Behind the Magic: Why The Sidewalks are Red at Magic Kingdom
Why did Disney choose red concrete for the sidewalks of Main Street USA at Walt Disney World? Some say it’s to represent a red carpet as you enter the show. Others say it was chosen to make photos look better. Still, others claim it is supposed to represent brick. So who’s right?
Red sidewalks on Main Street USA inside Magic Kingdom create a vibrant contrast with their surroundings.
There are a few reasons actually. When the Magic Kingdom was being built, Disney turned to Eastman Kodak, a research and development company and a leader in photography, for help in choosing the right color.
First, grey sidewalks would be highly unimaginative. We expect more from Disney and grey cement just wouldn’t cut it.
Florida is, of course, the Sunshine State and sun glare off light-colored concrete would cause people to squint. So the color of the sidewalks needed to absorb sunlight rather than reflect it.
Kodak, who was to be a major sponsor of Walt Disney World, performed a study to identify which colors would absorb sunlight, blend in with the surroundings, and yet, make things “pop” in photographs. And maybe, if they got it right, people would love their photos so much, they would buy Kodak film for their cameras once again.
I think they nailed it with the color red they chose. Just look at the contrast between the sidewalks and the gardens. Brilliant! Most visitors don’t stop to question why the sidewalks are red, they just know that their digital photos look visually stunning, even if they have never heard of Kodak Film before.
Related:
Behind the Magic: Secrets of Walt Disney World