We all know Walt Disney’s story. The co-creator of Mickey Mouse (alongside Ub Iwerks), film producer, voice actor, entrepreneur, animator, and animation pioneer, Walter Elias Disney opened the first Disneyland theme park resort in Anaheim, California in July 1955.
Over the decades that followed, the California resort expanded into the global theme park empire as we know it, comprising five additional sites: Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneyland.
Often dubbed by guests and the media as the “Happiest Place on Earth” (although the moniker is usually attributed to the original resort), each theme park destination offers parkgoers of all ages a world of attractions, themed lands, eateries, and outlets to explore.
Though Disney World has become the go-to of all six resorts (no surprise considering it’s by far the biggest), Disneyland will always be the original. It’s also where Walt himself would stay from time to time; in the apartment above the firehouse on Main Street U.S.A.
So, if one were to write a piece of fiction about Walt Disney, Disneyland would be the best place to start. And that’s exactly what one author has done; taken the co-founder of the empire and plunged him into the heart of a fictitious mystery thriller set against the most unusual backdrop: Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.
Related: Disneyland California Reportedly Empty as Crowds Disappear From Park
A “Da Vince Code”-Style Novel Set in Disneyland
Self-published on Amazon by writer Robert J. Perreault in 2024, “
While Perreault’s “The Disney Riddles” has no mainstream visibility, the plot reads like Dan Brown’s international best-seller, “The Da Vinci Code.”
But instead of the city streets and museums of Paris, it’s Disneyland, California (which is steeped in history in its own way); and instead of Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon, it’s FBI Agent Lacie Webb.
The plot for the book centers on Lacie Webb as she investigates the kidnapping of Walt Disney after he’s abducted from his office in Disneyland. The FBI agent, a recurring central character in Perreault’s titles much like Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon, is “plunged into an investigation that twists through the darkest corners of the legendary [Disney] empire.”
“Beneath the cheerful music, spinning teacups, and glowing castle, she discovers a labyrinth of cryptic riddles, buried secrets, and a conspiracy so dangerous, it could dismantle the legacy of Walt Disney himself,” the synopsis continues.
“But the riddles are more than just keys to the truth… they’re a test. Each answer brings Lacie closer to unraveling a decades-old mystery, but also closer to becoming the next victim. As the clock ticks, the line between ally and enemy blurs, and even Lacie’s own sanity comes into question.”
As intriguing as the premise is, though, it’s unlikely “The Disney Riddles” will ever get the same treatment as “The Da Vince Code.”
Dan Brown’s 2003 global hit, which has sold tens of millions of copies worldwide, was adapted to the big screen by director Ron Howard in 2006. Starring Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, the film also became a commercial success, grossing $760 million worldwide against its $125 million budget. It was followed by two sequels, Angels & Demons (2009) and Inferno (2016), both also directed by Howard.
Interestingly, Hanks also played Walt Disney in the 2013 biographical drama film, Saving Mr. Banks. But whether or not he’d be up for reprising his role as Walt in a mystery thriller that shares more similarities to The Da Vince Code (2006) remains to be seen.
Walt Disney’s Everlasting Empire
Walt Disney’s global theme park empire continues to expand. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the seventh Disney resort is underway, this time set for Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Disney World and Disneyland Paris are undergoing major expansions, including the construction of new themed lands, from Magic Kingdom’s Cars-themed Piston Peak to Paris’ World of Frozen and Lion King-themed areas.
“The Disney Riddles” continues with
Have you read “The Disney Riddles”? What did you think? Let us know in the comments down below!
