My god what a disappointment. Remember, when DL did their anniversary they got what was considered the greatest castle/fireworks show they had ever had for their nighttime anchor. One that could hold up even today even 15+ years later.
We get this nerfed show for WDW's biggest anniversary...
1) Why does Disney insist on keep recording new versions of their classics into poppy trash? Its like they don't want to pay their own royalties or something... each show this gets worse and worse. I don't want to hear whatever no-name you are trying to pump up - you're playing those songs for the connections people have and the performances that made them stand out. HEA opening song is of this formula and it's the low point of the show.. at least that show recovers and while the closer is close, at least the closer is a ton better. Enchanted is this all the way through..
I mean, I'm a metal guy.. I'm wearing a Iron Maiden shirt as I type this.. and GIVE ME THE REAL ORCHESTRAL NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN, not your new guitar version of it! I don't want to hear wannabe Trans Siberian Orchestra here!!
The no voices anywhere makes me wonder if content licensing isn't a part of the equation... even though it should all be in house.
2) The Main Street Projections are a complete waste. I have no idea why they continued with it in this show.. it was bland when they did it at Disneyland... and this execution is just as meh. I can only think some people are convinced this is an operational improvement to draw people away from the hub. They are lame and we should have spent that money elsewhere.
3) Was there anything in the projections that stood out as grabbing you? Nothing to me... it's like they lost all the institutional knowledge they built up over the prior projection shows that previously culminated in what we get in HEA.
4) There really seemed like poor tying between what is going on in the castle and the fireworks. I mean, there were some minor moments, but overall it really didn't stand out as impressive or even cohesive for the bulk of the show. This is another skill set they had been refining through the last castle shows and this one felt mailed in. Where were the wow moments or emotional hooks?
5) Same boring structure... I mean many of Disney's shows have fallen to this opener, clip segments, then closer format.. but while this one doesn't feel as nearly as bad as Harmonious in that disjointed clips, this really just gave me nothing in the progression or overall emotional ride through the show
6) BORING - the things above really kept me from getting hooked in any part of the show.. I had a moment of interest about the 5min mark hoping it was getting better and it was just the opening segments that were flat... but it never got me but slightly interested. This show played out like so many of the weak DHS firework shows instead of the anchors we are used to at MK.
I did like those shells that did the climbing rings in their secondary burn... those were cool. The laser potential was cool.. but where were the great laser effects TO the castle that gave such cool effects in prior shows?
I'll give it more shots when we get some good video from the hub... but after the first watch... what a letdown and bore. I'd only watch again because I'm such a fan and I hope to find something to appreciate and hope something will start to stick.
