Iconic Purple Directional Signs Being Replaced

[matt9112]

No, we've moved on. It's not a cost thing anymore. Now it's a conspiracy to screw the taxpayer.

These new signs are just the first stages of the hostile Chinese take over of Walt Disney World.

 

[JoeCamel]

These new signs are just the first stages of the hostile Chinese take over of Walt Disney World.

Let them have it, it will all be under water in a few years.....

 

[lazyboy97o]

Also, they're road signs. Their goal is to get people from place to place, not be themed masterpieces. Bland is fine.

Is bland fine? So much of our built environment is cheap, ugly and outright hostile because we accept the premise that bland is fine for so many things.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I guess if your account is supposed to be a parody and critique of people who complain about the direction the company is taking, I can at least see what you're going for.

Otherwise, it just reads as reflexive negativity with no real thought behind it.

Depending on my mood either can apply.

Thanks for the analysis

 

[UNCgolf]

Is bland fine? So much of our built environment is cheap, ugly and outright hostile because we accept the premise that bland is fine for so many things.

For road signs, I think yes. Their goal is to be functional and easy to read; not attractive.

That doesn't mean they can't also be attractive, but anything that distracts from the goal of getting people the information they need is a negative and potentially dangerous.

I also think there's a place for bland, in that if essentially everything in an environment is designed to attract attention, it actually detracts from the really significant pieces because they no longer stand out. You end up with something like the Rococo, which was just too much, at least for me.

 

[JoeCamel]

Are they expecting to add more to the 192 sign? All that space and such small representation of the road sign. Make it larger if possible so you can see it well down the way, the road is four lanes with a merge lane at that point I think so if someone needed to move over in heavy traffic they would have time?

 

[solidyne]

Of course they are clearer, they are new. The reflective coating has worn off of the old ones.

Road signs are reflective thanks to the glass beads, microprisms, or encapsulated lenses present on reflective sheeting. These materials bend light, so it comes back to the source, making road signs highly visible at night to drivers with their headlights on. There are three different grades of this sheeting: engineer, high-intensity, and diamond.

Engineer Grade Reflective Signs​

Engineer grade signs use glass beads or prismatic optical technology to reflect light and have the lowest prices. Engineer grade signs have less visibility, usually around 400 to 600 feet, making them only suitable for non-critical uses. You will often see these signs in areas like parking lots and garages.

High-Intensity Grade Reflective Signs​

High-intensity signs use cube-corner or prismatic material to offer superior reflectivity. Most cities use these for their traffic signs. You will also see high-intensity grade reflective signs used for barricades and construction zones. They provide better visibility than engineer grade signs and can be seen from around 800 to 1,200 feet away. They work well in areas where street lights can affect reflectivity.

Diamond Grade Reflective Signs​

Diamond grade signs have the highest visibility, around 1,300 to 1,600 feet. They are used in areas where high visibility is critical, including interstate highways. These are the best option for cluttered urban environments that have a lot of lights and other signs.

Thank you!
Every once in a while you come to these boards and actually learn something that you never knew. Today was the day for me!

Yes, but wouldn't it have been nice if the
source of the cutting and pasting had been supplied?

At the very least, quotation marks?

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I do a lot of DOT consulting. They could have opened their own sign shop over by LBV…cranked out all the signs…and had them up in about a week.

Penndot could have pulled that off.

Not that it’s a big deal…but they certainly aren’t in a hurry here

Hmmmm…Tron/signs…Tron/signs…

 

[Smiley/OCD]

1. It sure looks like the signs need replacing.
2. I bet the new standard color paint is cheaper and that the old colors were a special order:
View attachment 676739

First off, the signs aren’t painted…they’re covered in a reflective film/sticker (if you will) as @bpiper said, the cost differential isn’t in the color, it’s in the different reflectiveness/quality of the film. I’ve checked with my friend who designs and builds signs and USUALLY, the only colors that are more expensive are metallic colors (gold, silver, bronze, etc) and custom colors, which would be a one time upfront charge to develop the color…once that’s done, they can run 50 miles of the film to cover every sign needed and have 20 miles left over for new/redone signs.
That all being said, I liked the purple/red/yellow signs…as others have said, it made you feel you were off I-4 and on property…if you couldn’t read the signs, maybe you shouldn’t be driving. Just my .02

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Is bland fine? So much of our built environment is cheap, ugly and outright hostile because we accept the premise that bland is fine for so many things.

THIS…let’s pull all the giant fiberglass characters out of POP, ASR and AoA and the people will complain that the resorts are just overpriced Holiday Inns and Motel 6’s…

 

[LittleBuford]

You end up with something like the Rococo, which was just too much, at least for me.

Your mention of the Rococo (which I personally love) reminded me of this travelling Disney exhibition, whose next stop is the LA area for those who may be interested:

News Release - “Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts” Coming to The Huntington | The Huntington

The international traveling exhibition explores 18th-century French decorative arts as inspiration for Disney’s celebrated animated films, including Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.

huntington.org

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

THIS…let’s pull all the giant fiberglass characters out of POP, ASR and AoA and the people will complain that the resorts are just overpriced Holiday Inns and Motel 6’s…

…they really are…

But the schtick is still fun and a little infectious on the ground

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

THIS…let’s pull all the giant fiberglass characters out of POP, ASR and AoA and the people will complain that the resorts are just overpriced Holiday Inns and Motel 6’s…

It’s a fine line between too bland and too much, I think Sassagoula floatworks is a good example of how toning it down can be an improvement.

I find the rooms slightly boring now though.

 

[mkt]

They could have opened their own sign shop over by LBV

I'm almost certain they did

 

[Disstevefan1]

First off, the signs aren’t painted…they’re covered in a reflective film/sticker (if you will) as @bpiper said, the cost differential isn’t in the color, it’s in the different reflectiveness/quality of the film. I’ve checked with my friend who designs and builds signs and USUALLY, the only colors that are more expensive are metallic colors (gold, silver, bronze, etc) and custom colors, which would be a one time upfront charge to develop the color…once that’s done, they can run 50 miles of the film to cover every sign needed and have 20 miles left over for new/redone signs.
That all being said, I liked the purple/red/yellow signs…as others have said, it made you feel you were off I-4 and on property…if you couldn’t read the signs, maybe you shouldn’t be driving. Just my .02

Thanks for the signage education! Makes sense it’s a wrap and not paint.
I agree I liked the old colors too.
I am impressed how much milage this thread is getting too.

 

[lazyboy97o]

For road signs, I think yes. Their goal is to be functional and easy to read; not attractive.

That doesn't mean they can't also be attractive, but anything that distracts from the goal of getting people the information they need is a negative and potentially dangerous.

I also think there's a place for bland, in that if essentially everything in an environment is designed to attract attention, it actually detracts from the really significant pieces because they no longer stand out. You end up with something like the Rococo, which was just too much, at least for me.

That’s not really a true choice. Things can be functional and attractive. They can also be well designed without being overly attention grabbing and garish.

 

[Bullseye1967]

I do a lot of DOT consulting. They could have opened their own sign shop over by LBV…cranked out all the signs…and had them up in about a week.

Penndot could have pulled that off.

Not that it’s a big deal…but they certainly aren’t in a hurry here

I'm almost certain they did

WDW does it's signs on property.

 

[mkt]

WDW does it's signs on property.

View attachment 676869

I went there back in the early 2000s, but in times of cost savings and outsourcing, I wasn't sure if they still made them on site.

 

[UNCgolf]

That’s not really a true choice. Things can be functional and attractive. They can also be well designed without being overly attention grabbing and garish.

Of course, but your response to me was also a false dichotomy. Bland doesn't automatically mean poorly designed or ugly.

 

[UNCgolf]

Your mention of the Rococo (which I personally love) reminded me of this travelling Disney exhibition, whose next stop is the LA area for those who may be interested:

News Release - “Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts” Coming to The Huntington | The Huntington

The international traveling exhibition explores 18th-century French decorative arts as inspiration for Disney’s celebrated animated films, including Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.

huntington.org

I'm a big fan of the Baroque (especially in music, but in other areas as well), but the Rococo just took it too far.

That's not to say I hate ALL Rococo design, because it does work in places.