
Buying Disney's World
The Story of How Florida Swampland Became Walt Disney World
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Narrated by:
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Susan L. Crawford
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By:
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Aaron Goldberg
About this listen
In November of 1965, after numerous months of speculation surrounding a mystery industry that had been purchasing large amounts of land in central Florida, Walt Disney finally put an end to the rumors. He announced to the public his grandiose plans for the thousands of acres he had secretly purchased.
For the 18 months prior to the announcement, Walt entrusted a small group of men to covertly make these purchases. Next, they were tasked with drafting a legislative act to submit to the state of Florida that would allow Disney to wield nearly absolute legal control over the property under a quasi-government municipality.
Staying true to its storytelling roots, Disney wove a tale of mystery centered around a high-ranking CIA operative, who was rumored to have been, just a few short years before, the paymaster behind the Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba.
This savvy and well-connected CIA agent became the de facto leader for the group of Disney executives and attorneys who orchestrated and executed a nearly perfect plan to keep Disney’s identity a secret from the public by utilizing aliases, shell corporations, and meandering travel itineraries, all in an effort to protect the company’s identity during the land acquisition process.
As told through the personal notes and files from the key figures involved in the project, Buying Disney’s World details the story of how Walt Disney World came to be, like you’ve never heard before.
From conception to construction and everything in between - including how a parcel of land within Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort was acquired during a high-stakes poker game - explore how the company most famous for creating Mickey Mouse acquired central Florida’s swamps, orange groves, and cow pastures to build a Disney fiefdom and a Magic Kingdom.
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Story
The secret for creating magic in our careers, our organizations, and our lives is simple: outstanding leadership, the kind that inspires employees, delights customers, and achieves extraordinary business results. No one knows more about this kind of leadership than Lee Cockerell, the man who ran Walt Disney World Resort operations for over a decade.
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Brilliant, simple, lessons on leadership
- By Garrett on 10-16-10
By: Lee Cockerell
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After Disney
- Toil, Trouble, and the Transformation of America's Favorite Media Company
- By: Neil O'Brien
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Walt Disney left behind big dreams when he died in 1966. Perhaps none was greater than the hope that his son-in-law, Ron Miller, would someday run his studio. Under Miller’s leadership, Disney expanded into new frontiers: global theme parks, computer animation, cable television, home video, and video games. Despite these innovations, Ron struggled to expand the Disney brand beyond its midcentury image of wholesome family entertainment, even as times and tastes evolved.
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wonderful book!
- By B. Meyer on 04-16-25
By: Neil O'Brien
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The Story of Walt Disney
- By: Diane Disney Miller, Pete Martin
- Narrated by: Karen Commins
- Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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As you'll hear in this audiobook, Walt found resourceful ways to earn money even in his youth. The warm reminiscences present Walt as a creative and energetic business person and loving family man. His story includes fascinating details about animation, his cartoon characters and films, the movie and TV industries, and technological processes he invented.
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The way Walt Disney daughter caught his essence
- By Thomas Brides on 06-12-24
By: Diane Disney Miller, and others
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The Disneyland Story
- The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney's Dream
- By: Sam Gennawey
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney's Dream is the story of how Walt Disney's greatest creation was conceived, nurtured, and how it grew into a source of joy and inspiration for generations of visitors. Despite his successors' battles with the whims of history and their own doubts and egos, Walt's vision maintained momentum, thrived, and taught future generations how to do it Walt Disney's way.
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The narration is killing me.
- By Chris on 03-24-15
By: Sam Gennawey
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Disney Declassified
- Tales of Real Life Disney Scandals, Sex, Accidents and Deaths
- By: Aaron H. Goldberg
- Narrated by: Susan L. Crawford
- Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Disney Declassified isn't about the analysis of the Disney Company at a deep or philosophical level - actually, it's quite the contrary; it's a collection of true stories with Disney being the setting or the catalyst in situations that are very un-Disney-like. In some of these instances, not every Disney story ends happily ever after. However you feel about Disney, lover or hater, explore these stories and many more, when the real world collides with Disney and their world. Chances are you may never view Disney the same way again!
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Just awful
- By Jonathan on 11-15-18
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The Ride of a Lifetime
- Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
- By: Robert Iger
- Narrated by: Jim Frangione, Robert Iger
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Robert Iger became CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005, during a difficult time. Competition was more intense than ever, and technology was changing faster than at any time in the company’s history. His vision came down to three clear ideas: Recommit to the concept that quality matters, embrace technology instead of fighting it, and think bigger - think global - and turn Disney into a stronger brand in international markets.
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Joins “Shoe Dog” as required biographies.
- By Matt S. on 01-02-20
By: Robert Iger
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A Mouse Divided
- How Ub Iwerks Became Forgotten, and Walt Disney Became Uncle Walt
- By: Jeff Ryan
- Narrated by: J. D. Jackson
- Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Almost everything you know about Mickey Mouse is wrong: He wasn’t Disney’s first star; Steamboat Willie wasn’t his first movie; Mickey wasn’t a nice guy - and Walt Disney didn’t invent him. In 1928, two very different best friends invented Mickey Mouse. And the success tore them apart. Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks’ friendship is a story of betrayal, love, war, money, power, tragedy, intrigue, humor, despair, and hope. You’ll love them both - when you don’t want to drop anvils on their heads.
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Wasted money and wasted time
- By E. Johnson on 12-27-18
By: Jeff Ryan
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Women of Walt Disney Imagineering
- 12 Women Reflect on their Trailblazing Theme Park Careers
- By: Julie Svendsen, Karen Connolly Armitage, Becky Bishop, and others
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Capturing an era - and preserving the stories they have told their daughters, their mentees, their husbands, and their friends - a dozen women Imagineers have written personal stories from their decades designing and building the Disney worldwide empire of theme parks. The book represents a broad swath of Imagineering's creative disciplines during a time of unprecedented expansion.
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Enjoyable!
- By Melanie P. on 07-29-23
By: Julie Svendsen, and others
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Three Years in Wonderland
- The Disney Brothers, C. V. Wood, and the Making of the Great American Theme Park
- By: Todd James Pierce
- Narrated by: Al Kessel
- Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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While the success of Disneyland is largely credited to Walt and Roy Disney, there was a third, mostly forgotten dynamo instrumental to the development of the park: fast-talking Texan C. V. Wood. Three Years in Wonderland presents the never-before-told, full story of "the happiest place on earth".
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A really great and interesting story.
- By Mike on 02-20-20
What listeners say about Buying Disney's World
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- Scott D
- 05-01-21
A must read for Disney Fans.
Really interesting insight into how Walt Disney World came to be. The back story has some familiar names, and a couple twists. Well written and concise history of the WDW origin.
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- Shawn S. Hjelmeland
- 06-14-23
Great Disney History
I feel know a lot about Disney history having worked for the company for many years and been a Disney Traditioneer. I learned a ton about the construction and history of Walt Disney World from this book! Highly recommend!
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- James
- 10-17-21
For Disney fans
The story is very thorough and interesting. The only thing that kinda bothered me was the narrator sounds like she’s reading to children.
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1 person found this helpful
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- MP
- 02-07-23
Florida needs to leave Disney alone
This needs to be read or heard by every Floridian and each need to tell the Florida legislature to leave Disney alone.
Mike Phillips
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- Jaclyn DiGabriele
- 03-12-23
10/10
Outstanding pacing, very enjoying narrator.
Fairly quick book packed with amazing details underlying the purchase of Disney World property in Florida
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- Heather
- 02-25-23
Fun and entertaining
This book is a fun and entertaining story! I loved learning about the how and why they made some of the decisions about Disney World!
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- JW
- 08-03-22
Modern Disney should take lessons
A fascinating story of hard work, creativity, perseverance and empathy. A reminder of what made the Disney company great and the titans they lost.
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- Rob Loud
- 02-08-23
Grant book
Entertaining book with lots of great information. For anybody that loves Disney, history and lore this is a great book. Written in a way that makes it easy to read and enjoy.
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- Anonymous User
- 02-04-22
Walt
Great listen for Disney fans! I agree with another review that says it feels like it’s read as a children’s book. Maybe better as a traditional read.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Joe S
- 01-05-23
Very interesting. Couldn’t stop listening.
Couldn’t stop listening to learn all about the beginnings of a beloved park. Highly recommend
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