What psychology of mk do you know about?

[Melpuff]

Other than mainstreets illusion of the buildings and trashcans being so close together, what are some other really cool examples of Disney knowing how we think?

 

[twindad2]

Find that most everyone enters from the right, thus the strollers, food, etc. Then, upon departing, they exit to the right and have stores, etc. Disney knows how to do it right. Just finished reading Hidden Magic of Disney and it is awesome. 11 more wake-ups and I am home!!!

 

[eastcarolinafan]

Other than mainstreets illusion of the buildings and trashcans being so close together, what are some other really cool examples of Disney knowing how we think?

Like you, I am totally fascinated by these things. The man was a genius, and that is all there was to it. To me, a LARGE part of the whole magic thing at Disney is the actual business of it. I just love how the man thought things out, how he separated people from their money and made people smile about it.

Go here and look at #3.


http://elementaltruths.blogspot.com/2006/12/secret-disney-mind-control-or.html

You will find out my thousands will wait an hour in the 100 degree heat to ride Haunted Mansion.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE DW and all the nerdy stuff that goes with it. I am sold. But it's the thinking, the marketing, the BUSINESS of it all that fascinates me most.

Disney was just an amazing mind.

 

[Melpuff]

When I tell people I love Disney so much that I want to work there, they often ask me if I'm sure I want to because it will ruin the magic.

I always tell them "Not at all!" because to me how Walt and others created all of this and makes it happen IS the magic to me.

 

[CLPClarinet]

um......I guess I don't get why trashcans being so close together does anything? Explain please!?

I love psychology and human behavior, so I hope this thread gets popular.

 

[Haley]

um......I guess I don't get why trashcans being so close together does anything? Explain please!?

I love psychology and human behavior, so I hope this thread gets popular.

They have tested how long someone will walk before throwing a piece of trash on the ground- so they know how far apart to put the trash cans so people won't litter.

I think they used to give people a candy at the turnstile and measure how far they went before throwing the wrapper on the ground.

 

[viking042900]

um......I guess I don't get why trashcans being so close together does anything? Explain please!?

I love psychology and human behavior, so I hope this thread gets popular.

Rumor has it that Walt studied how long someone took to eat a hotdog while moving on foot. He then spaced the trash cans accordingly so that a guest would not have to carry around a wrapper in search of a trash can, or worse yet drop the wrapper on the ground.

 

[melk]

They have tested how long someone will walk before throwing a piece of trash on the ground- so they know how far apart to put the trash cans so people won't litter.

I think they used to give people a candy at the turnstile and measure how far they went before throwing the wrapper on the ground.

This was what they told us on the Keys to the Kingdom tour. They told us it was Walt Disney who did actually did this, so now you will never go too far without encountering a trash can.

They also told us that if you notice the umbrellas at the outdoor tables near the first aid station they are red and white striped, opposed to the yellow and white ones across main street.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

The walkway to tomororrwland is much much wider than that to adventureland because people tend to walk to the right and they figured the crowds would be much denser on the way in than on the way out.

 

[CLPClarinet]

ooooooooooo very interesting! Thanks for explaining! He saved money that way on staff having to clean, people didn't have to hold their trash as long, and the parks ended up looking cleaner. A worthy investment for buying a few more trashcans overall!

 

[LaurenLC]

The Keys to the Kingdom tour is GREAT for things like this.

 

[Berlioz70]

Main Street USA is black whereas the sidewalks are red... it's a safety trick to see the color change so that you know the levels are changing.

All of the lands have a welcoming look, except for Adventureland. Walt wanted the Guests to feel like they were going on an expedition to that land, not necessarily being welcomed.

There is a slight hill from the Train Station to the Castle. The illusion is to help people feel like the walk is longer to the Castle so they will not run in the morning. Whereas, when leaving it doesn't look as far so Guests will not get as tired walking out.

The Mickey Floral area has a red ground to represent Disney laying out the red carpet for the Guests.

As I remember others I'll post them.

 

[hkeller27]

There is a slight hill from the Train Station to the Castle. The illusion is to help people feel like the walk is longer to the Castle so they will not run in the morning. Whereas, when leaving it doesn't look as far so Guests will not get as tired walking out.

This is one of my favorite "tricks". So simple in theory, but so brilliantly executed!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I suggest the "Imagineers Guide to..." series. There's a lot of info in them about exactly this type of thing. How paint colors were chosen and what flowers in what area. It's not all "this is how Disney makes you percive things" but "this is really all the crazy detail that goes into things that you probably have never realized"

 

[DisMN]

OP, what a great topic!

Back in 1997-1998 there was a travelling art show called The Architecture of Reassurance/ Designing the Disney Theme Parks. We were lucky enough to make it to the show when it was at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

FACINATING doesn't even describe how interesting it was!

Here are some links to help explain more.

http://www.walkerart.org/archive/E/A6533D13EB7F746C616E.htm


http://www.walkerart.org/archive/4/AB5385F2D6EED3676164.htm

And a quote from that page that explains some of the purposes of the design elements of the Disney parks:

"Despite its variety and complexity, Disneyland was always reassuring. The hub-and-wheel layout, for example, was articulated for the pedestrian by a series of tall vertical elements that made the plan readable in three dimensions. Walt Disney called these markers "wienies," or visual treats, and the most prominent of them was the castle near the center of the park. Each land had its own readily identifiable wienie: because of Disney's careful provision of such landmarks, wherever you were in the park, you never felt lost or confused. Like the monuments of Baron Haussmann's Paris, the castle, the rocket ship, and the smokestack drew the visitor in: with a destination rising up at the end of the vista, a long walk seemed like a short stroll."


This is such a fun topic...I hope the thread grows big! LOL

 

[MAYNARDS99]

Pay attention to the music played on Main Street.

Sweeping, uplifting, soaring, happy music starts the day, drawing you in and preparing you for a magical day. At closing, the music is reflective and soothing, escorting you out the gates.

 

[Melpuff]

Yes I LOVE the Keys to the Kingdom tour.

My friend has to do a psychology project, and I couldn't remember everything I wanted to tell her so I this would be a great way to remind me and help me learn a few n thought ew things too!

 

[eastcarolinafan]

They have tested how long someone will walk before throwing a piece of trash on the ground- so they know how far apart to put the trash cans so people won't litter.

I think they used to give people a candy at the turnstile and measure how far they went before throwing the wrapper on the ground.

30 steps. Walt would go to the parks and count how far people would hold onto trash before they pitched it on the ground. 30 steps he figured. So, there are trash cans all over the place no more than 30 steps away from anywhere.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Forced perspective - making things appear taller than they are...

All of the sidewalks change color/texture as you change lands (most notably the red sidewalks - Walt wanted to roll out the red carpet for his guests).

The urine trough and lack of bathrooms in Liberty Square.

The 13 lanterns on the Liberty Tree.

The ambient sounds throughout the World to pull you completely in...

There's lots!

 

[eastcarolinafan]

Utilidors, where cast members change costumes, get around from land to land and dine, totally removed from the fantasy of the park. Walt was fanatical about it.

You can not see one land from another. It would ruin the illusion.

CMs will never break character. It's true, true, true. Wen you are talking to Alice in Wonderland, you are ALWAYS talking to her. You can address questions of park business and she will have no idea what you are talking about.