Last week I was in sunny Southern California. A trip to CA means a day at Disneyland. This time I was disappointed to find one of the big attractions closed for major renovation. Ah, but when Disney closes down a ride they close it down 100% the right way, no short cuts.
So what does Disney do? First, they had put up a fence. Not a run of the mill cheap chicken wire fence. This fence was an 8-foot high wood picket fence that circled the entire attraction, probably an area larger than a city block. The fence was high enough so that the magic of the Magic Kingdom wasn’t compromised by a construction scene. The magic of something new underway was kept under wraps until it was ready to be unveiled.
Disney didn’t just throw up a fence– they also maintained it and added design elements. You can see in my photo it was painted a delicious “cartoon” pastel, the boards were shaped with a bit more whimsy than a common picket, and every few feet a period brass lamp was positioned. The lighting probably wasn’t needed but it fit in with Frontierland and was another over-the-top touch that is no longer surprising at Disneyland, but expected! Just as the rest of the theme park achieves above-and-beyond cleanliness, the fence was free from graffiti, knicks, fading and stickers. It not only worked, but it looked fabulous too!
Disney knows there are no second chances, their reputation is built on incredible first impressions.
So what does Disney and pristine fences have to do with websites? Ask yourself “Is my website working beyond visitors expectations?” and “Will the design WOW people and get them to call you or buy?” If you’re not happy with the answers, call Design to Spec to create your strategy for a happier, more profitable website.
