1Imagineers have always been intentional about each decision in the parks — starting with how they are laid out . Inspired by Pierre L ’ Enfant ’ s hub-andspoke layout for Washington , D . C ., Walt designed his parks to have a single entrance that takes guests to a weenie ( yes , really ), like a castle or the Tree of Life . From the weenie , paths sprawl out in different directions , making the parks feel less crowded . While most parks follow this design , EPCOT notably detracts .
4Before Imagineer Bob Gurr developed the Omnimover for Adventure Thru Inner Space , designers envisioned the Haunted Mansion as a walk-through attraction . But once they saw Gurr ’ s invention , they reimagined the complete Haunted Mansion experience . Ultimately , the Omnimover allows for 2,880 guests to move through Haunted Mansion every hour .
5Given that the queue for Avatar Flight of Passage can reach 6 hours , Imagineers focused on making it a worthwhile experience of its own . Most noteworthy is the Na ’ vi Animatronic floating in a glass tube . Unlike other Disney Animatronics that use electronics , this waterproof Na ’ vi humanoid relies on airbags to move its limbs . The center of its body is uniquely weighted to float in water without sinking or rising while its umbilical cord disguises air lines that “ blow power ” into the limbs .
8Audio-Animatronics are a hallmark of Disney Parks , and it all started with a mouse bird . A tiny , whistling mechanical toy bird that Walt acquired on a trip inspired Imagineers to create their own lifelike robots . Their first attempt was the 9-inch , dancing Project Little Man , which emulated Buddy Ebsen ’ s dance routines . But Audio- Animatronics truly soared to life when Imagineers implemented magnetic recording tapes and solenoid coils in the birds of the Enchanted Tiki Room .
2MagicBands are more than just a fashion statement : This Imagineering breakthrough revolutionized how guests entered the park , purchased concessions , and boarded rides . While these bands ( which are being phased out in favor of your smartphone ) rely on practical technology like the internet of things , Tom Staggs , who spearheaded their invention , wanted guests to instead focus on the magic behind them , quoting Arthur C . Clarke : “ Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic .”
3Because of the potential for collisions in Ford ’ s Magic Skyway , one of four rides to debut at the World ’ s Fair , Imagineers scrapped this idea of a ride that took guests back in time in classic Ford cars . But that failure led to something greater : Inspired by Ford ’ s manufacturing process , which moved sheet metal along a constantly advancing conveyor belt , Imagineers developed the PeopleMover , which took Disneyland guests on a tour of Tomorrowland .
6The Swiss Family Treehouse may look real , but Imagineers actually constructed the tree with concrete , steel , stucco , and 330,000 fabricated leaves . Though technically a building , the “ tree ” still requires roots for support ; these steel roots sprawl 42 feet into the ground .
7Walt Disney Studios ’ Bill Garity and his Multiplane Camera are responsible for now-common animated film elements like moving water and flickering lights . First used in the Oscar-winning short , The Old Mill ( 1937 ), this technology creates the illusion of forward motion by keeping things in the background stationary while things much closer grow in size as you move toward them .
9Technology has come a long way . When adding Barack Obama to The Hall of Presidents , Imagineers couldn ’ t use digital scanning of his likeness ( as they had for Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean ) because of security protocols . But by the time Donald Trump was being added to the attraction , Imagineers could create a 3D rendering using nothing but high-res photos .
you visit Magic Kingdom , you ’ re actually standing above a massive network of tunnels ( Utilidors ) created by Imagineers . These tunnels allow Cast Members to move about the park freely and are actually built at ground level — meaning the park we know
10When and love is actually 15 feet above ground level !
PREVIOUS PAGE : This Na ' vi Animatronic can only be seen when you go through the standby queue . PHOTO BY MIKE BILLICK