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DISCLAIMER: If you don't want to see what Disneyland looks like behind the curtain, so to speak, stay away from this thread. I happen to be fascinated with the backstage areas I can't explore. Most people aren't, and that's okay. For me, this intensifies the magic, but if it won't for you...well, you've been forewarned. 
We now return to your scheduled programming.
Hey, guys. So, this thread began as continuation of the "Splash Mountain Blueprints!" thread. I'd been working on a 3D model of Disneyland in the free program Blender and posting updates there for a while, but then I switched to this one. However, for the project's first birthday (sorta...it's complicated), I switched to the Virtual Magic blog, disneyland3d.blogspot.com. That's where you'll find the newest updates now. But you already knew that, unless you've got sigs disabled. And if that's the case, I should probably let you know that all my still renders are on Flickr and all my videos are on YouTube.
If you want to help with the project, I love receiving photos, blueprints, elevation plans, aerial shots, backstage tales, etc. If you've got anything you think might be even slightly helpful, don't hesitate to let me know.
If you happen to be doing any 3D modeling of Disneyland, feel free to post stuff here. Again, the point is to spread visual information to as many people as possible.
FAQ
Q: What class or employer are you doing this for?
A: This is just a hobby.
Q: Then...why are you doing this?
A: Because I want to understand how Disneyland fits together in real life, because I want to be able to virtually stand in places I can't access in real life, because 3D renders look cool, because it's a challenge, and because others enjoy it.
Q: What software do you use?
A: I use Blender, a totally free and legal 3D program that never fails to amaze me with its full-featuredness. I highly recommend downloading it from www.blender.org.
Q: Where do you get your aerial views?
A: Maps.live.com. I also use terraserver-usa.com if I need to measure shadow lengths to calculate building heights. And Google Earth can be useful for measuring distances along the ground.
Q: Can I download the model?
A: At some point, perhaps. I've been hesitant to put the model up for mass downloads for numerous reasons, but I may do that at some point, or at least make it available on a case-by-case basis.
Q: What about Google Earth or Virtual Earth 3D? Could you upload the model to one of those?
A: Unfortunately, I'd basically have to redo the entire model in another program in the case of the former--I'm not even sure if the latter takes models from the public. So no, I probably won't be doing this, though I actually did make an attempt at this at one point.
Q: Are you planning on making DCA (Disney's California Adventure)?
A: Probably not. That park has some cool bits, but overall, it really doesn't stimulate my creative juices.
Q: How about Walt Disney World?
A: Probably not. Unfortunately, I have no sentimental connections to WDW, and I'm not intimately familiar with the place, so I really have no motivation for taking on another project that's even huger than this current one, which is already too massive an undertaking for me to ever finish.
Q: Does that mean you're not going to be finished with this Disneyland model soon?
A: :lol:):lmao:
Q: No...seriously.
A: It would take lifetimes for me to finish this project. I'm just gonna keep going as long as I'm enjoying myself, and we'll see how far I get.
Q: Why haven't you built _____ yet?
A: This is actually a very time-consuming project. I'm generally building the things that are easiest and most interesting first, with a special focus on how backstage relates to onstage. If I haven't built your favorite ride yet, I probably don't have enough information (i.e. photos and blueprints) to do a good job, it's too difficult for me at this point, and/or I just don't care about that particular part of the park. HOWEVER--if you want to see it built, let me know! I love getting feedback, and if you're particularly interested in seeing something, perhaps I'll get started on it.
Q: You should totally start making videos of the model!
A: You should totally take a look at my sig.
Q: I'm sick of going through pages and pages of your dumb commentary, Data. Can't I just see the pics by themselves?
A: That, too, depends on how good you are at reading sigs.
Q: Do you have a life?
A: Your mamma.
Enjoy!
We now return to your scheduled programming.
Hey, guys. So, this thread began as continuation of the "Splash Mountain Blueprints!" thread. I'd been working on a 3D model of Disneyland in the free program Blender and posting updates there for a while, but then I switched to this one. However, for the project's first birthday (sorta...it's complicated), I switched to the Virtual Magic blog, disneyland3d.blogspot.com. That's where you'll find the newest updates now. But you already knew that, unless you've got sigs disabled. And if that's the case, I should probably let you know that all my still renders are on Flickr and all my videos are on YouTube.
If you want to help with the project, I love receiving photos, blueprints, elevation plans, aerial shots, backstage tales, etc. If you've got anything you think might be even slightly helpful, don't hesitate to let me know.
If you happen to be doing any 3D modeling of Disneyland, feel free to post stuff here. Again, the point is to spread visual information to as many people as possible.
FAQ
Q: What class or employer are you doing this for?
A: This is just a hobby.
Q: Then...why are you doing this?
A: Because I want to understand how Disneyland fits together in real life, because I want to be able to virtually stand in places I can't access in real life, because 3D renders look cool, because it's a challenge, and because others enjoy it.
Q: What software do you use?
A: I use Blender, a totally free and legal 3D program that never fails to amaze me with its full-featuredness. I highly recommend downloading it from www.blender.org.
Q: Where do you get your aerial views?
A: Maps.live.com. I also use terraserver-usa.com if I need to measure shadow lengths to calculate building heights. And Google Earth can be useful for measuring distances along the ground.
Q: Can I download the model?
A: At some point, perhaps. I've been hesitant to put the model up for mass downloads for numerous reasons, but I may do that at some point, or at least make it available on a case-by-case basis.
Q: What about Google Earth or Virtual Earth 3D? Could you upload the model to one of those?
A: Unfortunately, I'd basically have to redo the entire model in another program in the case of the former--I'm not even sure if the latter takes models from the public. So no, I probably won't be doing this, though I actually did make an attempt at this at one point.
Q: Are you planning on making DCA (Disney's California Adventure)?
A: Probably not. That park has some cool bits, but overall, it really doesn't stimulate my creative juices.
Q: How about Walt Disney World?
A: Probably not. Unfortunately, I have no sentimental connections to WDW, and I'm not intimately familiar with the place, so I really have no motivation for taking on another project that's even huger than this current one, which is already too massive an undertaking for me to ever finish.
Q: Does that mean you're not going to be finished with this Disneyland model soon?
A: :lol:
):lmao:Q: No...seriously.
A: It would take lifetimes for me to finish this project. I'm just gonna keep going as long as I'm enjoying myself, and we'll see how far I get.
Q: Why haven't you built _____ yet?
A: This is actually a very time-consuming project. I'm generally building the things that are easiest and most interesting first, with a special focus on how backstage relates to onstage. If I haven't built your favorite ride yet, I probably don't have enough information (i.e. photos and blueprints) to do a good job, it's too difficult for me at this point, and/or I just don't care about that particular part of the park. HOWEVER--if you want to see it built, let me know! I love getting feedback, and if you're particularly interested in seeing something, perhaps I'll get started on it.
Q: You should totally start making videos of the model!
A: You should totally take a look at my sig.
Q: I'm sick of going through pages and pages of your dumb commentary, Data. Can't I just see the pics by themselves?
A: That, too, depends on how good you are at reading sigs.
Q: Do you have a life?
A: Your mamma.
Enjoy!
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