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Smart crowd control and deft manipulation. While the overarching goal is to make more money, the route to that is by giving visitors what they want from the park: faster fun and preoccupation.

"Control" is only a bad thing when there are nefarious motives, negative consequences or a lack of options for those being controlled. People willingly submitting to the Disney bear pit lap it up (as I have in the past).

It's both, and believe me, they need manipulation. The herd mentality really takes over, no matter who you are. I worked the attractions in Adventureland & Liberty Square for 4 years - you wouldn't believe how much work it is to convince people that yes, both queues are open.

All cutting edge technologists have to stretch social acceptability.

Social acceptability changes to fit technology, but lags behind innovators.

What I'm saying is that no one cares if it's manipulation - they want the Disney magic.