Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this ARC. All views and opinions are my own.

As someone who grew up watching Disney movies and going to Disney theme parks for vacations with my family, I was excited to read this book and learn more about Disney’s history as a business, and the stories behind the growth of the beloved animation department.

The author did a great job researching and getting input from past and present Disney players. There was just some chapters that I felt like too many names were mentioned, that it felt difficult keeping track of who’s who. I would appreciate if there was a short timeline or organizational chart included in the book that readers can easily refer to.

For fans of books like “Barbarians At The Gate”, “The Smartest Guys In The Room”, the film “Wall Street” and the show “Succession”, the chapters describing the attempts of corporate raiders to takeover Disney, as well as the power struggle between Ron Miller vs Roy E Disney did not disappoint.

Overall, I think this book has the potential to become one of those classic business case studies that describe how an iconic company like Disney continues to be relevant and adapts to changing trends and consumer preferences.

Post Hill Press provided an early galley for review.

Disney died just a year after I was born, yet as a child of the late-60's and early-70's his influence was a big part of my entertainment. Whether re-releases of classic films or the weekly TV shows, comic books and records and toys, the Disney brand was ever-present.

O'Brien does a fine job with his narrative. I enjoyed reading about the transition period which included some of the initial first-run Disney films I saw as a kid (The Aristocats, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and Robin Hood). This book also educated me about the 1960's Lloyd Alexander juvenile fantasy novels from The Chronicles of Prydain series which was the source material for the 1985 animated film The Black Cauldron. This latter film also serves as the spine of O'Brien's narrative in covering the Disney era between Walt's departure and Michael Eisner's rise.

This is a fascinating read for those who enjoy looking behind the curtain.

I was still a kid when Disney World was being built in my state of Florida. As such, other than hoping to one day get to go and see Cinderella's Castle, I didn't give it much thought. Imagine my delight when many years later, I was able to not only visit there but attend a "Backstage Disney" class for teachers that took us, whoa, under that same castle and into what is really the first level of the park, the part underneath all the magical sights we see. Yes, it truly is a magical place.

Given that, it's amazing to look back via this book and discover the turmoil that was going on behind the scenes that made decisions of what would be filmed, when, and such details that we mere "guests", as Disney insists paying customers be called, never gave one moment's attention. I won't even attempt to summarize it all as it was long lasting and the names are both familiar and unheard. I definitely enjoyed getting to know some of those unknown faces via the book, giving me new insights into the germ of an idea for, say, Fantasia, or the comings and goings of people like Tim Burton of Nightmare Before Christmas fame. It's equally astonishing to realize how close we may have come to never seeing the likes of Beauty and the Beast or Lion King, among others. Disney's animation department may have been its heart and core at the beginning, with many of the animators being with Walt Disney even before Mickey Mouse, but its survival wasn't guaranteed by any means. You'll also learn of the Disney family's involvement, both token and active, over the years and the role they played in the survival of the park.

For the most part, it's an easy read, somewhat conversational in tone. That said, when the author delves into lengthy lists of names and facts, jumping back and forth in time a bit, I did find my eyes tending to glaze over at times. It'll probably depend upon how business savvy you are or interested in mergers and corporate structures and power struggles as to where you fall on that aspect. I was glad to see so many unknown to me names not only get credit, however, but be fleshed out as real people. Disney's magic is based around family values and it made it easier for me to care about what was happening to those involved, whether creative or management. Even the family had struggles with these aspects of what became a massively huge conglomeration of different parts and sections, many of them giving rise to the likes of, say, Pixar. It was quite nice to see Disney's daughter emerge more in her later years, making her feelings and ideas known, too. Family. That's the key to Disney magic and it seems like that despite all the disgruntlement at times, those who thrived remembered that concept. So, no simple, quick read, but one that will give you insight into what keeps that magic going and it isn't all pixie dust.

Bottom line, for those of us who grew up with Disney, whether watching the cartoons, nature shows, or usually child-friendly movies, this is an intriguing read. It even delves into how difficult it was to decide not only to stretch self-imposed limits as times changed, but how the reactions both within and without of the organization impacted those making them. For me, child of the pixie dust, of course, it was fascinating to read how the animators worked, the meticulous skill and attention required, not to mention how many re-draws were done in record time. And, yes, seeing the finesse and skills of early female animators gain their rightful place was also a "You go, girl!" moment. Thanks #PostHillPress for allowing me this sneak peek behind doors I didn't even know existed. That said, I still think fondly of the mantra we teachers took away from our workshop there which might be summarized as when the going gets tough, spread a little more pixie dust. More pixie dust for Disney, please. We need them all the more in this day and age.

As a lifelong Disney fan—someone who proudly wore Mickey ears as a kid and still hums "A Whole New World" unprompted—I couldn’t resist diving into this behind-the-scenes drama of Disney’s post-Walt era. This book reads like a real-life fairy tale, but with boardroom battles instead of magical castles, and it captures the pivotal moments that transformed Disney from a floundering family studio into the global powerhouse we know today.

I was fascinated to learn about Ron Miller, Walt’s son-in-law, who tried to honor the Disney legacy while wrestling with the changing times. As a kid, I never would’ve guessed that the Disney magic I loved so much—whether it was watching *The Little Mermaid* for the 100th time or begging my parents for one more ride on Space Mountain—was nearly extinguished during this tumultuous period. The tensions between Miller and Roy E. Disney felt like a real-life sibling rivalry, only with the fate of Mickey Mouse hanging in the balance.

The story of Disney’s animation department being on the brink of shutting down hit me hard. Can you imagine a world without *The Lion King* or *Beauty and the Beast*? It’s like imagining a childhood without Disney singalongs or Pixar tears. The “young talent” that saved animation went on to create some of my favorite films, proving that the Disney magic was far from gone—it just needed a little reinvention.

This book is a treasure trove for anyone who grew up with Disney and still finds joy in its magic. It’s a reminder that even the happiest place on Earth had its struggles, and those struggles led to the era of Disney we all adore today. If you’ve ever wanted to know the story behind the story, this one’s for you—grab your popcorn (or your mouse ears) and settle in!