AVP
07-16-2009, 03:00 PM
As I posted in my MousePlanet Blog (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/blog.php?b=468) this morning, I was invited to join a hard hat tour behind the scenes and under the platform of the World of Color show. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos, but Disney was ready with a slew of official photos to we can share. There were also some brief video clips, and I'll get those uploaded shortly.
All photos are by Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland unless noted.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87613-2/5_09_DCA_00096.jpg
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87621-2/7_09_DCA_00687.jpg
The show platform is about an acre in size, longer than a football field, and is covered in 1800 fountains. The platform is constructed from structural fiberglass beams (not steel); the decking is structural fiberglass grating. Most sections are 12' x 16', and each have both active and passive floatation tanks to control buoyancy.
The black tanks are the passive floatation tanks, and there are 6 sizes depending on the load or weight of the fountains on that section. These tanks basically create neutral buoyancy, so that section of platform neither sinks nor floats.
The blue tanks as the active floataion tanks, and are used to raise or lower the platform into position. These tanks have an air inlet at the top and a hole at the bottom. To raise the platform, air is forced into the tank, displacing the water through the drain hole. To lower the platform, the tank is allowed to refill with water.
The platform is divided into three pieces that can be raised and lowered independently of the others. Each piece has four scissor-lift devices that are not actually used to raise or lower the platform, but to support ("lock it in place") it at the desired level. It takes about 10 minutes for the pieces to fully raise or lower. The entire system is designed to adapt to changing water levels in the lagoon, for example when it rains.
The platform can lock at three levels:
Maintenance - entire platform is out of the water
~~~~ Water Line ~~~~
Show - fountains are about 12" above water
Hidden - entire platform is submerged
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87669-2/7_09_DCA_00805-Sized.jpg
This design allows most repair work to take place without requiring the use of swimmers or divers in the water. When the platform is in the Hidden position, it rests on the stantions you see all around the edge. The stantions are topped with an elastomeric rubber pad to cushion the sections.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87625-2/7_09_DCA_00786.jpg
They described two different types of fountains, and demonstrated a third. The grid fountains shown above were described as "lyrical," the chasers are more powerful. The grid fountains each have a 3-color LED, and can completely saturate the water jet with color. Each one is powered by its own water pump. The grid fountains can cycle three times a second.
The tip of the chaser fountains is more bullet-shaped, and these more powerful fountains can shoot up to 85' in the air, and a supplemental pump that connects to five fountains provides an extra boost. The chasers have a 1/8 second cycle time. The "blow pop" fountain can shoot water up to 200' in the air.
The back edge of the platform has fountains and sprayers that form a 50 foot high, 380 foot wide projection surface. The show uses 29 high definition projectors to animate this water wall and the other water elements.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87637-2/7_09_DCA_00972.jpg
Here are some of the images that will be projected on that water wall. (All renderings ©2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc.)
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87649-2/7_09_WDI_90011.JPG
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87653-2/7_09_WDI_90014.JPG
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87657-2/7_09_WDI_9003.JPG
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87661-2/7_09_WDI_9004.JPG
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87665-2/7_09_WDI_9006.JPG
All photos are by Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland unless noted.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87613-2/5_09_DCA_00096.jpg
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87621-2/7_09_DCA_00687.jpg
The show platform is about an acre in size, longer than a football field, and is covered in 1800 fountains. The platform is constructed from structural fiberglass beams (not steel); the decking is structural fiberglass grating. Most sections are 12' x 16', and each have both active and passive floatation tanks to control buoyancy.
The black tanks are the passive floatation tanks, and there are 6 sizes depending on the load or weight of the fountains on that section. These tanks basically create neutral buoyancy, so that section of platform neither sinks nor floats.
The blue tanks as the active floataion tanks, and are used to raise or lower the platform into position. These tanks have an air inlet at the top and a hole at the bottom. To raise the platform, air is forced into the tank, displacing the water through the drain hole. To lower the platform, the tank is allowed to refill with water.
The platform is divided into three pieces that can be raised and lowered independently of the others. Each piece has four scissor-lift devices that are not actually used to raise or lower the platform, but to support ("lock it in place") it at the desired level. It takes about 10 minutes for the pieces to fully raise or lower. The entire system is designed to adapt to changing water levels in the lagoon, for example when it rains.
The platform can lock at three levels:
Maintenance - entire platform is out of the water
~~~~ Water Line ~~~~
Show - fountains are about 12" above water
Hidden - entire platform is submerged
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87669-2/7_09_DCA_00805-Sized.jpg
This design allows most repair work to take place without requiring the use of swimmers or divers in the water. When the platform is in the Hidden position, it rests on the stantions you see all around the edge. The stantions are topped with an elastomeric rubber pad to cushion the sections.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87625-2/7_09_DCA_00786.jpg
They described two different types of fountains, and demonstrated a third. The grid fountains shown above were described as "lyrical," the chasers are more powerful. The grid fountains each have a 3-color LED, and can completely saturate the water jet with color. Each one is powered by its own water pump. The grid fountains can cycle three times a second.
The tip of the chaser fountains is more bullet-shaped, and these more powerful fountains can shoot up to 85' in the air, and a supplemental pump that connects to five fountains provides an extra boost. The chasers have a 1/8 second cycle time. The "blow pop" fountain can shoot water up to 200' in the air.
The back edge of the platform has fountains and sprayers that form a 50 foot high, 380 foot wide projection surface. The show uses 29 high definition projectors to animate this water wall and the other water elements.
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87637-2/7_09_DCA_00972.jpg
Here are some of the images that will be projected on that water wall. (All renderings ©2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc.)
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87649-2/7_09_WDI_90011.JPG
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87653-2/7_09_WDI_90014.JPG
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87657-2/7_09_WDI_9003.JPG
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87661-2/7_09_WDI_9004.JPG
http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87665-2/7_09_WDI_9006.JPG