News 'Disney Enchantment' coming to Magic Kingdom October 1 2021

[TheMaxRebo]

If it's scoring as bad as we think it is why not just go ahead and can it? They could literally do something like "to finish out 50 years of magic we are bringing back the fan favorite Happily Ever After to the Magic Kingdom this fall....." and people would go beserk. I know there is the logistics of changing firework shells, projections, etc., but it seems like such an easy call to make.

Disney baffles me on stuff like this - things that are a slam dunk they almost look for excuses NOT to do, while easily finding reasons to do things that make no sense from a guest perspective.

Well, starting in a few weeks it will only be shows like 3-4 days a week with the Halloween and then Holiday parties happening, so probably not the time to switch shows

Guess they could switch it out in January, but like others have said, probably easiest to just let it run for the duration of the 50th, say it was for the 50th and then switch to HEA 2.0 or whatever

 

[Disney Glimpses]

If it's scoring as bad as we think it is why not just go ahead and can it?

HEA is not free, that's hurdle number 1.

 

[rescue_ranger]

This May was our first time seeing DE in-person, and it was very much a one and done on our trip. When HEA was running we'd catch it multiple times during a two week stay. DE, no thanks. Just a massive sense of disappointment and being severely underwhelmed once it finished.

It's weird. I wish I could explain it because truthfully, it has all of the same technical elements of HEA. The message is there, the lasers, projections, fireworks., etc. It's just missing heart. HEA, for me anyways, gave me chills every time. The final music just was incredible right after the powerful Hercules music. DE just didn't pull at my heartstrings the same way and I just cannot pinpoint why.

 

[James Alucobond]

HEA is not free, that's hurdle number 1.

To me, the biggest hurdle is that there’s a significant amount of content overlap with Harmonious.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

To me, the biggest hurdle is that there’s a significant amount of content overlap with Harmonious.

Yep. Hurdle number 2, frustrating but that is solvable via HEA 2.0. The issue is the Go the Distance sequence which occur at prominent moments in both HEA and Harm. Go the the Distance could be replaced with a new rendition of Wish Upon a Star that is similar to the ending of Wishes. Other tracks like How Far I'll Go can also be replaced easily.

So the question is, are they motivated enough? I am told yes, but I haven't seen concrete evidence of anything in the works...yet.

The other alternative is they wait out Harmonious and make the content change there. I am told DE doesn't have nearly enough runway left for this option though.

 

[WorldExplorer]

I would absolutely hate to see them mess with Happily Ever After in order to avoid conflict with Harmonious.

Mess with Harmonious instead. It needs better structuring and flow anyway.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

I would absolutely hate to see them mess with Happily Ever After in order to avoid conflict with Harmonious.

Mess with Harmonious instead. It needs better structuring and flow anyway.

My hope is they are convinced (either by leadership or by themselves) that the overlap is not a significant issue while they run HEA for a limited time before their second attempt at a new show. Go the Distance is also a mashup with How Far I'll Go. I think that has to be a "problem" they overlook here. If they shared the same finale, that would be a different story.

 

[MisterPenguin]

HEA is not free, that's hurdle number 1.

Yeah, if you don't license the music correctly, Disney will come down on you like a ton of bricks!!

 

[Disney Glimpses]

Yeah, if you don't license the music correctly, Disney will come down on you like a ton of bricks!!

In this case, the projections are the most significant licensing cost.

 

[MisterPenguin]

In this case, the projections are the most significant licensing cost.

I thought the "Disney way" to avoid licensing was to buy the company.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

I thought the "Disney way" to avoid licensing was to buy the company.

I wish they would buy Mousetrappe. That would mean a future of really, really wonderful projections.

 

[wdwmagic]

I wish they would buy Mousetrappe. That would mean a future of really, really wonderful projections.

I've about had enough of projections. They were fine early on when it was a novelty, but now everything has a projection on it. Glad to see Spaceship Earth did something different.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

I've about had enough of projections. They were fine early on when it was a novelty, but now everything has a projection on it. Glad to see Spaceship Earth did something different.

Completely agree. Personally, I'd love a classic castle show like Wishes or Fantasy. But if we're going to have projections (and they seem committed), I'd at least rather them done right. Enchantment is just a bunch of skins reused with holes cut out in the castle to play clips from Disney films.

 

[wdwmagic]

Completely agree. Personally, I'd love a classic castle show like Wishes or Fantasy. But if we're going to have projections (and they seem committed), I'd at least rather them done right. Enchantment is just a bunch of skins reused with holes cut out in the castle to play clips from Disney films.

Yes valid point.

 

[dreday3]

I like the projections a lot on the Tree of Life and also Tower of Terror where you see people walking and dancing.

I don't really think projections are needed with a really good fireworks show. Illuminations was perfect without them.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

I like the projections a lot on the Tree of Life and also Tower of Terror where you see people walking and dancing.

I don't really think projections are needed with a really good fireworks show. Illuminations was perfect without them.

They did both of those as well. Along with Disneyland Forever, Mickey's Not So Spooky and most recently Momentous at HKDL.

 

[UNCgolf]

I've about had enough of projections. They were fine early on when it was a novelty, but now everything has a projection on it. Glad to see Spaceship Earth did something different.

I am apparently in a significant minority, but I thought the projections actually detracted from HEA in places. Not because they weren't well done, but because you can't really watch the projections and also watch the fireworks at the same time. It's not an issue if the projections are basically just background, but in HEA they often had actual characters moment etc. happening via projections while fireworks were also going off.

I'd have preferred projections interspersed with fireworks instead of having everything happening all at once. For locals who see the show regularly it doesn't really matter, but most Disney guests aren't going to see the show more than once or twice over several years.

 

[Notes from Neverland]

Yep. Hurdle number 2, frustrating but that is solvable via HEA 2.0. The issue is the Go the Distance sequence which occur at prominent moments in both HEA and Harm. Go the the Distance could be replaced with a new rendition of Wish Upon a Star that is similar to the ending of Wishes. Other tracks like How Far I'll Go can also be replaced easily.

Maybe, just maybe, they shouldn't create new nighttime shows with such similar music. The Disney catalog is enormous and they use the same hits. I'd rather see them roll out HEA again and change up Harmonious, which would seemingly be a lot easier with the screens.

 

[TTA94]

I’d say they either need to do away with projections all together or add more projections and other show elements around the whole park so everyone isn’t as determined to be in the hub or Main Street. Unfortunately though I’m not sure if even that would help. Locals may be content viewing the show from other areas of the park, but everyone else will still want to see fireworks behind Cinderella Castle.

Since their determined to not bring back a light parade they could go the route of something like the Osborne Lights on the trees and buildings around the park that interact with a nighttime show. Also install permanent “Castle Dreamlights” on Cinderella Castle.

 

[jpeden]

HEA is not free, that's hurdle number 1.

I’m flabbergasted by the fact that Disney would hire a 3rd party vendor to develop something with Disney IP and not negotiate perpetual rights to the finished product as part of the agreement and fee schedule.