Panasonic is making magic with Disney Parks
For more than 20 years, Panasonic has been proud to work with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Today, we help Disney make magic for its guests, whether they are visiting Disney theme parks in the U.S., traveling on Disney Cruise Line ships or attending Disney Parks fan events. Disney Parks leverages Panasonic solutions – such as advanced 3D displays, 4K broadcast camera systems, and projection equipment – when it creates immersive experiences that push the boundaries of storytelling and imagination.
As a technology leader, Panasonic is well-suited to support Disney Parks’ most imaginative endeavors. Our entertainment solutions allow theme parks, entertainment venues and live events to reimagine experiences from start to finish and ensure a special experience for audiences.
Challenges
As a storytelling pioneer, Disney creates unique attractions, entertainment and magical experiences that immerse guests in the stories that they love.
Behind the magic is technology, innovation and Disney’s extraordinary ability to invent. To continuously improve guest and consumer experiences in an age of increasing entertainment options, Disney puts to use new and disruptive technology in novel ways.
Solutions
Over the years, Disney Parks has utilized Panasonic technology in their endeavors to create iconic, immersive experiences. From Na’vi River Journey attraction at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida, to the upcoming Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at both Walt Disney World® Resort and Disneyland® Resort, Panasonic technology helps Disney to make magic for millions of guests.
Results
Since 2015, Disney Parks has seen the largest expansion in its history, and Panasonic is proud to deliver technology solutions that help support this growth. In 2016, Panasonic was designated the “Official Projection Technology” of Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort. As part of the long-term agreement, Disney Parks gains access to Panasonic’s latest market-leading projectors, with advanced image processing and lens solutions.
Storytelling through technology
Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative engine that designs and builds all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, and cruise ships worldwide and oversees the creative aspects of Disney games, merchandise product development, and publishing businesses. Walt Disney Imagineering has utilized Panasonic projection solutions on select attractions to meet their need for high picture quality, accurate color, high brightness, and rich contrast. Our state-of-the-art equipment helps Imagineers create colorful and detailed images in places that were once off-limits. With Panasonic products, Disney Parks blends projection technology with physical sets, creating realistic environments on dimensional surfaces such as castles, storefronts and even water. The result: immersive experiences in which the technology becomes invisible and the story comes to life.
One example is the Na’vi River Journey attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. In this attraction, Panasonic projection technology helped Disney Parks create a visually stunning and mysterious river that brings guests through a series of caves and into a bioluminescent rainforest alive with the sights and sounds of exotic plants and creatures.
On Disney Cruise Line ships, Panasonic point, tilt, zoom (PTZ) cameras are used to enhance live shows and entertainment performed on the open-air upper deck on each ship in the fleet, including the Frozen Deck Party, Pirates of the Caribbean show and Sail-Away Celebrations that give guests the chance to see their favorite characters at sea.
Disney Parks will also be leveraging Panasonic projectors as they transform the animated world of the Emmy Award-winning Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts into an amazing real-world experience for the upcoming Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® and Disneyland® Park.
“The specific visual requirements of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction require imaging systems that meet the highest technical requirements of precision color rendition and brightness,” said Tom LaDuke, show systems designer, principal, Walt Disney Imagineering. “We appreciate working with Panasonic to push technological boundaries that bring our guests to places only previously achieved in their imaginations.”
From bringing beloved worlds and characters to life to enhancing live shows and entertainment, Panasonic’s technology presence in Disney Parks and themed performances in the U.S. helps to make magic for millions of people every year.
