Little Bits of Brilliance

[aerinpegadrak]

One of my favorite things about Disneyland? The feathers at Dumbo. For those of you who've never ridden it (or haven't in a while): as your turn comes up, the CM comes around and distributes a black wooden feather for each occupied elephant. If there's a group waiting in the handicapped line, they get a feather too. Everyone who has a feather gets on the next cycle. The CMs go around and collect the feathers again as they're checking belts (after all, Dumbo didn't REALLY need the feather to fly, he just thought he did), and it repeats.

The more I think about it, the more genius it is. Dumbo's a low-capacity, extremely popular ride, and so it's critical to move as many people through it as humanly possible. The way it's done, the grouper doesn't have to worry about having a brain fart and forgetting how to count (trust me, it happens) or forgetting about the people in the GAC line or having to run around to the other side to see if there's an open car. It just works.

Anyone else know of any details at the park that are especially inspired?

[BFJen]

I like the feathers! But they didn't use them the last time we went on the ride - my son was so sad. He also likes the driver's licenses on Autopia (even thought they don't use them for anything).

[Speedway]

Its not really got any purpose, but I thought it was an amazing display of Disney showmanship when Disneyland employed Cast Members who dressed as mermaids in the Submarine Lagoon. I love any plussing that goes on, and that one stuck out for me.

[Opus1guy]

There are so many, that I think we could write a book about them all.

Never mind...somebody probably already has!

Disneyland has always been about great attention to detail and all the "little things" that plus the place up and make it different. They may be getting harder to find these days...but there are still a lot of them, IMHO.

One random one I'll just pick out of the air, is one that always makes me smile when I see it. It's the little jumping fishies in the Big Thunder Trail pond. I just think it's a nice little touch (from the old "Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland" attraction) that I'm glad someone at Disneyland has managed (mostly) to keep up and operating.

I smile because I'm glad to see them still there...but I also smile when I stand there and watch the simple joy of discovery that many Guests exhibit when they spot them for the first time. And even more fun is when they argue with their friends if they are real or not!

I just love those little touches that while most Guests may never experience...many will. And that's what helps make the place special for so many. They may not discover the jumping fishies...but they usually discover something else equally as fun and simple.

[Monorail Man]

For those of you who've never ridden it (or haven't in a while): as your turn comes up, the CM comes around and distributes a black wooden feather for each occupied elephant.

Warning: This post may spoil some magic. Proceed at your own risk.

There's actually a reason why they started this (they do it at Astro Orbitor as well), is because they had serious problems with younger kids (and those pesky teenagers) wanting to fly alone, but telling the CM that they were flying together. Well, then they would split apart, and take their own Dumbo/Rocket. Well, then there was always someone who missed out, and had to wait for the next cycle, split up groups even. So, the decision was to create the feathers and "boarding passes" in order to regulate the people getting on.

Still cool, just not nearly as show-worthy as it might seem.

[Speedway]

Warning: This post may spoil some magic. Proceed at your own risk.

There's actually a reason why they started this (they do it at Astro Orbitor as well), is because they had serious problems with younger kids (and those pesky teenagers) wanting to fly alone, but telling the CM that they were flying together. Well, then they would split apart, and take their own Dumbo/Rocket. Well, then there was always someone who missed out, and had to wait for the next cycle, split up groups even. So, the decision was to create the feathers and "boarding passes" in order to regulate the people getting on.

Still cool, just not nearly as show-worthy as it might seem.

Magic spoiler!
Oh wait.
Warning!

[aerinpegadrak]

Warning: This post may spoil some magic. Proceed at your own risk.

There's actually a reason why they started this (they do it at Astro Orbitor as well), is because they had serious problems with younger kids (and those pesky teenagers) wanting to fly alone, but telling the CM that they were flying together. Well, then they would split apart, and take their own Dumbo/Rocket. Well, then there was always someone who missed out, and had to wait for the next cycle, split up groups even. So, the decision was to create the feathers and "boarding passes" in order to regulate the people getting on.

Still cool, just not nearly as show-worthy as it might seem.

I don't know, I think it's, if anything, even more impressive that they managed to solve a problem in a way that actually enhances the show, rather than detracting from it. (I also rode Astro Orbitor yesterday, and they weren't doing any special sort of grouping.)

[jimmay]

There are so many, that I think we could write a book about them all.

Never mind...somebody probably already has!

Disneyland has always been about great attention to detail and all the "little things" that plus the place up and make it different. They may be getting harder to find these days...but there are still a lot of them, IMHO.

One random one I'll just pick out of the air, is one that always makes me smile when I see it. It's the little jumping fishies in the Big Thunder Trail pond. I just think it's a nice little touch (from the old "Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland" attraction) that I'm glad someone at Disneyland has managed (mostly) to keep up and operating.

I smile because I'm glad to see them still there...but I also smile when I stand there and watch the simple joy of discovery that many Guests exhibit when they spot them for the first time. And even more fun is when they argue with their friends if they are real or not!

I just love those little touches that while most Guests may never experience...many will. And that's what helps make the place special for so many. They may not discover the jumping fishies...but they usually discover something else equally as fun and simple.

Opus, you are, to date, the only person I've seen on here who's also seen the jumping fish. I was beginning to think I made it up!

[phruby]

Has anyone ever seen the space bowling balls over at the Pizza Port outside tables? They are on the way to the enterance to space mountain. My son thought they were space age dinosaur eggs.

[NeverNeverland]

Opus, you are, to date, the only person I've seen on here who's also seen the jumping fish. I was beginning to think I made it up!

I've seen 'em!!!!

[elly]

^ me too!

[Simply Mad]

^
^ count me in...and I'm part of one of the groups you hear debating the "reality" of the fish!

[tinkermonkey]

SM - -say you'll show me the fish . ..say it, please!

Promise?

Really?


Cool!!

[almandot]

It's become even more commonplace now than it was before because it's the Downtown Disney station, not the Disneyland Hotel monorail, but I thought it was especially neat that they put seats up in the front of the bubble with the driver. I'd always run up to sit in the front when I went to the park growing up. They certainly didn't need to put seats up front, and no public transportation in the world ever would, but it's cool that they did =) And then there's the back for a completely private bubble too.

and speaking of dumbo, yay for it being over a fountain instead of just concrete. =D

[peoplemover1]

I always think of the invasion of the body snatchers when I see those eggs!
but last week when I went to look for them... I didn't see any! were they removed?! =O