Have you ever noticed that inside Disneyland, you can’t see the surrounding world? Despite the city of Anaheim bumping right up against the park borders, you’re completely immersed with no clue as to what’s going on around you. That’s no coincidence, but the work of a magical border known as “the berm”.
The berm took form as a raised wall of land around the border of the park, completely closing off any view outward. Though not every piece of the berm ended up being a physical mound of dirt, the continuous barrier still very much exists within Disneyland.
Here’s a look at the park in 1955. You can clearly see the berm surrounding the park’s railroad track.
Despite massive changes to the park’s borders, much of the original berm still survives today. The first piece is instantly recognizable to any Disney guest: the hill holding the Main Street USA railroad station.
Moving clockwise around the original park borders, we next reach Adventureland. With the thick forests surrounding the land, Imagineers had no need to construct a hill blocking the view outside (though there is one hidden behind the Jungle Cruise). But the next land, Frontierland, opened up without the same thick tree line to block views. Imagineers constructed a wall of landscape all the way around the Rivers of America. You can still see this hill in Critter Country, once part of Frontierland’s territory.
Over in Fantasyland, the original berm came down to make room for It’s A Small World. Instead, the train passed through the building, blocking the view out behind Fantasyland. Thus, the building became part of the new berm.
And finally, the Tomorrowland side marked the one missing piece of the berm. Tomorrowland had several uncompleted spaces when the park finally opened, and quickly began transforming and taking a more solid shape. Imagineers finally completed the desired berm effect in 1958, with the opening of the Grand Canyon diorama tunnel.
Once Tomorrowland pieced together the last of the berm, guests could no longer see outside of Disneyland. Blocking views out is such a simple concept, and comes with enormous benefits to immersion. Thanks to the berm, you can forget the world of today and fully transport yourself into the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.
Does California Adventure also have a berm?
Not a traditional raised hill like Disneyland does. However, much of the architecture acts as a barrier. Hollywood Land, Grizzly Peak, Cars Land and Paradise Gardens Park block the outside world with giant walls or physical structures. The two weak points are Buena Vista Street and Pixar Pier; you can definitely see the outside world in a few places within both of these lands.