EPCOT Entertainment cuts

[NearTheEars]

I'm referring to people who say "I never saw those acts" or, based on their descriptions, clearly didn't give them 2 minutes. I don't like Stich's Great Escape, but I've sat through the ride a couple times.

If you are amazed by the amount of diehard WDW fans on here that regularly passed some of these up, just think about the amount of average tourists that do the same.

For me, I regularly watched the drum show in Japan, acrobats in China and Fife and Drum and Voices of a Liberty in the American Adventure.

To me, each of those seem to fit the theme and mission of World Showcase.

I don't weep at the idea of losing a couple of cover bands (yes I know they were more than that, but to the first-time passerby?). I do, however, feel bad for the performers.

The lumberjack show, traditional Celtic band and a flag troupe honestly do peak my interest. I'm looking forward to see them perform.

But again, why the Fife and Drum? Whyyyyyyy?

 

[ToTBellHop]

Hmmm, Universal massively cutback the chainsaw guys at last year's Halloween Horror... maybe Disney noticed some of them were out of work and has decided to find a new home for their talents.

Well, they need to find something to scare the guests more than the gate prices.

Am I the only one who sees ironic humor in "cutting back" chainsaw guys???

 

[71jason]

Like I said earlier people here reacted the same way when British Revolution was introduced. Now they're upset at the mere thought of them leaving lol.

Nice guys, but nowhere near the iconic level of Off-Kilter--and I didn't see nearly the level of outrage when they were rumored to be leaving.

To say nothing of the World Showcase Players--one of the few original EPCOT attractions more or less still in its original form. (American Adventure, China and France films ... think that's it.)

 

[71jason]

Curious to see myself since I'll be there Monday 9/29...Last year I was enjoying a beer and chilled out for a bit by Off Kilter, but this year, I guess just the beer.

Raglan Road still has live Celtic music. And beer.

 

[Prototype82]

I don't care popular it is, Mo'Rockin', is nowhere near as authentic as traditional Berber music... Wish we were getting a French Canadian Voyageur music group instead of lumberjacks. So much heritage in Canada to choose from.... Heck, when did Off Kilter even play Canadian Folk Music? You'd ask 'em to play a Stan Rogers song and they'd just scratch their scottish-non-canadian heads... Ugh!!! Sweet Home Alberta? Really? I think I only ever heard them play Gordon Lightfoot once...Bring on the change!!!!

But Celtic music in the UK? Not Celtic rock, not Celtic music with comedy...but something that might just be straight-up folk music and nothing else? I don't know how people are focusing on cost-cuts when this is so huge to me.

I'm still getting over the fact that Italy is getting a new show that has NOTHING to do with a juggling clown or a comedic group of entertainers in silly dresses.

As for people saying "some things aren't being replaced" ...didn't they say more shows are to come? I have more faith right now than I ever had in this park in a long long time.

 

[Fractal514]

Like I said earlier people here reacted the same way when British Revolution was introduced. Now they're upset at the mere thought of them leaving lol.

Classic logical error here. You're lumping everyone into one group, when it is entirely possible that the people who were complaining at the introduction of the group are NOT the same folks who are upset at the group being let go. I mean, it's possible that they are the same, but more likely they are not. I think the safer bet is to say that, people complained when they came, people are complaining that they are leaving, people suck and just like to complain.

I think these new acts sound good and I look forward to seeing them, hopefully they will be up and running by our November trip. I will miss some of the old acts, but until we see the new ones and know exactly what we are talking about, it is jumping the gun a bit for anyone on these boards to state as a fact that this is bad news overall. It's merely bad news for folks who are fans of one particular group, not an indication of anything other than that.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I'm not Canadian, but to me a lumberjack show in the Canada pavilion sounds about as stereotypical (and mildly offensive) as a show about Mounties and ice hockey. Maybe they could just set up a rink back there and form a hockey league.

 

[Thumper 32]

...
To say nothing of the World Showcase Players--one of the few original EPCOT attractions more or less still in its original form. (American Adventure, China and France films ... think that's it.)

China movie was actually refreshed a few years back. But I still get your point.

 

[crispy]

I'm not Canadian, but to me a lumberjack show in the Canada pavilion sounds about as stereotypical (and mildly offensive) as a show about Mounties and ice hockey. Maybe they could just set up a rink back there and form a hockey league.

STOP. GIVING. THEM. IDEAS.

(Besides, if they add an ice rink, they would make it about Frozen, not ice hockey!)

 

[asianway]

China movie was actually refreshed a few years back. But I still get your point.

Yeah but it's the same dude lol

 

[GoofGoof]

I'm not Canadian, but to me a lumberjack show in the Canada pavilion sounds about as stereotypical (and mildly offensive) as a show about Mounties and ice hockey. Maybe they could just set up a rink back there and form a hockey league.

Ice hockey is offensive...you must work for ESPN

 

[asianway]

I'm not Canadian, but to me a lumberjack show in the Canada pavilion sounds about as stereotypical (and mildly offensive) as a show about Mounties and ice hockey. Maybe they could just set up a rink back there and form a hockey league.

How about some curling Demos & Elsinor beers, eh?

 

[Thumper 32]

Yeah but it's the same dude lol

Yeah it didn't have the drastic tone change like Canada got. But it was shortened from 19 min to 12 min (according to Wikipedia which is always correct haha). So Reflections of China is noticeably different than the original Wonders of China.

Though that's one refresh that I'd argue came out just as good if not better, which is pretty rare for attraction updates lately. I think it was due to staying so true to the original tone, while tightening up the pacing and updating the footage.

 

[Matt_Black]

I know both Off Kilter and Mo'Rockin' both have albums available for purchase at amazon, so if you folks really want to show your support for them, buy them.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I don't care popular it is, Mo'Rockin', is nowhere near as authentic as traditional Berber music... Wish we were getting a French Canadian Voyageur music group instead of lumberjacks. So much heritage in Canada to choose from.... Heck, when did Off Kilter even play Canadian Folk Music? You'd ask 'em to play a Stan Rogers song and they'd just scratch their scottish-non-canadian heads... Ugh!!! Sweet Home Alberta? Really? I think I only ever heard them play Gordon Lightfoot once...Bring on the change!!!!

But Celtic music in the UK? Not Celtic rock, not Celtic music with comedy...but something that might just be straight-up folk music and nothing else? I don't know how people are focusing on cost-cuts when this is so huge to me.

I'm still getting over the fact that Italy is getting a new show that has NOTHING to do with a juggling clown or a comedic group of entertainers in silly dresses.

As for people saying "some things aren't being replaced" ...didn't they say more shows are to come? I have more faith right now than I ever had in this park in a long long time.

World Showcase, while employing traditional aesthetics, is not supposed to just focus on folk and traditional culture. It is supposed to be contemporary as well with more practical considerations dictating the need to emphasize traditional aesthetics.

 

[WDW1974]

What confuses me is that changing these acts can't really amount to a substantial cost savings. If the changes resulted in an annual savings of $1,000,000 I would be shocked. $200,000 would be surprising.

I don't have access to the numbers. I don't know how much savings Disney is getting.

But, you can be 100% sure, they are reaping some savings.

And Disney thinks that $200,000 (about what the salaries of three CP staffers put together would be) is a big sum of money.

Again, it's the money savings that is my only real issue with this. It's all about making NGE (which is pretty much a disaster ... for all those who have been saying 'wait and see' since 2009 or 2010) produce fake numbers.

 

[WDW1974]

Things don't have to be removed for new acts to come in...

At Dizzy World, you only get addition by subtraction.

It's called MAGICal math!

 

[Matt_Black]

World Showcase, while employing traditional aesthetics, is not supposed to just focus on folk and traditional culture. It is supposed to be contemporary as well with more practical considerations dictating the need to emphasize traditional aesthetics.

Indeed. Which is why I always thought it was a tad disheartening that the entertainment for the American pavilion focused on old-timey stuff instead of equally American fare like jazz

 

[WDW1974]

Hardly a fair comparison. Manning had a serious neck injury and NFL QB's always come with a finite shelf life. Were the Epcot acts facing a similar "expiration date?" The quality of their future play at risk? If Manning had another 20 years left in him, would the Colts have been so eager to send him packing just to cut payroll? Also, the Colts replaced Manning with a "significant investment," because #1 overall, draft picks are not cheap. They could have replaced Manning with an undrafted free agent, but they didn't. They invested heavily in upgrading their aging infrastructure. WDW is doing no such thing.

First post here, but some may recognize the name from other sites.

I recognize you plenty!

Nice to see you here and welcome. There's considerably more action here than over at that other place!

 

[WDW1974]

Anyone call and/or email WDW execs today?

Just wondering ...