As a lifelong Disney fan—someone who proudly wore Mickey ears as a kid and still hums "A Whole New World" unprompted—I couldn’t resist diving into this behind-the-scenes drama of Disney’s post-Walt era. This book reads like a real-life fairy tale, but with boardroom battles instead of magical castles, and it captures the pivotal moments that transformed Disney from a floundering family studio into the global powerhouse we know today.

I was fascinated to learn about Ron Miller, Walt’s son-in-law, who tried to honor the Disney legacy while wrestling with the changing times. As a kid, I never would’ve guessed that the Disney magic I loved so much—whether it was watching *The Little Mermaid* for the 100th time or begging my parents for one more ride on Space Mountain—was nearly extinguished during this tumultuous period. The tensions between Miller and Roy E. Disney felt like a real-life sibling rivalry, only with the fate of Mickey Mouse hanging in the balance.

The story of Disney’s animation department being on the brink of shutting down hit me hard. Can you imagine a world without *The Lion King* or *Beauty and the Beast*? It’s like imagining a childhood without Disney singalongs or Pixar tears. The “young talent” that saved animation went on to create some of my favorite films, proving that the Disney magic was far from gone—it just needed a little reinvention.

This book is a treasure trove for anyone who grew up with Disney and still finds joy in its magic. It’s a reminder that even the happiest place on Earth had its struggles, and those struggles led to the era of Disney we all adore today. If you’ve ever wanted to know the story behind the story, this one’s for you—grab your popcorn (or your mouse ears) and settle in!