Between Books - Our Kingdom of Dust

Several months ago I was emailing with publisher Leonard Kinsey discussing a review copy that he was sending to me. I felt bad because I noted I did not want to review his first fiction offering, Our Kingdom of Dust. I said no for two reasons. First, I did not feel comfortable reviewing fiction at that time. Second, the subject matter just did not feel like a good fit for me. But despite the fact I wanted nothing to do with this title, I could not resist picking up a Kindle copy from Amazon due to the really affordable price and the fact that Leonard has been very kind to me, which made me want to check out what he had put together.

Despite the fact that I had purchased it, it sat on my Kindle shelf for months. In the meantime, I enjoyed another Disney fictional story and some history, but I never cracked the virtual cover. Then I found myself on a family trip reading a fiction book in another genre and I found myself a little bored with that title. After this realization, I decided one morning to finally crack open Our Kingdom of Dust, even though I knew I would hate it! But, it would help pass the time until I was ready for the other book again. Several hours later, I found that I had finished the book and had not even considered Star Wars. Well played Leonard Kinsey, well played!

Our Kingdom of Dust follows the fictional Blaine McKinnon. Blaine had been successful in the business world, making his millions young. But on the personal front, his life could only be called tragic. After one last straw, McKinnon decides to take his fortune and retreat to the Walt Disney World Resort, a location filled with many happy childhood memories with his late parents. While holding up indefinitely at the Boardwalk, he befriends Jay, a tattooed Disney superfan (I mention the tattoos only because they are all Disney themed) and drug dealer. Blaine, who has not been lucky in love, falls for Jay’s girlfriend Lisa, who is a friend of Snow White. Through Jay and Lisa, Blaine enters a world of deeply broken people who use Jay’s custom drug, Pixie Dust. Pixie Dust does what all real world drugs do in that it helps Jay’s customers hide from their real world problems. Blaine is faced with overcoming his own issues and helping Jay face his demons, all while contemplating if he should seek a future with Lisa. The story successfully wraps ups the threads of every character’s story, though not everyone receives a Walt Disney designed happy ending!

For a first fictional offering, I really have to applaud Kinsey. In the first ten pages he hooked me as a reader, in a genre I would typically never read. He had left me feeling for Blaine and feeling sorrow for his many many loses. Additionally, he built pictures in my mind that took me to a dark sad place. I felt sorrow for his characters. Honestly, as a dog fan, the last scene of Blaine and his dog, Sam, rocked me to the core. As the pages progressed, he brought me into the mood of the story. Honestly, at one point, I had to read with an adult beverage in hand in order to escape the fictional world in which I was spending so much time. I also found myself telling the Between Wife things being done to Blaine, especially in the early pages. I was reminded she planned on reading it later and I needed to avoid spoilers. I think it is safe to say that I was really drawn into Kinsey’s world and placed the book of a bestselling Sci-Fi author in an universe that I love aside for a Saturday. No idea what this last sentence means

Kinsey also does an excellent job with the Walt Disney World Resort setting. He does an excellent job of painting the scene, which is telling of his frequent visits to the Resort. My favorite detail was him discussing the small lizards one encounters while walking from place to place. And with this story set during Epcot’s 25th Anniversary, Kinsey takes us back to that version of the park complete with Mickey’s wand attached to Spaceship Earth. I admit I really enjoyed reading Blaine’s reactions to this version of Epcot after a long absence. Additionally, Blaine’s reaction to the removal of Horizons brought a smile to my own face. And of course, his reaction to the Imagination Pavilion and his guest comment card were moments I found hilarious.

Who will enjoy Our Kingdom of Dust? I will admit it is outside of my general interests, being a realistic drama. The fact that it included the Walt Disney World Resort was the hook that brought me in. This was supported by the fact that I was happily surprised by Kinsey’s guidebook The Dark Side of Disney. Without these, I probably would have never picked up the book. I did find that the setting is very adult in nature and there are some graphic images especially around one death that I cannot shake and some may find disturbing. I think those who enjoyed the non-fiction books Mousetrapped and Cast Member Confidential would likely enjoy this fictional tale of broken people in a magical world.

Our Kingdom of Dust with its adult situations and drug storyline may not be for every Disney fan. However, Kinsey’s writing is engaging and he draws you into a world of broken souls. If one is willing to give it a chance, especially with its low Kindle price, it can take you to another place for a few hours. And it might just remind you that you are not as broken as you think.

Walt's Windows - Dreamfinder on The Today Show

Once I picked up From Dreamer to Dreamfinder I found myself looking for videos of incidents Ron Schneider included in his memoir.  One of the first I wanted to see was his October 1982 interview with Imagineer Barry Braverman on The Today Show being interviewed by Bryant Gumbel. 

Schneider describes the interview as, “The wig and hair were all wrong and I’m pushing too hard…like a new employee on his first day (Schneider, 100).”  Have a look for yourself:

I am no Dreamfinder expert, but I do agree that the beard looks as if it could fall off any moment.  And I know understand Schneider’s comments in his memoir about his early fake arm and how it did not look correct.  I think for me my biggest concern is that Gumbel treats Dreamfinder as a created character and not a living being.  But overall with failing beards and all, this interview would have gotten my young self excited if I had seen it for this new thing called Epcot. 

Between Books - From Dreamer to Dreamfinder

I never met Dreamfinder.  I am not obsessed with Dreamfinder.  I have no nostalgia for the old version of Journey to Imagination at Epcot.  In fact I have warmer feelings for the Audio-Animatronic Sonny Eclipse at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, and he is not even alive!  Dreamfinder and the height of Figment’s presence in the park were simply before my time.  So I looked to From Dream to Dreamfinder as a chronicle of an Epcot, character and attraction that I never experienced.  And coming from that perspective I was shocked to how much I connected with Ron Schneider’s From Dreamer to Dreamfinder.

Schneider, best known as the original Dreamfinder at Epcot’s opening in 1982, chronicles his life in themed entertainment in From Dreamer to Dreamfinder: A Life and Lessons Learned in 40 Years Behind a Name Tag.  While Disney fans may be aware of the character of Dreamfinder and expect much of the book to be about Schneider’s time at Epcot, readers instead will find a book that outlines a long and diverse experience in themed entertainment ranging from theme parks, dinner shows, and historical reenactments.  Schneider starts with his childhood and his growing love of Disney, including his attendance at the first operational day of the Disneyland Park.  Schneider becomes what can only be called a Disney fan collecting park memorabilia while also showing an interest in theater.  In 1971, Schneider begins his first job as a in park performer.  He portrays a mountain man whose performance partner is a lion named Major!  Schneider moves forward improving his acting skills until he in 1980 becomes an understudy to legendary Disney performer Wally Boag at The Golden Horseshoe at Disneyland.  While in Disney employment he hears of a character created by Imagineer Tony Baxter planned for the second park at the Walt Disney World Resort, Epcot.  Schneider auditions for the new role and becomes the original Dreamfinder, helping to define the character and his interactions.  After several years portraying this iconic character, Schneider shifts into other roles including freelance writing, writing and supervising the celebrity look-a-likes at Universal Studios Florida, serving as a guide for Titanic: The Exhibition, and a return to Disney opening the new Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.  Schneider closes the book with five appendixes sharing his years of experience on themed entertainment.

I found this book very surprising.  I thought I would find a nicely written memoir that looked fondly on professional experiences and almost exclusively within Disney Parks.  What I found instead was refreshing.  First Schneider makes it clear that he was a Disney fan before he even became a performer, starting as a kid.  And his fandom continues into the age of the Internet with his participation in the Disney fan community.  Additionally, I expected that of this book at least a third would be dedicated to Dreamfinder at Epcot.  Instead, this is far from the focus of the book.  Instead the diversity of Schneider’s career stands out.  I felt as if he went more in-depth into his time supervising the look-a-likes at Universal than his days as Dreamfinder, which makes sense he spent twice as much time in that role.  I did not realize that this book would start in Disneyland, and that he had experiences at Walt’s original park.  And the diversity of Schneider’s experiences helps highlight the range of themed entertainment experiences, I had not expected for example to read chapters, and very interesting chapters at that, on dinner shows.  If I could ask for more content on any one of these topics it would have been his tenure with Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.  But his lack of in-depth discussion on how the magic is made, which he alludes to but does not spell out for his reader, is likely due to the respect he is giving an active show. 

I really came into this read with preconceptions that were proven wrong.  Because another expectation I had was Schneider would paint a very rosy picture of his days at Disney and other themed entertainment experiences.  Instead, the book is highly realistic about these experiences and at times Schneider names the guilty.  There is at least one personality that he speaks of in code, a personality that Schneider clearly did not like, but in general he talks about people known within the themed entertainment circles.  For example, he discusses Crazy Joe of the restaurant Fiascos in depth, including both positive and negative points about his personality and operation.  And he is not above criticizing shows found in amusement parks such as calling out the shortcomings of a show titled “Super-Santa-Tastic Extravaganza” before a guest even sees the show.  Schneider is frank about situations in which he felt his contribution was ignored or overlooked.  And he even discusses the burn-out of being a Disney cast member and character.  Overall he is very frank as he invites the reader into his life.              

I really enjoyed, as you can probably guess, this well written memoir.  Ron Schneider is engaging and shares his experiences both on and off stage.  And despite the fact that for me the nostalgic factor was non-existent even I could feel the excitement on the back of my neck as I read of his return as Dreamfinder at the 2011 D23 Destination D event celebrating the 40^th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort.  Dreamfinder’s, I mean Schneider’s, writing made it clear that something special and emotional was going to happen even to the non super-fan.  From Dreamer to Dreamfinder is a well written and highly engaging book that provides depth to the performance aspects of theme parks, and an essential for Between Book libraries.    

Review Copy Provided by Bamboo Forest Publishing