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Disneyland Fantasmic Dragon Engulfed in Flames

gerarar

gerarar

Premium Member
The fountains are in such a sad state now. Only 3 of 7 fountain heads are operational in the middle set.
1000037730.jpg
 
Disney Analyst

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
I am hoping they are just letting it limp on because a much bigger refurb is coming that includes show changes, a dragon etc. They brought back Peter Pan, now they can bring back the Evil Queen transformation, bring back the dragon... etc.
 
Figments Friend

Figments Friend

Well-Known Member
SuddenStorm said:
Basically, just bring back the show as it was pre SWGE, but with modern effects.
Click to expand...

Kinda like what they did at Walt Disney World…?

Well, sort of.
At least the soundtrack stayed pretty much ‘original’ with a few exceptions in some of the new added segments.
Those original score moments really add a lot to the overall show..

One element within the WDW version however that I still have a hard time understanding is when they updated the show a few years ago they did not have its ‘head on a stick’ original dragon upgraded to a better figure.
Just unbelievable …seems such a given considering it’s at the #1 vacation destination in the world and the climatic element in the show.
Not to mention by today’s standards, ya gotta admit it looks a little hokey.

Sure, it’s ‘nostalgic’ …but if there was ever any setting where a permanent, full sized animatronic figure could be, it’s there in that custom built ‘mountain island’ set piece!
It’s perfect!
I had high hopes when the show was down for the refresh, but amazingly..the original ‘cherrypicker’ dragon was not upgraded.

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TheCoasterNerd

TheCoasterNerd

Well-Known Member
Figments Friend said:
Kinda like what they did at Walt Disney World…?

Well, sort of.
At least the soundtrack stayed pretty much ‘original’ with a few exceptions in some of the new added segments.
Those original score moments really add a lot to the overall show..

One element within the WDW version however that I still have a hard time understanding is when they updated the show a few years ago they did not have its ‘head on a stick’ original dragon upgraded to a better figure.
Just unbelievable …seems such a given considering it’s at the #1 vacation destination in the world and the climatic element in the show.
Not to mention by today’s standards, ya gotta admit it looks a little hokey.

Sure, it’s ‘nostalgic’ …but if there was ever any setting where a permanent, full sized animatronic figure could be, it’s there in that custom built ‘mountain island’ set piece!
It’s perfect!
I had high hopes when the show was down for the refresh, but amazingly..the original ‘cherrypicker’ dragon was not upgraded.

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Click to expand...
The reason the Cherrypicker dragon still exists is a difference in stage design. In California, the dragon rose from below the stage. In Florida, the entire back half of the stage opens up, so the cherrypicker can just drive forward (a little more complicated than that, but you get the gist)
There'd be no way to reliably make as complex a dragon as California used to have drive forward from behind the mountain in the time allotted
 
Figments Friend

Figments Friend

Well-Known Member
TheCoasterNerd said:
The reason the Cherrypicker dragon still exists is a difference in stage design. In California, the dragon rose from below the stage. In Florida, the entire back half of the stage opens up, so the cherrypicker can just drive forward (a little more complicated than that, but you get the gist)
There'd be no way to reliably make as complex a dragon as California used to have drive forward from behind the mountain in the time allotted
Click to expand...

This is all true, but surely at this point in time they could come up with a more ‘animated’ representation of the dragons head and add some additional limbs that look a bit more convincing.
I am all for the power of suggestion in theatre, which the current version relies heavily on, but it would be nice to have an upgrade there.

I have no doubt if there was a desire to make it happen we would see a better version of the ‘cherrypicker’ dragon in Florida.

But let’s get back to talking about our missing dragon in California.

I have to admit I am a little surprised there has been NO news regarding this.
Makes me think there has been some major delays or issues with the replacement figure we had heard was being built overseas.



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PiratesMansion

PiratesMansion

Well-Known Member
There are so many easy wins that they seem to just be sitting on:
1.) Restoring the dragon and/or making other changes to Fantasmic
2.) Updating Buzz Lightyear
3.) Electric cars on Autopia (which was supposed to happen by the end of this year I believe?)

I can only assume that they're saving them for the years around the known expansion projects, but I find it frustrating to just see known problematic elements just sitting there not being dealt with.
 
SuddenStorm

SuddenStorm

Well-Known Member
AxolotlTales said:
It's very clearly cost cutting given that the rest of the show is in a failing state.
Click to expand...

It's worth mentioning that most of the shows issues aren't consistent, and I don't even think cost cutting is to blame. I just don't think Disney has the talent internally to operate Disneyland effectively anymore.

The mickey lift was down for months- was fixed for a few weeks, stopped working again, then was fixed.

Pyro is inconsistent- at one point it wasn't running any pyro on Saturdays. The rumor was that the Saturday pyro guy retired.

The Twain has also been acting up, I saw it a few months ago where the Twain was all queued up ready go and it just... didn't. And since the characters were on the boat, there wasn't a proper stage finale.

Disney's gotten too comfortable with B modes. At a certain point, it's better to just not run the show. But when they can sell dining packages, the show must go on.
 
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