Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

[ptaylor]

Just saw the show in person.

Pros:
- Very good lasers.
- Great snow effect with really good coverage.
- Great audio - including surround effects.

Cons:
- There is very little story line that makes any sense for a holiday show.
- Relies far to much on projections.
- Nowhere near enough fireworks.
- Plagued by the horrible off center and distant launch location for the fireworks. It is like you are watching fireworks in another park.
- The rooftop fireworks seem very weak. Understand it is due to being so close to guests, but the difference between those and the large fireworks launched from offsite is jarring.
- Lights in the trees look really amateurish.

Overall the show is largely a miss. The story doesn't feel like Christmas, and it fails to create a festive atmosphere.

It can best be summed up by being Star Wars A Galactic Spectacular, minus Star Wars. And that doesn't leave much left.

Disney is in great need of some new creative writers and directors that can get back to how things at Disney used to be done. The current crop are far to reliant on IP and projections.

 

[21stamps]

Perhaps people are just getting jaded to projections. Is watching movie clips projected onto a building entertaining? Fireworks remain thrilling for most people because they are not common place, particularly when done as well as the Disney shows. Projections are now very common place, and are even being done by homeowners.

I guess. It boils down to personal preference. I enjoy fireworks, but we see them nightly 3-4 months out of the year. I don't see projection or laser shows as often as that. So for me personally, the lack of a huge firework finale isn't a big deal. Celebrate the Magic was my favorite "show" at WDW (behind Fantasmic) and I'm looking forward to the new one...so maybe I'm the oddball of the group.

Basically, I'm still heart broken over not having a chance to see the SW show at HS..trying to remain positive about JBJB. The 3D glasses look like they will make it more interesting as well.

 

[JohnD]

I think a Halloween projection show on the Chinese Theater would be really great. Have lots of NBC, Haunted Mansion, Headless Horseman, and some other Halloween songs and it could be a really great nighttime show. Heck, they could even throw in some ToT and some Twilight Zone stuff.

Not sure about HM since that is MK. But definitely the "This is Halloween" song and ToT. Whatever the Muppets have done for Halloween. You probably meant to say lots of ABC, since Disney owns that network not NBC. Any classic Mickey cartoons with a Halloween theme and, of course, Disney villains.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I'm still over here confused as why the show is being received so poorly.

I think because we can all think of how much better it could be.

1. If WDW didn't want to reset all their fireworks for a new show (or didn't want to spend the money on it) and rely mostly on projections, then they should have had several different projection shows that ran throughout the night. But, by having just one show, they're telling us that this is as big or as good as Fantasmic! or the Star Wars fireworks, which, while not awful, certainly didn't live up to be headliner. By having several shows, it would have been more like the Tree of Life, or the various 'shows' of Osborne.

2. And by having just one show, they then shoehorned in as many IPs as possible doing a disservice to most of them. They could have had a 5 minute Goofy show. A 5 minute Nutcracker show. A 5 minute everything snow (and Let it Go) show. A 5 minute Christmas-is-gifting show. A 5 minute Chistmas-is-family show. A 5 minute Christmas party show. A 5 minute Muppet's 12 Days of Christmas show, A 5 minute NBC show, etc...

3. They brought in Nightmare Before Christmas in a big way but left out the most obvious match: "What Is This?" That should have been the highlight with Oogie Boogie's part cut down to a minor cameo. OB's song was just totally out of place.

4. Projection onto the Chinese theater is a certainly far from ideal. The building doesn't lend itself to it. You have trees in the way. It's off-center from the big fireworks. With all those things going against it, you need to do something dramatic to beef it up, like a big fireworks show. Otherwise, it's rather underwhelming for a headliner.

 

[JohnD]

Perhaps people are just getting jaded to projections. Is watching movie clips projected onto a building entertaining? Fireworks remain thrilling for most people because they are not common place, particularly when done as well as the Disney shows. Projections are now very common place, and are even being done by homeowners.

I wouldn't have minded it if there weren't so many long stretches. I think the SW show did better in this regard. Again, full pieces like "What is This?" even if more projection heavy than fireworks would have been better.

 

[21stamps]

Not sure about HM since that is MK. But definitely the "This is Halloween" song and ToT. Whatever the Muppets have done for Halloween. You probably meant to say lots of ABC, since Disney owns that network not NBC. Any classic Mickey cartoons with a Halloween theme and, of course, Disney villains.

I think that person meant- NBC= Nightmare before Christmas.

I think a Nightmare Before Christmas or Villains show would be great!

I have never been to MNSHP, do they have any villain or jack skellington stage shows there?

 

[JohnD]

I think that person meant- NBC= Nightmare before Christmas.

I think a Nightmare Before Christmas or Villains show would be great!

I have never been to MNSHP, do they have any villain or jack skellington stage shows there?

Okay, then. Because the NBC network is part of the Universal family. As for MNSSHP, they have a new show Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular. Very good show. Jack Skellington has a M&G.

 

[21stamps]

I think because we can all think of how much better it could be.

1. If WDW didn't want to reset all their fireworks for a new show (or didn't want to spend the money on it) and rely mostly on projections, then they should have had several different projection shows that ran throughout the night. But, by having just one show, they're telling us that this is as big or as good as Fantasmic! or the Star Wars fireworks, which, while not awful, certainly didn't live up to be headliner. By having several shows, it would have been more like the Tree of Life, or the various 'shows' of Osborne.

2. And by having just one show, they then shoehorned in as many IPs as possible doing a disservice to most of them. They could have had a 5 minute Goofy show. A 5 minute Nutcracker show. A 5 minute everything snow (and Let it Go) show. A 5 minute Christmas-is-gifting show. A 5 minute Chistmas-is-family show. A 5 minute Christmas party show. A 5 minute Muppet's 12 Days of Christmas show, A 5 minute NBC show, etc...

3. They brought in Nightmare Before Christmas in a big way but left out the most obvious match: "What Is This?" That should have been the highlight with Oogie Boogie's part cut down to a minor cameo. OB's song was just totally out of place.

4. Projection onto the Chinese theater is a certainly far from ideal. The building doesn't lend itself to it. You have trees in the way. It's off-center from the big fireworks. With all those things going against it, you need to do something dramatic to beef it up, like a big fireworks show. Otherwise, it's rather underwhelming for a headliner.

Could the reason for one show be that the park closes at 7 on so many nights?

I definitely agree that it looks like it could have been better..not necessarily by adding fireworks. The whole story line of santa being kidnapped got a little sideways.. I'm thinking that it will be better in person though.

I also agree with the the building not being the best host. I have not watched the SW shows online, but did they have similar issues?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Could the reason for one show be that the park closes at 7 on so many nights?

It closed at 9p when they had Osborne Lights. WDW is in control of the time of closing if they had something to show.

 

[21stamps]

It closed at 9p when they had Osborne Lights. WDW is in control of the time of closing if they had something to show.

I wish it was still 9. It would be nice to see JBJB and fantasmic.

 

[Greg H]

I wish it was still 9. It would be nice to see JBJB and fantasmic.

Agree... Not sure it would matter though... We are there on Dec 9th and the park closes at 9 (EMH until 11) but still puts those two shows 15 minutes apart...

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Perhaps people are just getting jaded to projections. Is watching movie clips projected onto a building entertaining? Fireworks remain thrilling for most people because they are not common place, particularly when done as well as the Disney shows. Projections are now very common place, and are even being done by homeowners.

This is 100% my sense from watching the video. Projections are great when integrated into a bigger show, but on their own I don't think they're novel enough nor much of a spectacle. The balance here has been tilted way too far toward a laser and projections show with a few fireworks and other effects thrown in here and there. If the film was super engaging maybe it would work, but I don't think the storyline is all that more sophisticated than that of the average Disney fireworks show these days. I kind of don't see why I would want to stand around and watch a mediocre film projected onto some buildings.

Maybe I'm a Philistine, but I also have no idea who Prep and Landing are.

 

[ford91exploder]

This is 100% my sense from watching the video. Projections are great when integrated into a bigger show, but on their own I don't think they're novel enough nor much of a spectacle. The balance here has been tilted way too far toward a laser and projections show with a few fireworks and other effects thrown in here and there. If the film was super engaging maybe it would work, but I don't think the storyline is all that more sophisticated than that of the average Disney fireworks show these days. I kind of don't see why I would want to stand around and watch a mediocre film projected onto some buildings.

Maybe I'm a Philistine, but I also have no idea who Prep and Landing are.

Think of Prep and Landing as Air Traffic Control for Santa, And his covert ops team to ensure kids proper placement on naughty or nice list. Once again a FUN IP which Disney shows no confidence in because it's not 'Purchased IP'.

Makes me want to scream because Iger's doing squat with this fun holiday IP, If you ever went to Osborne Lights periodically in the second floor window you would see elves with Night Vision Goggles and that was about the extent of it.

http://movies.disney.com/prep-and-landing

 

[FerretAfros]

This looks like something I'd see at DCA 1.0

For the record, DCA1.0 had a lovely holiday show on Paradise Bay, called LuminAria. Like much of DCA's earliest stuff before they got exceedingly desperate, it clearly takes inspiration from Epcot, both in format and atmosphere. The show starts around 1:30:

The show was rushed into service for the park's first holiday season and had plenty of issues (most notably the smoke and lack of viewing space) but it was generally well received and was one of the park's early success stories. Unlike WDW's new show, it's very restrained, classic, full of pyro (to a fault), and IP-free

Because of the park's ongoing struggles it only ran for one season, but much of the original music has been used for the popular snowfall/lighting moments for DL's castle that began in 2007. It also set the precedent for shows on Paradise Bay, leading the way for World of Color nearly a decade later

 

[brb1006]

Just saw the show in person.

Pros:
- Very good lasers.
- Great snow effect with really good coverage.
- Great audio - including surround effects.

Cons:
- There is very little story line that makes any sense for a holiday show.
- Relies far to much on projections.
- Nowhere near enough fireworks.
- Plagued by the horrible off center and distant launch location for the fireworks. It is like you are watching fireworks in another park.
- The rooftop fireworks seem very weak. Understand it is due to being so close to guests, but the difference between those and the large fireworks launched from offsite is jarring.
- Lights in the trees look really amateurish.

Overall the show is largely a miss. The story doesn't feel like Christmas, and it fails to create a festive atmosphere.

It can best be summed up by being Star Wars A Galactic Spectacular, minus Star Wars. And that doesn't leave much left.

Disney is in great need of some new creative writers and directors that can get back to how things at Disney used to be done. The current crop are far to reliant on IP and projections.

I prefer World Of Color's new Christmas show compared to this.

 

[brb1006]

Think of Prep and Landing as Air Traffic Control for Santa, And his covert ops team to ensure kids proper placement on naughty or nice list. Once again a FUN IP which Disney shows no confidence in because it's not 'Purchased IP'.

Makes me want to scream because Iger's doing squat with this fun holiday IP, If you ever went to Osborne Lights periodically in the second floor window you would see elves with Night Vision Goggles and that was about the extent of it.

http://movies.disney.com/prep-and-landing

Is there a photo of the Elves with Night Vision Goggles back when Osborn was around.

 

[JoeCamel]

Is there a photo of the Elves with Night Vision Goggles back when Osborn was around.

 

[VJ]

The last thing we needed was a Christmas equivalent to whatever that NPH song for the 60th Anniversary show was.

Fun fact: That song (titled Magical Moments on the album I have) was originally created for Tokyo Disneyland's 15th anniversary in 1998. It was later used for their Season of the Heart events and modified for use in Magic Kingdom's Celebrate the Magic show which was then brought to World of Color: Celebrate.

 

[brb1006]

I think the lack of a theme song for Season of LIght's a good thing given Disney's track record with seasonal shows getting saddled with crappy, buzzword-laden music. The last thing we needed was a Christmas equivalent to whatever that NPH song for the 60th Anniversary show was.

That song was also originally made for Tokyo Disneyland

 

[JohnD]

I finally get it. Never heard of Prep and Landing, though.