Thirst Rangers: Long Shot, Medium Shot, Close Up!

Settings in the Disney Parks are created as living movie sets, within which Guests can immerse themselves and become part of the show. Many tricks of the movie trade have been adapted over the years to form the principles of Disney theme park design. One of those key concepts is the idea of using long shots, medium shots and close ups. Different from a movie where the director or editor can choose what sort of a shot to show the audience, scenes in a Disney Park have to work on all levels simultaneously.

Examples can be found all over the parks, but there's one that's particularly fun right here in Tomorrowland. Near the edge of the city is the loading dock for the Thirst Rangers, "Delivering Refreshment to a Thirsty Galaxy." The long shot (above) sets the scene, complete with the Thirst Rangers' rocket ship perched on the landing platform, ready to pick up the next shipment.

Move a bit closer for the medium shot, and the story is further established by elements like these shipping crates. Just in case you haven't figured it out, this Magic Kingdom refreshment spot is presented by Coca-Cola. Notice how the iconic Coke bottle shape is embossed on the sides of the crates and made into the form of a rocket on the roof of the structure. You'll even see the familiar Coca-Cola script logo. Look closer, and you'll notice it's actually written in an alien dialect (other examples of the Coke logo in foreign languages can be found at Disney's Animal Kingdom and Epcot World Showcase).

Finally, the close up and an element perhaps only seen by the occasional visitor who rests on these crates and happens to glance down. It's the shipping label, a tiny detail that might seem completely superfluous but is actually critical to the Disney Parks experience. A first time or casual Guest may never even notice it. Subliminally, though, details like these add to an overall sense that a tremendous amount of time and effort went into creating the park.

For those who do find it, the detail becomes a treasure. There's so much here to discover: the English/Alien translations, the play on words with "Enjoy Ice Code," the reference to atmospheric pressure (accurate to Earth's atmosphere). Then there are those numbers. You can bet they're not random. Are they birth dates? Significant dates in Coca-Cola or Disney history? The secret remains with the writer or graphic designer who created the label. The rest of us may never know.