When you hear the word “Disney” what is the first image that comes to mind? Perhaps a pair of Mickey ears, or Mickey Mouse himself? Chances are, if you’re familiar with the iconic brand, then you’re also familiar with its world-renowned mascot: Mickey Mouse.

This Spring, Disney Parks will bring this iconic character and his friends to life in new ways with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the first Disney ride-through attraction featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.

The visual experience of this new attraction is powered by Panasonic’s 4K laser projection technology, enabling park visitors to leave reality – and physics – behind. Located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios® at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway takes guests on a journey inside the wacky and unpredictable world of a "Mickey Mouse" cartoon short using new technologies that transform the two-dimensional cartoon world into an incredible multi-dimensional experience. Inside, guests step through a movie screen and find themselves aboard a train as it stampedes through the Wild West, visits a carnival and even dives over a waterfall.

Because these characters and their world are so iconic, Disney required projection technology that could seamlessly create the bright colors and unique textures many Disney fans are familiar with. Yet sharp, bright color accuracy wasn’t the only requirement – any projector Disney deployed also had to be small and flexible enough to be hidden within the ride. With 360° flexible installation capabilities, Panasonic’s projectors were installed at new angles and configurations to move visitors through scenes that, with color control, seamlessly blend the physical world with the imaginative world of Disney. Throughout the ride, the projectors are also hidden in scenery such as rocks, trees and barn doors, making surfaces a combination of projection and physical elements without sacrificing the magic they create.

As the latest collaborative testament to Disney and Panasonic’s 20+ year relationship, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway immerses guests in a new world enabled by projection. Panasonic is the Official Projection Technology of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland® Resort. To learn more about how Panasonic collaborates with Disney to create immersive guest experiences, visit: https://na.panasonic.com/us/case-study/panasonic-making-magic-disney-parks.