Mouse Tales: A Behind-the-Ears Look at Disneyland by David Koenig

If you enjoy stories about the dark side of paradise — i.e., Disneyland, which is paradise as far as I’m concerned — this is a great read.

I say that, but I would say that the multiple under-reported accidents at Disneyland were grating after a while. Really, how many accidents do we need to read about here?

Even after reading this book, I still have an incredible love for Disneyland. You would think that reading “behind the scenes” books would discourage people, but I think it’s more of a preventative book.

If people had been paying attention, the prevention of these accidents would have been high. Koenig makes that point, too.

Unfortunately, Cast Members and guests get so caught up in the magic of Disneyland that they ignore whether they’re coming or going half the time.

It’s why they’re called accidents:

1. A happening that is not expected, foreseen, or intended.
2. An unpleasant and unintended event, sometimes resulting from negligence, results in injury, loss, damage, etc.
3. A collision involving a motor vehicle, or the wreckage, etc., at the scene of such a collision.
4. Fortune; chance.
5. An attribute or quality that is not essential.

Or the fact that Disneyland had terrorists before terrorists became a part of our everyday vocabulary.

The book substantially reported on the unpleasant stuff, like Club 66, and how that works. He also had chapters on working for the company and the indoctrination you go through, which can be found in any corporate job.

As their employees, you have an image to uphold. If you know that you’re going to chafe against it, don’t worry about it. They’ll find someone who will allow them to join the family.