Even from the cheesy Periscope quality videos, and I switched to this one from Mouseinfo...
https://www.periscope.tv/w/1ZkJzODvWqaxv
This new Fantasmic! is a great, big, beautiful improvement on what was already the best Fantasmic! at any Disney park. But this is so fresh, so sharp, so new and yet so grounded in the basics and everything that made the original show so wonderful.
The lighting is so improved. The new costumes are wonderful. The new projections are so impressive, and add to the story instead of just being techno add-ons. Even on Periscope, the new audio sounds fabulous and crisp and impressive! The new characters are perfectly placed and utilized and clearly make this relevant to 21st century audiences. I thought the integration of Animal King into the traditional Jungle Book scene was the best example of this. But the new Princess medley also is a great example, especially with Aladdin and Jasmine on the flying carpet.
The show seems to clip along better, while maintaining a 25 minute length. They tightened it up in all the right spots.
I thought the Pirates scene was very well done. I don't know that it's any better than the already excellent Peter Pan scene it replaces, but it certainly holds its own and resonates better with the 21st century. Very fun dialogue and some great stunt artistry on display!
And then there's Mickey Mouse. I absolutely
LOVE that they gave him a speaking role, and then continued to include him throughout the show. It makes the plotline so much smoother, and helps carry the show along much better. And who doesn't love seeing Mickey Mouse more? Very good artistic choice with that change!
And finally, the finale'. Much like the opening act, the finale' is rooted in Fantasmic! tradition yet was nicely freshened and lightened and sharpened. And honest to God, I got chills when the Mark Twain steamed into view, and that wasn't just due to me finishing my Bourbon Smash a few moments earlier! What a wonderful show!
I can not wait to see the better quality HD videos show up on YouTube later tonight and tomorrow, and then of course see it in person this summer. But from this first preview show, that appeared to go off without a hitch on a perfect SoCal summer night, Disneyland just made Fantasmic! even better and ensured it will be a Disneyland classic for decades to come. Not bad for a show from 1992 that was only supposed to last three years.
Well done Disneyland! You have yet another hit on your hands!