Window on Main Street Out Now

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Fans of the Disney Theme Parks might want to check out the latest book from Van Arsdale France, this book is available as a digital download on Kindle for $10 or in physical format from Amazon for $19.95.

Here are the details:

Window on Main Street

35 Years of Creating Happiness at Disneyland Park

Lessons from the Man Who Created Disney University

Van Arsdale France, the founder of Disney University and author of its world-class “cast member” training programs, takes you inside the “berm” for a first-hand look at how Disney makes the magic that keeps its guests coming back for more.

Hired in 1955, several months before Disneyland opened its front gate, Van worked with Walt Disney, C.V. Wood, Dick Nunis (hired as Van’s “gofer” who went on to become the chairman of Walt Disney Attractions), and other notables to create not only the best-trained workforce in America, but also enlightened principles of customer service envied and imitated worldwide.

Van’s many, many stories include:

  • The construction of Disneyland, as seen from the office he shared with Dick Nunis on-site
  • The first Disneyland training programs, designed and conducted by Van himself
  • The evolution of those training programs into Disney University and its “Traditions” curriculum
  • The politics behind the scenes, and Walt Disney’s surprisingly tough managerial style
  • The lessons learned at Disneyland brought east to Walt Disney World

LEARN THE “DISNEY WAY” FROM THE MAN WHO CREATED IT!

windowMainStreet

Here are the full contents:

  • Publisher’s Note
  • Foreword
  • Preface
  • Introduction
  • Part One: From Dream to Reality, 1955
  • Chapter 1: I Meet Walt Disney
  • Chapter 2: A Handshake Deal
  • Chapter 3: Springtime in Burbank
  • Chapter 4: “A Friend in Need…Is a Friend Indeed”
  • Chapter 5: Learning “The Ropes at Disney”
  • Chapter 6: The Trainer Gets Trained
  • Chapter 7: I See “The Site”
  • Chapter 8: Why Anaheim?
  • Chapter 9: I Hire a “Gofer”
  • Chapter 10: Goodbye Burbank, Hello Anaheim
  • Chapter 11: “You’ll Create Happiness”
  • Chapter 12: From Happiness to Highways
  • Chapter 13: A Shotgun Marriage with 29 Unions
  • Chapter 14: Deadline Days
  • Chapter 15: ’Twas the Night Before Opening
  • Chapter 16: “The Site” Becomes “Disneyland, U.S.A.”
  • Chapter 17: “God Bless ‘Em—Let ‘Em Pee!”
  • Part Two: The Pioneering Years, 1955-1960
  • Chapter 18: The Curtain’s Up
  • Chapter 19: Off to Tomorrowland
  • Chapter 20: Back to the White House
  • Chapter 21: The Walt Disney School of Trial-and-Error Management
  • Chapter 22: Memories of Past Attractions
  • Chapter 23: End of the Wood Era
  • Chapter 24: I Get a New Boss
  • Chapter 25: The Jack Sayers Era
  • Chapter 26: Quitting Disneyland Is Hard to Do
  • Part Three: Outside the Berm, 1960-1962
  • Chapter 27: Off to Boston
  • Chapter 28: Back on My Own
  • Chapter 29: A Luncheon Deal
  • Part Four: Second Time Around, 1962-1966
  • Chapter 30: Re-Orientation, Nunis-Style
  • Chapter 31: “Tijuana Row” Days
  • Chapter 32: Three Heroines of Tijuana Row
  • Chapter 33: Birth of the University of Disneyland
  • Chapter 34: The University Branches Out
  • Chapter 35: The Disneyland World Spectacular Show
  • Chapter 36: New York World’s Fair: 1964
  • Chapter 37: Disneyland’s Vintage Years
  • Chapter 38: The Big 10th Anniversary for Pioneers
  • Chapter 39: 1966 – The End of an Era
  • Part Five: The Show Goes On, 1966-1970
  • Chapter 40: The Traditions of Walt Disney at Disneyland
  • Chapter 41: A Kick in the Teeth
  • Chapter 42: An Exciting New Career
  • Chapter 43: I Go Back to School
  • Chapter 44: The Magic Kingdom Moves East
  • Chapter 45: The University School of Resorts
  • Chapter 46: The Longest Ninety Days
  • Part Six: Back Inside the Berm, 1970-1979
  • Chapter 47: The Seventies
  • Chapter 48: Yippie Day at Disneyland
  • Chapter 49: Along Came Sixty Five!
  • Chapter 50: Happiness Goes to Tokyo
  • Part Seven: Mid-Life Crisis, 1979-1987
  • Chapter 51: Happiness Takes a Beating
  • Chapter 52: My Cronies Walk Out
  • Chapter 53: “The Friendliest Picket Line”
  • Chapter 54: From Main Street to Wall Street
  • Part Eight: The New Era, 1987-
  • Chapter 55: Everything Turned Up Roses
  • Chapter 56: A Trip to Walt’s Roots
  • Chapter 57: The Spirit of Disneyland
  • Chapter 58: The Disneyland Alumni Club
  • Chapter 59: And the Trees Grow More Beautiful Every Year
  • Photo Gallery
  • Acknowledgments

Are you going to be picking up this new book?

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