In regard to Beast, Mermaid, & Indiana

[DisneyDodo]

I personally don't think the biggest issue with these shows is that their too dated. I actually think all the shows in DHS are pretty solid. That's not too say that they couldn't benefit from a refurb, but rather that, on their own, each is a passable means of entertainment, even by Disney's lofty standards. People who have been to WDW many times over the past couple of decades will inevitably find them tired, but I don't think someone who sees these shows for the first time would find them incredibly out of date.

I think the bigger issue with DHS is that there are too many shows, relative to the number of rides. While it is possible to spend a full day at DHS, that would require going attending just about all of these shows. No matter how spectacular you make them, nobody is going to be all that impressed with a show when they've already sat through five others that day. It's kind of like how each of the screen rides at Universal is pretty good on its own, but eventually they all start to feel the same and become boring. Between VotLM, BatB, Indy, Frozen, Disney Jr, MV3D, F!, and Star Wars, it's just too much sitting and watching and not enough movement and adventure. TSL, MMRR, and SWGE will definitely help in this department, but I think Disney should do more, as in completely gutting some of the shows for rides, and then updating the remaining shows or replacing them with brand new ones. Disney can use AK as a blueprint - a small number of diverse shows of super high quality.

 

[brb1006]

That would be really nice. The show as it is doesn't actually 'bother me' so to speak, it's a nice show, but it feels dated. I mean, it's been there for SO long lol. If they truly updated it I'd be absolutely fine with Beauty and the Beast staying. It's a popular show in the park. With the new theater coming to the MK I'm not as concerned about having a new musical replace Beauty (and eventually the Hyperion can host a show as well once the Frozen sing-along wears itself out. I mean, imagine this sing-along still being there 20 years from now, that's where we are with the other shows). The new take on the musical looks good. I think if they bring it back to Broadway it could work very well. Aladdin seems popular and Lion King made it work with puppets so I think Beauty would fit right in. I don't know how long I see Frozen lasting. It will do well initially I suppose. But Lion King long? Probably not gonna happen.

I'm more hopeful they dump Mermaid. It was once a great show but it's time for it to go. I'm curious what they do with that space.

Indy is great but the director aspect of it needs to be dropped and they could re-tool the show. I'd be OK with that. But I'd prefer an Indy ride on it's spot instead LOL

You would think if they wanted to relaunch the park in 2019 (my assumption, not fact) with the opening of Star Wars Land and Runaway Railway and possibly a name change, you'd think they'd want new shows to make the park feel fresh.

Does the Ursula in the Mermaid show at DHS still hold up now that there is a very good one at MK?

 

[Next Big Thing]

Indy and Little Mermaid are solid shows (although the VHS quality video shown in LM needs to be updated).

Beauty and the Beast is, imo, terrible though. It's mostly a lip-sync show and only about 25 minutes. Frozen is fine for what it is, but I would prefer a full on production like DHS has rather than a Sing-a-long. The group that I go with now has no children under 16 now. We've seen the show once and while the storytellers make it better than it should be, we have no desire to go back.

You have to remember, this is a show that was thrown together in 2-weeks time three years ago for the Frozen summer fun thing. A sing-a-long show should not be a permanent attraction in a world class theme park.

 

[Haymarket2008]

Beauty and Mermaid are both relics from the early 90’s that have no business being a part of the current DHS lineup. Some shows age gracefully with occasional updates. These? Not at all. They absolutely need to go. Indy is super solid, but a fleshed out Indy land would be more fitting for the new direction of the park.

 

[Timothy_Q]

Indy and Little Mermaid are solid shows

The Little Mermaid show is anything but solid.

It’s barely a show at all

 

[Next Big Thing]

The Little Mermaid show is anything but solid.

It’s barely a show at all

The puppetry and the singing portions put it well ahead of BatB. Not a tough bar to pass, but Istill enjoy it, even if I cringe at the video sequences.

I would love a Tangled or PatF show here, but BatB certainly needs to be first in terms of priority.

 

[RHCP Mickey]

It's gotta count for something that 50% of the people in the crowd cry during BatB . That might be a good thread... what WDW ride/show/event draws the most tears?

 

[GlacierGlacier]

It's gotta count for something that 50% of the people in the crowd cry during BatB . That might be a good thread... what WDW ride/show/event draws the most tears?

Flight of Passage. When people are standing outside the entrance they look up, see the wait time, and cry.

 

[Timothy_Q]

It's gotta count for something that 50% of the people in the crowd cry during BatB . That might be a good thread... what WDW ride/show/event draws the most tears?

They're probably crying at how garish those costumes and sets are

 

[Kman101]

I think Mermaid and Beauty are fairly even in terms of needing to be replaced or completely upgraded and updated immediately lol. But personally I'd put Mermaid ahead of Beauty and the Beast

 

[RSoxNo1]

The Little Mermaid show is anything but solid.

It’s barely a show at all

I'd rather watch Little Mermaid than Beauty and the Beast.

 

[discos]

Does the Ursula in the Mermaid show at DHS still hold up now that there is a very good one at MK?

I'd say it does. Having just got back from a recent trip I'd say its a pretty impressive work of puppetry on Ursula but its definitely no Ursula animatronic on mermaid in MK

The puppetry and the singing portions put it well ahead of BatB. Not a tough bar to pass, but Istill enjoy it, even if I cringe at the video sequences.

Never realized until this year how bad the video quality is on that footage in show. One show's video quality that I was really impressed with at DHS was Muppets though

 

[GlacierGlacier]

I'd say it does. Having just got back from a recent trip I'd say its a pretty impressive work of puppetry on Ursula but its definitely no Ursula animatronic on mermaid in MK

Never realized until this year how bad the video quality is on that footage in show. One show's video quality that I was really impressed with at DHS was Muppets though

They just replaced Muppet's Projector, but the film quality is mostly independent from that. I love these little QoL updates.

 

[tl77]

I thought they were going to update the sets for BatB to coincide with the live action movie, did that not happen?

Really all the stage shows are probably expendable, none of them really fit the new drection the Studio Park is heading in. The Indy show is still done in the old "Backstage/Behind the Scenes" concept that they are slowly replacing with new immersive environments, plus Indy is next to Star Tours, so I wouldn't be surprised if they both got replaced with something new when Star Wars-land opens. Same with Little Mermaid and the Disney Jr. show being next to Star Wars Launch Bay, all 3 which are housed in the generic "studio sound-stage buildings" from the original Disney-MGM "working studio" concept, it would make sense if they all got replaced with something more imaginative and immersive at the same time, and the Beauty and the Beast stage is very close to Fantasmic! which takes up a huge chunk of land for something that only gets used a half hour a day. Personally F! is my least favorite of the night time shows, and if they were ever going to build that Villain Mountain/Bald Mountain roller-coaster somewhere, I think behind Tower of Terror where F! is would be the perfect spot, and maybe replace the BatB stage with a Jack Skellington Halloweentown area/ride, put all they spook movie stuff together in that corner of the park around the Tower of Terror

 

[Frizzball]

I went at the end of August for the first time since 2003 and I was pretty surprised to see that Indy is still exactly the same, however I can't see them changing it because it is a huge crowd relief. When we saw it the theatre was filled completely to the extent that they had to have everyone slide down the benches on multiple occasions in order to provide extra seating. It also doesn't look particularly dated and was still exciting to me though I had seen it before. People who have not been before or who do so infrequently (like most people who visit the parks including me ) are unlikely to be concerned by it's longevity.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid however needs to go. The show quality is particularly poor, the condensed form feels rushed and nonsensical in places and the VCR quality movie scenes really drag it down. The projection and lighting elements while cool also show their age. For me though the biggest problem is just how dated the theatre looks, it is far from the standard you would expect from Disney and ,I would go as far as to say, probably below the level of upkeep you would expect from a community theatre. When we went the cm playing Ariel was also particularly bad at acting (picture Disney Channel level of over-reaction combined with a lot of eyelash fluttering and the facial expressions of a kid pretending to be surprised about a present).

We didn't even bother with Batb, take from that what you will.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I personally don't think the biggest issue with these shows is that their too dated. I actually think all the shows in DHS are pretty solid. That's not too say that they couldn't benefit from a refurb, but rather that, on their own, each is a passable means of entertainment, even by Disney's lofty standards. People who have been to WDW many times over the past couple of decades will inevitably find them tired, but I don't think someone who sees these shows for the first time would find them incredibly out of date.

I think the bigger issue with DHS is that there are too many shows, relative to the number of rides. While it is possible to spend a full day at DHS, that would require going attending just about all of these shows. No matter how spectacular you make them, nobody is going to be all that impressed with a show when they've already sat through five others that day. It's kind of like how each of the screen rides at Universal is pretty good on its own, but eventually they all start to feel the same and become boring. Between VotLM, BatB, Indy, Frozen, Disney Jr, MV3D, F!, and Star Wars, it's just too much sitting and watching and not enough movement and adventure. TSL, MMRR, and SWGE will definitely help in this department, but I think Disney should do more, as in completely gutting some of the shows for rides, and then updating the remaining shows or replacing them with brand new ones. Disney can use AK as a blueprint - a small number of diverse shows of super high quality.

This is my biggest issue with the Studios and why its my least favorite Florida Disney park. I'm not a show guy. I'm a rides guy.

 

[Princess Leia]

I think that out of all of the recent films, Moana is the best replacement for Mermaid. Water features, black light, a giant puppet character... check check check

It would need to be an actual full length show though, 30 minutes or so. Mermaid is way too short and just cuts off so abruptly after Poor Unfortunate Souls.

I can’t speak for Frozen yet since I haven’t seen the singalong (here’s hoping that changes on Saturday), but I still think Hunchback was the best adaption of a musical that they had a DHS. Everything about that show worked.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

So anyone betting on which of these 3 goes first?

 

[Frizzball]

So anyone betting on which of these 3 goes first?

My guess would be Mermaid because it would be the quickest to replace as far as I can work out.

 

[Thanks phoenicians]

I'd say Mermaid then BATB then Indy. Imo i'd like to see indy go down around the same time as whenever Star tours gets rethemed. Then make a sort of mini land around whatever the replacement is with a show and attraction. I think incredibles could be a decent replacement and could also make for a cool stunt show.