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Things to notice when you are at Disneyland

Suggestions from the Innovation Catalyst Community

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We held our Innovation Catalyst Offsite in August 2014 at the Disneyland Hotel… to learn from Disney about evoking a positive emotion. Based on that experience, we made a list of things to notice when you go to Disneyland.

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The lack of trash on the ground

Trash makes a place feel neglected, sad, dirty – not like something you want to interact with. Clean feels friendly, cared for, someplace you want to be.

Disney strives to keep it clean.

Notice how many trashcans there are. They have trashcans every 27 paces, so there is always one when you need it.

All cast members pick up trash. Notice what happens when someone drops a wrapper…

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Pin Trading

Overwhelmingly, Innovation Catalysts think you should notice Pin Trading. Not just that Disney sells pins and lanyards, but also:

•  How it drives engagement with other guests and staff,

•  How it gives people a customized experience.

•  How it creates a mission to go alongside the amusement park experience,

•  How it gets guests to begin story-telling without any inhibitions.

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Buttons

“My favorite are the special event buttons that guest get - “just married” or “birthday girl”. And then see how the cast members use those to make their interactions with people so personal.”

Photo credit to DanMcNeely

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Landscaping

Doesn’t it always look lovely? All of the flowers everywhere? How do they do that? Well, they replace them frequently. Flowers need to always be in bloom… it’s all part of the “set”.

These trees are about the biggest they’ll let them get. Soon they’ll dig them out of the ground and move them elsewhere in the park. They can’t get too big or it will change the perspective of main street and the castle.

Also, notice how they use landscaping to obscure different areas of the park. That is so that at each turn, you’ll have a new scene unveiled.

Intuit Confidential and Proprietary 7

Main Street USA

Take a step back in time… notice feelings of nostalgia for a main street that never really existed, but that we always dreamed of. Main Street was designed to be a comfort, to put you in a nostalgic mood, and to help you connect to the past trips to the park.

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The size of the windows in the second floor vs first floor

They use forced perspective to make the buildings on Main Street seem closer, more approachable… and bigger than they are.

This has the effect that you have as a child, and makes you feel cozy.

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The Lamp in the Window

There is an apartment above the Fire House on Main Street. In the window, you’ll notice a lamp with the light on.

When Walt Disney was alive and in the park, the light would always be on so everyone at the park would know he was there.

When he died, the employees turned on the light and now leave it on everyday… as his spirit forever resides in the park and in their hearts.

This light is a constant connection to the past that created the vision of the park.

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Company and People Names in the windows of the buildings

Throughout Main Street, and in Toon Town and other places in the two parks, you’ll see company names and individuals. These are all in honor of real people or companies who helped make Disneyland, either originally, or over the years.

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The Smell of “Vanilla”

Look for the vents near the ground that pipe in the scent of vanilla near the middle of main street by the candy shop. They start the scents at midday, when people start getting tired and grumpy. It’s not that there isn’t a smell of candy, but vanilla is warm and comforting… and yummy.

They also always have popcorn popping when you arrive in the morning. It isn’t that people eat popcorn first thing in the day, it’s that the smell puts you in a festive mood.

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The half-painted lightbulb in the round entry to the Coca-Cola

Store To alternate the colors of the lightbulbs, Disney has to make a choice. Do they have two red bulbs in a row, or two white? Neither would look right, and it would bother a few detail-oriented visitors who would feel uncomfortable with it being off.

So, they do both to ensure that it always looks right. (They hand paint this bulb)

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Fireworks

Disney calls it the “kiss goodnight”. Notice not only the show, but the music, and the behavior of the crowd.

They are building it into the experience as a moment of reflection and wonder.