Sunday, December 6, 2015

Lighting in Other Places - Disney




Disney is worldly renowned for two things, Magic, and incredible theming. There attention to detail is so absolute, there are passages below the park to make sure a cast member is not seen with the wrong costume in the wrong location. Disney prides itself in the ability to make ordinary buildings feel magical, and there shopping district is no exception. Downtown Disney is lit up with Christmas lights galore to remind every patron that the most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching, and they should be thinking of their special someone (and what gift to buy them). Disney is still corporate after all.


When it gets dark, Downtown Disney lights up into a festive event of lights and colours. Though there aren't that many street lights, you can certainly see all there is being offered.





One example of incredible theming and deliberate lighting is the World of Disney store, selling Disney's own merchandise. Disney Certainly goes all out when it comes to there own merchandise. All the store, inside and out,  have been decorated with fairy lights and Christmas decorations. The brightness of the front sign against the blue backdrop in the picture above give an adventurous sort of feeling, and the light behind the telescope really helps with the idea that someone is at the other end watching you. All the windows along the side depict back lit images of the Disney parks, and the warmth in both the blue sign and the amber lights really give the impression of friendly service and gifts for all ages. The lights are bright and welcoming on the inside, and the store as a whole really invites guest to come and visit the World of Disney.


The building that felt incredibly out of place to me was the Starbucks. The rest of the street is brightly lit, and gives off a warm energetic vibe. Even the trees are bright and friendly. Starbucks feels like it belongs in a trendy part of a big city, and sitting right next to World of Disney, feels a bit dark, almost unwelcoming. All the lights are much dimmer, both inside and out, and the brightest light is the sign telling guests which store it is. There are no holiday lights anywhere in the building, and the store in comparison is stark and uninviting. This building is meant to appeal to a certain type of crowd, but when at Disney, everyone is in a different mindset. It is out of place with the rest of the world, and hence, far less busy then any other store. Whether this is deliberate or not is up to Disney discretion.

1 comment:

  1. Interesting comment on the Starbucks...it would feel kind of out of place among all those bright happy "disney" stores. I'm glad you chose Downtown Disney too! It feels like it has a more cohesive outdoor theme than some of the other places chosen. Great job!

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