Idea: Better Guide Maps

[ChrisFL]

I think Disney should use its pioneering ways and start to develop maps with more useful information than just basics about the attractions and where to find a restroom.

Yes, I know there is already information about fastpass that no one reads, but I think there is an opportunity here to really make something useful...like a map that includes more attraction descriptions and pictures, maybe menu information for the restaurants, and have this available to everyone (read: not just smartphones) as actual maps.

For example, do you think first time visitors have any idea what Carousel of Progress is by looking at the outside and seeing it on the map?

Do some attractions get neglected just because they're harder to find, or people just don't know what it's about?

Thoughts?

 

[Tigger1988]

That's what the Birnbaum book is for :lol:

 

[ChrisFL]

I know there's other books out there, but people have to buy those and they're not available in the front of the park

 

[Monty]

My fear is that would create a bigger map sheet. There's enough people already blocking routes while standing trying to figure out the current maps, imagine if they had bigger sheets to fold/navigate?

 

[RonAnnArbor]

Interesting idea but it won't happen. Looking back at my maps for the past 35 years, almost none of them have more than labels and a sentence or two about the attraction --

Remember -- Disney didn't design the Magic Kingdom to necessarily help you plan a touring route like the current books and guides do -- it was designed to pull you into the park so that you and your family could explore each "land" section by section...it's up to YOU to discover what is there...

Over the years, I think WDW has just stuck with the proven formula and that is about that.

I like your idea. It will never happen. And the smartphone apps are SO much better than anything Disney could put out themselves it's not economically feasible for them to even try.

 

[marni1971]

They used to. They were called guide books.

 

[Crockett]

I'm afraid this would be wasted $$. Especially in this generation, where you can go on YouTube and watch an entire attraction from start to finish before even leaving your own home.

Guide Maps have definitely evolved for the better over the past decade(s). I remember growing up at our local park (Six Flags Over Georgia), and a red squiggly line represented a roller coaster. :shrug:

 

[rsoxguy]

I believe that one of the reasons that this idea will not be implemented is that a concise map is ideal for the average WDW attendee. The old idiom involving "too much of a good thing" applies to a theme park guide map. Too much information makes things more difficult for the average person trying to navigate a family around unfamiliar surroundings.

 

[Mansion Butler]

How about interactive maps and information you can get on your smart phone while in the park?

 

[Crockett]

How about interactive maps and information you can get on your smart phone while in the park?

They should make an app for that. Any why not throw in ride wait times & where the characters are out greeting folks (?)

 

[Mansion Butler]

They should make an app for that. Any why not throw in ride wait times & where the characters are out greeting folks (?)

I think there's a big untapped world to help people get the information they need on their mobile devices. The key will be getting it so people don't need to pay data transfer rates to use.

I'm picturing something like the program Safeco Field has for your DS, where you can play games, watch the game and highlights, see data (and a pitch tracker) and order food all from your DS. That's actually a pretty awesome feature that I make liberal use of when I'm there. You just install it while you're there and use their network. Once you're out of Safeco, you're out of range.

 

[Krack]

double post

 

[Krack]

http://www.florida-project.com/magic-kingdom-guidebooks-guidemaps/1984

I had to laugh when I found this. If they tried to do it today the blurb for every store in the shopping section would be "The same stuff you can find in every other store." :lol:

 

[Crockett]

^ "Look maw, no Splash Mtn."

Hard to believe that area was once just a train station and a border fence.
(And I would be giving away my age a bit if I told you I remember the MK when it was SplashMtn-less)

 

[Dads 2 Boys]

While the idea is great in theory, I think Monty is right about they would be too cumbersome. I think the info on the map is supposed to leave the guest wondering what it is so they will visit each attraction.

While some descriptions don't do it justice (i.e....One Man's Dream), I think it's virtually impossible to completely describe an attraction on a park map. Expeically with the smartphone apps that are available now.

 

[Mansion Butler]

^ "Look maw, no Splash Mtn."

Hard to believe that area was once just a train station and a border fence.
(And I would be giving away my age a bit if I told you I remember the MK when it was SplashMtn-less)

I do, too, and I'm closer to drinking age than I am to 30. You're safe here. You're among friends.

 

[ChrisFL]

They used to. They were called guide books.

Wow, I hate when Disney goes back in time and uses my ideas :fork:

 

[Vernonpush]

The first years of park maps gave NO descriptions. Then in the late 70's descriptions first appeared. All descriptions disappeared again in 1997.
http://wdwpast.tripod.com/mkmaps.html

 

[Motorpro]

It wouldn't progresive it would be a step back. They use to give a book now it's just one page.

 

[rct247]

A good portion of guests use maps in general to get a feel of the park and the location of a few key rides, but other than that, they really don't seem to pay attention to them.

There will always be that other decent size portion of guests that no matter what you put in a guide map, they will still walk up to every attraction asking what it is (even though each attraction also has a sign out front as well stating the description). Even with information printed in guide maps, people still ask about Fastpass, still ask where restrooms are, still think the back of the park is the park entrance, still don't know the parade route, still think certain rides like Harry Potter are at Hollywood Studios and Space Mountain is at Epcot, and best yet, even with the map up to their face, they have trouble locating exactly where they are. Digital or even regular paper guide maps with more information, pictures, or interactivity probably are not going to help.