“Mickey’s 10 Commandments” or the 10 rules of theme-park design was developed by my old boss Marty Sklar, Vice Chairman and Principal Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. They are…

1. Know your audience
2. Wear your guest’s shoes, that is, don’t forget the human factor
3. Organize the flow of people and ideas
4. Create a ‘Wienie’
5. Communicate with visual literacy
6. Avoid overload, create turn-ons
7. Tell one story at a time
8. Avoid contradictions – maintain identity
9. For every ounce of treatment provide a ton full of treat
10. Keep it up

I’ve had this on my wall for a few dozen years now. I think of it as the perfect recipe for creating great a product. I have used it in not only in theme park development but in video games, internet production, and retail store design.

O.K. So by now most of you are saying “What’s this Weenie thing.” Well the story is that when Walt Disney was young and went to the circus, the Zoo, or an amusement park the first thing he looked for was the Wiener Cart, so he could have a “Wienie.” It was his magnet.

Do you know what Disneyland’s weenie is? Sleeping Beauty’s Castle! I know it’s not a hot dog cart but it is undeniably a visual magnet for the guests entering the park. It draws you in. Now you know why there aren’t any wiener’s on Main Street (just kidding)!