[Question] How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

[patton45]

The movie is on the Disney Junior channel now.

anyone know how the sword is released when they have the big show in Fantasyland? Is it held in the stone by clamps?
and who in the show releases the sword?

[dland_lover]

Re: How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

I don't know how the mechanism works, but I do know that they don't have the Merlin show anymore. Haven't had it for a few years now.

[AtomicBear]

Re: How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

Magnets?

Wouldn't it have been cool if they moved sword and stone to the Fantasy Fair and did the show there. I believe that the crowd flow was one reason the show stopped.

[flynnibus]

Re: How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

The movie is on the Disney Junior channel now.

anyone know how the sword is released when they have the big show in Fantasyland? Is it held in the stone by clamps?
and who in the show releases the sword?

the sword is released by a technician out of view, not any of the characters in the show itself.

[Santoanderson]

Re: How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

I remember being very young, and eagerly anticipated pulling the sword from the stone on our next trip. Long story short, I was not the lucky one, and it was a major bummer. When we got home I crafted my own sword out of cardboard and tinfoil and pulled it out from between two couch cushions, effectively recreating the ceremony. It was strangely cathartic.

[ShelbyH]

Re: How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

I think this is the one atmosphere entertainment I most wish they would continue.

[calsig31]

Re: How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

It was released by magic.

[micromind]

Re: How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

If I remember, the sword had a hole in it, near the tip. About 1/2" in diameter.

If so, it would be easy to rig up a pin connected to a solenoid so that normally the pin was through the hole in the sword. At the appropriate time, a remotely located person (most likely a tech, as Flynnibus posted) would press a button, energizing the solenoid and pulling the pin out of the hole in the sword.

Once the solenoid was de-energized, a spring would push the pin back through the hole in the sword.

It would be easy to make it so the sword would latch in place when it was inserted back into the stone.

This is only one way it could be done, not necessarily exactly how it was actually done.

[TTN]

Re: How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

There's a small control booth in the Peter Pan facade (they can see into the square from one of the small windows high on the facade and slightly away from the front). The sword never went out all the way (and as you can see from the attached video it could stay up/go down by itself), so I would say it was just a weak hydraulic (or pneumatic) piston.

Disneyland Fantasyland Sword in the Stone Day CLIP 06/11/06 - YouTube

[flynnibus]

Re: How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

If I remember, the sword had a hole in it, near the tip. About 1/2" in diameter.

If so, it would be easy to rig up a pin connected to a solenoid so that normally the pin was through the hole in the sword. At the appropriate time, a remotely located person (most likely a tech, as Flynnibus posted) would press a button, energizing the solenoid and pulling the pin out of the hole in the sword.

Once the solenoid was de-energized, a spring would push the pin back through the hole in the sword.

It would be easy to make it so the sword would latch in place when it was inserted back into the stone.

This is only one way it could be done, not necessarily exactly how it was actually done.

The sword never comes out of the stone.. it simply is allowed to come up.. about 8" or so. There is probably a mechanical lock (like a pin you mentioned), and some wheels trapping it for smooth retraction. I don't know those wheels are powered or not.. probably.

[PirateLover]

Re: How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

Hydraulics, pistons, magnets and solenoids? I don't think so.
Everyone knows you just have to be the future King (or Queen) and it pulls right out!

[DisneylandPlanner]

Re: How Does The Sword in the Stone thing work?

I think this is the one atmosphere entertainment I most wish they would continue.

agreed