Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
In practical terms…I believe they said that the reflective white on the green tends to be picked up more…I’m not sure if that’s biology or a learned pattern based on the drivers?
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Iconic Purple Directional Signs Being Replaced
- Thread starter castlecake2.0
- Start date
Kamikaze
Well-Known Member
Not everyone.
But I also don't think road signs are 'nostalgic'. They're road signs.
GrumpyFan
Well-Known Member
Probably budgeted along with the entrance sign refresh.
Also, being the 50th, someone probably added it to the list of things to update as well. You know, just to give the resort a "fresh new look" for the celebration. I would guess it's probably about a year late too, due to COVID.
James Alucobond
Well-Known Member
Might be the contrast of a more organic color with a finish that is clearly unnatural.
Poseidon Quest
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure if that's necessarily a factor here. I was referencing Disney's pivot towards "generic retail space" for Epcot, homogenizing all of its merchandise and turning all of the parks into IP-laden wastelands of mediocre attractions.
I will miss the old signs, as I long associated that color scheme with WDW, and they were easy to read. Of course, they are just road signs, so it’s not really a big deal. But I wonder, why spend this money? Couldn’t we have had just one less food price increase and keep the old signs? Were there complaints?
FerretAfros
Well-Known Member
Most directional signage is actually green, per the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (though street name signs often vary by jurisdiction, with blue and brown also being relatively common).
Although there are a handful of exceptions, each color represents a different type of signage with a different purpose. While drivers may not consciously notice the entire color pattern, most are familiar enough to be able to quickly decipher whether they need to read a sign at a particular moment, without actually having to read it.
- Green: Wayfinding & directional signage
- Blue: Expressway services (gas stations, restaurants, attractions, etc.) & Accessibility-related signage
- White: Regulatory (speed limits, HOV restrictions, parking restrictions, etc.)
- Yellow: Warning (tight curves, steep grades, animal crossings, etc.)
- Orange: Temporary traffic control (typically construction-related)
- Brown: Recreation
- Lime green: Schools & pedestrian crossings
- Red: "Stop" & "Do not enter"
- Purple: Typically associated with toll roads (though not exclusively)
The two different shades of blue on the new sign are perplexing, as they're too similar to one another to really stand out. The arrows also seem difficult to read; they appear to be based on the MUTCD's "down" arrow that's typically used to designate specific lanes from an overhead sign, but are being used as directional arrows to point outward. The fat arrow and narrow tail just don't read clearly in this context. The shapes and colors remind me more of a webpage or mobile app design than something that would be used for a physical sign.
The design of these signs is odd: they're unique enough that they don't comply with the MUTCD, but similar enough that they don't really "feel" any different. They also aren't as clear and easy to read as either the standard signs or the old ones. This seems to be a great example of how something isn't necessarily better just because it's new and/or custom-designed; sometimes existing elements or standard features actually work better.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I’m agreeing with you in general…not necessarily with the signs.
but there is a psychological gain to “reduce expectations” across the board.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I highly doubt the stockholders are paying a dime for this…they’re not having a great month anyway.
KBLovedDisney
Well-Known Member
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
The old signs needed to be frequently repainted too. They take abuse from that Florida sun and they would fade badly.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
That sounds like an Assumption
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
Color aside, I also like the switch to rounded corners.
cmb5002
Well-Known Member
I'm surprised they're using something based on Highway Gothic. Clearview font has been standard around me for almost 10 years.Been expecting this ever since they moved away from that color scheme in other areas of Disney Transport. Honestly surprised they went with Interstate as the font rather than something distinctive, though.
EDIT: Check that, looks like the signs use Adobe's Expressway, which is very similar to Interstate/Highway Gothic.
EDIT 2: A look at the original signage project from the designers. I don't recall the Mickey face peeking over the sign shown in the examples.
Walt Disney World & Euro Disney - Sussman Prejza
Walt Disney World encompasses an area larger than the city of San Francisco; all visitors arrive by highway or freeway. Sussman/Prejza’s task was to develop a vehicular signing system that would be unique in spirit, clean, easy to follow, and capable of being expanded as the area continues to...sussmanprejza.com
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
It's not.
Vegas Disney Fan
Well-Known Member
I was going to make the same comment, the rounded corners look much better. The square corners always looked unfinished to me. A tiny detail but a nice one.
I prefer the old color scheme but I’m not sure I’d have even noticed the change if I hadn’t seen this thread before my next trip.
Lil Copter Cap
Well-Known Member
Yeah, there are quite a few signs that remain unpainted and the fading is a mess. There is one near Animal Kingdom Lodge's exit (even pre-pandemic) and one over by Disney Springs that are almost white with the sun bleaching.
I don't mind the new look. I was particularly excited to see rounded edges. Interested to see how the design is spread across other signage (specifically the poles and slanted supports).