a missed opportunity here for a Belle Bookstore, if you want my opinion. That said, in lieu of Disney curating a shop full of books for your reading pleasure for your next Disney vacation, allow me to provide a list of books you may want to add to your To Be Read list. Whether you’re more of the “history of Disney reading type” or more of a “forget the history, but let’s indulge in the fantasy stories reading type” I got you.
Disclaimer: I haven’t read any of these books yet myself, but after a surprise opportunity presented itself for me to visit Orlando this summer, and not having visited Walt Disney World since childhood, I of course allocated a couple days for revisiting Walt Disney World. Then I started scouring the internet for Disney related reads. Look, some girls search for the perfect pair of ears for their Disney vacation, I look for the perfect book. Below is the To Be Read list I’ve created thus far. It’ll be hard to choose where to start.
*This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you purchase a book through these links, I’ll make a few cents at no extra cost to you! And if you purchase through Bookshop, you can support your favorite indie bookstore!
Biographies of Walt Disney, the Man Himself
Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler
This appears to be the definitive biography on Walt Disney, although some reviewers claim this is a long book and somewhat of a dry read and recommend instead reading the biography sold by the Disney family at the Disney Family Museum.
Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas
This is the biography of Walt Disney sold in the Walt Disney Family Museum. One reader suggested, however, that it may be a “sugar coated” version of Disney’s story as it’s the one the family has decided to market.
Books About Disney Imagineers
The Queens of Animation: The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed the World of Disney and Made Cinematic History by Nathalia Holt
There are several books about the original Imagineers of Disney, however most of them are about men. I received two recommendations for this particular book and it intrigued me more than the others because it’s the story of women Imagineers at a time when the field was dominated by men.
Books by Disney Cast Members
Disney WORLD: Cast Member Confidential: A Disneyfied Memoir by Chris Mitchell
Some reviews for this book by other cast members claim that certain events in this book could not have happened based on rules that cast members must follow, so the story should be taken with a grain of salt. But all the reviews agreed the author tells a good tale.
Purchase via Amazon
Books by Former Disney Mouseketeers
The Accidental Mouseketeer: Before and After the Mickey Mouse Club by Lonnie Burr
Purchase via Amazon
Fiction Books Published by Disney and its Subsidiaries
Aside from all the fairy tales the Disney animated films are based on and have based a number of the theme park rides on (Peter Pan, Cinderella, Snow White, etc.), the Disney company publishes several different ongoing fiction series. Thanks to this TikTok video, I’ve discovered two beautiful book sets I now want not only to read, but as decor for my bookshelves:
Classic Tale Spin-Offs
Serena Valentino’s Villains Series
These books, numbering 10 so far, provide backstory for the fairy tale villains we all know and love to hate. And according to my research, they must be read in order because they build on each other.
- Fairest of All
- The Beast Within
- Poor Unfortunate Soul
- Mistress of All Evil
- Mother Knows Best
- The Odd Sisters
- Evil Thing
- Cold Hearted
- Never Never
- Fire and Fate
Purchase via Bookshop (first 3 books) | Amazon | Audible
Disney Twisted Tales Series
These books, numbering 13 so far, are “what if” tales. What if this had happened instead of the fairy tale we’re familiar with. These too should apparently be read in order, but based on my skimming of reviews, the first two books are a solid 3 stars and the series gets better starting with the third book.
- A Whole New World
- Once Upon a Dream
- As Old as Time
- Reflection
- Part of Your World
- Mirror, Mirror
- Conceal, Don’t Feel
- Straight on Till Morning
- So This is Love
- Unbirthday
- Go the Distance
- What Once was Mine
- Almost There
- When You Wish Upon a Star
Romance
Thanks to Instagram, I’ve found a few romance series:
Never After series by Emily McIntire (Spicy)
- Hooked
- Scarred
- Wretched
- Twisted
- Crossed
- Hexed
Purchase via Bookshop (first book) | Amazon | Audible
Dreamland Billionaires series by Lauren Asher
- The Fine Print
- Final Offer
- Terms and Conditions
Purchase via Bookshop (first book) | Amazon | Audible
Meant to Be series by
- If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
- By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
- Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova
- Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren
Purchase via Bookshop (first book) | Amazon | Audible (first book)
YA Fantasy Adventure
Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
Purchase via Bookshop | Amazon | Audible (Book 1)
Peter and the Starcatchers Series by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
- Peter and the Starcatchers
- Peter and the Shadow Thieves
- Peter and the Secret of Rundoon
- Peter and the Sword of Mercy
- The Bridge to Never Land
Purchase via Bookshop (first book) | Amazon | Audible (first book)
YA Adventure set IN THE PARK
The Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson is set in the parks, combining the world of park workers AND Disney characters! The books are YA thrillers, so one review I read suggested you might want to read these after your visit to the park because you’ll never look at the parks the same way again.
- Kingdom Keepers I: Disney After Dark
- Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn
- Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow
- Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play
- Kingdom Keepers V: Shell Game
- Kingdom Keepers VI: Dark Passage
- Kingdom Keepers VII: The Insider
- The Syndrome: A Kingdom Keepers Adventure
Purchase via Bookshop (book 1) | Amazon | Audible
This list is by no means comprehensive. I haven’t even touched on books & comics related to the franchises Disney has acquired, such as Star Wars and Marvel. Disney could probably open a Belle’s Library as well as a comic shop. And I haven’t mentioned retellings of the classic tales that aren’t published by Disney either. So let me know…
Where do I start? Have you read any of these? Have I missed any? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
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Redding Finney says
There’s always something interesting to read about Disney. There are yarns of boardroom struggles and family squabbles that go beyond Walt. Family members who reject their wealth. Creations of states within states. (Looking at you Florida.) And now we can look forward to the fights over Steamboat Willie copyrights. There are even books dedicated to Disney’s greatest movies. Of course, there are wonderful coffee table books filled with Disney art. It’s a great reason to visit your closest bookstore, especially an independent one.