Broadway-Style "Frozen" Show Coming to DCA - Any impact on WDW?

[GiveMeTheMusic]

At one point, there was a plan to make a Marvel land in that "backlot" area but I would think it involved getting rid of the Monsters Inc ride as well and using the empty soundstages. Obviously, the old Muppet Theater alone is enough room for much.

I'm not aware of those plans, but they're not the case now. At one point the plan for the whole Muppets/Monsters area was Monstropolis, and that almost happened. AFAIK the Monstropolis plans are completely dead at this point.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I haven't been able to get a straight answer on what will happen to the Muppet space next summer.

Back to movie previews, perhaps? That would depend upon what happens with the EO theatre though.

 

[Robbiemoo]

I think it's good to shows change regularly. Keeps things fresh and gives people another reason to return. Think how good it would be to have a range of stage shows on a rotation. You could have say five shows and rotate them round every year swapping out one each time for a new one would keep things interesting.

As for WDW I always thought it was a shame they never built a proper Broadway style theatre as a part of Disney Springs like they are doing in Shanghai. It would make a nice alternative to cirque

 

[mikenatcity1]

While I loved Aladdin when I first saw it, they changed quite a few things the times after that that "cheapened" it. I'll be sad to not have the show, but it's time to change it to something else. Frozen will run for years i'm sure. As long as they get rid of the sing-along, bring it on

 

[the.dreamfinder]

David Landon on Twitter
Is it really wise for Disney to so heavily cater to 4-year-olds going through that phase where they want the same thing again and again?

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Robert Niles Theme Park Insider
The cautionary tale for what can happen to a once-hot kids franchise is a photo at the bottom of the LT post: http://t.co/guwKcWgKn4

Disney, do you need some ice for that burn?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

David Landon on Twitter
Is it really wise for Disney to so heavily cater to 4-year-olds going through that phase where they want the same thing again and again?

Is he talking about Frozen or AP holders who want 12 more years of Aladdin?

 

[shipley731]

I know this isn't the popular opinion, but I didn't really like the Aladin show when we visited DCA May 2013. There were parts that I thought were great & I thought the actor that played the genie was awesome; however, the Lindsay Lohan & Kim K jokes kind of ruined it. It was just a little much. But that's just my opinion. Full disclosure, Frozen doesn't come in as my first choice for a replacement.

 

[Zackattack1101]

That's the first attraction I will (miss) that I liked from there.

 

[RSoxNo1]

The problem with last time was that it wasn't just a Toy Story show... it was planned to be the same Toy Story: the Musical which continues to play on the Disney Wonder, and which frankly, is awful. When you're watching Buzz and Woody sing rock ballads to a chorus of monotone LGMs at Pizza Planet, it feels more you're like having a bad acid dream than watching a musical created by the same company that made The Lion King on Broadway. (It's even more odd because at the time Disneyland made that announcement, the very ship playing Toy Story the Musical was making weekly cruises out of Long Beach not 30 minutes away.... but I digress.)

It was painfully obvious that Toy Story the Musical was created less for its wonderful melodic opportunities than to appease Iger's undying love of the franchise. Even if the intentions are similar, Frozen at least has popular and well-written songs, and can easily be imagined as a musical.

Still, it'll be a shame to see Aladdin go, especially since it likely won't be opened anywhere else. That show was easily the best stage musical in the American theme parks. I certainly would prefer several more years of Aladdin over yet another Frozen attraction, but I'd also take Frozen over trying to shoehorn songs into another Pixar movie that wasn't written for them.

Assuming Disney doesn't change their mind again, I sincerely hope they give Olaf the ability to improvise. It won't be pop culture stuff, but could still work. The Genie was a great dynamic in creating a re-watchable show.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Wait - Disneyland is doing something that isn't the best thing ever? Never thought I'd see the day.

On the plus side, at least it's not WDW getting crapped on this time.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks the new World of Color is lame.

They should re-named it to the World of Black and White. I get going for nostalgia, but it's Neil Patrick Harris, black and white clips, and then for some reason, all of Let it Go. Let It Go would have made sense to be inserted into the old show, but on the new one it's just out of place.

The new World of Color is definitely worse than it's predecessor and is the worst entertainment offering at Disneyland Resort.

 

[ght]

They should re-named it to the World of Black and White. I get going for nostalgia, but it's Neil Patrick Harris, black and white clips, and then for some reason, all of Let it Go. Let It Go would have made sense to be inserted into the old show, but on the new one it's just out of place.

The new World of Color is definitely worse than it's predecessor and is the worst entertainment offering at Disneyland Resort.

I haven't had a chance to see it but that isn't encouraging to hear. I have never been a big fan of the old WOC, though we do it once every trip (and I found being in the front to have better view of the lighting near the water made it better) and it sounds like the new one isn't going to make me like it more. Of course we will still be there up front on our next trip.

 

[Mouse Trap]

So what everyone is saying is that Aladdin should run for another 10 years, so 10 years from now we can talk about how Disney lets everything grow old and stale and would rather not invest in domestic parks?

I understand we all want our cake and eat it too, but 12 years is long enough for Aladdin. If the Frozen show is as well done as Aladdin it will have a packed house for years.

 

[HmagicN]

I think it's good to shows change regularly. Keeps things fresh and gives people another reason to return. Think how good it would be to have a range of stage shows on a rotation. You could have say five shows and rotate them round every year swapping out one each time for a new one would keep things interesting.

As for WDW I always thought it was a shame they never built a proper Broadway style theatre as a part of Disney Springs like they are doing in Shanghai. It would make a nice alternative to cirque

I have thought the same. They should build a grand theater in Disney a Springs or maybe in the the Park formerly known as Hollywood studios. Any thoughts on if they are going to replace La Nouba?

 

[Disney Analyst]

Am I the only one excited to see the special effects and scenic changes they will be creating for this show?? Oh god it is going to be spectacular! A try out for broadway perhaps.

 

[TP2000]

Aladdin, as it currently is could not play at any theater at WDW. No theater on property has a fly rail like Hyperion's or the fly space for those set pieces. I don't even think Theater in the Wild has one. The automated stage deck was custom built for that show. If they were to bring it to Florida it would have to be seriously downsized.

I'm not a theater person and don't know the technicalities, but I'm smart enough to know DCA's Hyperion Theatre is huge and thus can stage massive and impressive shows. Hyperion Theatre at DCA is unlike any theater currently at WDW by a long shot.

The aladdin production at DCA is undoubtebly the most impressive show i've ever seen at a theme park. DHS doesn't have a theater even close to that level and it also lacks LA's acting talent pool.

Yup. I think WDW folks who have never been to Disneyland don't quite understand the level of theater arts they are doing in Anaheim in the Hyperion Theatre. Nor do they understand how huge the 2,000 seat Hyperion Theatre is with it's four-level seating (Lower Orchestra, Upper Orchestra, Mezzanine, Balcony).

2,000 seat Hyperion Theatre - Disney California Adventure

Not only does a facility that size give you a lot of seats, but it obviously gives you a huge stage, huge backstage, and very tall proscenium to utilize a lot of space for massive props, flying carpet special effects, and the latest in lighting, audio, and theatrical techno-gadgets. This type of facility can present shows that are vastly different than the 25+ year old theme park stage shows currently at DHS.

Sir Elton John performs on the stage of the Hyperion Theatre

Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular! (the official title) was created especially for this theater. I can't imagine how they could lift it out and ship it to Florida and try to shoehorn it in to any of the existing and much smaller theater facilities at Walt Disney World. It just wouldn't work.

And however the new Frozen show being designed for the Hyperion Theatre in 2016 turns out, I can't imagine how it could be cloned for any existing WDW theater either. The Frozen sing-a-long, a basic theme park stage show if there ever was one, is small and uncomplicated and easy to duplicate in any random 400 seat theater in Anaheim or Orlando. And the sing-a-long show will obviously close at DCA in 2016 once the Frozen musical opens a hundred yards away at the Hyperion Theatre. But the Frozen musical production coming in 2016 won't be easily duplicated at WDW any time soon.

 

[TP2000]

Honestly, I would have never known that was a theme park theatre if it wasn't for your commentary. That's just amazing!

Yeah, it's a very impressive setup they have there in Anaheim. If you've never been to Disneyland, and never stepped inside the Hyperion Theatre, I don't think you can understand what all the fuss is about.

When they opened DCA in 2001 the park had a lot of flaws, that were mostly fixed by spending 1.5+ Billion dollars from 2006 to 2012. But amongst the cheap mediocrity of DCA's opening day there was a few things in DCA 1.0 in 2001 that were done mostly right, the top two being Soarin' Over California and the Hyperion Theatre. Soarin' turned into a Disney theme park classic now being cloned around the world, and the Hyperion Theatre stands alone as the biggest and most lavish and most impressive theme park theater facility that Disney has.

The new Frozen musical being designed for this Anaheim venue should be very impressive. At least visually, as I assume some folks will groan when the inevitable Let It Go solo happens in the second act.

 

[Sped2424]

Also remember, Aladdin also recently received the full Broadway treatment with a 2.5 hour production in New York. I knew once that happened that the theme park show's time was limited. I realized BatB on Broadway never forced the Studios' production to close, but the Aladdin show was always on another level. Disney Theatrical is planning a national tour for Aladdin within the next two years or so, so this will probably help them a little bit. Additionally this frozen show will also help Disney Theatricals test the waters and see how Frozen plays on stage as they continue to develop the Broadway production that should open in the next five years or so.

In short, I'm on board with the decision as hard as it is to say goodbye to the wonderful Aladdin show. But hey, it's still on one of the cruise ships!

Frozen is going on broadway in 2017 not in the next five years or so.

 

[Sped2424]

That's a bad idea if they're actually doing a Frozen show on Broadway. Once you see that, you're not going to care about a theme park show. That's how it was for me with Beauty And The Beast Live after I saw the Broadway show. The only exception is Lion King bc the Broadway show is so different than the movie and the AK show is not a direct live adaptation so it's still fun.

How many people can make it to the great white way vs how many people make it disneyland? I really don't think Frozen being on broadway is going to affect this production at DCA in the slightest.