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Kingdom Keepers, The: Disney After Dark | 
 enlarge | Author: Ridley Pearson
Publisher: Disney Editions
Category: Book
List Price: $8.99
Buy New: $3.60
You Save: $5.39 (60%)
New (34) Used (20) from $2.93
Rating:  62 reviews
Sales Rank: 35264
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.4
ISBN: 1423105451
EAN: 9781423105459
ASIN: 1423105451
Publication Date: April 24, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: New-Has Remainder mark. Fast shipping from trusted wholesaler with many exclusive publisher contracts.
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Product Description
In this fantastical thriller, five young teens tapped as models for theme park "guides" find themselves pitted against Disney villains and witches that threaten both the future of Walt Disney World and the stability of the world outside its walls. Using a cutting-edge technology called DHI--which stands for both Disney Host Interactive and Daylight Hologram Imaging--Finn Whitman, an Orlando teen, and four other kids are transformed into hologram projections that guide guests through the park. The new technology turns out, however, to have unexpected effects that are both thrilling and scary. Soon Finn finds himself transported in his DHI form into the Magic Kingdom at night. Is it real? Is he dreaming? Finn's confusion only increases when he encounters Wayne, an elderly Imagineer who tells him that the park is in grave danger. Led by the scheming witch, Maleficent, a mysterious group of characters called the Overtakers is plotting to destroy Disney's beloved realm, and maybe more. This gripping high-tech tale will thrill every kid who has ever dreamed of sneaking into Walt Disney World after hours and wondered what happens at night, when the park is closed.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 57 more reviews...
 A Little Lackluster December 24, 2008
I've wanted to read THE KINGDOM KEEPERS for some time. I'd had it on my bookshelf -- waiting patiently to be read -- for about a year, and finally I picked it up and polished it off. I must say that I think I was a bit disappointed after I was finished. The story is interesting, and the characters aren't exactly boring, but it seems like Ridley Pearson missed out on an incredible opportunity to write something truly amazing and yes, magic.
The story centers around a boy named Finn, who after being filmed as a holographic guide for Walt Disney World, finds that when he sleeps, he crosses over to Disney World in the form of his holographic self. While there, he and four other guides find out that the park is in danger from the evil Overtakers, who are plotting to take over Disney World. What ensues is a wild romp throughout the many rides and hidden places of the theme park, with the kids battling it out with evil along the way.
I think where Pearson missed the boat is in the action sequences. His dialogue is pretty spot-on with the writing technique, but when it comes to those action scenes, he really gets confusing. Random tidbits of information are thrown in around an exciting chase. Or suddenly, we have to find out about some girl's outfit as she's fighting evil in terror. I found myself having a hard time following what exactly was happening, and wishing that it could have been a little clearer or more concise maybe.
It also seems like a lot of time is spent outside Disney World in the story, when the theme park is where I wanted to see more action happen. Of course, the kids have to go home at some point, but it still would have been more interesting to read about them in other places of the Magic Kingdom.
After all's said and done though, it wasn't a terrible book -- and it didn't take too long to read either. Younger kids will have a lot of fun with it, but for me, it just didn't quite cut it. Here's hoping that book two steps it up a notch.
 A Disney Adventure December 23, 2008
Five kids auditioned to be DHI's in Walt Disney World. DHI stands for Disney Host Interactive and Daylight Hologram Imaging. The kid's record sayings and then holograms are made of them. The Hologram's job is to go around the park and help guests.
Everything is going okay until the kids start waking up in Disney World. At first the think they are just dreaming, but when one of them gets burned by a laser in a pirate attak at night, he has a scar in the morning in the same exact place. They find out that they are to solve a fable and stop the overtakers. Overtakers are Mechanical robots from the rides that want to take over Disney world. They found out that Maleficent, from Sleeping Beauty, is their leader.
This book was great. I give it a 8.5 out of 10 stars. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger which made me want to read more. The fable that the kids were solving had to do with Walt Disney. He told a story to one of his worker's, and the worker told the kids. Walt Disney changed the name of the fable and the kids were supposed to find out why. I liked this part best, because there was a story inside of a story. I would suggest this book to anyone.
Kingdom Keepers December 17, 2008
Five kids auditioned to be DHI's in Walt Disney World. DHI stands for Disney Host Interactive and Daylight Hologram Imaging. The kid's record sayings and then holograms are made of them. The Hologram's job is to go around the park and help guests.
Everything is going okay until the kids start waking up in Disney World. At first the think they are just dreaming, but when one of them gets burned by a laser at night he has a mark in the morning in the same place. They find out that they are to solve a fable and stop the overtakers. Overtakers are Mechanical robots from the rides that want to take over Disney world. They found out that Maleficent, from Sleeping Beauty, is their leader.
This book was great. I give it a 8.5 out of 10 stars. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger which made me want to read more. The fable that the kids were solving had to do with Walt Disney. He told a story to one of his worker's, and the worker told the kids. Walt Disney changed the name of the fable, and the kids were supposed to find out why. I liked this part best, because there was a story inside of a story. I would suggest this book to anyone.
Some Flaws, but a Mostly Enjoyable Adventure November 20, 2008
Finn is having strange dreams. They started when the thirteen year old became a "Disney Host Interactive," a fancy term for a hologram that guides guests around Disney World's Magic Kingdom. But now, every night, he finds himself wandering around the deserted theme park.
Things only get weirder when he finds out the other four DHI's are experiencing the same thing. Then they learn from Imagineer Wayne that this was their real purpose. Seems that the forces of evil are trying to rebel and take over the park. And it is up to Finn and his new friends to figure out a way to stop them from succeeding. Can they do it?
For a Disney fan like me, this book has an irresistible premise. When I learned about it, I couldn't pass it up. And I mostly enjoyed it. In fact, every time I picked it up, it was a fight to set it back down again. The story moved quickly and I especially enjoyed the setting since I just made my first trip to Disney World. Several scenes were very exciting, and I may never look at some of my favorite attractions the same way again.
However, the book did have some problems. The only character I felt I really got to know where Finn and Amanda, a new student at his school. The other four DHI's were a bit interchangeable to me. Additionally, there is a major plot hole in the story. Finally, the climax was a bit weak.
I know these complaints sound rather major, but they weren't. The fantasy and fun of the story made it easy to overlook them and enjoy the story. I'm sure anyone in the targeted 10 and up age range, but especially Disney fans, will find this book thrilling.
 Kingdom Keepers November 8, 2008
My 4th daughter was going to read this - she got lost over the first chapter, so I started reading it to her. Before I knew it, I was as into the book as she. The first chapters are spent with a lot of background information, building the basis for this thriller. By the end, she was very insistent that we have our reading time and had me carrying the book into restaurants to read. I thoroughly recommend!
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