Disney Lighting Brands

Does anybody know what light brands Disney uses? So far I’ve seen Gantoms, Martins, Clay Pakys, Elation, and ETC. Thanks!
The quick answer is "whatever unit gives the Imagineers the light/effect they are looking for. Disney does not seem to have a single, preferred brand.
 
I've had some behind the scenes access at Disneyland and have a variety of manufacturer friends who have worked with the mouse on secret projects. Disney is a "right tool for the right job" buyer. They don't focus on brands as much as device capabilities and specifications. Some things are off the shelf and some are custom built. Some commercial products started out as privately designed secret Disney projects.

But the list of what brands they use would pretty much include every manufacturer.
 
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The quick answer is "whatever unit gives the Imagineers the light/effect they are looking for. Disney does not seem to have a single, preferred brand.
Makes sense. Considering at one of the Halloween events I saw them using Colourados and Chauvet Professional Ellipsoidals (outdoors), which suprised me.
 
I've had some behind the scenes access at Disneyland and have a variety of manufacturer friends who have worked with the mouse on secret projects. Disney is a "right tool for the right job" buyer. They don't focus on brands as much as device capabilities and specifications. Some things are off the shelf and some are custom built. Some commercial products started out as privately designed secret Disney projects.

But the list of what brands they use would pretty much include every manufacturer.
Cool, thanks for the info!
 
Makes sense. Considering at one of the Halloween events I saw them using Colourados and Chauvet Professional Ellipsoidals (outdoors), which suprised me.
Good example. Colorados are not the biggest baddest fixture but they are the best tool for the right price for some specific uses.
 
As others have stated, it's whatever works for the effect needed. They also have multiple departments that can make the call. So the Imagineering team may prefer a handful of brands, but the ride maintenance team may prefer others once it's time to rehab or refurbish a ride.
 
I do recall seeing the Florida EPCOT main entry building many decades ago, where they had many hundreds of Colortran Mini-Ellipse ellipsoidal fixtures through out the facility. I was impressed as I owned 12 at the time. I subsequently learned that Disney had subsidized the design and manufacture of these fixtures for their facilities, Colortran then was free to sell on the market.
 
Not long back from WDW Florida Hollywood Studios and noticed MA GrandMa2 and Yamaha on both Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (3125) and Theater of The Stars (Beauty and The Beast) (3136). Also found the attached (3986) sitting in the Journey into Imagination pavilion in Epcot, which just goes to show if it ain't broke don't fix. Those amps have got be at least 20 years old.
 

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I got to tour a warehouse in the back at Disney that has a couple of everything. When something breaks they pull a spare out and are back up running in a short time. The variety of gear in that warehouse was pretty crazy. From the very latest to gear I used long ago in college. They build a show and the gear stays the same until there a need to replace it.

Cirque is the same way. They were running Strand 500 series consoles for more than a decade after they were discontinued. Imagine how time consuming and expensive it would be to shut down a Vegas show and completely duplicate it on a modern console. It's much easier to just pickup spare consoles on Ebay and keep a closet full of spares for parts and swap outs as needed. The show isn't changing. Why would you change the gear?
 
Not long back from WDW Florida Hollywood Studios and noticed MA GrandMa2 and Yamaha on both Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (3125) and Theater of The Stars (Beauty and The Beast) (3136). Also found the attached (3986) sitting in the Journey into Imagination pavilion in Epcot, which just goes to show if it ain't broke don't fix. Those amps have got be at least 20 years old.
Those are some cool pics! Cool to see old equipment still in use
 

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