The Kingdom Keepers: Disney after Dark

Written by Ridley Pearson

Narrated by Gary Littman

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Aug 29, 2005
• ISBN: 9781423306931

Ridley Pearson

Ridley Pearson is the bestselling author of over fifty novels, including Peter and the Starcatchers (cowritten with Dave Barry) and the Kingdom Keepers and Lock and Key series. He has also written two dozen crime novels, including Probable Cause, Beyond Recognition, Killer Weekend, The Risk Agent, and The Red Room. To learn more about him, visit www.ridleypearson.com.

Reviews for The Kingdom Keepers

[anakurland · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked it much better the 2nd time around. Now that I have an AP to Disney I was able to follow it much better. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Angela · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting story, but the writing isn't great. I read/listen to many YA books with my son, so it's not the level of the book. Just many awkward bits in the writing.

[sparkleponies · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a great book for any fan of Disney World. Using cutting-edge technology, five Florida teens have been transformed into Holographic Hosts at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. It all seems to be going well, until the kids begin having disturbing dreams that start affecting their everyday lives. They sneak in after the park has closed, and Wayne, a retired Imagineer, directs them in their fight against the Overtakers – Disney Villians. I found myself chuckling out loud several times, and look forward to read the next books in the series. Although I feel you’d only appreciate and understand the story if you’ve been to WDW, it really makes me want to go back so I can see it in this new light (I knew there was something unnerving about those animatronic kids in the “Small World” ride).

[mrsbond_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book feels like a Disney production, in the same way the you can seen a short clip of a performance and know that it came from Disney World or a Disney Channel show. There is just enough of everything to make it appear happy, well-rehearsed, and a place you might like to be. Missing is depth, natural flow, and realistic serendipity. Kingdom Keepers is based on fictional Disney production (the DHI's), so it is fully in keeping with the Disney production model. The use of proper names for various park elements felt somewhat forced, at times making this little novel feel like a Disney advertisement. Readers barely get to know the main character, learning a little more than a name for the supporting characters. To be honest, I don't like the Mouse, never really did, and this opinion colors my view on this book. If you don't have strong feelings against all things Disney, this will most likely be a fun read.

[forsanolim · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Finn, along with a group of four other teenagers, is the basis for one of Disney's new hologram tour guides, with his image serving to host and direct visitors throughout the park. However, in a weird sort of dream he learns that there is great danger facing the park against which he and the other hosts need to fight. The group then goes on nighttime adventures throughout the Magic Kingdom, trying to win back control over the Kingdom from the evil characters trying to take it over.This book was a fun, quick read. The story was definitely creative, and I enjoyed the Disney setting. Though I didn't think they meshed especially well with the rest of the story, I also did enjoy the parts involving Virtual Magic Kingdom, as that definitely reminded me of my childhood. The book very clearly targeted a younger audience, and that definitely showed, I think, in how parts of the book were (or weren't, as the case may be) fleshed out; and even though this book obviously has fantastical elements, it sometimes pushed suspension of disbelief a little to far. I may well pick up another book from this series for a light read sometime.

[amandabock-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I read this because one of my 6th graders kept telling me how good it was. It came out in 2005, and I’m sure it’s not a coincidence that Gail Carson Levine’s [book: Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg] came out that same year. It seems that Disney paid a lot of money to talented writers to flesh out bad storylines involving classic Disney characters. (Although, I adore David Christiana’s illustrations in the latter.) This book has a lot of good elements- a mismatched group of kids who have to overcome their differences to save the world (including one who is treasonous), three-dimensional holographs that enable the kids to enter a parallel, sinister world, and roller coasters. Unfortunately, the story just doesn’t hang together well. Aside from the main character and the one who defects to the dark side, the kids are pretty much interchangeable. One of the more annoying plot contrivances is the man who seems to know what the kids need to do to save Disneyland from the villains, but insists that the kids have to find out for themselves. It’s never really clear why he can’t solve the problem himself.

[othemts · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is the first in a series of adventure and mystery children's novels set in the Walt Disney World theme parks that I'm reading to my Disney fan daughter.  The basic gist is that five young teenagers have been used as models for holographic theme park guides in Disney's Magic Kingdom known as Disney Host Interactive (DHI).  A simple one-time acting gig unexpectedly leads the kids to start crossing over in their sleep and appearing in the Magic Kingdom in the form of their holograms.  An old and mysterious Imagineer named Wayne tells them that they were created to counter the characters of Disney villains who are coming to life and trying to take over the parks (and thus known as the Overtakers).The five teens kind of have a Scooby Doo crew crossed with a Disney Channel Original Movie vibe.  Finn is the leader and the main protagonist of the book.  Charlene is an athletic cheerleader who is often frightened about participating in the adventures. Maybeck, a tall African-American, is the sceptic of the group and typically responds with sarcasm.  Willa, possibly of Native American background, is more positive and is good at working out clues.  Philby is the redheaded tech genius of the group.  Finn's mysterious friend Amanda also helps out, although she is not a DHI.They have to solve a mystery by finding clues on the rides.  The Overtakers try to stop them by turning the rides against them.  Which leads to the creepiest scene ever in It's a Small World that will totally ruin the ride for you. They ultimately have to face down Malificent and her sidekick Jez.It's a fun and interesting story, and much more of a literary children's book than you might expect from it's commercial tie-in with a big theme park.  In fact, since the Disney company is so image conscious, I'm surprised that they actually make the company look bad at some points in the narrative.  My daughter enjoyed this book and I expect we'll be reading the whole series. 

[ladypembroke · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting premise, decent characters, a bit shaky on the execution. The story got a little convoluted at times, and the author seemed to revel in their insider knowledge of all things Disney World. Still going to read the next one.

[cubsfan3410 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was SO much better than I expected. Fun characters, neat storyline.

[jguidry-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The story had an interesting premise, but the delivery was just okay. There were lots of plotholes that were never filled in. It doesn't seem like the holes were left as cliffhangers, the author just moved on and seemed to forget about them. The beginning was very slow, but when the action picked up, it did get interesting enough to hold my attention. I will pick up book two to see if there is improvement in the series.

[dr_cicle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After I read this, I felt excited, inspired, wanting to go to Disneyland at hat very moment. I loved this book and I want to start reading the next one!

[lissabeth21 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a wild, fantastic ride!! I was as engrossed as my son. And talk about your giant cliff hangers...not one thing was actually explained or resolved! We are so glad we already purchased #2!!

[thewallflower-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I barely finished this one. Thirty-three percent through and I was speed-reading just to get to the end. I really should have just stopped, but the idea sounded too good not to follow through, like Kingdom Hearts. But it's not worth your time.The concept is ideal for any Disneyphile-evil lurks in the park and five kids have to stop it, going on rides after close and exploring cast member tunnels and doing all the things you're not allowed to do. Walt Disney World goes from a place of joy to a battleground. Anyone who's been to a Disney Park at least once should be intrigued.But you shouldn't. It's so poorly executed and poorly written. Like it was a rush job. The characters have no depth. They don't even get the depth of stereotypes. No one has a personality. I could not tell you the difference between the two girls of this five person team. And they're barely in the book as it is. Anyone who's not the "team leader" gets barely any screen time. The two other boys are "the big guy" and "the computer guy" but "the big guy" occasionally feeds information about computers and "the computer guy" acts weak and nerdy. No one has internal goals or distinguishing characteristics. Power Rangers had better characterization.The story is all event. And they throw in some BS about how these kids are "holographic cast members" and that gives them the ability to be in the park after it closes. This is a thing that doesn't exist in the park, and I had to try explaining to my kids five times. It's rooted in science but acts like magic and has no rules around it. It just happens. Once they're in the park, they have to do some lame The Da Vinci Code style sleuthing, because Walt Disney knew that his movies were going to come to life and imprison the guests in dungeons down below. That's a sentence I just said. This fetch quest accomplishes its job of filling out pages by making every obstacle the same--you get on a ride, the ride malfunctions, but you succeed anyway without any lasting consequences. Goalposts are never pushed back.Kids deserve better than this. The only highlight is seeing the things you saw in Disney World, and only in the "hey I remember that" way.This is no Percy Jackson or Wimpy Kid. I did not care whether the characters lived or died. And there were too many of them anyway. In addition to the Team of Five, there are two girls with ambiguous motives but the same non-personality, an Imagineer mentor, and "the adults who know nothing". The author can explain the Utilidor under the park, but not why these kids matrix-jump into their holograms when they fall asleep nor how that works. That's like Benedict Cumberbatch doing the mocap for Smaug, then going to sleep and finding himself IN the film. It feels like the author was writing to a deadline or to the specifications of investors and focus groups. Pick up a Travel Guide instead.

[melydia_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I would have adored this book as a kid. A group of kids find themselves in the Magic Kingdom at night, and they have to battle creatures from the park rides, led by villains from Disney movies. As an adult I was somewhat less enchanted, but that's okay. I'll still be looking at the park in a new light when I visit in a couple months.

[carl_alves_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The Kingdom Keepers is a sorry excuse for a novel. This novel was so bad that it offended me, and I am offended by very little. It’s really not a novel but a pathetic advertisement for the Walt Disney Company. I can’t even count how many times the author broke off from the story to give a soliloquy about the greatness of Disney, or going in depth about this product or that product of theirs. I can only assume that the company paid this writer to write this series of novels. In this story, a group of teens have to go into the Magic Kingdom and fight off the evil Disney characters. Some of the characters in the novel attack the heroes while others help fight off the baddies. It’s so bad, it’s not even worth going into the plot. Suffice it to say, save yourself from having to read this book. It’s simply not worth it.Carl Alves – author of Blood Street

[habe2014 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark" was a great book. In the story, five middle school students became a part of a new program that was promoted for the Disney parks. This program was called, "DHI" for, "Daylight Hologram Imaging" and in this program, the five kids, Finn, Charlene, Maybeck, Philby, and Willa were guides of the park and told the visitors all about the park, and Walt Disney. Although the job was a dream come true, there were secrets that were revealed through out the story. The biggest secret that was revealed was that after hours, the villains were in a group called " The Overtakers" and they were attempting to take over the park. Throughout the story, Ridley Pearson tells the story of how Finn and his friends battle against the Overtakers and their leader, Maleficent. I enjoyed reading this book because the author tells the story of this magic happening at he Disney parks in a way that definitely made myself as a reader believe in the magic that took place. This made me enjoy the book because on a personal example, I have been going to Disney World for approximately 8 years and this book has made my view on the park completely different. I recommend this book to anyone who has a love for Disney, mystery, action, and even magic.This book has a spellbinding plot that will have readers unable to put their book down.

[deweyever · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

 The Kingdom Keepers is a really fun concept. Many park goers try to imagine what happens in the park when it closes. In KK we get to find out- Everything comes alive! There are a group of young teens, who are holographic tour guides in the park, but when they go to sleep at night, they wake up in the park as their holograms ( more or less). The kids find out that a super evil Disney Villain is trying to take over the park, along with many other characters. While the kids are running away from these untrustworthy fellows they must solve a riddle left by Walt himself in order to save the parks.Some of the magic elements that take place in the book, felt too jarring to me ( they continue in the latter books) and felt like those pieces of the story don't click. Some of the actions that took place in the end of the book felt like too quick of a wrap up, as a reader we didn't see it coming and it felt more frustrating than fantastic. The things that are done excellently in the book are the behind the scenes elements! The author got to tour the park and tell us what he did get to see, so some of the places we read about are true! The puzzle in the series was also fun to try and solve with the kids, but I felt some of the solutions were a little too simple and obvious for more mature readers. It is a book the family could read together.

[jamesd.b1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I gave this book a five star because I felt it's idea and topic was original. It also was funny and kept you hooked till the end. In The Kingdom Keepers book the five main characters take a job in the magic kingdom to make daylight holographic imaging of them selves to guide people around the park. Soon they find, out after the holograms are finished, when they go to sleep they get transported into their holograms. through out the book they have a adventure that in some points puts their lives in danger. in the end can they defeat the evil characters that threaten the park or will these evil beings take over the park and shut it down.

[theinvernessie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book went by so fast. It was really cute, and I hope to read more about this crazy universe Ridley Pearson created. I almost cried laughing about the Small World Robots!

[kewpie83 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A simple story about good and evil. This story is predictable, but it was an okay read. Not a favorite of mine, but solid.

[carolvanbrocklin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Had a hard time with this being a kids book...I mean the attack of the Small World Dolls was creepy enough as it is but for kids....

[klarsenmd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This Disney story takes place at the MAgic Kingdom in Orlando. It's a classic good verses evil tale centered around 5 kids and a wicked Maleficent. It felt very gimicky even for a kids book. The only saving grace is the level of the writing and adventure. Not sure I would recommend it to anyone but die-hard disney fans.

[hannajohn_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fun concepts in a playful story set in Disney world. I suspect the normal target audience (young readers) will like this adventure. I enjoyed it from the standpoint of a nice "behind the scenes" plot. Next time I am in Disney World I wonder if I'll be looking for clues Walt may have scattered throughout the park.

[ctmslesu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

You think you know what happens in Diseny Land after dark, but this book will make what you know to the next level.Finn Whitman is just a kid looking for a way to earn money, but little does he know the dangers of becoming a DHI. (Disney Host Interactive or Digital Hologram I ). Wayne, on old imagioneer, tells Finn that him ond the other DHIs need tofind out what the "Stonecutter's Quill" means. They then go through the trouble of find the clues to desiphering it on the rides that have to do with; water, stone, clouds, and sun. They find out what it means and battle Maleficent, an evil which, with her so called daughter, Jez. Now this all happenes when you and I are aspleep in our beds.

[jessierose_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've never been to Disney world or any other Disney park. But after reading this novel, I really want to go to one!There are a lot of things I enjoy about this novel but one of my favorites is how Pearson kept the realism of the park and added some elements without making it boring or repetitive. I really love this book and it goes to show that you can write a book for kids and have it be amazing. If you are looking for a fun mystery with some familiar characters than this is the book for you.

[06nwingert · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Middle school student Finn Whitman gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is chosen to be part of Disney's latest scheme- Disney Host Interactive, or DHI. DHIs are holographic hosts who escort guests around the park. Everything is going well until Finn and the other DHIs find themselves locked inside the park after hours. Maleficent, the evil witch from Sleeping Beauty, comes alive and tries to hatch an evil plot. Because Pearson sets the book in Walt Disney World, the book has a sense of realism. The rides and characters are not imagined, but actually exist, thus giving the reader a clear picture in his or her mind. Pearson also mixes technology (DHIs) with pre-established Disney icons/fairy tale characters (Maleficent, Mickey Mouse, Tom Sawyer), which helps to deepen the book. I will be picking up the sequels as soon as possible.

[ctmsnocr · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The book "Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark" is about a boy named Finn who gets stuck in disney world. I think this book was good, however it depends on what level reader you are.This book was probably made for a second grader looking forward on going to disney world. For a middle schooler I would not recomend this book.

[momma2_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Blake says this book is fabulous, awesome and amazing and that I would really like it. This from the kid who wasn't sure about it when I picked it up for him at the library. I knew he would like it because he loved Peter and the Starcatchers and he loved Walt Disney World. Of course this is mostly fictional but fresh off a WDW trip he is just eating it up. We had to rush to the library for the next one.

[porch_reader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love it when one of my boys reads a book and then gives it to me to read with an excited, "You've got to read this!" My son liked this book both because of the plot and because the story is set at Disney World. (We just visited there in December.) When the evil Overtakers threaten the happiest place on earth, five middle school kids have to save the day. The book is filled with references to Magic Kingdom rides. Although it starts a little slowly, the plot picks up about halfway through and pulls readers along to the end. This is the first in a series, and I'm pretty sure that both Ben and I will be reading the next one!

[whisper1_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

If you like Disneyworld, chances are you might enjoy this quick, delightful read of five youngsters who are given a unique opportunity to have their physical bodies become holograms. Soon the reality and fantasy mesh as they learn the dark side of Disney at night when the Pirates become real swashbucklers, the small world dolls escape from their platforms and evil mayhem abounds as the evil witch Maleficent reigns supreme.It was a light, breezy read. At times I was frustrated because the plot was very scattered and the text not well written. But, I did enjoy the creativity.Guardedly recommended.