What's your favorite Disney detail...

[spaulo]

Everyone here, I'm sure, enjoys WDW for different reasons. Rides, shows, characters, food, "magic," whatever it may be, one thing that most of us can probably agree upon is that the wonder is in the <i>details</i>.

What's <b>your</b> favorite detail? What small thing, in a park, in a resort, on a ride, in a show, whatever, always puts a smile on your face? I'm talking about things that most people either wouldn't notice, or would see and not take much note of... Spaceship Earth itself is not a "detail," but there may be a detail <i>on it</i> that makes you smile whenever you walk into Epcot.

Let's make a running list. My first thing...

On the Spaceship Earth ride, when discussing the Roman times and the roads they built, there is a little ghostly-looking chariot and rider that come from the right side, ride to the left, then head off into the distance, down the road. I always loved that thing.

So... what's your favorited detail?

[Fantasrick]

From the mention of Rome at Spaceship Earth, one of my favorite details is the burning smell at the destruction of Rome sequence. Definitely a nice touch. Soarin' also features some nice oldfactory effects.

[william_tropico]

one of my favorite details is the burning smell at the destruction of Rome sequence

Ok when ever you hear the spaceship earth music, do u just get a feel
for that smell. I do.

On Spacehip earth, there is a window by where the monks are sleeping
and i like the way it sort of moves as you move round it

[js3901]

there's no one detail that I can pick out as a favorite. I just love how Disney, for the short time you're on/in the ride/attraction, can immerse you so deeply in the theme that you feel as if you're actually there (like in PotC or HM). little things like that are what do it for me.

[Blackie Pueblo]

This is a great topic! I too love the roman burning smell in Space Ship Earth.

You know what's cool to me. I love when you get on the train, or ride the Mark Twain (is that the name of the boat), the little stuff you see as you travel. Like the Indians, and the little shack on the river where the old guy is sitting in his rocking chair.

And I absolutly LOVE the wall paper in the Haunted Mansion.

And one of my favorite things in EPCOT, The American Adventure, has those amazing statues. Each one represents a certain spirit of America. They are so gorgeously carved, and so detailed.

Wow... can't think of anymore right now... can't wait until I do so I can post more!

8)
Blackie Pueblo

[SpringheeledJack]

I have three that I can think of off the top of my head:

1) I love that there's a fortune telling machine from an episode of Twilight Zone (starring William Shatner) in the Tower of Terror. I think that ride's got the best overall setting of all of them.

2) The pirates who died while playing checkers during the queue for PotC. I stop to look at them even when there's no line.

3) The Liberty Tree outside the Hall of Presidents (I think, anyway). It has lanterns strung up with rope, and while most the time it's nothing special, a chilly October evening with an overcast sky stirs up memories of reading Sleepy Hollow.

And, of course, all the hidden Mickeys.

[kgmadorin]

Love this post! Thank you!

I've always believed it's the details that make the difference with Disney, and I have tried to carry that idea over into my current business.

Here are some of my favorite details from the Magic Kingdom:

1.) The windows on Main Street. I especially love the "M.T. Lott" window, celebrating Walt's ingenuity when purchasing the land to build WDW. Directly above that, on the third floor, is Frank Wells' window, "Seven Summits Expeditions." An amazing tribute. (Look for these windows on the right side of Main Street as you head toward the castle, on the corner just past Center Street.)

2.) The smell of the bakery and confectionary. (Even if they aren't 100% real.)

3.) Forced Perspective, especially on the "blocks of stone" in the castle walls.

4.) The real .54 caliber buffalo rifles used in the Shooting Arcade.

5.) The man-made patina that adornes the "copper" downspouts, lamposts, etc.

6.) The crooked shutters on the buildings in Liberty Square. (FYI--The shutters hang that way because patriotic households during the Revolutionary War removed the metal hinges and donated them to the war effort, to be melted down for ammunition. Those hinges were then replaced by leather straps, making the shutters hang slightly off-center. Though the "leather" hinges at the Magic Kingdom really are metal for safety reasons, that's the story behind why the shutters are crooked.)

Ahhhh.... I could go on and on... Like I said, GREAT POST!

[spaulo]

I just thought of another one... all of the awesome Fillmore-style posters in the last hallway of G-Force Records, just before you go into the "studio" for the Rock'n'RollerCoaster preshow. I've been to the Fillmore, and the history there is epic... and a lot of it is evident in those posters, which Disney has replicated perfectly.

[Blue Fairy]

Oh yes! I'm thrilled to hop on a little boat on the Mexico World Showcase, just to watch the Mexican man (or woman) pretending to be running after the boat to sell you something... That's pretty childish and unexplainable, I know but I can't help it!!!

[Blackie Pueblo]

>>4.) The real .54 caliber buffalo rifles used in the Shooting Arcade. <<

I didn't know that! Thanks for the insight, now I am craving to go a shooting at the arcade!

[js3901]

yep, they're real alright. modified to shoot pellets. and the metal targets you hit, they're freshly painted every night

[Mickeymac]

I love the eyeballs in the portraits at the Haunted Mansion. Wicked cool!

[spaulo]

yep, they're real alright. modified to shoot pellets. and the metal targets you hit, they're freshly painted every night

Where else but at Disney would so much time and energy be spent on such a small detail... They could easily have an electronic system set up so that no such upkeep would be necessary.

[Mickeymac]

I forgot another great detail - Art the greeter at the Grand Floridian. He's utterly adorable, and we love to visit him in the winter when he's making roasted chestnuts. So much fun. I know it's not an imagineered detail, but they didn't need to have someone hired to do that.

[G2-4T]

A bunch of the things I was thinking of have already been hit, mainly the sounds and smells you get everywhere you go. Another to add - the sounds of NY Street. It sounds as if you turn the next corner you'll see a bustling street - the buses, cops, etc. And the attention to details on the fire escapes, etc. - the bikes, speakers, etc. all piled up on them is great. That sort of thing is all over the parks, everywhere you look, and what makes it all so neat...