4. The Swiss Family Robinson

Sure, I’m a Disney fan and sure, I enjoyed the Disney movie version of the Swiss Family Robinson.  But really – tigers?  I don’t think so.  The book The Swiss Family Robinson is a classic, written by Johann Wyss in 1812.  Like the incredible Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse attraction in Adventureland, it is loaded with details – and really intriguing (if somewhat unrealistic) descriptions of how a family could actually survive on an uncharted island.  It’s also a terrific way to get into the spirit not only of the actual attraction, but also of Adventureland as a whole.  It’s all about ordinary people like you and me who take a risk and wind up living a completely unexpected life.

5. Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales

Where did the story of "The Little Mermaid" come from?  How about the story of "The Snow Queen," on which Frozen is based?  Both were penned by Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish cobbler who became an international legend.  Of course the Disney versions of these tales are lovely, but they’re quite different from the originals.  What kinds of changes did Disney make?  How do you feel about them?  Reading the originals will give you a whole new perspective on the stories, characters, “sidekicks,” visuals, and rides.

6. Tales from Grimm

 Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, and several other classic Disney rides and movies are based on Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Grimm is actually the name of a set of brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm, who collected and published dozens of classic folktales in the year 1812.  Not only are Disney movies and rides built around many of these stories, but so, too, are the creatures, clothing, and architecture of Fantasyland.  Why are princesses so helpless, princes so clueless, and witches so jealous?  It’s all in this handy guide to the world of traditional European folk tales.