Imagine that you are walking right down the middle of Liberty Square (bet I caught you off guard there, didn’t I?).  As you look up at the little details Disney has sprinkled throughout property, you notice that the shutters on the window aren’t straight.  Instead, they are tilted a little bit.  Do you know why the shutters throughout Liberty Square are slanted?

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Story 1

As we all know, Disney loves forced perspective.  They use this effect all over the park.  Even famous icons like Cinderella Castle aren’t as tall as they seem.  The shutters in Liberty Square aren’t any different.  The building shutters are slanted a little to make the buildings seem taller from the slant down and shorter from the slant up, thus making the building appear much taller than it actually is.  This also means that Liberty Square looks bigger from Fronteirland, where the theming fits in more than it does in Fantasyland, where Liberty Square looks farther away.

Story 2

Liberty Square was originally planned to be a bigger land.  Unfortunately, Liberty Square was the last area to be built, and the measurements for the buildings and attractions were scaled down a little bit.  The Imagineers were in a rush to finish this area for the grand opening of Disney World.  As the finishing touches were being put on the buildings – including the shutters – they realized that they didn’t order the specially – made shingles to the new size. Imagineers decided to just tilt the shutters a little so that they would appear to fit on the window…problem solved!

Story 3

Hurricane Andrew threatened to sweep all of Central and Southern Florida out to sea, including our beloved Walt Disney World.  Luckily, the park survived the storm with no significant damage. However, some of the shutters in Liberty Square were “adjusted” due to the Category 5 hurricane winds.  The Cast members of Disney were so concerned with keeping the guests safe that they didn’t even think about the little details on the buildings.  Disney was going to get the shutters repaired, but then decided not to for two reasons: it fit in with the theming and the cost of the repair was too much for their liking.  It was only a few features after all.

Story 4

Liberty Square is designed around the time of the American Revolution.  In these Colonial days, the upper hinges tended to be made of leather straps in order to save metal for more important things like guns and other military weapons.  This caused the shutters to list to the side, a quality that the Disney Imagineers mimicked even though Walt Disney World’s shutters are made of metal.  After all, it’s all about the storyline!

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Okay, Disney fans, which one of these stories explains why the shutters in Liberty Square are lopsided?  Let me know which you think is correct (or if you prefer, which ones are not) below.

See ya REAL soon!

Quote of the Week:  “I am brave.  I am strong.  I am Merida.  I am a PRINCESS!”   ~Merida, her coronation ceremony this past Saturday.

Makena is a 14 year old high school student who spends much of her free time researching Disney. She enjoys sharing Disney facts and even plans Walt Disney World vacations (including searches for secrets and Hidden Mickeys) for friends and family. Makena began blogging for WDW Radio in December 2011.

The post To Tell The Truth: The Crooked Shutters in Liberty Square appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

As one who always has part of her brain on Disney, I looked at these banks and wondered would at an Imagineer would do with them and how they could be used to support (or improve) the story being shared with guests.

And so, this week’s challenge was born.  Behold–the cheeseburger bank!

Here are your Imagineering exercises based upon this item:

1.  If an Imagineer were to put the bank somewhere on Disney property, where would it be?

2. Who would be using the bank? (Which character/what storyline is being supported by this bank?)

3. For what purpose is the money inside the bank being saved?

Have fun with this juicy challenge!  Next week, we will start with some holiday-themed fun!

The post Wanna-be Imagineers: Sink Your Teeth into this Challenge! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

To review the concept: Each week, I will post a post a picture of something that catches my eye while running errands.  I will then ask YOU to share your thoughts about where in the Walt Disney World Resort you could see that item incorporated and how it could advance the story!   You can “place” the item anywhere: in a resort, a restaurant, an attraction, a costume, or a form of transportation…..  There are no “right” answers, of course–just fun conversation among friends while we await our next Disney vacation.

Last week, we had fun imagining the home to a bright peacock. The peacock had quite a bit of versatility: from wandering Port Orleans to hanging at the Boardwalk, it seemed it could easily find a place in Walt Disney World!

This week, we have a new task: to imagine how to incorporate this lovely statue so that it promotes Disney storytelling.

                What do you think her tale is? 

                Why is she holding those birds? 

                Where in the World would she call “home”? 

Please post your creative ideas in the comments section–and have fun!!

The post Wanna-be Imagineers: Try Your Hand at THIS! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hello and welcome to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host, Lou Mongello, and this is show #177 for the week of July 4, 2010. Happy Independence Day to everyone celebrating in the US and those who may be stationed or living overseas. I proudly dedicate this show to everyone who has ever sacrificed to ensure our continuing freedoms.

Captain EO, starring Michael Jackson, has returned to its home in Walt Disney World, and I had a chance to see the show just days before it opened to the public. This week, we’ll discuss its return, and talk with Disney executives, Imagineers and Guests and get their reactions as well. We’ll look at how the show compares to its 1986 debut and its possible future in Epcot.

I’ll open up the inbox again this week and answer more of your listener emails. Topics include the Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion overlay, some additional Haunted Mansion trivia, dining choices in Walt Disney World, Winter Summerland, Port Orleans, ticket upgrade options, comparing the Magic Kingdom resorts, and much more.

I’ll play more of your voicemails and have a few announcements at the end of the show, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

You can email the show at lou@wdwradio.com or call the voicemail TOLL FREE at 888-703-2171.

Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week!

INFORMATION AND LINKS FROM THIS WEEK’S SHOW

Listen to our Captain EO Wayback Machine look at its history, trivia and stories on WDW Radio Show #126

Read the full Captain EO Script

Glenn Whelan’s - The Pretty Good Movie Ride!

Stuck in the 80′s

Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World and other Disney Events and Meetups

To join us for a PRE-CRUISE stay in Walt Disney World before we embark on the Disney Dream on Feb. 27, 2011, visit MouseFanTravel for package information, including our Illuminations party! (Note: Package is only open to those confirmed as booked with us on the cruise. Rates INCLUDE the IllumiNations party the night before we embark)

Join us for other special events, Walt Disney World meetups and more! Get more information, dates and locations here

The post Show # 177 – July 4, 2010 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.