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Three Years in Wonderland: The Disney Brothers, C. V. Wood, and the Making of the Great American Theme Park

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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presents the never-before-told, full story of -the happiest place on earth.- Using information from over one hundred unpublished interviews, Todd James Pierce lays down the arc of Disneyland's development from an idea to a paragon of entertainment.

In the early 1950s, the Disney brothers hired Wood and his team to develop a feasibility study for an amusement park Walt wanted to build in southern California. -Woody- quickly became a central figure. In 1954, Roy Disney hired him as Disneyland's first official employee, its first general manager, and appointed him vice president of Disneyland, Inc., where his authority was exceeded only by Walt. A brilliant project manager, Wood was also a con man of sorts. Previously, he had forged his university diploma. A smooth-talker drawn to Hollywood, the first general manager of Disneyland valued money over art. As relations soured between Wood and the Disney brothers, Wood found creative ways to increase his income, leveraging his position for personal fame. Eventually, tensions at the Disney park reached a boiling point, with Walt demanding he be fired.

In compelling detail, Three Years in Wonderland lays out the struggles and rewards of building the world's first cinematic theme park and convincing the American public that a $17 million amusement park was the ideal place for a family vacation. The early experience of Walt Disney, Roy Disney, and C. V. Wood is one of the most captivating untold stories in the history of Hollywood. Pierce interviewed dozens of individuals who enjoyed long careers at the Walt Disney Company as well as dozens of individuals who--like C. V. Wood--helped develop the park but then left the company for good once the park was finished. Through much research and many interviews, Three Years in Wonderland offers readers a rare opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the men and women who built the best-known theme park in the world.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published March 10, 2016

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About the author

Todd James Pierce

20 books8 followers
The author of the novel, The Australia Stories and the story collection, Newsworld, which won the Drue Heinz Literature Prize and was a finalist for the John Gardner Book Award and the Paterson Prize. His work has been published in Fiction, The Georgia Review, Harvard Review, The Gettysburg Review, Indiana Review, The Iowa Review, The Missouri Review, North American Review, Shenandoah, The Sun, Virginia Quarterly Review, and Willow Springs. He lives in a little town called Orcutt (just north of Santa Barbara, California) and co-directs the Creative Writing program at Cal Poly University. Aside from his work in creative writing, over the past decade, he has interviewed over 100 men and women who worked in animation and outdoor amusements during the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Daniel Butcher.
2,625 reviews2 followers
March 12, 2017
From BetweenDisney.com

The Disney History Podcast did its job. I bought the book! Yep, I could not resist as I binged Todd James Pierce's audio segments. But would the book fill the Disney history itch I wanted scratched?

Three Years in Wonderland: The Disney Brothers, C.V. Wood, and the Making of the Great American Theme Park by Todd James Pierce details the creation of America's first cinematic theme park, Disneyland, from the perspectives of the park's first General Manager C.V. Wood and Walt Disney. We know from the beginning of the book that the Wood - Disney relationship is doomed to fail, though Disneyland would be a success. Pierce provides readers biography of the wild yet charismatic Wood and his unlikely journey to Stanford Research Institute (SRI) and his early work with the Disney brothers. Pierce adds information about Walt Disney's dream for a theme park and the efforts, especially financial, to get his theme park built. Pierce then narrates the construction of the park, including the attempts by Wood to bring his inner circle into the park management and perhaps enriching himself. Finally, as the park survives its opening, the author outlines how Wood's relationship with Walt Disney soured, or perhaps never was amicable. Overall, Pierce helps highlight in a way an official Disney book cannot and will not, Wood's contributions to the building of Disneyland.

I think it is a good sign. I loved this book, but there is more I wanted from it. First, I wanted more about C.V. Wood and his private life. In the narrative, Wood is working in the aircraft industry and then we meet him again at SRI. I would love to know more about how Wood changed industries. Second, Pierce tells us that his habit of being a workaholic was an issue for his marriage. Yet, Pierce discusses mostly Wood at work or play really only with his inner Texas circle, the Bombers. I would love to hear more about his personal family life during his Disney years. But perhaps there is no documentation of this period.

Three Years in Wonderland is entertaining and educational. On the entertainment front, Pierce uses poetic license and flourish at times to make this history feel dramatic and very far from dry. In the educational side, it really is Wood we learn quite a bit about. Pierce reinforces that Walt Disney was the most supportive of his creative staff. And Pierce places Wood within the financial circle of Roy Disney. It becomes clear that Wood was not a Walt Disney favorite, but instead someone that was necessary not beloved. And Wood did not cross easily into Walt Disney's circle like Admiral Joe Fowler who seemed to straddle the Walt-Roy division within Disney staff. In many ways it becomes clear that the charming Wood was destined to leave Disney employment when he was no longer needed to help sell and build Disneyland.

Three Years in Wonderland is must read for Disneyland fans. It is part soap opera, part history as experienced readers who have glances over Wood's names numerous times learn more about this enigmatic and invisible Disney, no not legend, myth. In the end, the book scratched my Disney history itch and drove me to want to know more about wood. Hint, hint...I would love a sequel that discussed Wood's post Disney parks and developments!
Profile Image for Wayne McCoy.
4,042 reviews26 followers
March 17, 2016
'Three Years in Wonderland: The Disney Brothers, C. V. Wood, and the Making of the Great American Theme Park' by Todd James Pierce is a master work, and it achieves some things that aren't easy.

The first thing it achieves is what I think is a fair viewpoint. I'm a Disney fan, and I've read a number of books on the subject. The problem is that you either get a whitewashed studio version that is so "pro" that it feels a bit like propaganda. The other type you get are the people seeking to show the evil side of the company, recent PBS Walt Disney "documentary" did. This book falls squarely in the middle. By starting with a man that the company sort of disavows knowledge of, we know we are in interesting territory, and Walt is presented as human, for better or worse.

The other amazing thing it achieves is to put us back in a world before theme parks existed. In our modern era, building a theme park doesn't seem like a difficult thing to do, but when Walt Disney conceived of Disneyland, there was really nothing like it. Convincing financial partners to invest was a challenge as well as finding the right people to construct such an immersive world.

And it's also pretty thrilling. As the days dwindle down to the park opening, there is a real sense of tension, which is pretty interesting considering we know the outcome. This is something most movies that are "based on a true story" have a problem doing. How do you make a well known outcome seem fresh and compelling? It's done here.

The book was researched for 9 years, and focuses on the three years leading up to the park opening. It's primary scope is Disneyland. There are tons of notes and quotes. I thought I knew quite a bit about how the park was built, and I was so wrong. This book is a great look at how Disneyland was built, and does a good job of showing how it almost failed at quite a few turns along the way. The shaky relationship between Disney and Wood is portrayed, and I understand the contribution made by this third party in making my very favorite theme park. I can't recommend it high enough for any fans of this theme park.

I received a review copy of this ebook from University Press of Mississippi and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Profile Image for Julie.
57 reviews
February 11, 2019
This book does an excellent job of de-mythologizing the creation of Disneyland without coming off as jaded or cynical. You can tell it was thoroughly researched, and for a business history book, the storytelling/narrative was very engaging, if sometimes a little “flowery” in some places.
Profile Image for Shawn Deal.
Author 9 books17 followers
September 27, 2016
This is the single best book on the building of Disneyland that there has been published. taking nine years to research, over 150 interviews, this book goes into detail how Walt Disney brought the great American park to life. It also spells out the importance of C.V. Wood, one of the single greatest contributors to Walts dream. Largely, overlooked now, due in large part by the fact that Walt at the end could not stand the man, C.V. Wood is pivotal to Disneyland. The book chronicles the beginning of Walts dream through opening day and even further. for those addicted to Disneyland, I would call this a must read.
Profile Image for Alex Gruenenfelder.
Author 1 book4 followers
February 1, 2024
I grew up as an annual pass holder at Disneyland, so I've always been a lover of its rides and experiences. However, I read this book after the past year brought me to a true understanding of the romanticism of Disney, first through a trip to Disneyland with my dad and then through visits to Disney World and Disneyland again with my girlfriend. The uniqueness of this magical place has always been there, with this history showing just how much it pioneered the modern theme park and how many ideas came from the ground up.

In particular, this book is a biography of C. V. Wood, an unscrupulous theme park developer who was the park's first general manager. Wood has been largely scrubbed from the history of Disneyland, but that fact does not make him any less crucial in its history. In many ways, it is what makes this book that much more interesting. Labor disputes, crossing picket lines, and mysterious fires all add to the tales that many of us who are nerds in themed entertainment have heard before about how The Happiest Place On Earth evolved out of chaos.

I found this book deeply compelling as a creative and as a producer. There are many important lessons in this history about building a theme park, but there are also teachable moments for any big project or creative venture. Disney Adults may very well enjoy this book, but it does bust up some of that magic we were all raised on. This is a book for the creators, the dreamers, and those who won't give up on doing the impossible, no matter the cost.
Profile Image for Online Eccentric Librarian.
3,076 reviews5 followers
February 27, 2016
More reviews at the Online Eccentric Librarian http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Three Years in Wonderland is a well-researched and informative look at the building of the Disneyland Amusement Park in specific and the theme park industry in general. Two individuals stand out throughout: C.V. Wood and Walt Disney - two visionaries with very different methods and personalities. Both provided invaluably to the completion of the park but ultimately only one would be remembered.

The book is arranged in a non-fussy chronological manner ensuring that all the relevant information is easy to follow. I've read several books on the subject and many can be dense; Three Years maintains its focus throughout and rarely strays off on tangents. Key figures are given short background introductions to put their personalities and decisions into perspective. The book begins with site location and ends with C.V. Wood's firing/resignation shortly after opening day.

At heart, author Pierce creates a thorough understanding of the making of the theme park industry. From the creative frustrations, technological hurdles, financial constraints, and personality conflicts at all levels. Decisions made when buying land, presenting to the public, even the opening day fiascoes and triumphs are thoroughly covered. But the facts never overpower the personal stories within.

Through meticulous research and interviews, we get a very complete picture of the three year period leading up to the opening day. The tone is carefully neutral - whether grafts and nepotism by Wood or Walt's mercurial temperament - and pains are taken to stick to facts. That lack of point of view was perhaps the only nitpick because it felt like the author was also doing a C.V. Wood - promising a 'clean treatment' of all the characters in exchange for interviews.

Although Disneyland is the focus, really the book is more about creating a theme park model that would be copied many times over the next decade: all to little or no success as Disneyland. Many of the individuals involved with Disneyland would become pioneers in that burgeoning industry. Here, we see the beginning. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
Profile Image for Ron.
121 reviews3 followers
January 6, 2017
Todd Pierce has written the definitive book on the creation of Disneyland. As a lifelong vintage Disneyland fanatic, I have read many books about the early years of Disneyland and the hassles the Walt and Roy Disney had to go through to create Walt's dream themed-amusement park. But I never knew much about C. V. Wood and his involvement with the creation of the original Magic Kingdom. Pierce spent nine years researching this book. Not only is it well researched, it is well written. I hope Pierce continues this project with a second volume which looks into the first ten years of Disneyland's history.

My only complaint is this book would have been better with a few historical photographs, that only individuals like Pierce have seen, could have been shared with us as readers.

If you have any interest in the history of Disneyland's creation, you need to add this book to your library.
Profile Image for Paul.
140 reviews
September 24, 2019
If you’re even casually interested in Disney history, you’ve heard the story of the planning and building of Disneyland- how Walt Disney’s idea for a little amusement park where a family could have fun together grew and became reality. Todd James Pierce’s book reveals the rest of the story that Disney’s never told - and gives due credit for its building and early operation to a man who’s been erased from Disney’s official history.

Todd shares how a charming, motivated Texan named CV Wood went from a poor kid with dreams of being in the limelight to a man with a talent for making sure things got done and money was raised - which was just the type of person Walt and Roy needed to make Disneyland happen. We see how plans for the park outgrew it’s original planned location in Burbank, the steps and missteps involved in acquiring the land and local support in Anaheim, and the innovative and insanely quick process that went into creating the park and its earliest attractions. We see some well-known tales of the construction proven false and new, equally improbable stories come to light, we get to experience the chaos of the opening day, and see how a clash of approaches made the firing of the man who helped build Disneyland almost inevitable.

Todd’s book is thoroughly researched and contains quotes from many folks involved in the project, and seldom -shared documents, but is easy to get into and really hard to put down.

I’ve heard a few stories about CV Wood, and every time I did, I found myself wishing someone would write a book about him. While the focus of the book isn’t solely on him, I feel like Todd James Pierce has finally gotten the first volume of his story out to the public. I hope he or another author will uncover and share more of Wood’s story. A must-read for anyone interested in Disneyland and Disney history!
Profile Image for Ben.
118 reviews12 followers
August 28, 2021
A fascinating look at a suppressed piece of history. Anybody who has looked into the story behind the construction and development of Disneyland knows that it was a skin-of-the-teeth affair that eventually succeeded despite its rocky start. This history shines a light on the contributions of C.V Wood, an arguably pretty shady but ultimately indispensable figure in the tale of Disneyland's construction.
The book itself reads quickly, and does exactly what it says: it tells the story of the construction of Disneyland with an emphasis on C.V. Wood and his relationship with Walt and Roy Disney. Its scope gets a bit muddled throughout as the narrative attempts to both show the big picture and also personalize the conflicts beneath the surface. I would have liked to see more of the story of C.V Wood, but for all that the book characterizes him as central to the process, he often gets sidelined in his own history by other personalities.
I found baffling freshman-level mistakes such as "on tract" rather than "on track" or referring to the Mad Hatter's companion multiple times as the "Marsh Hare" to be distracting, as well as occasional outdated terms such "the Orient" (this book was published in 2016).
If you're a big Disney nerd, this is a neat piece of the puzzle that would be missing from the sanitized corporate yarn that the Great Mouse spins.
2 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2019
I wrote this book review back in 7th grade for the Columbia Middle School newspaper (lol):
"Three Years in Wonderland" by Todd James Pierce is the true story of the making of Disneyland, from Walt Disney’s backyard ⅝-scale train to when C. V. was fired a few months after its opening on July 17th, 1955. While the book is 254 pages long (not including the acknowledgements, author’s notes, and the index), you will likely be left wanting more. If you are worried that some of the information is not true, over 20 pages of the book are citing the sources of the information in the book. I think that it’s safe to say that it’s considerably credible. Whether you love reading and Disney, you’re writing an essay about Walt Disney, or you just want something interesting to read for the weekly reading log, I think you’ll love this book.
Profile Image for Lee Tracy.
61 reviews5 followers
November 29, 2017
As a California native who practically grew up at Disneyland in the 1970s and 1980s, I've always been fascinated with the park's history and how it came to be built so quickly. I'd never heard of C.V. Wood before, and it's not surprising that a somewhat ruthless, smooth-talking, fast-living Texan who ramrodded the project would be written out of the company's official history because of his differences with Walt. But it appears that Walt's dream park, near-disaster though it was on opening day, would never have gotten even that far without Wood. Two things that could have been better: the last chapter could have been expanded to tell us more detail about the rest of Wood's career; and the book desperately needed some vintage photographs of Wood and the park's construction.
11 reviews
August 25, 2018
For WALT Disney fans, this book is a page turner, crafted from interviews with the people who worked with Walt to design and build Disneyland. Todd James Pierce composes an engaging, detailed, chronological telling of the development of not only the American theme park, but the embracing of Television by a movie studio, the difficulties in doing that which had never been done before, and in capturing the many personalities in Walt's inner circle, including the revealing the role of one C. V. Wood! For people in the theme park industry, this is an amazing accomplishment pulling together the last living members of the team that Walt and Brother Roy assembled to build Disneyland. Well worth your time (and money!)
Profile Image for Hashim Alsughayer.
201 reviews26 followers
April 23, 2019
Highly researched and well written, the book takes you through the three most important years in Disneyland's history. The first three years of chaos that helped shape the famous wonderland we know today.

The book in my opinion, not only was written well, but the tone that the writer chose to take in explaining and breaking down the events that happened at that time were written in a smooth way that made the nine hours of listening time go quickly. A tone that would duplicate the same anxious feelings that those who lived through these events were feeling.

On a side note, I now would like to read a whole book of C.V Wood's time building his own theme park, Freedomland!

A highly recommended book for those interested in the early years of Disneyland.
January 25, 2023
Very interesting read on Walt, Roy, and the cast of characters around them as they created Disneyland - with particular focus on the lesser-known but significant role of CV Wood.

The author is very transparent about his intentions with the book, the approach to research and interviews, and the purpose for his writing style. This was helpful - because at many points I found myself wanting to see original memos, pictures, or more specific evidence of events that were related through re-created (but not quoted) conversations, thoughts, and private actions that were written in what I thought to be a historical fiction manner. In the end - it was very effective as through the “story” told through this book I learned more about this amazing era.
Profile Image for Graham Bates.
378 reviews5 followers
July 24, 2023
Pierce is an entertaining storyteller, able to weave the stories of several people together without getting bogged down in details or becoming monotonous. It's fairly even-handed in its perspective, not talking either Wood's or the Disney brothers' sides. While Roy Disney comes up in the book in several places, he's a supporting character to Wood and Walt Disney.

There are several interesting parts of the financing and building of Disneyland included, but this is more for a history buff than a park fan. The story ends 6 months after the opening and other than the opening day's issues Pierce didn't get into much of the park itself, merely mentioning what people are doing. The park isn't the main character. The drama between everyone building the park is the main focus.
Profile Image for Bekki.
Author 2 books9 followers
May 4, 2019
As a true Disney fanatic, I was hesitant to keep reading, once I realized this was not going to be a pixie-dusted account of Disneyland's history. I liken this book to cable news. Let's say you're a hardcore Democrat or Republican and you only watch CNN or Fox News. This book is sort of like deciding to watch the opposite channel for the afternoon to see what "the other side" has to say.
I found this book remarkably interesting - even though it took just a bit of the "magic" away for me. If Walt is one of your heroes, this book will undoubtedly humanize him, while at the same time give you a new appreciation of what his dream and vision meant to him.
Profile Image for Scott Buchanan.
131 reviews1 follower
July 6, 2020
An excellent review of all the hard work and deals (some shady) that it took to build Disneyland. I’ve read many books on the history of Disneyland and most cover the same material while holding up Walt as some kind of god. This one portrays all the players as human with their own self-interests and flaws. A fascinating account that finally gives CV Wood some of the credit he is due. (He has been virtually erased from most official Disney history because of his feud with Walt). It’s an easy read (I finished it 2 sittings) that flies more like a novel than non-fiction. I learned a lot from this volume and will be referring to it again for future research. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Caitriona.
190 reviews3 followers
February 19, 2021
It was interesting, but I would have liked to learn more about CV Wood after he left Disney. I also felt it was unclear where the issue between Walt & CV came from except with a slight mention of how CV used to take bribes. I can understand that this would make Walt unhappy, but ultimately Walt did have success with CV Wood at the helm and the end was a little melochonly. I am curious about CV Wood and I googled him and it seems this book may have taken the good parts of CV and glossed over the more negative parts. Also towards the end I wanted it to be over, but I did listen to it on audible.
423 reviews
February 6, 2020
I found this book utterly fascinating. Having been to Disneyland somewhere between 25 & 30 times (to the best of my knowledge) and seen some of the changes it has gone through during the years I have always been interested in finding out more about the beginning. This book gave me all the info I could want and blew my mind. The company that now owns the world was almost bankrupt when they opened Disneyland. That and so much more. I now understand the origins of some of the aspects of Disneyland too. Just a great read for a Disney fan.
Profile Image for Jeff Schmitt.
150 reviews4 followers
August 6, 2017
This is the first true in-depth book I've read about the three-sided team of Wood, Roy, and Walt Disney.

It's easy to get the inage of "Uncle Walt", as seen on television or written about in other books...but this books seemed a little more real, giving credit to Wood where credit was due, and delving into the friction that existed between Walt and C.V.

I very much love reading about Disney history, especially the parks built by or with Walt's vision. This book really satisfied that love!
53 reviews
October 9, 2017
This is a fantastic book for the die-hard Disneyland fan. It is a fairly detailed account on the process of taking a dream of Walt Disney's to create a clean, family friendly amusement park on a small piece of land at Disney's Burbank studios, to Disneyland. The material focuses on a person named C. V. Wood who was a major player in opening Disneyland on July 17, 1955 and until this book was published, probably unknown to most of the most avid Disney fans.
Profile Image for Jamie Hecker.
7 reviews
December 12, 2021
Fabulous. This is the deep dive into the origin of Disneyland. The nuts and bolts are all on display in detailed form. Imaging a park is one thing. Funding, designing and building it were the tremendous barriers of entry, even for Hollywood mogul Walt Disney.

I've heard many of the Disneyland stories before, but in TYiW, the story is presented in a compelling and page-turning style.

Highly recommended for Disney bibliophiles looking for 'next level' material.
Profile Image for Bruce Thomas.
488 reviews1 follower
April 20, 2023
This is a very enjoyable book about the planning and construction of Disneyland, and the natural battles that occur between artistry (Walt Disney) and practical business and constructability (C.V. Wood). There are many cool tidbits from buying the real estate to Walt's personal apartment above the Firehouse on Main Street. The most amazing fact is that Disneyland was built in one year from purchase of property, an astounding feat that would be quite impossible today.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jodi Geever.
1,291 reviews5 followers
November 29, 2018
This book is a satisfying glimpse into the life of Walt Disney and the beginnings of Disneyland and the dream for Disney World. It is an insight into the drive and ambition of the Disney brothers, Walt and Roy, and the various people who helped Disney get his dream off the ground with a few hiccups along the way. A great read, especially for Disney fanatics or history buffs.
Profile Image for Marina.
23 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2018
I was looking for a good book on the history of Disneyland and that’s what I found in this. I learned so much about the process and the people behind my favorite place; I couldn’t put it down. Will definitely come back to it again at some point!
Profile Image for Jesse Stoddard.
Author 4 books4 followers
August 26, 2018
Very well researched and interesting book about a little-known figure in the themed attraction/park/Business trend that swept America and had a huge impact on our culture as well as both the Entertainment and hospitality industries. They created entire new industries.
Profile Image for Scott Southard.
Author 9 books317 followers
May 19, 2017
A must read for anyone who is a fan of Disneyland, the creativity behind it, and the complex person that was Walt.
Profile Image for John.
51 reviews3 followers
August 30, 2017
A thoroughly enjoyable read, chock full of details and very well researched. If you are a Disney fan or simply interested in the birth of the modern theme park, this should be in your To Read pile.
Profile Image for Julie.
54 reviews
September 3, 2019
Great audiobook. Loving Disney, had heard most of the stories around the start of Disneyland and Disney World, but this was definitely a story I wasn't aware of.
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