The Experience: Going from 0 to 55 miles per hour at drag racer speeds

The Trick: Magnets!

Image via Flickr user radiobread
Image: Flickr (license)

Okay, in a world where a Tesla can reach 60 miles per hour in less than 2.3 seconds, the explosive start of California Screamin’ no longer sounds as impressive.  During the development of this attraction, however, it was a huuuuge deal. Here’s why.

During the 1970s, scientists discovered that a linear induction motor could create shocking amounts of kinetic energy, even for vehicles not currently in motion. It bordered on a violation of one of Newton’s laws of physics, but it wasn’t. Instead, the technology simply accelerated resting objects, and it did this faster than anything ever before in the field of transportation.

You know the technology for its usage in bullet trains and other municipal transportation solutions. It’s actually a modification of the magnetic levitation (maglev) concepts that are so famous at Disney theme parks, the ones that power monorails. What’s great about linear induction is that potential energy converts to kinetic (i.e actual) energy almost instantly.

By using a linear induction motor with magnets, California Screamin’ can explode into action. A coaster cart filled with passengers can go from zero to 55 miles per hour in four seconds. It’s a sudden burst of speed with an accompanying adrenaline surge. This particular ride actually maxes out at 55 miles per hour, meaning that you’re already at top speed a few seconds after your ride cart springs to life.

The Experience: Seeing the best parts of the park but not the parking lot

The Trick: Closing half the tunnels

Walt Disney obsessed over views. When he spent a great deal of money building Cinderella Castle, he instructed his Imagineers to highlight the landmark as much as possible. That request filtered throughout all the themed lands, as line of sight became a priority when building attractions.

After Uncle Walt’s death, the mantra extended to Walt Disney World and other Disney parks around the world. It was more than 40 years of reverence toward the idea of maximizing viewer perspective.

At the start of the new millennium, park planners returned to the park that started it all, the Happiest Place on Earth. They plotted a new gate, a second place themed entirely to the state of California. One of their goals was to celebrate the views of Disneyland and the tiny Disney city that Imagineers had constructed incrementally since 1955.

A roller coaster like California Screamin’ would have the chance to display all the wondrous visuals. It would also show the some of the mountainous backdrops of California, making the exercise thematic for a park celebrating the Golden State. Alas, a problem existed.

Part of the Disney infrastructure that they’d built over time was…parking lots. Also, other businesses owned some of the surrounding land. Disney couldn’t control all the views available from the California Screamin’ tracks. Or could they?

Please watch the video above. Pay special attention to the 50-second mark. Note the wall on the right side. What’s behind that wall is something Disney can’t make look attractive. So, they hide it. Building a wall only goes so far, though. Once the coaster carries the rider over that height, the view below is on full display.

Image: DisneyThe Imagineering solution is elegant in its simplicity. The tunnels you travel through during your journey on California Screamin’ are half and half. You can see out one side, enjoying a view of the parks and other scenery that will enhance your enjoyment.

The other part of the tunnel blocks your line of sight. You don’t think about it since the area has a cover. Instead, Disney uses subtle manipulation to draw your eyesight toward the things that park planners want you to notice, not the ugly stuff like the tops of buildings, parking lots, and businesses owned by other companies.

California Screamin’ is even better at night. The city skyline provides a breathtaking backdrop, and Disney’s evening illuminations create a hypnotic environment. This roller coaster is great any time, but it’s truly unforgettable at night.

The Experience: Enjoying the pinnacle of Disney California Adventure from a different perspective