One of my guilty pleasures is collecting books about the history of The Walt Disney Company--specifically anything related to the development and history of its theme parks. The past year has seen some fun new releases, many of which make excellent stocking stuffers for any Disney fan. And one title in particular is a can't-miss selection for the kids.
Walt Disney World Guide to the Magic for Kids by Tim Foster
Let's start with an in-depth look at one of the best Disney books I've ever come across. I stumbled across this book in the weeks leading up to our 2008 trip to Walt Disney World. While specifics were difficult to come by, the description made it sound like something our kids (ages 6 and 4 at the time) would really enjoy. Suffice it to say that the book exceeded my expectations in every way.
It is a rather large 10" x 8" spiral bound book on a heavy stock paper. If there is any drawback to this book whatsoever, it's that the size makes it just a touch unwieldy. But the content is top-notch.
The book is designed to be part theme park guide, part scavenger hunt, part vacation journal and part autograph book. It is 200 pages in full color from cover-to-cover with original artwork and photos from throughout the theme parks.
After a short introductory section the book dives right into the theme parks. Each theme park section begins with a kid-friendly map of the park and its attractions.
Each attraction receives up to a full page dedicated to it. A set of stickers are provided featuring colorful icons for each ride (see circular Star Tours shield below) along with generic ones like the "Favorite Attraction" sticker shown.
The pages for Epcot World Showcase countries have spots for the native Cast Members to sign a short greeting and to place their country's stamp.
A number of visual scavenger hunts are provided for each of the theme parks and lands.
But there is more than just theme park information. Also included are 14 daily journal pages where youngsters can track the parks and attractions they visited, Florida weather, meals, and so on.
And pages for character autographs.
The Walt Disney World Guide to the Magic for Kids is truly a delightful book certain to thrill any young Walt Disney World fans on your shopping list.
As for the adults on your list, there are a number of great park touring books available:
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2009 - Nearly 1000 pages of attraction and restaurant reviews, park touring tips, etc.
PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009 - Part touring guide and part vacation planner. The PassPorter is a great tool to keep track of everything you will need for a Disney Vacation.
Birnbaum Walt Disney World 2009 - The official guidebook produced by Disney. Not as helpful as others, but colorful and fun to read.
Walt Disney World Peak Seasons - Park touring advice catered to those who only visit during the busiest periods.
So ... You're Going to Disney World: How I learned to stop worrying and embrace the planning process - Savor the process of planning for a Disney vacation. Don't forget the little things while planning your family Disney outing.
Had enough park planning? There are plenty of books which focus on the history of Disney's theme parks and those who designed them. Foremost among them are the Imagineering Field Guides which cover three of the four Walt Disney World theme parks plus the 2008 release for Disneyland. Each volume is roughly 120 pages and highlights each theme park attraction 
with little-known facts, concept artwork and insight from Disney Imagineering staff.
Imagineering Field Guide to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World
Imagineering Field Guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World
Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland
And then there's the next level of insider volumes. These are the books largely reserved for the die-hards who can't get enough Disney theme park history.
Walt Disney's Imagineering Legends and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park - You have probably seen the names painted on the second-story windows along Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. Many of those individuals are Imagineers who contributed to the development and Walt's theme parks. And many are profiled in this 2008 release by Jeff Kurti.
Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets - The third edition of this wonderful scavenger hunt book. Is there any better way to pass the time while wandering those resort hallways or theme park queues than by looking for Hidden Mickey's?
The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at its Peak - Examines all of Disney's "mountain" themed attractions at its parks worldwide.
Kingdom Keepers II - Disney at Dawn - This work of fiction (aimed at young readers) goes behind the scenes of Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Prefer to enjoy your Disney history in video format? Check out these video releases.
Modern Marvels - Walt Disney World - This History Channel production is a couple years old but at nearly two hours long you're certain to learn a few new things about Walt Disney World.
Walt Disney Treasures - Disneyland USA - This Disney production has been out of print for several years but can still be found on Amazon. It includes a wealth of priceless footage ranging from Walt Disney's "Disneyland" television programs produced as the original park was still being constructed and the original opening ceremonies broadcast live thoughout the US.
