SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
I have to imagine the revenue of the dining packages is partly why they continue to run it.
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Disneyland Fantasmic Dragon Engulfed in Flames
- Thread starter SplashJacket
- Start date
I have to imagine the revenue of the dining packages is partly why they continue to run it.
FTFY
chadwpalm
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
IDK. Doesn't it cost around $30,000 to run each show? (though it might be a little less now without the dragon) If you factor in that what Disney makes on dining packages as being the cost of the package minus what people would probably have paid to eat in the park anyway, I calculate that dining packages only make up about half of the cost of the show.
So I see the dining packages as being a way to help recoup a lot of the cost, but not enough to pay for it. It would still save Disney more money not doing the show at all than to do the show with the packages.
I'm sure there's other reasons involved. By simply keeping the show going they are bringing more people into the park that will spend money on other things. It's a beloved show that people want to see even if it is in its deteriorated state.
StarWarsGirl
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
The WDW version runs every night at least once and was brought up to three times during a crowded period.
Much as I also love this version, I watched it three nights ago with the Maleficent scene and thought "yikes". Even when WDW's dragon isn't working, Maleficent still rises up and the scene is way more impressive.
chadwpalm
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Oh I've seen the WDW version and I'll take a Fantasmic! on the backdrop of the RoA and NOS with the actual Columbia and Mark Twain participating over an amphitheater version of the show ANY day of the week........with or without the dragon and Maleficent lift.
Disgruntled Walt
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Care to explain this opinion a bit more? Genuinely curious why you feel this way.
chadwpalm
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Seemed pretty self-explanatory. Sitting in anticipation listening to the NOS area music....Haunted Mansion to the left....Big Thunder to the right. The Peter Pan segment on the Columbia and the finale on the Mark Twain. Not sure how I can elaborate more on that.
As I said, I've been to the one at DHS and while it was a good show I still find both the show and the ambience better at DL.......even with the temporary setback of the missing dragon. (I was there BTW to watch it burn down).
Perhaps there's some bias in there with DL being my home park. I've explained this a long while ago, but I spent most of my life believing that WDW was going to be this great and wonderful place....like DL x10. When I finally got to go there about 10 years ago I was mostly disappointed that it didn't live up to my childhood anticipations. Don't get me wrong, I had fun, but really don't have a desire to ever go back. Honestly, a lot of it felt like a cheap DL knockoff.
Walt's Park is my favorite park and always will be. It's why I only hang out in this forum and nowhere else. Right now, Disneyland is the only think I like about Disney as a whole.
Disgruntled Walt
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
I can understand that. Thanks for explaining.
I was born and raised on WDW, and that bias dominated my mentality for years...until 2015, when I visited DL for the first time since 2005 (when I was 8). I truly fell in love the place, and my admiration for Walt was so much more developed at that point that I saw the place in a whole new light. While I'll always love WDW, there is a charm in the original DL (tarnished somewhat with Galaxy's Edge) that I really appreciate. So I get the atmosphere. But I do wish I could sit comfortably to see their Fantasmic.
And with no dragon or Maleficent, in my opinion, the show is so sorely lacking that there's no question that WDW's is better at the moment.
Still think the WDW show flows better and executes the “runaway dream” idea better. In DHS after an identical opening, it’s jungle section has only “good characters” and no villains (or drunk fever dreams,) from there ideas start flowing quicker (bubbles) and Mickey’s imagination runs away from him resulting in the first villain sighting, Monstro. From there we get fast vignettes of hero’s in action, flooded by the princess melody. By the time the evil queen shows up, it makes sense, Mickey’s imagination is now out of control and crashed into a nightmare.
DL has its fist villain sighting less then 3 min into the show (Kaa, King Louie) also even with the Dragon, there is way too much of a stretch in Act 3 with only screens, after Mickey is trapped it’s a very long time until Malnificent shows up. As impressive as the Pan segment is, give me the evil queen, Jafar section and saving Sorcerer Mickey to the end. The DHS show is clearly the better show currently with or without the dragon.
DL has its fist villain sighting less then 3 min into the show (Kaa, King Louie) also even with the Dragon, there is way too much of a stretch in Act 3 with only screens, after Mickey is trapped it’s a very long time until Malnificent shows up. As impressive as the Pan segment is, give me the evil queen, Jafar section and saving Sorcerer Mickey to the end. The DHS show is clearly the better show currently with or without the dragon.
JohnD
Well-Known Member
I like the DHS version better. Just saw the DL version earlier in the week. I'm not holding no dragon against it. It is what it is. In DL, they use Sorcerer Mickey throughout. Where in the DHS version, they start off with Tuxedo Mickey then transition to red pants Mickey during the horror portion. Only at the very end do you see Sorcerer Mickey on top of the mountain. Then he disappears to become Tuxedo Mickey again on the stage saying "Good imagination, huh?" The DL version has Sorcerer Mickey do a little dance at the top then say that line. Doesn't do it for me. I'll give it Columbia and Mark Twain, though. Those were cool. I'm also spoiled by having a seat at DHS compared to either standing or sitting on the pavement depending on where I am.
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Interested to hear your take on the rest of your experience. Not many local Floridians go west.
JohnD
Well-Known Member
I was thinking earlier in the year I wanted to go to DLR. I was initially planning to fly out on 5/12 after visiting Mom for Mother's Day. But then I heard about the 70th anniversary starting 5/16. So I built in a trip to WDW first before flying round trip out of Orlando. Then I also heard about Epic previews so decided to do that on 5/13.
As for DLR, I loved it. Here's some things off the top of my head in no particular order. You asked for it and I probably still haven't thought of everything:
Disneyland
- Security is the old fashioned put your loose items/backpack in a container then walk through the scanner compared to the scan everything system WDW has.
- Entrance is not the tap/scan finger system. It's just scan your ticket the first time then use whatever media you have next time (e.g. MB).
- I was surprised that Frontierland and Adventureland were literally almost on top of each other.
- Jungle Cruise is smaller but about the same.
- I got a taste for what the new Indy attraction will be like in AK as I rode the DL version which essentially has the same track as DINOSAUR. More lighting so that you can see things. The queue space (not the people in it) was very long because the show building is way outside the park.
- Obviously, PoTC is much better than the MK version because longer with more "skeleton" scenes before the pirate ship and one additional scene at the end.
- HM is not necessarily better or worse but different. Portrait chamber goes down and portrait gallery is just a walkway to go under the railroad tracks. No endless staircase. Hatbox ghost is just beyond the attic. The latest version of the bride is an eerie version which doesn't talk. More like a more modern version of the "beating heart version." Probably will make its way to WDW at some point.
- Loved riding BTMRR twice while you currently can't in WDW. I liked the special effects in the tunnels. Hope those are added to the WDW version.
- Many of the rides in Fantasyland were on a track, different theme. Wash, rinse, repeat. (Snow White, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Toad).
- Peter Pan was much nicer. The Indians/Native Americans are still politically incorrect.
- I liked the facade of IASW. The original has nice nods to Disney characters, the most recent being Miguel and Dante.
- The queue to MMRR is cool with Mickey memorabilia throughout.
- Space Mountain is much better. More room in the two by two cars. Music during the ride. And much smoother.
- By contrast whether Splash or Tiana, I hate the single file boats. They flood easily and are a tight squeeze. The Tiana story is the same. Meh.
- Back to Tomorrowland, Submarine Voyage brought back memories of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea even if different style sub and themed to Nemo.
- I was able to ride in the front of the monorail. That brings back memories also. I did it round trip.
- SWGE is an exact duplicate. Once I entered I knew exactly where I was going. I half expected to exit either into TSL or Grand Avenue. It did have a cool Skywalker projection show which I hope they bring over to WDW.
- I saw Fantasmic. I understand no dragon. Beyond that, I still like the DHS version better. I have a separate post about it.
- I had a good breakfast at Carnation Cafe. I managed to snag a 9:40pm reservation for Blue Bayou on my second night (I had already seen the fireworks, Fantasmic, parade on the first night.) I got the ribye prix fixe meal. I was good but not as good as I was expecting. Also $$$.
- Mickey's Philarmagic is shown in a theatre formerly used for MuppetVision 3D. I could tell because of the balcony seats to either side of the main screen. And I could have sworn Donald's torso was attached to cannon!
- GOTG: Mission Breakout ride structure isn't exactly like TOT. In the WDW version, you go up a little bit, move forward into the shaft, then go up and down. Not so Breakout. As soon as the doors close, off you go! The Guardians were clever. Not sure there was a clear storyline. But the same type of ride, so I liked it.
- Mater is just like Alien Swirling Saucers. They only have one side and are building a second side for more capacity.
- I enjoyed Racers. It looks larger but is very much like Test Track with an inside portion then an outside speedier section. I'd say this is better than TT because the outside section is longer and has two tracks.
- I didn't ride Incredicoaster. Not a fan of loops, even if just one.
- Shorter queue line for TSMM. It has cute "70"s superimposed on various score items throughout.
- Speaking of TSMM, Web Slingers is a variation on theme except you sit with multiple people and flick your wrist to destroy things. I sat with a pro wizard who knew how to flick his wrist and got a very high score. I scored something but not like him.
- Grizzly River Run is far superior to Kali River Rapids.
- Soarin is smaller in terms of capacity. Just one concourse. It's the Soarin Around the World version with the Disneyland tag at the end.
- Much better than WDW 50th, by far.
- Lines were mostly for turning Keys in various key portals rather than for merch. I believe you got pins at each location. Nice to see. I didn't do that because of space reasons for the large key on a flight.
- There is a good merch, though, including a Tuxedo Mickey popcorn bucket. Again, didn't get it because of space.
- I did make use of a Magic Band scanner which produces tickets around the parks and some cute screen shows.
- Because I saw Fantasmic, I was able to watch Wonderous Journeys from the same spot. I was expecting the fireworks. What I didn't expect was the same projections shown against the castle would be shown against the water that is used in Fantasmic as well as the Tom Sawyer hut. So I felt I didn't really miss seeing it from the castle. (You can also experience a Star Wars version from SWGE which I didn't see.)
- I liked Paint the Night with its catchy main tune combined with a more modern version of Baroque Hoedown from the Main Street Electrical Parade. I really liked the floats but they were too separated in several areas.
- World of Color didn't do much for me. It's mostly based on Inside Out which I could never get into. I liked the Muppets prologue, though!
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StarWarsGirl
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
I prefer the WDW version. I mean, I love both versions. But I like the immersive ampitheater experience. I think it's partially because I have ADHD and the guests walking by distracts me.
I also think the current DL storyline isn't cohesive. The villains part is wayyy too short. It's so much more dramatic at WDW with Jafar coming out. I found the latest update with Mickey stepping over the threshold confusing. The original (and WDW's version) where they take over is much better. Not to mention the dramatic witch transformation is missing. And then Mickey on the mountain at the end at WDW...I remember watching as a kid and being like "wait, how did he get there?"
But the pink elephants scene at DL is living rent free in my head. And I also walked up the other night and got a spot on the bridge to watch five minutes before showtime right at the rail. It was awesome. I think the replacement for Murphy bothers me the most right now.
StarWarsGirl
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
I'm actually now a Magic Key holder and an AP holder at WDW. I've had some hard stuff going on in my personal life lately and think I need to leap into my comfort zone. I also love SoCal and honestly would live in San Diego if there weren't other factors at play. I've even been enough recently to make friends in SoCal that I'm meeting up with next trip.
Anyway, entry at DL drives me up a wall. They actually had turn styles up until recently. In October, they were still turnstyles. So it's slightly improved, but security...
That was originally a ToT. It was...interesting, lol. It is a cheaper version they tried to put in to spruce up the park during the Eisner era. I like Guardians better than that version of ToT, but I like WDW's ToT better. That structure Tower exists as ToT in Paris still to my knowledge.
There's an overlay in October called Monsters After Dark...it was AWESOME.
They rerouted that when they put in Indy. But the JC Skippers there are amazing. I go on it purely for them. I was about doubled over laughing at the guy I had the other night.
Legitimately Indy and POTC are my favorite DL attractions. I think I did Indy seven times in five days. Maybe 8. I go on Dinosaur now and am disappointed that it's not Indy.
I met Tony Baxter at Festival of the Arts, and he said it's the same track at both, which I did not know, but now I get it. Fun fact: James Earl Jones voices Mara.
Agree with all of this.
Eiffel tower also isn't fixed yet, lol. They fixed it at WDW.
Agreed. I have been to the 60th, and 70th at DL and both were better. I think WDW's 50th suffered because of Covid unfortunately, though ironically I was wearing my 50th MB around DL.
But those gift shops in DL were eating too much of my money....
I love PTN and was so happy to see it return. The last time I saw it was 2017.
They separate them because they have breaks so people can cross the street. Since MK is larger, they don't do that for Festival of Fantasy; there's alt routes. They do this for the daytime DL parades as well.
I agree with you on WOC...and I was in it at one point. When it came out, it was really cool. Now it's like, meh.
TheCoasterNerd
Well-Known Member
What’s neat is the one coming to DAK is a unique story, same track but totally different from the one at DLR
They will be
RIGHT? My first time in the land was at DLR and every time I see it at WDW now I’m convinced I’ll exit to big Thunder trail… it’s trippy
Not building a new one, one side is under refurb which happens every year. It’s always had two sides but between spring and early summer one usually goes down.
Not pins at each. Once you’ve unlocked key at every station the key itself opens and you get one randomized pin out of 9 options.
The only thing you truly miss is Baymax and the Blue Fairy flying over the castle. I saw it from both and I preferred the castle simply for the flying characters.
I’ve seen the DHS in person but Disneylands only through video but that’s just a broken effect. Usually he disappears from the top of the mill to the bottom before the line like in Florida but that’s been broken for a little while. Rumor is that they’re installing or preparing for a new dragon and that’s why it’s down. Not sure.
This is true - but also i like how you can walk the island during the day, you can explore it. Compared to Florida where seeing it during the day can ruin some of the effects. Plus you can ride the boats daily which is awesome. I personally prefer what I’ve seen of Land’s even just through video. When I went was June 2023 so it was still massively impacted by the fire but I hope to make it back someday to see it.
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
Fantasmic is looking rough right now. Mickey lift is down, maleficent lift is down. No dragon. It's like the D version of the show.
Disney should be embarrassed.
Disney should be embarrassed.
Starship824
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
And Wondrous Journeys still missing castle projections. Paint the Night is the only offering working correctly
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
Is that intentional to keep crowding around the castle down?And Wondrous Journeys still missing castle projections. Paint the Night is the only offering working correctly
TheCoasterNerd
Well-Known Member
No, they would never intentionally do that