There are so many sights, sounds, and smells to experience when you’re in Disney World! And, sometimes you get so caught up in the magic that it’s hard to see all the details behind your favorite elements of the parks.

It might surprise you, but Disney World is regularly manipulating its guests every time they’re in the parks. But, don’t worry — it all adds to the amazing memories you make while you’re there. And, we’re breaking down the 5 biggest ways Disney World is manipulating YOU when you’re visiting!

Smellitzers and Other Scents

You know that moment you walk down Main Street, U.S.A. and you smell the scents of candy and popcorn? Well, they may not actually even be real. Smellitzers are located around the parks to pump our various scents to fit with the atmosphere, rides, and locations guests are visiting in Disney World. And, many of the sweet or savory scents of food draw guests into spots like the Main Street Bakery and Confectionery, which is great for sales in the parks.

But, Smellitzers and other scent elements are also used on attractions to fully engage guests. You can smell the earth and the wind during Flight of Passage or Soarin’ or even apple pie during the PhilharMagic‘s “Be Our Guest” sequence.

The water rides, though, use bromine in their water for sanitation measures that causes a certain chemical scent. And, while that may not sound SUPER appealing, there’s a reason why guests love going on Splash Mountain or Pirates of the Caribbean, as the bromine has a certain nostalgic element to it. Plus, Pirates even uses Smellitzers to pump out the scent of sea salt and old, wet wood to add to the bromine’s effect!

Forced Perspective

Cinderella Castle may look like a giant masterpiece. But, would it surprise you to learn it’s smaller than Expedition Everest? Forced perspective is used throughout the Disney Parks in order to make things look bigger or smaller than they are in order to manipulate visitors’ viewpoints in certain ways.

Imagineers have been able to shift certain elements of buildings or objects to focus in on these details. At Cinderella Castle, the Magic Kingdom centerpiece appears to look taller and farther away, even though it’s only 189 feet tall. This is accomplished by using smaller bricks and windows at the top of the castle, as they gradually get bigger moving downward.

Along Main Street, the buildings even have smaller windows on their second and third stories to make them look significantly bigger than they really are.

The other parks around Disney World do this as well, including the floating mountains in Pandora: The World of Avatar, whose rock formations are not as incredibly massive as they look. Plus, Disney is able to hide the steel poles that hoist the mountains up through the loose vines and greenery surrounding them, causing them to actually appear as if they’re floating.

Disney also incorporates the idea of “reverse forced perspective” in order to make certain spots seem smaller. Historically accurate colonial buildings were only usually two stories tall, which is why reverse forced perspective was used at EPCOT’s American Adventure Pavilion. Three and a half stories were necessary for the building to hold the theater, but Imagineers scaled the windows on the top floor to be much larger than the ground floor. This technique allowed the building to look smaller than it is, adding to the historical accuracy of the pavilion.

All That Disney Merchandise!

After you have a blast on an ride, it’s hard not to want to pick up a souvenir to remember it by at home. And, that’s why many of the rides in Disney World exit through gift shops! It may be a somewhat obvious technique compared to the other more subtle ones, but, the gift shops do influence guests to buy merchandise, especially after they are happy when exiting a fun attraction!

Colorful Effects

One of the biggest ways that Disney is able to manipulate guests is through colors. The correct palette can change the way someone feels or even hide construction in the parks! Go Away Green is used as a camouflage technique on construction buildings or other areas, as the color doesn’t automatically attract people’s sights. Blending Blue accomplishes a similar effort as the color matches with the Florida skyline, causing a disappearing effect.

Greens and blues also give a calming effect to people, which is why they are used at locations like Baby Care Centers and First Aid Centers. Since they reduce anxiety and promote security, they can also reduce the appetites of people as they chill out. So, you may not find a lot of blue and green at dining locations around the parks, as more vibrant colors draw people inside.

Red, though, is a LOT louder. So, it’s no wonder it’s used as a health and safety measure to alert guests to avoid certain areas or to proceed with caution! Red can also show importance through red carpets for VIP events, among others, in the parks too.

Since red and green are also opposites on the color wheel, the greenery in Disney World pops due to the fact the pavement can be painted red. One of the places you’ll notice this is around the World Showcase, causing the trees, shrubs, and flowers to look extra vibrant. Red can also make people hungry, which is why you may see it used at many dining locations around Disney World as well!

Yellows, pinks, and oranges are typically happy colors, which is why they are consistently used at Disney’s attractions, restaurants, parades, and more. These colors create excitement and hopefulness, which makes parades, costumes, and floats all that more amazing for guests looking at them.

Last, but not least, purple brings about creativity and imagination. Disney loves to use this color in spots like photo opportunities (hello, Purple Wall!), as well as attractions! Figment himself is all purple, which fits right into the Imagination Pavilion in EPCOT. Yet, purple can also represent spirituality and the afterlife, which is why the Haunted Mansion incorporates so much of the color into its wallpaper, sets, character costumes, and beyond.

Your Point of View

Disney World is all about keeping guests immersed in their location, which is why you won’t see a Fantasyland Cast Member over in Tomorrowland. The element of immersion is also achieved through careful consideration and sightlines! Disney creates its buildings in such a way that guests won’t be able to see another land or world from wherever they’re standing.

So, if you’re inside Adventureland, you’re not going to see Main Street, U.S.A., as Disney wants to make sure guests are focused on that specific area.

However, if you DO see a building from another land or park, Disney makes sure it blends into the surroundings. While guests are in EPCOT’s World Showcase, the Tower of Terror may be visible. But, it blends in with the color scheme of the Morocco Pavilion, making it look like another building in the area.

There are PLENTY of more ways that Disney is able to manipulate its guests. And, it’s pretty fun to pay heed to more of these intentional efforts around the parks the next time you’re in Disney World! As we continue to make our way around the Most Magical Place on Earth, you can stay tuned with All Ears for the latest Disney entertainment and news coming soon!

Seven things Disney World doesn’t want you to know

What are your favorite hidden details in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!

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