Disneyland’s ‘World of Color’ platform sinks and tilts from power of 1,200 fountains
The second season of 'Behind the Attraction' debuts this week on the Disney+ streaming service with episodes dedicated to Disney nighttime spectaculars.
A new season of a Disney TV show that takes viewers behind the scenes of Disneyland nighttime spectaculars reveals the challenges and limitations Disney Live Entertainment faced while developing the “World of Color” water show at Disney California Adventure.
“You start to learn things very quickly,” Disney Live Entertainment Parades and Spectaculars Executive Steven Davison said. “Like if you turn on all the fountains, you’re going to sink the platform.”
The second season of “Behind the Attraction” debuts Wednesday, Nov. 1 on the Disney+ streaming service with episodes dedicated to Disney nighttime spectaculars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones Adventure and Disneyland food.
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“World of Color” projects high-definition digital imagery onto mist screens and synchronizes a musical soundtrack to 1,200 dancing fountains and fire effects in Paradise Bay at Disney California Adventure.
Davison discussed the obstacles and pitfalls Disney Live Entertainment faced while developing “World of Color” in 2010 during the “Behind the Attraction” episode on nighttime spectaculars.
“Oh, look, we only have so much power,” Davison said on the “Behind the Attraction” episode. “We can’t run the entire system at once.”
To keep the submerged stages from tilting, Disney Live Entertainment had to add weights to certain areas of the “World of Color” platforms when the weight distribution got “a little off kilter,” according to the “Behind the Attraction” episode.
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During the day, the three World of Color platform tables remain just below the water line in the 14-foot-deep Paradise Bay. At night, the platforms rise just above the water level during the show.
All of the fountains, mist screen nozzles and flamethrowers are attached to the platforms. Giant water-tight warehouses beneath each platform house all the electronics and data that power each performance.
The latest version of the water show — “World of Color – One” — debuted in January at Disney California Adventure as part of the yearlong Disney100 event celebrating 100 years of Disney animation.
The backstory for “World of Color — One” celebrates the journey of a single drop of water that creates a ripple and eventually grows into a wave of change. The water show features moments from “Moana,” “Coco,” “Mulan,” “Soul,” “Lion King” and Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel films projected on water screens in DCA’s Paradise Bay.