More Mouse Tales: A Closer Peek Backstage at Disneyland by David Koenig is an intriguing insight into Disneyland
My Book Review Rating: 4 stars – the perfect read for any Disney fan
I picked up this book ahead of my recent trip to Disney World – just to get me into the Disney spirit. In this follow up to the original Mouse Tales, Koenig continues his backstage look into Disneyland with hundreds more tales of what really happens behind the scenes at the Happiest Place on Earth.
This book contains much more gritty tales that the first; you’ll read about accidents that have happened on the attractions – hurting guests and cast members, the reasons why much-loved attractions have closed over the years and how the Disney Police raised money from unscrupulous guests.
I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as the first; maybe a part of me didn’t like to read stories that made Disneyland feel more like a normal business than a place where you can check your cares and worries at the door and immerse yourself in the magic!
David Koenig's books on Disneyland are a delight for us Disneyland fans. "More Mouse Tales" gave me something I've been longing for--maps of the popular Disney rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, the Jungle Cruise, and the Indiana Jones Adventure. I used the maps once when someone dropped a purse in the Indiana Jones Adventure--I was able to tell a cast member that the lost purse was in the skull room on that ride. Otherwise, I would have had to shout a long-winded description--the ride is NOISY!
Many people will like reading about Disneyland's goofs and glitches. For me, finding out about these problems made me appreciate how special that place is--that Disneyland manages to function at all is a miracle. Disneyland manages to operate more smoothly than other theme parks and amusement parks.
Here is the human face of Disneyland. Disney magic is created by people: we humans have our vices. These people are quite capable of creating imperfect magic--that includes cast members, the crew behind the scenes, management, Disney executives, the Anaheim Police Department, other government officials, and don't forget over twelve million guests annually! It's a wonder that the place hasn't fallen off the end of the world! Like any place else, Disneyland has its share of problems. Personnel policies disliked at Disneyland are industry standard. Walt Disney didn't want to develop just another dirty amusement park or travelling carnival--and the key to avoiding the "carny" atmosphere was to hire quality people and treat them well. Treat your work force like trash and they'll act like trash. Word will get around and your company soon will have to hire trash because nobody else will work for you. Disneyland hasn't gotten that bad--not by a long shot--but this summer they're having problems in their food service department.
These stories are referenced at the end of the book. Since much of Koenig's information is from the open press, it is easy to verify. I like having an index. I used the information in Koenig's books to maximize my fun at Disneyland. Knowing what to watch out for helps reduce the misery of long lines and other minor problems.
So, when's David Koenig comming out with his fourth book?
A solid follow-up to the original book
Review Date: July 28, 2000
Reviewer: R. Mohr, Troy, OH USA
I read the original book and like the original, this book gives the reader information about what it must be like to work at the Disneyland Park. Like the original, it gives information about the people who work at the park and some of the things that the Disney Company does to try to maintain the feeling of magic for its customers. I enjoyed both this book and the original, but I have to wonder if I would have the same feeling about this book if I had not already read the original. I guess I will never know about that for sure.
I enjoyed reading the many stories about how things work at Disneyland. I especially enjoyed the little boxes at the bottom of many pages of this book that quoted funny customer comments and sometimes gave bits of trivia about the park.
I was fascinated by the stories of people who get hurt after ignoring or purposely circumventing safety mechanisms and rules while trying to pull some sort of shenanigan. Worse yet is how these same people turn around and sue the park, trying to blame the park for not protecting them from their own foolishness.
This book also details some of the difficulties that have occurred between management and labor. While I found some of this interesting, I found most of it to be tedious reading. All companies have management/labor difficulties from time to time and I personally don't care to read about it in a book such as this. This aspect seemed incongruous to the rest of the book.
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how Disney runs their parks and makes those parks so popular. This book is a good sequel to the original, but I am afraid that the reader might have to read the original book to get the most from this book.
Koenig combines both the facts and humor of Disneyland
Review Date: August 15, 1999
Reviewer: ,
More Mouse Tales, a closer peek backstage at Disneyland, is a humorous book as well as and informative one. It tells the stories that you never get to hear inside the park. This book is fun to read during most of it, but it also has it's dark periods, in which it contains the story of what really happened in the Columbia incident that led to the death of a Disneyland guest. Over all, this is a wonderful book that adults can enjoy, but kids should not read, until they are older, that way they can keep remembering Disneyland as the Happiest Place on Earth, and not the Tragic Kingdom.
Hi – Mouse Tales and More Tales focus on Disneyland – then Realityland (which I will review at some point this year) focuses on Walt Disney World in Florida.
Hi - I'm Clare Swindlehurst; welcome to my little corner of the Internet!
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cool ill have to read the the books thanks for the information but it sounds scary to find ou what dose happen behind closed doors
i wonder is there a book like that for the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim thanks for the post
Hi – Mouse Tales and More Tales focus on Disneyland – then Realityland
(which I will review at some point this year) focuses on Walt Disney World
in Florida.
Always good to ehar from a fellow Disney fan