Countdown to fun parade is a disapointment

[darthspielberg]

Whole lotta people caring about parades in this thread. Parades that aren't at the Magic Kingdom don't matter, and haven't for years. Even the Animal Kingdom parade is very weak. It is just another form of entertainment, and I honestly don't care a wink. I haven't watched a Disney parade except for the evening ones at MK since my first visit to the parks.

Disney knows people will come to their parks regardless of the parades they put on, and therefore will place the money where they see fit, i.e. not parades. So go ahead and shake your fists at evil TDO, but really, they just count their money and don't care. You continue to go and shell out whatever it costs you to get in, and they continue to take that money happily.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

So did they ever reach the end of the countdown?

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Parades that aren't at the Magic Kingdom don't matter, and haven't for years. ... I haven't watched a Disney parade except for the evening ones at MK since my first visit to the parks.

In all seriousness, I think this is a pretty good point. Daytime parades aren't nearly as big a deal as the MK evening parades (I'm specifically thinking of MSEP, but I will grudgingly admit Spectro as well).

I can't imagine ever sitting down to wait on a daytime parade in ANY park if I'd already seen it.

I'm not sure that justifies just mailing one in on the creative side, but it does keep me from getting too worked up over it. :lol:

PS: Stars and Cars was way better...even as a mere daytime parade.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Iger = Bottom Line over Innovation and Quality

Until that changes or Lasseter takes direct control over the Florida parks, this seems like the level we're going to be at.

Lasseter needs to take control of the entire company.

 

[blm07]

The parade is alright, but it's just a shortened version of BPB. The music is only 2 songs: Play Parade theme and Bang On Your Drum (which they changed the lyrics to, and is kinda annoying). DCA has more songs. I hope they plan on adding the other songs and at least a couple new floats. Otherwise, to me, this is a case of "if it ain't broke, break it!" and a step back. Also, the Incredibles don't come out of the blocks anymore, which I thought was cool. BTW the parade was canceled today due to weather.

Five, four, three, two, done!

 

[TP2000]

Iger = Bottom Line over Innovation and Quality
Until that changes or Lasseter takes direct control over the Florida parks, this seems like the level we're going to be at.

The Iger thing might be a reasonable theory, if not for the existence of Disneyland Resort 2,500 miles to the west.

Have you seen the video of the parade that DHS's Countdown To Fun was based off of, DCA's Pixar Play Parade? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCCop6NVCsc

Yeah, it's a tad different than Countdown To Fun, don't you think? That parade was budgeted, approved, and allowed to continue performing daily under Iger's watch. There's a new parade called Mickey's Soundsational Parade coming to Disneyland this spring, which was made by the same guy who did Pixar Play Parade. From the artwork released it looks to be novel, new, and fabulous.

It appears Countdown To Fun being approved for daily consumption by paying customers is an issue with local management in Orlando, not corporate executives in Burbank.

 

[TP2000]

So did they ever reach the end of the countdown?

:ROFLOL:

Thanks for the laugh! It's much needed in this topic.

 

[MarkTwain]

Whole lotta people caring about parades in this thread. Parades that aren't at the Magic Kingdom don't matter, and haven't for years. Even the Animal Kingdom parade is very weak. It is just another form of entertainment, and I honestly don't care a wink. I haven't watched a Disney parade except for the evening ones at MK since my first visit to the parks.

Disney knows people will come to their parks regardless of the parades they put on, and therefore will place the money where they see fit, i.e. not parades. So go ahead and shake your fists at evil TDO, but really, they just count their money and don't care. You continue to go and shell out whatever it costs you to get in, and they continue to take that money happily.

While you may have a point about how much of a place (or lack thereof) that non-MK parades have in the overall WDW experience, it's my belief that any downgrade of a component of WDW is a concern. If a decent parade is replaced with a worse parade, then, IMO, it's a concern. If an ornate and beautiful lamppost in a park is replaced with a cheap and industrial lamppost, than that's also a concern. Disney magic is in the details, and if Disney starts to get the impression that they can make cuts in the places that "don't really matter," then eventually we'll start seeing a huge loss of value in WDW overall.

 

[cymbaldiva]

While you may have a point about how much of a place (or lack thereof) that non-MK parades have in the overall WDW experience, it's my belief that any downgrade of a component of WDW is a concern. If a decent parade is replaced with a worse parade, then, IMO, it's a concern. If an ornate and beautiful lamppost in a park is replaced with a cheap and industrial lamppost, than that's also a concern. Disney magic is in the details, and if Disney starts to get the impression that they can make cuts in the places that "don't really matter," then eventually we'll start seeing a huge loss of value in WDW overall.

+1

Not sure if it's relevant, but does anyone remember the Aladdin parade that MGM ran wayyyyy back when? That was an incredible show! It truly disappoints me that Disney has cut back on parades like that!

As for the details? IMHO MarkTwain is spot on here ~ it's been obvious to me for awhile that Disney has cut back; how long before the general public does too? :shrug:

 

[DisneyMusician2]

The Iger thing might be a reasonable theory, if not for the existence of Disneyland Resort 2,500 miles to the west.

Have you seen the video of the parade that DHS's Countdown To Fun was based off of, DCA's Pixar Play Parade? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCCop6NVCsc

Yeah, it's a tad different than Countdown To Fun, don't you think? That parade was budgeted, approved, and allowed to continue performing daily under Iger's watch. There's a new parade called Mickey's Soundsational Parade coming to Disneyland this spring, which was made by the same guy who did Pixar Play Parade. From the artwork released it looks to be novel, new, and fabulous.

It appears Countdown To Fun being approved for daily consumption by paying customers is an issue with local management in Orlando, not corporate executives in Burbank.

No, this is Lasseter having creative control and concentrating on the West Coast park, while having almost no involvement with WDW in my opinion. And who put those upper staff at TDO in place? Iger hand picked quite a few of them and they appear to be carrying out his agenda.

If Iger was dissatisfied with the offerings, he would have replaced those people at the top with people more in John Lasseter's camp. It says a lot about his attitude when someone creative isn't pushing through great ideas.

 

[captainkidd]

No surprise here. The Movie It Shake It crap at the MK is the most embarrassing product Disney has ever released, and that's in it's flagship park. I don't care much as I don't bother with the parades myself. But I will say this - Next year will be the 1st year we aren't going to WDW in about 8 years, and it has nothing to do with money. I want Disney to know we're not going. They probably won't notice, but I want to see those pin codes fly in to my email, and possibly even a survey as to why we haven't booked our next trip.

 

[matt_taylor1985]

Can't say I was ever really a fan of Block Party Bash, but my daughter enjoys it, which I may be wrong here but that's what it's for...the kids? Just to add, I haven't seen the new parade.

 

[xdan0920]

Good God. And I thought the Move it Shake it parade was bad. That has to be the sorriest excuse for entertainment I have ever seen. What a joke.

The announcement tonight better be good. Impress me please. It has been a while since I have been blown away by something new at WDW.

I am seriously considering skipping WDW for the first time in many years in 2011. I just don't feel any pressing need to go back right now. Any new offerings are terribly underwhelming, and I just don't see what is pulling me back. This parade is really just a slap in the face. I am thinking maybe 3 days at Uni and 4 days in the Keys.

 

[menamechris]

Some people have been tapping around the issue, but I think it should just be said. Let's face it Hollywood Studios is WDW's ______________ step-child. All of the entertainment is pretty much subpar (unless you are really into stage shows), the cast members are less than magical and not thrilled to be there (probably wishing they were at MK or Epcot), and the park runs pretty much withthe management concern and oversight as Universal. It has become the "catch" all park when things don't fit into the other parks (i.e. Rock 'n Roller, Osborne lights, Pixar). I think management wants to put pretty much just enough money into the parks to make sure attendance stays steady. When it starts to drop, they add a E ticket. A parade there is not necessary, per se. I think they throw it in there because its a Disney tradition and helps fill the day in an otherwise pretty unimpressive park.

 

[redshoesrock]

Just finished watching the parade on Youtube. I won't gnash my teeth and say this is the worst parade in Disney history (I give that moniker to Light Magic at Disneyland - ...riverdancing pixies...) but I will admit I'm very underwhelmed. I did recognized the re-purposed floats, and it's sad to see that so many "new" offerings like this are simply old things that are repackaged. But really, should we be -that- surprised? I mean, has there -ever- been a MK parade that didn't have that mirrored "castle" float at the end or beginning? I honestly think that float's been in every single MK parade since 1971.

 

[MarkTwain]

Some people have been tapping around the issue, but I think it should just be said. Let's face it Hollywood Studios is WDW's ______________ step-child. All of the entertainment is pretty much subpar (unless you are really into stage shows), the cast members are less than magical and not thrilled to be there (probably wishing they were at MK or Epcot), and the park runs pretty much withthe management concern and oversight as Universal. It has become the "catch" all park when things don't fit into the other parks (i.e. Rock 'n Roller, Osborne lights, Pixar). I think management wants to put pretty much just enough money into the parks to make sure attendance stays steady. When it starts to drop, they add a E ticket. A parade there is not necessary, per se. I think they throw it in there because its a Disney tradition and helps fill the day in an otherwise pretty unimpressive park.

It's strange, you'd think that since Hollywood Studios is, admittedly, a park with less things to do for the whole family and in need of some new and expensive attractions, then Disney would put some money into a relatively inexpensive form of entertainment that could please the whole family all at once. It's as if Disney could choose to open another $100 million dark ride a la TSMM that would entertain the whole family, or create a nice $10 million parade instead which would have largely the same effect. Instead, they choose to do neither. Many underbuilt parks, like Hong Kong Disneyland, turn to lavish parades to fill out their offerings, but WDW seems to see them as something of an annoyance...

 

[cheezbat]

Not impressed with this parade at all. No suprise there. I wasn't expecting much since it sounded like this thing was rushed from the get-go.

Hollywood Studios needs a parade since it's hurting so badly in attractions. But seriously, I think it's time to add a few new rides to the park to get that place back into shape.

 

[menamechris]

It's strange, you'd think that since Hollywood Studios is, admittedly, a park with less things to do for the whole family and in need of some new and expensive attractions, then Disney would put some money into a relatively inexpensive form of entertainment that could please the whole family all at once. It's as if Disney could choose to open another $100 million dark ride a la TSMM that would entertain the whole family, or create a nice $10 million parade instead which would have largely the same effect. Instead, they choose to do neither. Many underbuilt parks, like Hong Kong Disneyland, turn to lavish parades to fill out their offerings, but WDW seems to see them as something of an annoyance...

I feel the same way. But I think it is the (hopefully) subconscious thinking of upper management. They know people will go to HS because they are vacationing, it is there, and they have essentially already paid for it. If HS was a stand-alone park, and not part of a theme park resort, I think it would do FAR worse than it does. The problem is that management seems to understand and take advantage of this. HS will have acceptable attendance simply by being part of the Walt Disney World resort. So why create billions of dollars of needed attractions for HS, when there may not be a place to duplicate them in their smaller resorts? (Kinda the catch-22 of "blessing of size").

 

[Fizbain32]

Ok, guess I am going to buck the system a little bit here. It would seem I/we (DW and I ) are in the minority.

We find we like the Spectro Magic Parade better than the Main Street Electric. Not that we REALLY don't like it or anything just that we prefer Spectro.

Block Party Bash? we always had a good time with that one. Found the music to be fun and the comments from the Army men entertaining. we never really planned to see it but if we stumbled across it we would stay and watch.

I guess it's the up beat music as we are also fans of the Move It shake it parade. We like the upbeat music and heck, since they stopped celebrating New Years every night at PI it's the last place you can dance in the street.

The rest of the parades we try to avoid. To us they are pretty just choke our ability to get from point A to point B.

And we will wait for our May trip to see the parade and then decide.

Just our 2 cents.