Reddit reviews Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real (A Walt Disney Imagineering Book)

They are no longer sold in the parks, but I got one of these books about each park on Amazon.
The Imagineering Field Guide to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World--Updated! (An Imagineering Field Guide) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1423124685/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_V2nEAb9ESJWFM

This book is awesome as well.
Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real https://www.amazon.com/dp/1423107667/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_G5nEAbWCYDX57

I have this one on my book shelf, it's pretty good.

Fellow Disney book-nerd here! Here are a bunch of my favorites. Hope this helps!

The Art of Animation

The Illusion of Life by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas

Walt Disney Imagineering by The Imagineers

The Disney That Never Was

Paper Dreams: The Art And Artists Of Disney Storyboards

Before the Animation Begins: The Art & Lives of Disney Inspirational Sketch Artists

The Fairest One of All: The Making of Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Tale as Old as Time: The Art and Making of Beauty and the Beast

Lilo & Stitch: Collected Stories From the Film's Creators

Magic Color Flair: The World of Mary Blair

Lovely: Ladies of Animation

Coming soon:

Marc Davis: Walt Disney’s Renaissance Man

The Nine Old Men by Andreas Deja

Disney During World War II: How the Walt Disney Studio Contributed to Victory in the War

I, uh, actually did that before, about two years back because I was trying to get enough to do it for a Grade 12 art project. They replied that because some people in the past have tried to sell Fastpasses online despite the fact that they can't be used the day after they are gotten. Thus, while they appreciated the fact that I wanted to use the fastpasses for an art project, they coudn't comply due to scamming on auction sites in the past.

They did, however, send me a nice photo signed by mickey, a letter wishing me the best, and a very nice hardcover book whose name I can't remember. It was about Imagineers and Disney World, and had an entire section on the specific dimensions of the front of the Castle. Had a bunch of little delicate pages that were in protective sleeves inside the book, and the book itself was somewhere between $60 and $80 to buy, so I really appreciated it.

But, yeah, that route isn't something the works for getting fastpasses, though.


EDIT: Found the book they sent me: http://www.amazon.ca/Walt-Disney-Imagineering-Behind-Dreams/dp/1423107667

Walt Disney's Disneyland is an incredibly comprehensive history of the original park. While it includes plenty of concept art it features many historical photos, planning documents, construction photos etc as well as taking the most detailed approach to the story of the park's construction and updates I've seen.

Walt Disney Imagineering is a good companion with a stronger focus on World, but this is more specific ride histories and designs than the overall park.

The Art of Walt Disney is a fantastic top to bottom look at the history of the studios and company, with plenty of amazing illustrations but is obviously art driven.

DisneyWar (already mentioned) is the seminal account of the Eisner era specifically and takes the word "comprehensive" to new heights.

The Walt Disney Studios (releasing this Sept) promises to be an excellent account of the film studios themselves and movies developed there.

As others have touched on there is a little bit of a vacuum for works that are just written histories, most have to get wrapped around "art" in some capacity to justify all of these books being $60+ 300 page hardcovers.

Get this book in paperback or used: https://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disney-Imagineering-Behind-Dreams/dp/1423107667

It's wonderful.

http://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disney-Imagineering-Behind-Dreams/dp/1423107667

I got this for Christmas and it's amazing.

If you're looking for things most people won't know. Try the Progress City Primer.

if you're looking for cool things from an Imagineer. Try Designing Disney by John Hench

If you're looking for more of an overview of Imagineering. Try Imagineering Disney.

If you're looking for a light overview of the park through time. Try Disneyland Through the Decades.

I have a couple that I've loved:

Walt Disney Imagineering Behind Dreams

And version 2 of the book:

Walt Disney Imagineering Behind Dreams 2

I've also really enjoyed this one:

Disney Mountains Imagineering at its Peak

So, regarding the eligibility for an MSME program, I don't think you'll be able to get accepted without some level of BSME curriculum. You might not need a full BSME, but there would be some core courses you'll need to take. More discussion here: https://m.reddit.com/r/AskEngineers/comments/32pfc8/those_who_have_a_msme/

Now as for the Disney Imagineering path, I wouldn't limit yourself to Orlando area. Judging by the latest engineering job postings (link), it seems a lot of their staff is in Glendale, CA. There has been a lot of discussion here on Reddit as well:

https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3e7i0z/iwasan_imagineer_amaa/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Disneyland/comments/2m8ign/how_do_you_become_an_imagineer_at_disneyland/

You also might want to start reading up on Imagineering as well. I've found dozens of books on Amazon on the subject. Here's just one: http://amzn.to/29HwlF0. There are numerous books on theme park engineering as well.

Hope this helps. Sounds like you have some research to do.