Image from flickr user beatnikside
Thinking about lines seems like a strange place for the thoughts of a child to be lingering, but waiting in lines is what you DO at Disneyland. I had been to many other parks, like Magic Mountain, Great America, and Marine World. Waiting in lines at those parks seemed like a much more boring prospect than the lines at Disneyland. I actually looked forward to waiting in the lines at Disneyland. I started to think about why. Could it be the memories? The time spent hanging with family while in line? The conversation? But all of those things existed at the other theme parks. Why then, were Disneyland lines so much more enjoyable?
It is the layout and the attention to detail. The entertainment and decoration. The involvement of the patron. Every line at Disneyland is considerably long. They say if you ride every major attraction at Disneyland one time, that you have walked 25 miles. 25 miles! The lines are set up in constantly curving, ever-changing, zig-zag mazes. The layout makes it impossible for you to tell how far you are from the front. This lack of knowledge allows you to more thoroughly enjoy what is around you.
Each line has a theme that matches the ride that you are about to embark on. The line for Space Mountain takes you deep inside a building that is futuristic and industrial. Futuristic vehicles suspend disbelief with their realistic details. Music and sound effects play all around you. The light is dim, and it seems as if you can see stars. So many things are going on to entertain you that before you know it, you are getting on the ride.
The lines are designed with physical comfort in mind. As you wait you are out of the sun, and in an air conditioned area, or at least under misters. There are no physical distractions to make the wait more apparent. Other techniques employed throughout the park are things like; secret messages that can be decoded, and short films that inform you about your upcoming adventure.
Walt Disney had it right. Design the lines to be a part of the ride.
This was a certainly a genius concept. I remember enjoying the lines for Indiana Jones and The Haunted Mansion just as much as the ride itself. I can definitely remember decoding messages in the walls and trying to avoid stepping on the diamond shaped tiles. It is hard to distinguish where the experience of the ride truly begins, and the entire park is designed this way. Even the separate lands are designed to feel new and exciting, so you're having an experience just by walking through the park.
ReplyDelete