Disneyland Fantasmic Dragon Engulfed in Flames

[mickEblu]

If the dragon isn’t coming back they should just retire the show. The 2.0 version of the show already took a few steps back and this would be the death knell. I might be bias though as I prefer the quiet Rivers of America at night. I was 11 when the show debuted so I should technically have a lot of nostalgia for it but I don’t for whatever reason. Part of it is Disney has been really good at breaking us down slowly whether it’s intended or not. Let all the effects go to hell on Splash and have riders get soaked head to toe for the last few years of operation. Retire Fantasmic 1.0 for the inferior 2.0 and then remove the the main show piece from the climax.

 

[celluloid]

If the dragon isn’t coming back they should just retire the show. The 2.0 version of the show already took a few steps back and this would be the death knell. I might be bias though as I prefer the quiet Rivers of America at night. I was 11 when the show debuted so I should technically have a lot of nostalgia for it but I don’t for whatever reason. Part of it is Disney has been really good at breaking us down slowly whether it’s intended or not. Let all the effects go to hell on Splash and have riders get soaked head to toe for the last few years of operation. Retire Fantasmic 1.0 for the inferior 2.0 and then remove the the main show piece from the climax.

Its pretty much just pirates in NOLA now I guess.

Without Fantasmic, Splash and when HM goes down for its overlay times.

That is a dead area.

 

[TTA94]

Couldn’t they do something like Tokyos F! where just the head of the dragon comes up through the mirror?

 

[waltography]

This may not be a popular proposed solution, but I can imagine a new dragon being a sort of refinement of the version from the original Fantasmic. Rather than folding a massive animatronic into a tiny pit, a better scaled and articulated head on a Kuka arm could take its place. Due to the audience's distance from the stage I think they could get away with movable props, projection mapped, for her body behind the head. Depending on the size of the body prop, the wings could be projected onto the rear screen.

I was thinking something similar too. I know folks here don't particularly like the TDS version of the show on their lagoon, but I think we could potentially borrow how they do their dragon (which is essentially just the head and neck passing through the mirror/water screen). (EDIT: Didn't even read far enough to see @TTA94's post, sorry! Great minds think alike haha).

Alternatively, if they're thinking of using this as an opportunity to introduce drones stateside, a flying dragon would be pretty cool (though this is basically DOA since I doubt they'd get rid of their no-fly zones).

 

[CaptinEO]

I'm sure the Dragon will return once its done being built. Show just coming back in B mode.

Also lol at people posting fresh baked tweets the dude is a clown and is a youtuber, not an insider.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Alternatively, if they're thinking of using this as an opportunity to introduce drones stateside, a flying dragon would be pretty cool (though this is basically DOA since I doubt they'd get rid of their no-fly zones).

The no fly zones are not that absolute. Disney’s more concerned about an errant drone flying into the crowd.

 

[TP2000]

"More exciting entertainment offerings for our guests later this year", could they do a holiday run of MSEP or PTN or too late for it?

I'm assuming they'll hang some tinsel and Christmas Holiday Decorations on the raft and give the band a jazzy Jingle Bells number to perform on the raft this winter like they've done since 1993. "Exciting entertainment offerings for our guests"....

 

[TP2000]

Speaking of "Exciting entertainment offerings for our guests" here's what Disneyland did over 50 years ago, when the company was a tiny fraction of its current size and only made a tiny bit of profit compared to today. But they can't do anything like this now because... um... they have too many people working in TDA cubicles they have to pay instead of paying actual jazz musicians and performers and artists to perform for paying guests in that theme park they own somewhere.

You can't just put on a show for paying customers you know. You can only release Parks Blog posts about "Exciting entertainment offerings for our guests".

But 50 years ago when Walt ran the place, they used to do this every fall as a fun off-season locals promotion "Dixieland at Disneyland"

 

[Furiated!]

The no fly zones are not that absolute. Disney’s more concerned about an errant drone flying into the crowd.

Not knowing anything about drones, how likely is something like that? Like, I understand not wanting drones overhead of guests in case one dies and drops out of the sky. But if they were over the water or TSI, is there a real chance one would fly into the crowd?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Not knowing anything about drones, how likely is something like that? Like, I understand not wanting drones overhead of guests in case one dies and drops out of the sky. But if they were over the water or TSI, is there a real chance one would fly into the crowd?

You need to watch more YouTube fail videos.

 

[Furiated!]

You need to watch more YouTube fail videos.

Only if the thumbnail has someone's giant face making a wacky reaction expression

 

[AJFireman]

Not knowing anything about drones, how likely is something like that? Like, I understand not wanting drones overhead of guests in case one dies and drops out of the sky. But if they were over the water or TSI, is there a real chance one would fly into the crowd?

There is a TFR (Temporary flight restriction) with no end date above the entire park. They fought hard for it and to keep it. They would have to give that up first before they could do a drone show.

 

[MisterPenguin]

There is a TFR (Temporary flight restriction) with no end date above the entire park. They fought hard for it and to keep it. They would have to give that up first before they could do a drone show.

You can ask for permission to fly in the restricted space or to use drones. The restriction isn't rigidly strict.

 

[AJFireman]

You can ask for permission to fly in the restricted space or to use drones. The restriction isn't rigidly strict.

True for a day or two but to do a nightly show its highly unlikely it would be granted for continuous use. There is a bill HR 3109 just introduced in May wanting to take away the ability to have a TFR established for longer then 30 days. Its currently in committee. The sponsors have pointed out its main reason for the bill is because of Disney Parks. They have commented about the Walt Disney Company should not have special priveleges when other businesses do not have a TFR. Asking for a nightly drone show would further give reason why they do not need a TFR.

 

[MisterPenguin]

True for a day or two but to do a nightly show its highly unlikely it would be granted for continuous use. There is a bill HR 3109 just introduced in May wanting to take away the ability to have a TFR established for longer then 30 days. Its currently in committee. The sponsors have pointed out its main reason for the bill is because of Disney Parks. They have commented about the Walt Disney Company should not have special priveleges when other businesses do not have a TFR. Asking for a nightly drone show would further give reason why they do not need a TFR.

This kind of bill killing the 'no fly zone' has been tried before and failed. It is likely this will fail.

There's no reason permission can't be granted on a continuing basis.

 

[Consumer]

There is nothing exciting about drones. I want a fire breathing animatronic dragon or nothing.

 

[SaucyBoy]

There is nothing exciting about drones. I want a fire breathing animatronic dragon or nothing.

Thank you. Drones have become a boring and overused technology nowadays. They were cute way back in the day but much like projection mapping, it's tired now. Nothing will ever come close to physical sets & props.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Thank you. Drones have become a boring and overused technology nowadays. They were cute way back in the day but much like projection mapping, it's tired now. Nothing will ever come close to physical sets & props.

Wha?

Drones are physical props.

And what drones can do now is substantially different than when they first started to be used.

Show elements are only bad when done poorly. Even fireworks can be unsatisfying (cf. Harmonious & Enchantment).

 

[Disney Analyst]

Wha?

Drones are physical props.

And what drones can do now is substantially different than when they first started to be used.

Show elements are only bad when done poorly. Even fireworks can be unsatisfying (cf. Harmonious & Enchantment).

I have to say, I had’nt really seen anything done by drones, until recently when I went to Disneyland Paris.

Holy!! The drone tech is so cool. I did not expect it to be so impressive. More of that please!!

 

[PiratesMansion]

I have to say, I had’nt really seen anything done by drones, until recently when I went to Disneyland Paris.

Holy!! The drone tech is so cool. I did not expect it to be so impressive. More of that please!!

And it's something that is being used by scores of other parks. Kings Island outside of Cincinnati has been using drones very impressively in its fireworks shows for the past two summers, and even USH got into the act in this year's version of the Hogwarts nighttime show.

It's a little odd that stateside parks just haven't used them much at all. The projections and physical performers/puppets in the fireworks shows are great, but there's no reason why drones can't compliment what is already there.