Welcome back to another My Disney Top 5. There’s still so much for us to talk about—thanks for your continuing flow of responses. They are much appreciated. My last Top 5 was about Universal Orlando and many of you had many things to say about the “resort next door.” Today we’re heading back to Walt Disney World and, more specifically, back to the attractions.
One of the things that should always leap out at you when you’re walking around any Disney Park is the attention to detail the amazing Imagineers put into everything they do. It’s a Disney trademark. Nobody does it better. The Disney rides and attractions are so chock-full of details that it takes years to notice everything and just when you thought you’ve seen everything, either something is added, or you spot something you’ve never noticed before. It’s one of the many reasons that we all go back time and time again.
Using this train of thought, I thought I’d pull apart the attractions a little bit over a few Top 5 articles. I started this process back in April with the Top 5 Coolest Queues at Walt Disney World. Walking through a queue at a Disney park is sometimes half the attraction. But before you get into that queue there's something else pulling you in. On our last trip this past August, my 11-year-old daughter Samantha said to me, “You know, there are some really cool attraction signs. You should do a Top 5 on that.” I thought she was on to something there. Some of the attraction signs are pretty amazing pieces of detail and the sad thing is, I think many of them go unnoticed. Or do they?
Walt Disney had a funny little term for a visual element used to draw guest’s attention to a particular place. He referred to them as “weenies.” You dangle a weenie, or a hot dog, to attract a dog’s attention. If you place a striking visual element someplace where the guest can see it from a distance, they can’t miss it and are drawn in to that location. This has been used in every Disney Park and in every “land” within each park. The ultimate “weenie ” guiding you down Main Street U.S.A. is, of course, Cinderella’s Castle.
The attraction signs should therefore adhere to this theory as well, luring you into their queues. Some attractions are so grand they don’t need a sign to draw you in. Space Mountain has a sign, but let’s face it, you can’t miss that building and those tall spires. They can draw you right in from way across the park. Other attractions are not so obvious and need a little more to attract you. Most of us, at least most of us reading or writing at a site like MousePlanet don’t need anything to lure us into our favorite attraction. We know where they are and we know where we’re going. How about the first-timers though? Are the attraction signs doing their job? Some are more than others. Some, despite being master works of design, can sometimes go unnoticed. With that said, let’s take a look at my Top 5 Attraction Signs at Walt Disney World.
5 – Peter Pan’s Flight
Peter Pan's Flight at the Magic Kingdom. Photo by Samantha Barry.
Most of the Fantasyland attractions are examples of attractions that need to be identified. Winnie the Pooh, Snow White, Mickey's PhilharMagic and Peter Pan are housed in fairly similar buildings throughout Fantasyland, and if you walked by them and there was no sign, you might not know what they are. I’m a big fan of Peter Pan, both the film and the attraction. I actually think the music acts as the “weenie” in this attraction. When I hear those familiar strands of “You Can Fly” as I approach Peter Pan’s Flight, I’m instantly drawn in. That said, I still love the sign. It’s got great detail and fully realized 3-dimensional characters as opposed to wood cutouts or painted characters on some of the other Fantasyland attractions. If the music doesn't get you, the sign sure will.
4 – Expedition Everest
Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Photo by Samantha Barry.
Here’s an example of an attraction that certainly needs no “weenie.” You can see the “snow-capped” mountains from lots of places in Animal Kingdom and they certainly do draw you in. I readily admit that until Samantha suggested this article topic and we began to take pictures, I never really noticed this sign before. Not that it’s easily missed; it’s a pretty serious structure. I suppose I’m just usually looking up at the peaks, or watching the drop, or checking the wait times or FastPass return. It’s certainly worth stopping and looking at. The tattered prayer flags and the Yeti warning signs all tie in with the theme of the whole area. It’s a great bit of detailing that I’ll never overlook again.
3 – Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom. Photo by Samantha Barry.
I’m a major Pirates fan. I love the ride. I love the movies. I love the atmosphere of Caribbean Plaza. It’s an amazingly detailed place and should definitely be taken in slowly. I think this is an attraction worthy of an elaborate sign and this pirate ship mast certainly fits the bill.
2 – Splash Mountain
The Splash Mountain sign at the Magic Kingdom. Photo by Samantha Barry.
It’s tough to use the favorite word when it comes to Walt Disney World. My favorite attraction, hotel, restaurant, shop, or spot is usually wherever I am at the moment, but some things have to stand out. So, I can comfortably say that Splash Mountain is one of my favorite attractions in the whole place. It’s so much more than the big drop at the end. That’s not even my favorite part of the ride. Sure, it’s a blast, but there’s a whole lot more going on than the trip down the falls. There’s amazing details to be found everywhere, including the attraction sign. Here’s one that I think gets completely overlooked. The area between Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain can sometimes be the busiest place you’ve ever experienced. Two major attractions crammed into this back corner of the park can generate some huge crowds. It’s very easy to be distracted and not notice the cool details in this part of Frontierland and the sign right outside the Splash Mountain queue entrance. Brer Rabbit is one of my favorite (there’s that word again) Disney characters and it’s great that like Peter Pan, he’s a fully 3-dimensional figure. I love the chaotic mess that he’s perched upon as he’s looking for a “lil’ more adventure.” I also like the fact that Splash Mountain has a second sign, located near that spot where everyone stops on the bridge to watch the drop and get splashed.
The other Splash Mountain sign at the Magic Kingdom. Photo by Samantha Barry.
1 – The Seas with Nemo and Friends
The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot. Photo by Samantha Barry.
This epitomizes everything that I think the Imagineers strive for in a great attraction sign. It’s got beautiful natural elements in the rock formations, plants and water. It’s got 3-dimensional characters that are also animatronics. On top of moving they also, of course, utter their famous sounds from Finding Nemo. It’s hard to tire of listening for the, “Mine, mine…mine…” sounds emanating from these seagulls along with the sight and sounds of waves crashing on the rocks. The sea life figures on the wall behind the gulls beautifully guide you into the entrance of the pavilion. All in all, it’s a fantastic bit of detailing that accomplishes its goal of luring you into the attraction and it’s my favorite sign in Walt Disney World.
So the next time you’re rushing towards your favorite attraction, stop and take a moment to see how that attraction is presented. Are you being lured in by anything in particular? Is Walt’s concept of using “weenies” to attract you being utilized? Check out these great signs and look for others. When you learn to appreciate the details all around you, you enter a whole other realm of enjoyment of Walt Disney World.
There are certainly other attraction signs that do their job and do so artfully and with great detail. I love the simplicity of The Haunted Mansion sign, the rocket soaring away from Earth at Mission: Space— and it’s hard to beat the giant guitar at Rock n’ Roller Coaster. These 5 are my favorites and as usual, I’d like to hear yours.
That's My Disney Top 5 for today. What's yours? Click on the “Discuss this article on MousePad” link below and share your list!
