Design Detail: Disneyland Paris' Main Street U.S.A.

Great design detail is often realized by what you don't see at first but notice upon closer inspection. When this occurs, the impact on the guest experience is subtle and richly rewarding. Disney Imagineers, when given the time and money to rightly work, are masters of the craft. Disneyland is California is chock full of these details, but newer parks such as Tokyo Disneysea and Disneyland Paris are also excellent examples. 

My photograph below may not be a wonderful shot defining the art of photography, but it does make a great example of how a myriad of details make an overall impression. (Make the image larger to see all of it.)

Not just an ordinary forgotten side street!

The trash cans in the foreground, the building architecture of the individual shops in the background, and everything in between (signage, seating areas, lamp posts, and even those seasonal Christmas decorations) work together to enhance and complete the overall experience. 

Imagineer Tony Baxter built a team of first class, experienced Imagineers to make this park a work of art. Eddie Sotto is to be commended for making the requisite Main Street U.S.A. as something more than just the gateway to the other themed lands. 

Love Herb Ryman's work!

I decided to add two "bonus" pieces to this article as they further strengthen my points. Directly above is a piece of concept art by Herb Ryman, and at the very top, the new Disneyland Paris "Fun Map" that was released several weeks ago. Each display the incredible amount of care to design detail in two very different styles. 

In an era where true Disney works of theme park art (Pandora, Cars Land, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge) are intermingled with cheap disasters of design (Pixar Pier, the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster building in Epcot), it's good to be reminded of great design that can still take place when viewed from any angle. It's in rich abundance in Disney's first French theme park. Go see it for yourself!

( Art copyright the Walt Disney Company.)