Enchanted Tales with Belle -- How Does That Mirror Effect Work?

I have seen several videos of the Enchanted Tales with Belle "mirror into doorway" effect and for the life of me I cannot figure out how the Imagineers pulled it off. Any ideas?

Magic.

i cant find videos, can u share a link?

I'm still trying to figure it out too, i tryed but cant even see the doorway line in the wall under the painting someone help, this is the first time i cant figure something out now its truly magic :)

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Originally Posted by CatchAPairO

i cant find videos, can u share a link?

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go to 2:05
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrQLHvBZ-9I
I'm impressed with the wardrobe aswell!

The excellent Disney & More website has a collection of the videos:

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/

I am dying to know as well!

It looks like its obviously a mirror but it opens down the middle and the bottom border of the mirror probably drops into the floor to make it into the "portal"

Does anyone know if these animatronics and effects were done "in-house" by Disney or by a contractor?

for me it's similar to Phiharmagic's giant stage that somehow disappears into the show and then drops down in a split second back in place.

It's the same type of effect as the Haunted Mansion Stretching Rooms, just with horizontal movement as well. Quite simple really. Lots of things rolling out from inside the panels, and things lowering into the floor. A mix of TDS' Tower of Terror is thrown in as well.

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Originally Posted by DoctorQ9

Does anyone know if these animatronics and effects were done "in-house" by Disney or by a contractor?

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WDI has contracted with Garner Holt (see his articles here on MiceAge). Which is not a bad thing, as his company is small and has much of the desire to build great hints like the days at MAPO.

-Justin

As an engineer type it doesn't look simple to me. I think it's an extraordinary effect and I appreciate Greg's posting the link for us.
It will probably be a year or two before we get to see it.

It's not hard. It's smoke and mirrors. Its done in darkness so you don't see how its done. The door (portal) opens in the same way a elevator door opens. The timing is important.

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Originally Posted by MickeysImagination

WDI has contracted with Garner Holt (see his articles here on MiceAge). Which is not a bad thing, as his company is small and has much of the desire to build great hints like the days at MAPO.

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Definitely agree. All AA stuff is now done by Garner Holt. This IMO is not bad since it's a group of folks who are very passionate about what they do and they do what they do really well.