There are two schools of thought when it comes to trivia books. One school of thought insists that trivia books aren’t really books at all. But – rather – just a compiling of several hundred pages of useless facts.
But – for someone like myself (Who often receives very nice notes from JHM readers. People who go out of their way to compliment me on my ability to string a series of seemingly useless facts together. Thereby creating a semi-entertaining story) – trivia books are really a godsend. For they’re usually stuffed with these great little weird bits of information. Which have proved in the past to be great leaping-off points for new articles for this site.
Which is why – when Louis Mongello’s “The Walt Disney Trivia Book: Secrets, History and Fun Facts Behind the Magic” (The Intrepid Traveler, June 2004) turned up in my mailbox – I said: “Cool! Another Disney theme park trivia book!”
(Now – in the spirit of full disclosure – I guess I should point out that this book is being published by the very same company that will be publishing my unauthorized Disneyland history book next year. But – that said – the nice folks at Intrepid Traveler haven’t made any attempt to influence my review of Mr. Mongello’s book. They just provided me with the review copy that I currently hold in my hand and made a single request. Which was “Just make sure that you spell Louis’ name right.”
We now return to today’s book review. Which is already in progress …)
So is “The Walt Disney World Trivia Book” a fun read? Sure. Louis has a bright and breezy style. He’s obviously put a lot of time and effort into researching this thing, tracking down even the most obscure bits of trivia about Disney’s Orlando resort.
But is “Secrets, History and Fun Facts Behind the Magic Kingdom” a perfect book? Well … I did notice one or two minor inconsistencies. Take – for example – in Page 198 of “The Walt Disney Trivia Book” – Louis says that “you and up to 11 of your best friends” can take part in the “Chef’s Domain” experience at the Grand Floridian’s ” Victoria and Alberta.” And yet – just seven pages later – Mongello now calls this hoity-toity dining experience “The Chef’s Table” which allows ” … up to 10 guests to interact and observe the chef.”
Okay. I know. That’s a pretty minor point to quibble about. But – knowing how serious Disneyana fans can be when it comes to their trivia – I’m pretty sure that they’ll soon be peppering poor Louis with earnest letters about these inconsistencies. Which I’m sure will be addressed by the time the seconding printing of this sure-to-sell volume hits bookstore shelves.
Plus … Well, look. I’m probably the last person who should be criticizing someone else about their Disney related sense of humor. After all, I’m the guy who – just yesterday – described Disneyland’s Matterhorn as being “… the world’s largest middle finger (INSERT LINK TO WEDNESDAY’S JHM STORY HERE).”
But – that said – I’m also pretty sure that Louis is going to get letters about the jokes he makes at Dreamfinder’s expense. In part of his answer to a trivia question relating to Epcot’s late, great “Journey into Imagination” attraction, Mongello says:
“As for (our) friend, the Dreamfinder, I hear that he feel on hard times and can now be seen pumping gas on I-4.”
Which – you have to admit, folks – is a pretty funny line. But – even so – I bet that the “Friends of Figment” (Yes, that is a really-for-real group, people. These are the Disneyana fans who take great pride in the fact that their letter-writing campaign helped bring about a significant change at this Future World attraction. Which – as you may recall – started the new Millennium as the Figment-free “Journey into Your Imagination.” But – after these folks bitched and moaned for months about how their favorite little purple dragon has been excised from the “Imagination” pavilion – the Imagineers caved. Which – after closing for a few months for yet another rehab – re-opened as “Journey into Your Imagination with Figment.” Which – as you might imagine – was just loaded with appearances by the little purple dragon …) will be sending mail Mongello’s way.
- Epcot’s Eiffel Tower (the one that looms up behind the ” France” pavilion in World Showcase) is actually 1/13 th the size of the original tower in Paris.
- Though you can only see four of them, there are actually 22 separate wheels on every “Test Track” vehicle that you viewing whizzing around this GM-sponsored pavilion in Future World.
- Isabella Rosselini has actually brought her children to the Disney-MGM Studio theme park just so they can see “Grandma.” Which – in this case – means the Audio Animatronic version of Rosellini’s mother, famed cinema star Ingrid Bergman, as she appears in the “Casblana” sequence in “The Great Movie Ride.”
- If you listen carefully to the various squeaks and groans that the Old Mill Wheel makes as it turns on Tom Sawyer’s Island, you’ll eventually realizes that this Magic Kingdom attraction is actually creeking out a rendition of that old barbershop favorite, “Down By the Old Mill Stream.”
- As a somewhat sly tribute to the attraction’s sponsor (I.E. McDonalds), the Imagineers labeled the bright red pipe that runs throughout the pre-show area of “Dinosaur! The Ride” with the chemical name and formula for ketchup. And that bright yellow pipe that runs right alongside of this? Yep, that’s the mustard pipe.
Which really are fun facts, don’t you think? Well, if you’d like to learn about the other 574 intriguing bits of info that Louis Mongello has managed to dig up about this Orlando resort, then I suggest that you pick up a copy of “The Walt Disney World Trivia Book: Secrets, History and Fun Facts Behind the Magic” today.