Fantasmic Problems...

[OrangeTree]

OrangeTree, I'm not saying get rid of the show, I love it and it can be really spectacular...when everything works. They just need to get their act together and fix things.

If they could work the show into the park so that you don't have to GO see it, and rather have it be part of the atmosphere, as in Disneyland, I would probably dislike it a lot less.

But it is still painful to watch. It's a wreck. Not Disney quality in any way, shape, or form.

Not to get anyone's hopes up, but I know there were major updates for Fantasmic being offered. Whether or not those are approved or not, I have no idea. At least they are talking about it.

Fant! needs some TLC in a bad way.

Is this post or pre the non event refurb it had?

 

[TubaGeek]

The one thing you can say for Fant! is that the only effect that is consistantly not working right is Sorcerer Mickey's lift. Other than that, the effects... sometimes work. I've seen it three times since it opened, and I've seen it with and without the glove pyro, a working dragon, a swinging John Smith, a working final Mickey lift... really just about everything.
Though, I will say, with the contingency plans they have in effect, it often seems like someone who hadn't seen the show before wouldn't know that anything went wrong.

 

[Brava Centauri]

I think I've only seen the show twice because the crowds just to get a seat are insane every time I'm there. When I was in Disneyland, people were camping out 5 hours ahead of time for a space, and so I avoided it and the area around show time. At least HS has the theatre out of the way. For me, World of Color is the show that blows me away. I would not be opposed at all for retiring Fantasmic and creating something similar to Disney Dreams at DLP in its place. After all, WDW was supposed to get Dreams but wouldn't pony up the cash.

I think something would have to seriously go wrong with show, like performer injuries or consistent show-wide failure to get the show to be either completely overhauled or replaced. Meanwhile, the seats are still packed, which is all that matters to the suits.

 

[Alektronic]

Not to get anyone's hopes up, but I know there were major updates for Fantasmic being offered. Whether or not those are approved or not, I have no idea. At least they are talking about it.

Fant! needs some TLC in a bad way.

They are always talking about improvements to Fantasmic and Illuminations, but when they find out how much it will cost, then it gets shelved like everything else. Entertainment is in a cost cutting mode also.

 

[Kramerica]

When was fantastic first introduced? How many years? Cause it could be time for something new or atleast an update. Same goes for Indiana Jones.. They really should do something with that show.

 

[wdwmagic]

When was fantastic first introduced? How many years? Cause it could be time for something new or atleast an update. Same goes for Indiana Jones.. They really should do something with that show.

October 98

 

[TP2000]

But it is still painful to watch. It's a wreck. Not Disney quality in any way, shape, or form.

I think the problem is that it actually is Disney quality, but it's Disney quality from 15 years ago (Late 1990's).

The problem is the WDW version just hasn't updated any of the technical aspects of it since then, let alone refresh or update the creative aspects. So then you've got this show caught in a timewarp from the Bill Clinton era and you layer on the maintenance issues they've been having, and the whole thing just becomes... well, all the comments in this thread sum it up.

I end up feeling the most embarassed for the Fantasmic! performers. You can tell that they try and put on a good show, but their facility and stagecraft they have to work with just doesn't let them.

 

[marni1971]

Not to get anyone's hopes up, but I know there were major updates for Fantasmic being offered. Whether or not those are approved or not, I have no idea. At least they are talking about it.

Fant! needs some TLC in a bad way.

A major overhaul and update was scrapped last winter. Major as to bring it closer to the DL version.

 

[wdwmagic]

A major overhaul and update was scrapped last winter. Major as to bring it closer to the DL version.

Remember as well the entire "repurpose" plan that would have introduced a completely new show about 5 years ago.

 

[marni1971]

Remember as well the entire "repurpose" plan that would have introduced a completely new show about 5 years ago.

Sigh..

 

[mm52200]

I think if they just gave the show the full technical upgrade DL's has had over the past few years then the show would be great. These problems were never really to prevalent prior to F!'s schedule being reduced a few years ago and during the time of the reduced schedule. But when they returned to nightly performances, that's when it started falling apart. Obviously they hadn't been really maintaining the show when it was only playing about 3 nights a week so when it returned to nightly performances...that's when it started to fall apart...or atleast that's my theory.

To echo what someone said, I feel bad for the cast. Regardless of it's F! or any other mess of show, they always try to do their best and give their all...even if the show around them is falling apart.

 

[menamechris]

They are always talking about improvements to Fantasmic and Illuminations, but when they find out how much it will cost, then it gets shelved like everything else. Entertainment is in a cost cutting mode also.

I find it pretty amusing that there are apparently groups and meetings that actually discuss these things - and yet rarely anything is EVER greenlit. That in and of itself is a waste of time and resources on the company's part. Why even talk about it if the bottom line is that there really is no intention of improving or investing in any way?

 

[disnyfan89]

It's obvious that DHS has had major budget constraints concerning Entertainment for a few years now. They just keep adding and adding all this entertainment over the years but the budget hasn't grown.

I hope in the very near future we will see the closing of VotLM, AI, or maybe even the Indy stunt show and have them replaced by a major attraction. This would then free up the entertainment budget and they could actually invest in their current entertainment offerings.

 

[disnyfan89]

Duplicate post............. move along, nothing to see here. :lol:

 

[Communicore]

This show has to go. I'm sorry, I'm a big fan but it's embarassing and first-time watchers are not getting the full effect if the show has these problems.

 

[TP2000]

This show has to go. I'm sorry, I'm a big fan but it's embarassing and first-time watchers are not getting the full effect if the show has these problems.

It just needs to be udpated technically and artistically. Disneyland did this, with a purposeful and planned and fully funded series of multi-week winter rehabs over a 4-year period starting in 2008 and ending with a 6 week rehab this winter. The result at Disneyland is a Fantasmic! show that sparkles with the latest technology in lighting, audio, animatronics and mist-screen projections (now in digital HD instead of the 70mm film still in use at WDW). Plus there were artistic tweaks and adds to the show, and plussing of the stagecraft used, in addition to the technical upgrades to what already existed.

The same thing can happen at WDW. WDW has the facility (a custom-built facility that can be nicer than Disneyland's), they have the manpower, they have access to the same braintrust that did it for Disneyland for guidance, and they have access to the same budget that Disneyland gets each year. But for some reason WDW management willfully chooses not to go down the path Disneyland did.

Fantasmic! shouldn't be scrapped at WDW, it simply needs the same TLC and planning that Disneyland's version gets. :wave:

 

[MarkTwain]

It just needs to be udpated technically and artistically. Disneyland did this, with a purposeful and planned and fully funded series of multi-week winter rehabs over a 4-year period starting in 2008 and ending with a 6 week rehab this winter. The result at Disneyland is a Fantasmic! show that sparkles with the latest technology in lighting, audio, animatronics and mist-screen projections (now in digital HD instead of the 70mm film still in use at WDW). Plus there were artistic tweaks and adds to the show, and plussing of the stagecraft used, in addition to the technical upgrades to what already existed.

The same thing can happen at WDW. WDW has the facility (a custom-built facility that can be nicer than Disneyland's), they have the manpower, they have access to the same braintrust that did it for Disneyland for guidance, and they have access to the same budget that Disneyland gets each year. But for some reason WDW management willfully chooses not to go down the path Disneyland did.

Fantasmic! shouldn't be scrapped at WDW, it simply needs the same TLC and planning that Disneyland's version gets. :wave:

Agreed. I think with a replacement dragon, digital projections on the water, full repairs of all the effects, and maybe a new scene here or there (lookin' at you, Pocahontas), this show could easily be as impressive as Disneyland's Fantasmic - and certainly easier and cheaper than replacing it with World of Color.

 

[COProgressFan]

I find it pretty amusing that there are apparently groups and meetings that actually discuss these things - and yet rarely anything is EVER greenlit. That in and of itself is a waste of time and resources on the company's part. Why even talk about it if the bottom line is that there really is no intention of improving or investing in any way?

Funny isn't it? I've thought the same thing. We hear so many rumors about proposed plans for attraction updates, entertainment updates, etc., but inevitably they are nearly all shot down. Whether it's updates to Fantasmic or updates to Wishes or Space Mountain, they pretty much never get approved.

So why even bother coming up with all the new plans that you're never going to implement? :shrug:

It's a truly bizarre organizational structure at "Disney Parks."

 

[lightboy]

Okay. Let's look at the business side of it...

Let's just say between 8000 and 10000 people fill the amphitheater. For the most part, they don't know the difference. Or, don't care. Or, are entertained by 1998 technology. Bottom line...very few complaints.

Why would they update it?

Until (1) the guests stop coming or (2) fill guest relations with complaints...nothing will change. They have to sell a "why" to the people holding the pennies. And time and time again, they will see that an upgrade to Fantasmic will yield no guest impact. Or, very little.

They already pack it...regardless of show quality. And all of you are smarter and know Disney won't just shell out money for something that won't quadruple their investment. In which this, wouldn't.

Still sucks though...

 

[Tip Top Club]

Why would they update it?

Because they shouldn't be resting on their laurels. They should be holding themselves to a higher standard.

Better question, why would they continue to present an inferior product, when the company is clearly capable of doing more?

Quality is a great business plan. Period.