Fantasmic... is it a "classic"?

xfkirsten

xfkirsten

New Member
Original Poster
Okay, I was thinking about this on the way to class this morning: is Fantasmic one of those indispensible "classic" Disney attractions yet? After 12 years, it still packs in the crowds for every performance, and even those who see it on a regular basis (myself included) are still wowed by it. Down the line, will it be ranked up there as Disneyland at its best, right there with POTC, HM, Splash, etc? Just curious what everyone thinks on that!

-Kirsten
 
Bill

Bill

Account Suspended
I think it's a Disneyland Classic, but not at WDW. Something's just not there at WDW. Perhaps it's the whole amplitheater thing. Not sure. Just doesn't seem as classic.
 
xfkirsten

xfkirsten

New Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by Bill
I think it's a Disneyland Classic, but not at WDW. Something's just not there at WDW. Perhaps it's the whole amplitheater thing. Not sure. Just doesn't seem as classic.
Click to expand...

I agree, which is why I posted this in the DL section instead of WDW. ;) It seems like at Disneyland, Fantasmic is kind of the highlight of the night for everyone, whereas at WDW, it's just one more night show.

-Kirsten
 
RU42

RU42

New Member
I agree with you 100%. Fantasmic has definitely earned 'classic' status.

Look at our current parade - most APs don't stop for it anymore. And that is only 5 years now. And as you say, Fantasmic draws they in for every showing. In my opinion, it has even surpassed the equally enjoyable Main Street Parade (yes, I know it is called different now.)

RU
 
BRER STITCH

BRER STITCH

Well-Known Member
Classic? I'll have to think about that one for a while....

But, you have to remember that for almost half a year, Fantasmic is the only thing to do at DL in the evenings. That explains the crowds - espcially when the park closes early.

It's a great show, to be sure, but live theater is created to be "alive" and change, not remain stagnant and become a "classic". Guess it's a matter of defining "classic". It sure is VERY different from Haunted Mansion, Pirates, and Splash in that respect.

Maybe when Fantasmic is in demand in ALL Disney parks around the world it would be easier to consider it a "classic".

Didn't mean to disagree with the premise...just trying to think it through.

Good Topic!

:wave:
 
Sir Hiss527

Sir Hiss527

New Member
Why is Disneyland's different than WDW's? In my opinion I rather sit down then stand at Disneyland waiting for Fantasmic..What's the deal with that?
 
xfkirsten

xfkirsten

New Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by BRER STITCH
Classic? I'll have to think about that one for a while....

But, you have to remember that for almost half a year, Fantasmic is the only thing to do at DL in the evenings. That explains the crowds - espcially when the park closes early.

It's a great show, to be sure, but live theater is created to be "alive" and change, not remain stagnant and become a "classic". Guess it's a matter of defining "classic". It sure is VERY different from Haunted Mansion, Pirates, and Splash in that respect.

Maybe when Fantasmic is in demand in ALL Disney parks around the world it would be easier to consider it a "classic".

Didn't mean to disagree with the premise...just trying to think it through.

Good Topic!

:wave:
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Respectful disagreement like that is good! It generates discussion! :)

I guess Fantasmic really kind of differs from other live theater in that it is supposed to remain constant, for the most part (ie having all the performers trained to do it in the exact same way without adding their own touches, although that seems to happen anyways). I suppose that's why i tend to see Fantasmic not as another stage show, but almost like any of the other attractions in the park. It stays so consistent, and doesn't get switched out every few years. :)

-Kirsten
 
C

CheshireCatStar

New Member
Ah how to describe how different DL and WDW's each are:

Disneyland: The spectacle of Fantasmic! erupts from the Rivers of America on the Island which many guests may have been on just hours before. The crowd does stake out their seats early to be in the very front of the river, but it's easy to grab some standing room if you arrive at the last moment.
~The Pirate Ship with Peter Pan
~The Mark Twain and its bright flash of fireworks filled with (what is it, 50?) characters...
~Kaa with his bright glowing eyes

Disney World: A crowd waits in front of a giant mountain with a small body of water seperating them from it. The show starts.
~Almost two times the amount of mist screen sequences (a lot of stage time is left to be desired)
~Jafar as the snake (although, I will admit that it's kind of cool to see Mickey in his red shorts...)
~The highly anti climactic Pocahontas scene
~The dinky PVC-pipe crafted "Steamboat Willie" boat with about 15 characters

Personally, I feel that the two cannot even be compared in relation to spectacle and personality. WDW can't even hold a candle to DL's (original) version.
 
xfkirsten

xfkirsten

New Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by MerHearted
DL's doesn't have the Steamboat Willie boat? Does it have the princess boats? :confused:
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Yup, it's got the same princess floats. And Disneyland uses the Mark Twain in place of Steamboat Willie. MUCH more impressive, trust me. :D

-Kirsten
 
MerHearted

MerHearted

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by xfkirsten
Yup, it's got the same princess floats. And Disneyland uses the Mark Twain in place of Steamboat Willie. MUCH more impressive, trust me. :D

-Kirsten
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Oooh! Is the music the same? How early do you have to be there to have REALLY GOOD viewing spots? I remember going to Fantasmic in WDW 2 hours before and getting awesome seats right up close.
 
xfkirsten

xfkirsten

New Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by MerHearted
Oooh! Is the music the same? How early do you have to be there to have REALLY GOOD viewing spots? I remember going to Fantasmic in WDW 2 hours before and getting awesome seats right up close.
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The finale music? Yep, that's the same, as is the opening, the princess music, and several other spots. :) There's actually a trick to gettinig a great seat like 45 min before showtime. Often, at least these says, Fantasmic showings are 9 and 10:30. So soon after the first showing, line up with everyone else along the river to grab a spot for the second show, and as soon as they open the ropes to the seating areas, go for it - but wait at the ropes as close to the edge of the river as you can get, because they only actually open one side of the squared off area, and everyone else ends up hopping mad when they stood next to a rope that wasn't opened. ;)

-Kirsten
 
C

CheshireCatStar

New Member
Here's what I was looking for:

WDW's finale boat:
http://photoalbums.wdwmagic.com/showphoto.php?photo=2012&password=&sort=1&cat=all&page=1

DL's Mark Twain finale:
http://lostworld.pair.com/disneyland/frontierland/frontierland_images/fantasmic-boat-jan98.jpg
(though you can't see any of the characters actually on it, I think this was takend right before they come out... just imagine about 1-2 characters per arch on each floor, plus Mary Poppins and the Chimeny Sweeps dancing and waving about on the roof)

If you'd like, I also found a basic (sans lines) script. It pretty much describes the scenes seen in Fantasmic! at Disneyland.

http://www.disneylandian.com/faqs/fantasmic.html
 
MerHearted

MerHearted

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by xfkirsten
The finale music? Yep, that's the same, as is the opening, the princess music, and several other spots. :) There's actually a trick to gettinig a great seat like 45 min before showtime. Often, at least these says, Fantasmic showings are 9 and 10:30. So soon after the first showing, line up with everyone else along the river to grab a spot for the second show, and as soon as they open the ropes to the seating areas, go for it - but wait at the ropes as close to the edge of the river as you can get, because they only actually open one side of the squared off area, and everyone else ends up hopping mad when they stood next to a rope that wasn't opened. ;)

-Kirsten
Click to expand...

Hmmmm... you're prolly gonna have to show me. :lol: ;)
 
Figment1986

Figment1986

Well-Known Member
With mydefinition of a classic, Dl's is one.. (a show that keeps going with guest demand.... and can change but still keep it's charm...)

WDW's is more of a nightime show for people who wanted to stay at the park to see....

I perfered Dl's when i saw it back in 98
 
xfkirsten

xfkirsten

New Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by Figment1986
With mydefinition of a classic, Dl's is one.. (a show that keeps going with guest demand.... and can change but still keep it's charm...)

WDW's is more of a nightime show for people who wanted to stay at the park to see....

I perfered Dl's when i saw it back in 98
Click to expand...

It really hasn't changed substantially since then, really only the loss of the Ursula float (which wasn't in the show half the time anyways because that float was so troublesome) and maybe he addition of a couple of new pyro effects. Most recently they lost the Mark Twain, but luckily that was only temporary, and it's finally back. :)

-Kirsten
 

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