Tiggerific Tuesday Trivia ~ A Little Forced

Tiggerific+Tuesday+Trivia Tiggerific Tuesday Trivia: Walt Disneys Silver Buffalo AwardWelcome Tiggerific Tuesday Trivia blog hoppers.

Thanks again to Jodi from +Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, Heidi from +Heidi's Head, and +Mike Ellis for co-hosting!


Did You Know...

The same forced perspective that Disney Imagineers use to make Cinderella Castle appear larger is used on the Disney Cruise Line Ships?

Forced perspective is the use of optical illusions to make items appear larger or smaller than they actually are by use of visual relation to other objects, foreshortening and angles. Most commonly forced perspective is used in photography, movies and architecture.

In Walt Disney World Main Street USA uses two well known, but very effective architectural effects. The foreshortening of the second and third third story of the buildings to create the illusion of vertical distance and height. Second, the narrowing of the street and buildings as you move gently uphill toward the castle.

What is the combined effect of these two effects?
The visual effect is of a very long walk up Main Street USA to a very large Cinderella Castle.
 
For reference here is Cinderella Castle at the end of Main Street:

IMG_1563
HUGE Cinderella Castle far away in the distance.

Now why did they do this? 

"This forced perspective, combined with the depth of the hub beyond the end of the street, opens up a vast and exhilarating vista to the Guest entering the Park for a day of adventure. Conversely, the full-sized buildings around Town Square and the lesser depth of the Square itself conspire to make the same path appear shorter to the same weary Guest trudging toward the exit at the end of the day. Think of it as an optical illusion for your feet." 
"The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom" by The Imagineers,page 24.

Much like the buildings on Main Street USA, each floor off the atrium on the Disney Cruise ships is shorter than the one beneath it. (One of the perks of staying in the staterooms of the fifth floor? I can touch the ceilings without jumping.) The lighting fixtures of the upper levels are smaller as well to force the idea that this is a much taller space and create a ship that appears (dare I say it) bigger on the inside than the outside.

This grand atrium looks even grander with a little help from forced perspective!
This fun with perspectives continues to the fourth floor approach to the Walt Disney Theatre...

This hallway isn't as long as it appears.
The ceiling lowers and the hall narrows to create the illusion of a grand entrance.
All the majesty without the effort of walking long distances thanks to some really creative imagineers.
Is the theatre half a mile away? No. But the perspective does lend your trip to the theatre an air of a grand entrance without the risk of blisters.

What is your favorite example of forced perspective in the parks or ships?

Comments

  1. I didn't know there was forced perspective on the ships - smart!! Thanks for linking up!

    ReplyDelete

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