Here’s A Subtle But Significant Change That Only Eagle-Eyed Visitors Will Spot At Disneyland

There are a lot of ingredients that go into Dinseyland’s magic, and some of them haven’t changed for decades. But there’s been a shift behind the scenes that may put a new shine on the classic park experience. If you look closely, you probably won’t be able to miss it. The question is, though, will you be able to put your finger on exactly what’s changed?

When Walt Disney first envisioned his theme parks, he pictured an enchanting realm of fun and wonder. He was undoubtedly successful, and the visionaries who followed adhered to the same lofty standards. Even today, the brains behind Disney parks masterfully orchestrate the best experiences for visitors, who remain oblivious to their machinations.

Chris Nichols, author of the 2018 book Walt Disney’s Disneyland, has revealed some of Walt’s early notes for the parks. “We hope it will be unlike any other place on this Earth,” Walt wrote. “A fair, an amusement park, an exhibition, a city from Arabian nights, a metropolis from the future.”

Every part of the parks was intentionally designed to be more like an interactive movie than the traditional fairs that had come before them. Color schemes, atmosphere and attractions were all created with the aim not only of leading visitors around but also of thrilling and captivating them. And even behind the scenes Disney’s remained staunchly traditional – but big changes are coming.

The minds responsible for Disney’s expert designs are so renowned for innovations that they have their own names: imagineers. Back in 1952 Walt himself coined the phrase by blending the words engineer and imagine. But it isn’t just the park attractions that imagineers are responsible for. They design the architecture, media projects, resorts and the like, too.