The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney's Disneyland by Hahn, Don

On the 70th anniversary of Disneyland, a look back at the theme park that started it all--an illustrated history of Walt's first theme park!

The ultimate coffee table book for Disney collectors and armchair travelers alike, brimming with more than 750 images, previously unpublished documents, and concept drawings.

Disneyland is the only park Walt walked through and tinkered with during the last 11 years of his life. For Disneyland's 70th anniversary, Disney fans will get an in-depth visual look at the planning and creation of those first 11 years of Walt Disney's original theme park. This treasure trove of Disney history will take fans through the pre-production and realization process Walt used during the earliest days of his nascent theme park.

Inside:
- Organized by the 5 original lands: MAIN STREET, U.S.A., ADVENTURELAND, FRONTIERLAND, FANTASYLAND, TOMORROWLAND
- Includes many sidebars about "lost lands," offering a glimpse of the park that parkgoers would've experienced in the 1950s and 1960s.
- A rare look into the renowned vault of the Walt Disney Imagineering Art Library and other unique sources, including private collectors and the Library of Congress, showcasing concepts for both realized and unrealized attractions designed solely for Disneyland.
- Recently discovered artwork and many previously unpublished documents and images.

A true must-have for Disney fans everywhere, readers can get the full picture of just what it took to create the Happiest Place on Earth.

Author: Don Hahn,Christopher Merritt
Publisher: Disney Editions
Published: 07/15/2025
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 5.05lbs
Size: 12.86h x 9.54w x 1.29d
ISBN: 9781368077798

About the Author
Don Hahn is best known for having produced the classic Beauty and the Beast, the first animated film nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. Hahn has authored a number of books, including Before Ever After, Animation Magic, The Alchemy of Animation, and Brain Storm Unleashing Your Creative Self, and Yesterday's Tomorrow: Disney's Magical Mid-Century.

Christopher Merritt has more than 25 years of design experience creating theme park attractions and environments around the world for Walt Disney Imagineering and numerous other theme parks in California, Florida, Tokyo, Singapore, and Shanghai. Chris is the coauthor with Pete Docter of Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks.