eddie104
Well-Known Member
You’re right.
Disney definitely dropped the ball.
This board is full of hypocrites anyway so I don’t why I waste my time arguing with you guys.
The show looks amazing and that’s what matters in my opinion.
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
DHS Disney plans to reboot Voyage of the Little Mermaid stage show at Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Disney definitely dropped the ball.
This board is full of hypocrites anyway so I don’t why I waste my time arguing with you guys.
The show looks amazing and that’s what matters in my opinion.
Nostalgia Nitpick: In comparing the new show to the animated feature (and even the original version of the show) the "Under the Sea" number where the Blowfish blows has seemingly lost one it's more iconic effects, an accompanying audio cue of a sustained blast from a tuba.
See here:
Being that it was one of the more iconic parts of the song (having been ingrained into my brain on repeat during my daycare days) I wish they'd return it. This new version while creative with the digital bubbles, still lacks that final punch. It's a nitpick, but synonymous with "The Little Mermaid" to me. Kind of a bummer. Imagine that sound effect returned and accompanied by an air cannon blasting the front row!? Now that would be fun.
See here:
Being that it was one of the more iconic parts of the song (having been ingrained into my brain on repeat during my daycare days) I wish they'd return it. This new version while creative with the digital bubbles, still lacks that final punch. It's a nitpick, but synonymous with "The Little Mermaid" to me. Kind of a bummer. Imagine that sound effect returned and accompanied by an air cannon blasting the front row!? Now that would be fun.
James Alucobond
Well-Known Member
I think you're getting a bit bent out of shape over and overly defensive of an element that, while capable of being mentally compartmentalized from the rest of the show, is obviously lacking. The degree to which that bothers folks will certainly vary, and the usual suspects will wield it as a cudgel to ignore anything and everything positive about the updated attraction. However, that doesn't mean it's good show or that it should be ignored. Perhaps it will be updated later (the original was pretty hideous anyway), but people are going to comment on it since they opened it in this state. Not everyone with a criticism is coming at things from a bad-faith angle.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
This show was originally announced to open last Fall.
The delay would have given them more time to do work on the pre-show room.
eddie104
Well-Known Member
Fair enough.
Mermaid's Show looks Good to Me!!! That's what Matters!!
I'm going with "the netting gained sentience and was strangling guests, so, it had to go."
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
BrianLo
Well-Known Member
I think it’s very fair to critique the queue.
Question - since I won’t watch this fully not in person. Is this more of a full new show (my assumption); or is it Voyage of the Little mermaid with upgrades? And I realize that’s a pretty grey question considering the story beats can’t possibly change and the venue is the same.
Question - since I won’t watch this fully not in person. Is this more of a full new show (my assumption); or is it Voyage of the Little mermaid with upgrades? And I realize that’s a pretty grey question considering the story beats can’t possibly change and the venue is the same.
It's had significant alterations from the first show, most notably an entire new song.
Gusey
Well-Known Member
I'd say a mixture. Voyage had the first 2 songs in the wrong order, Ursula, and a skip to the end montage. The new show tells the story better with extra beats, all in the correct order. Added elements include the sisters at the start, Kiss the Girl, the final fight scene with Ursula in the storm and no montage in sight
TheMaxRebo
Well-Known Member
That was my reaction - seems a bit more interpretive vs literal fish scales, etc. with the light/projections on it I think it fits well, but is different than what is typically seen
gerarar
Premium Member
This post confirms 48 performers for the show. From what I can count there’s 6 puppeteers on stage per show, plus 2 actors (Ariel + Eric).
If divide that evenly that’s 6 sets of casts that rotate throughout the week. But there could be less puppeteers total for example which would increase the number of actors.
This also doesn't include stage hands, techs, etc. that help make the production happen.
Also the opening cast/crew jacket is pretty cool!
If divide that evenly that’s 6 sets of casts that rotate throughout the week. But there could be less puppeteers total for example which would increase the number of actors.
This also doesn't include stage hands, techs, etc. that help make the production happen.
Also the opening cast/crew jacket is pretty cool!
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
I saw two showings yesterday afternoon and evening in person at Studios.
@wannabeBelle, you were interested in my review so here we go…
In a nutshell - this Show is a excellent refresh and a great improvement to the previous production.
It should be seen in person to really appreciate the full effect, as the way this is staged cannot be correctly captured by just watching a video.
The intensity of the vibrant colors of the projected animation and stage lighting is striking in person as well.
Looks fantastic.
I went in completely ‘spoiler free’ and the surprises in the show were really nice touches.
Colorful settings, very good puppetry, some interesting effects, and good staging of most of the scenes.
Music was well done, as was the projection effects.
Lighting too was very nice.
There were several changes I liked, including Ariel’s new ‘swimming’ rig as well as the new staged scenes.
Ursula has a much bigger part now, and I enjoyed the more fleshed out story.
The one major issue I had was the transformation scene in which her tail turns into human legs.
The previous production did this better as the audience clearly sees it happening in front of them on stage.
Currently, a similar scene happens but this time her tail is concealed with a fog effect and it changes ‘unseen’.
So some viewers might miss this important moment.
A plus however is the added scene near the end of the show between Ariel and her father Triton.
A nice sentiment there.
My favorite part however was the cleverly staged climatic battle between Ursula and Eric.
Very cool sequence of events that takes place before your eyes on stage.
Whoever came up with the concept of staging this scene in this way should be applauded.
It was the standout moment in the show for me, theatrically.
I do miss that ‘wave effect’ from the prior version of this show that used fog effects and the laser.
For those not familiar with the previous version, the ‘wave effect’ took place above your heads during two parts of the program to make the audience feel like they were literally under the waves.
This is an entertaining upgrade and a welcome addition to the current line up at Studios.
Happy to have this space active again after a long absence!
-
@wannabeBelle, you were interested in my review so here we go…
In a nutshell - this Show is a excellent refresh and a great improvement to the previous production.
It should be seen in person to really appreciate the full effect, as the way this is staged cannot be correctly captured by just watching a video.
The intensity of the vibrant colors of the projected animation and stage lighting is striking in person as well.
Looks fantastic.
I went in completely ‘spoiler free’ and the surprises in the show were really nice touches.
Colorful settings, very good puppetry, some interesting effects, and good staging of most of the scenes.
Music was well done, as was the projection effects.
Lighting too was very nice.
There were several changes I liked, including Ariel’s new ‘swimming’ rig as well as the new staged scenes.
Ursula has a much bigger part now, and I enjoyed the more fleshed out story.
The one major issue I had was the transformation scene in which her tail turns into human legs.
The previous production did this better as the audience clearly sees it happening in front of them on stage.
Currently, a similar scene happens but this time her tail is concealed with a fog effect and it changes ‘unseen’.
So some viewers might miss this important moment.
A plus however is the added scene near the end of the show between Ariel and her father Triton.
A nice sentiment there.
My favorite part however was the cleverly staged climatic battle between Ursula and Eric.
Very cool sequence of events that takes place before your eyes on stage.
Whoever came up with the concept of staging this scene in this way should be applauded.
It was the standout moment in the show for me, theatrically.
I do miss that ‘wave effect’ from the prior version of this show that used fog effects and the laser.
For those not familiar with the previous version, the ‘wave effect’ took place above your heads during two parts of the program to make the audience feel like they were literally under the waves.
This is an entertaining upgrade and a welcome addition to the current line up at Studios.
Happy to have this space active again after a long absence!
-
Last edited:
wannabeBelle
Well-Known Member
Excellent review, I do look forward to seeing this when I get back down there!!! Marie
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
I agree, and that stagecraft is something I enjoy seeing.
Projection tech has been somewhat ‘overused’ of late.
-
FoodRockz
Well-Known Member
Yet Tarzan still runs around the parks basically naked. Although maybe they're coming for him next.
LittleBuford
Well-Known Member
I think this is something of a false equivalence, and I wouldn’t frame it as you have.Yet Tarzan still runs around the parks basically naked. Although maybe they're coming for him next.
Last edited:
Mr. Sullivan
Well-Known Member
Speaking as someone with a theatre degree, I can bet you the change to her costume has little to do with modesty and everything to do with functionality. A general rule of thumb as that the more individual pieces a costume has, the more complex it is to remove. Connecting the pieces likely makes it easier for her to get changed when she needs to.