In this episode of Distory, we’re floating by the iconic Well Scene of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean and finding some lost history along the way. While everyone knows Carlos (and his wife in the upper window), there’s much more storytelling in this scene than meets the eye… and even more that’s been lost since 1967.

From fascinating details in Marc Davis’s original concept art to clever storytelling hidden among the props, costumes, and scenery, we’re taking a closer look at a scene that most guests have likely passed hundreds of times without noticing some of its most interesting secrets.

We’ll also explore the work of other important Imagineers who brought these characters to life, including Blaine Gibson, Alice Davis, and X. Atencio, and discover a critical story element that seems to have been forgotten over time.

As we compare the Well Scene of today with its earlier incarnations, we’ll also uncover some of the characters, effects, and little pieces of storytelling that have disappeared over the years. Kirk talks about pointy shoes and explains some of the brutal techniques of information retrieval, Kate explains how one pirate’s actions are (comically) physically impossible, and we both enjoy hunting a character that has played hide-and-seek in the Well scene over the years.

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Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!

Kate’s Books

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MOWD app

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Kate’s Substack

From the moment you enter a Disney park, the Imagineers are intentionally manipulating your feelings and perspective.

They compress spaces before revealing enormous vistas, control what you can and can’t see, carefully transition you from one environment into another, alter architectural scale, and use visual order to influence how you experience the world around you.

Tonight on Distory Nite Shift, Kate and Joshua explore the psychology and perspective tricks hiding throughout the Disney parks through the ideas of Imagineers including Claude Coats, Joe Rohde, and John Hench.

We’ll explore Disney’s famous “Christmas Morning” views and how Imagineers use this technique in many of their most popular attractions across all the Disney parks. Then we’re heading to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to examine Joe Rohde’s fascinating explanation of how Imagineers intentionally move guests from geometric, human-controlled environments into increasingly natural spaces, and what feelings they wanted to evoke in the process.

Finally, we’ll dig into Imagineer John Hench’s psychological interpretation of Disneyland including visual cohesion, elements designed to make you feel safe, and more.

Clock in for another Distory Nite Shift as we follow some Imagineering rabbit trails and explore how Disney uses architecture, storytelling, psychology, scale, perspective, and carefully controlled reveals to influence not only what we see, but how we feel as we step into the Disney parks.

Resources referenced in this episode:John Hench's Psychological Interpretation of Disneyland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yykXGfS8GbE&t=3sKate's books & Substackhttps://disneycicerone.com/E82 Disney Parks Soundtracks

https://www.epcotlegacy.com/music

Distory Nite Shift is a conversation between two Disney historians who have a combined 55 years of Disney history knowledge. The “after-show” of Distory with Kate & Kirk, this late-nite conversation for Disney history lovers is hosted by Kate the Disney Cicerone and Joshua of E82 | The Epcot Legacy.

Nite Shift is broadcast every other week, opposite of Distory with Kate & Kirk.

Join us LIVE on YouTube every week for Distory! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

Joshua’s resources:

E82 | The Epcot Legacy

JLH OmniMedia

Kate’s resources:

Kate’s Books

Kate’s Substack

Show Merch

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