Boundless Realm: Deep Explorations Inside Disney's Haunted Mansion (Theme Park Design Book)

Goes into the *why* of the Haunted Mansion as much as *how*, and does a lovely job of discussing the cultural and historical context of the Haunted Mansion. Really covers the ride from interesting angles, and is *very* readable. This isn't a dry academic text; you get all the funny "inside" stories you'd want as a bonus organically intermixed with the larger stories and themes. It's great when a book seems to come out of nowhere and is such a winner

This is the kind of book I've been waiting for someone to write. It wastes no time with any well-known history that the average HM fan would already know. We dive straight into EVERY imaginable detail surrounding the mansion. Why is it situated where it is in Liberty Square? Why are we, as guests, invited to go inside? Why does the mansion seem to speak to so many fans, young and old, despite having no flashy pre-established IP backing it up? Was there really a skeleton originally in the staircase scene? Also peppered within the book are the author's amusing anecdotes from when they worked on the attraction, such as ride operators playing Tic-Tac-Toe with tape on the back of doom buggies or a coworker placing a Kermit the Frog statue in the rafters of the stretching room. The book never loses focus on its academic dissection of the mansion, but the anecdotes do a great job of giving us a peak into life as a maid or butler at the mansion. Along with Younger's "Theme Park Design" and the recent "Marc Davis: In His Own Words," this book is another tome that makes me optimistic for the future of theme park books. There is so much to cover, and the best attractions deserve the same intellectual rigor that Nolte has given to the hallowed Haunted Mansion.

I’m admittedly only a few chapters in, but I am loving this book. I’ve loved the author for years and am a fan of their blog “Passport to Dreams: Old and New,” which I highly recommend you check out as well! This is an approachable, but also truly academic text, and I appreciate the balance of theme park fandom and also critical observer. Admittedly, Haunted Mansion doesn’t crack my top 10 Disney attractions. However, that is how much I love the style And approach of Foxx Nolte. They have a way to bring a unique perspective that I love. Update: I've finished the text and cannot say enough! The book is worth it for the End Notes alone; pay attention to them as you read and flip to the back for what is oftentimes a funny anecdote or interesting side information. A great history of theme park entertainment, with a focus on the "haunted," house piece. A wonderful background on the history and geography of the mansion. A must read for any Disney fan!

I had heard of this book for a while, but didn't pick it up, thinking it was another fun fact book. Boy was I wrong! This book is a fascinating look into the WDW ride from a storytelling and design perspective, rather than the history of the ride. This is a breath of fresh air for fans of the mansion. There are countless books out there about the creation of the attraction, but this book is more like a textbook in a great way. While the first few chapters are a little slow, the rest is just fascinating. The way Foxx makes historical connections and deep dives into design is expertly done. Compared to other HM books, I can see myself picking this up again and again not only for info, but because it's a fun read!

This book is not for the Disney newbie. And that's great for someone like me! This book is written for super fans and it does not disappoint. I could not put it down. The deep dives into how an attraction as unique as the HM came to be and it's connections to American entertainment history are fascinating. As are the discussions about the intricacies of the ride itself. It answered some questions for me that I've asked for years, like "what's up with the top of the grand staircase?" Very, very good read. Right after I read it it happened to be recommended by the RetroWDW podcast. If you're a Disney Parks nerd, read this book.

Really enjoyed this book overall! While it definitely delivers countless interesting tidbits and theories behind one of the most beloved Disney attractions, it does mainly focus on the Walt Disney World version. The author does an excellent job of relaying from the start that this is not a history book or a book filled with information already commonly known. I appreciated the theories and personal speculation that show up in this book and will definitely see The Haunted Mansion in a different (albeit dimmed) light when I next visit The Magic Kingdom!

Got this for my wife, who has always loved the Haunted Mansion and loves reading. She began reading it and didn’t put it down. Now she is watching ride through videos on YouTube to look for the details mentioned in the book. This is a deep dive written by someone who is obsessed with this ride...

I've been a huge fan of the Haunted Mansion my entire life, and thought I had known pretty much everything there is to know. I tend to get bored reading the same things over and over. But this book wasn't kidding about being in-depth. I learned a ton of new stuff, and the way the book is structured really got me into it as it went deeper and deeper into the Mansion. I couldn't put it down, and I'm sure I will be going back and re-reading it again. This book really gave me an even deeper appreciation for my favorite attraction of all time. As a side note, I love to see the emphasis put on Magic Kingdom's version rather than Disneyland's!

A collection of smart and well written stories and essays. Won’t look at the attraction or all of Liberty Square the same again.

In keeping with the quality of the long-standing blog, this book digs deep into the creation and execution of one of the great Disney rides.

Goes into the *why* of the Haunted Mansion as much as *how*, and does a lovely job of discussing the cultural and historical context of the Haunted Mansion. Really covers the ride from interesting angles, and is *very* readable. This isn't a dry academic text; you get all the funny "inside" stories you'd want as a bonus organically intermixed with the larger stories and themes. It's great when a book seems to come out of nowhere and is such a winner

This is the kind of book I've been waiting for someone to write. It wastes no time with any well-known history that the average HM fan would already know. We dive straight into EVERY imaginable detail surrounding the mansion. Why is it situated where it is in Liberty Square? Why are we, as guests, invited to go inside? Why does the mansion seem to speak to so many fans, young and old, despite having no flashy pre-established IP backing it up? Was there really a skeleton originally in the staircase scene? Also peppered within the book are the author's amusing anecdotes from when they worked on the attraction, such as ride operators playing Tic-Tac-Toe with tape on the back of doom buggies or a coworker placing a Kermit the Frog statue in the rafters of the stretching room. The book never loses focus on its academic dissection of the mansion, but the anecdotes do a great job of giving us a peak into life as a maid or butler at the mansion. Along with Younger's "Theme Park Design" and the recent "Marc Davis: In His Own Words," this book is another tome that makes me optimistic for the future of theme park books. There is so much to cover, and the best attractions deserve the same intellectual rigor that Nolte has given to the hallowed Haunted Mansion.