Disney Seeks Patent for Enhanced Visibility in Character Costumes

Disney Seeks Patent for Enhanced Visibility in Character Costumes

Disney theme parks are well-known for their characters! Now, the company has filed a patent for enhanced visibility in the character costumes. Performers in full character costumes have limited visibility so this patent will be very helpful!

Related – We Spotted Disney Character Palooza at Hollywood Studios

Orlando Inno shared a look at this new patent. It is called “Optical Viewfinder for Costume Heads” and uses a lens-based system. There would be system of lenses within the head of a “fur character” suit that would reflect the eye line of a character head down to the eye line of the performer. Performers typically look out of the character head’s mouth and not it’s eyes because of how big the head is.

Another idea would be to incorporate a video camera system into the character costumes but that would be more expensive and less reliable.

“The camera often will need repair including battery replacement,” the patent states, “and the camera model often will be depreciated with replacement models becoming less capable and more expensive in some applications. Even with two displays the viewed images are monoscopic, and, while walking or during head movements, camera latency causes conflicts between the viewed scene and the proprioception/vestibular systems, which often leads to dizziness of the performer and reduced agility.”

“With regard to achieving an enlarged [field of view],” the patent explains, “the optical viewfinder of the costume head can include a special eyepiece. For example, a fisheye lens may be used to deliver the image to the performer’s eye, and, in some cases, a second fisheye lens may be provided as the incoming or near-aperture lens to enhance [field of view]. The fisheye lens or lenses may be 1-to-1 lenses or configured to provide magnification to enlarge the image provided to the person wearing the costume head.”

The lens system could improve the visibility of the character performers which could translate into better and safer meet & greets for guests!

What do you think of the possible change to character costumes?

Character Meet & Greets

Walt Disney World is filled with secrets, from Hidden Mickey’s to Throwing out the First Pitch at Casey’s Corner. You can stumble upon fun events all the time. Yes, if you search around you can find the times and places where secret things happen, except for one of the best secrets, Character-Paloozas!

Last week we got to witness the Character-Palooza at EPCOT and interacted with Big Al, Wendell, Meeko, Penguin, and Stitch, among others. The other day, we finally got to see the character Palooza in Hollywood Studios.

The characters, including Thumper, Princess Tiana, and Pocahontas, were all meeting in the courtyard at Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. We found them right outside the exit, and close to the Joffrey’s Coffee kiosk.

As we exited the thrilling ride, we were met by Cast Members in blueberry-colored shirts. They would ask guests if they wanted to meet one of the characters and show guests around the corner. With no real line to speak of, the meet and greets were extra special with how much time the characters would spend with each guest. This all happened later than normal as we got to see these characters from 5:30 PM until at least 6:20 PM.

We love the magic character meet & greets bring to the parks! Have you ever met characters during a Character Palooza?

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