Lessons learned from Disneyland

I had a blast at Disneyland this weekend. I couldn’t help but be impressed by the elaborate setup they have. I think I’ll be able to apply a few concepts the theme park has mastered to my D&D game.

Attention to details

A lot of the attractions are made for kids but I was amazed at the level of detail of the decoration and scenery – details only an adult can appreciate. The clever use of details in D&D can maintain interest of players whose characters are not the main focus of a scene, and generally add a lot of value to even the best adventures.

Using the terrain

I’m not a big fan of fireworks but the Disney display of pyrotechnics was mind-blowing. They were shooting fireworks from different parts of the park and I felt like I was surrounded. Music was also played throughout the theme park so wherever you were you’d hear very well. In my next D&D game I think I’ll try to exploit the terrain better – in fight or roleplay scenes. It’s one of the advantages I have as a DM: I know the terrain the PCs are playing on.

Finding the right formula and sticking with it…

Disneyland has been a popular attraction for a long time and a lot of the rides are old, but still very popular. The popular music from the Disney movies is also played repetitively. As a DM I’m sure I could be more conservative and stick to what I know I do best and my players would still have a blast during the game.

But don’t stick with it for too long!

At some point you have to try something new. During the Small World ride – which is a classic – I fell asleep. It’s a ride that was built for the world fair of 1745 – and it shows. Just plain old and boring.

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