Your best bet would have been th gift shops (all 2 million of them). I recall seeing one or two books there on the construction of the complex. Maybe on their website?

There were a few at the shops there, but most covered some contruction of the park for 1 chapter The rest of the book cover the art and graphics of the cartoon, props, scenery and costume dept.

I wish I was more help, but there was one book in one of the collectible shops that was strictly construction of the park (some drawings, photos). Disney always wants to sell you something, so Im sure this book would be on their online shop.

I too spent a week there. You have to admire its grandeur. Regardless of what one might think about Disney's policies, etc., that park is well designed, and well built. It does exactly what it's supposed to do.

Rita
I have two boys 4 and 2 they had the time of their life. I felt good giving it to them. It was my turn to do what my parents did for me. My poor parents got tortured on that trip with me and my sister. If my kids had their way they would bought every gizmo in those gifts shops. So we taught them something about restaint. They still managed to have alot of fun.

Rita-

yes, that is what it is supposed to do. As I said, it doesnt matter how we feel about it. It was designed to maximize entertainment as well as retail efficacy. Everytime you step off a ride, you are funnelled into the corresponding gift shop, and those lines are long to the register.

I just returned from Disney this weekend, and can appreciate your question. I have been visiting Disneyworld since I was 2 (29year ago) but my most recent visits (two years ago) and this wk end, I find myself looking at the same things you pointed out. For example, while @ Thunder Mtn. & Splash mtn. @ Magic Kingdom I noticed that most of the "Wd" bms and "bolts" were actually Fiberglass pieces. There is quite a bit of pre-fab resin/fiberglass/concrete-plaster on mesh. Their Hotels are also pretty interesting. I have stayed at pretty much all the big ones and they never seize to amaze me...sure it's all make believe replication of something, but the time/money/attention payed to the little details is trully amazing. Try doing a search on Disneys "imagineering" department, which typically are the ones responsible for all the "magic".

J3
I also just got back yesterday. My 4 year old and I got stuck on splash mountian. after about 15 minutes a "cast member" escorted us down and out through the bowels of the ride. I think that was more exciting. You get a clear view of its construction. Also I noticed the some parts like for instance on the Swiss Family treehouse are wood but have some type of coating like fiberglass resin to give them durability and prevent splitters. I did see some brick veneer that was bashed to reveal that its only about 1/2" thick but quite convincing. I've been to the Swan and the Dolphin and the Boardwalk? Amazing!

Kellhammer you should be ashamed if you think Disney has anything to do with architrecture or place. Its as hollow and false as you can get. The fact that noone can identify the wood/mystery material is precisely what is wrong with Disney, but I doubt you'd understand that if you actually like the hotels there. There is one rule that goes for everything there: Its all about profit.

"....If my kids had their way they would bought every gizmo in those gifts shops. So we taught them something about restaint...."

I bet they really got this lesson on holding back. Its kind of like a sex addict learning restraint at a titty bar.

flannelmouth obviously has no children.

My children have to learn about restraint everyday. It's just on a normal day at and around home they just don't see mountains of toys if front of them. So what if Disney is all about profit. Thats their right. My kids don't see it. Disney probably won't exist if wasn't about profit.
All of their parks all clean. On my visit I noticed people there weren't pushy, loud or obnoxious using foul langauge. Sure it's a manufactured enviroment thats all about profit but so is a shopping mall.

as a kid The Lion King rocked my world

I don't have children, but I sympathize with Kellhammer. Flannelmouth is way off. With a child you have the developmental necessity of saying "no" to most things they beg for.

The truth is while Walt Disney planned Disneyland to increase profits for his growing empire, he would never have moved forward with a park if he hadn't given a single damn about creating a warm, friendly, safe, and nuturing environment for kids to blissfully frolic through. He had the means to do so, and wanted to because his childhood was so shitty. It was not purely a charitable move yes, but suggesting that there's evil between the lines at Disney parks is the very rubbish urban legends, aprocryphal rumors, and conspiracy theories are constructed from.

At the heart of Disney world, unlikely friends in the form of animatronics sing together and there's something eerily blissful about it. Even if people spend in a eurphoric state, they come away from a day at the park satisfied. It brings you closer to your children because you brought the "magic" to them. Honestly, setting aside money to spend on multinationals like Disney for the entertainment that WE DEMAND is harmless.

flanelmouth (and rita novel) - one point about places like disney is, of course how kids love going there - believe me, Im from india, and when i visit, 90% of kids whom meetask me if they can take me to disneyland, or if ive been there since i live in LA. - to make a very biased comparision, about 10% of the people i meet ask me if ive visited disney concert hall, falling waters etc. - and yes, those 10% of people are architects.
Theme parks definately have a charm about them, through the mix of theatrical design, masterplanning, engineering etc, that is definately beyond the realm of architecture. At some point our company here consulted for a theme park design company and i have to say that i was amazed by the mix of people you'd find at those charettes. From architects to ride engineers to artists, set designers etc etc. It is a real intense process of designing such attractions.

Another thing that amazes me about these developments is their ability (to strangely enough) revive whole cities, provide thousands of jobs and spur development in the whole area. Think Disney and Anaheim. Im sorry but there is NO museum development in the world that would compare.

And flanelmouth, im surely hoping that you would never patronize/design money-making estabilitishments like office buildings, starbucks etc since they are all about making the money.

Fuck yeah. If your argument is that Disneyworld is a branded profit-engineered hellhole than don't seek refuge downtown.

take them to disney. so, when they grow up they can take you torosebud thingy there.

of disneyworld by Jean Baudrillard.

Write to Nick Pickle at Disney Architecture department.

I can't believe people pay so much to go see how neat life could be if we actually had that attention of architectural detail in our towns and cities. Ever wonder why EuroDisney bombed? Cause European towns and cities are neat in and of themselves, and the architecture is human scaled and full of detail that rewards the viewer.

You know Baudrillard secretely loved it.

i think he finds it important to write about disney. i've met him some years ago in las vegas, i don't think he has anything to settle with disney on a personal level. the guy is a philosopher, i thought the article was very direct and critical.

Disney is all about making people happy, which in turn turns a profit...I rather be happy than a pissed off architect with a capital A