From Sketch to Reality

Finally! After many years of waiting, scrimping, and saving, I have finally bought Disneyland Paris: From Sketch to Reality. It’s a good thing, too, because this out-of-print book is becoming harder and harder to find.

There are two versions of the book: English and French. Both are currently still available through one of the authors, Alain Littaye (responsible for the book’s design and layout), although quantities are limited. I bought the English version (duh!), which has been updated from the initial publication (I think there were several grammatical and typographical errors from the original translation). Alain even signed my copy, which he does for all who buy the book directly from him.

The 320-page book is chock full of photos and concept images, much like the Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind-the-Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real. If you liked that one, you’ll love this one!

The downside to all of this? The book is expensive! It costs 87 euros, plus 15 euros for standard shipping. You can use Google to see the current exchange rate; type “102 euros to dollars” in the search box. But, it is an out-of-print book (originally published in 2002, I believe, and the updated version was last published in 2006). It is a hardcover, typically more expensive than a paperback, it’s big & heavy, and it has to be shipped overseas. So, it is definitely high-priced, but well worth the investment on this hard-to-find item.

If you’d like to get your hands on a copy, you can email Alain Littaye directly for payment instructions. I used PayPal, which is safe and quick.

It typically takes 4-6 weeks for an overseas delivery from Europe, but my book arrived in just eight days! As a book lover (as long as it has many pictures), I am fickle about their care and maintenance. So, I was more than pleased to see that the book arrived in a good, sturdy box, and was wrapped with many layers of bubble wrap. Not many people will go that far to protect an item like that, and the mailing systems (especially the USPS) can be brutal.

The book both looked and smelled as if it were fresh from the printer. I love the smell of a fresh book! I looked inside for my personalized autograph from Alain which read, “To Robert, this tribute to Disneyland Paris and the great Imagineers with all my best wishes!” Not only that, but there was an added bonus: an English version of a Disneyland Paris “Guide to the Parks” fold-out map. The guide covers all of Disneyland, the Walt Disney Studios, and has an overview of the entire resort. Since I kinda sorta collect park maps, this was exciting. Plus, I don’t have anything like this from any of the overseas parks.

Flipping through the book, I became giddy. The pages are packed with sketches, drawings, paintings, models, posters, elevation plans, and unique photos, all of which I love in a Disney theme park book (they’re good references for paper models). Disneyland Paris, alone, is an architectural and artistic delight. So, you can only imagine what the images and artwork are like inside the book. It’s simply breathtaking!

For even more great artwork from the Disney parks, check out Alain’s blog, Disney and More! While you’re there, you can also get more information about the book and how to get one of the last remaining copies.

Both the post author and this website have not received any compensation for writing this post. Both the post author and this website have no material connection to the third-party brands, products, or services that have been mentioned. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means that if you purchase the item, we will receive a commission. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying products. This is being disclosed in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”