More news about Fantasmic!

[WDW1974]

It's typically slow, but not this slow. Normally there will be a few really quiet days during the week, but since Sunday it has been dead. Test Track has been a walk on after 7 PM, Everest was a walk on at 4 PM today on an Evening Extra Magic Hour night.

To Disney's credit, they have run Fantasmic at least once (usually twice) on all but one night of my vacation (Saturday).

Not surprised. This has always traditionally been a slow time. The fact TDO has tried to make every off-season week be moderately crowded maybe good on a bottom line level, but it just isn't realistic.

WDW used to be packed Thanksgiving weekend and then totally dead until about Dec. 22nd or 23rd. They' ve gamed the system with everything from the CP at EPCOT to inviting Pop Warner teams to making MVMCP into a four night a week deal etc ... but it still isn't that busy for much of the time.

I did see that they are running Fantasmic nightly starting in about a week.

It won't affect my trip any since I won't see it, but I do think it should be offered every night.:xmas:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Good news. I hope they see that this "adding back" action is a GOOD thing for business and starts a new trend Resort wide. That would be very, very, very good

 

[Atomicmickey]

I think the three judges and host of American Idol have to do double duty as tumbling monkeys on the floats and so they don't have more shows because it is difficult to wrap up AI and get over there and into costume in time.

 

[bgraham34]

As much as I would like to see the show every night I don't have a problem with them not doing that. I do have a problem of only having it 2 times a week. I think it should run 4-5 times per week and 2 of those days they should have 2 performances a night. It is so hard booking a trip around trying to see the show. I have lost time in other parks because of it.

 

[TubaGeek]

Get rid of American Idol!

What does that AIE have to do with Fantasmic?

One of the commonly cited resons for the reduction of fantasmic shows was aie taking those funds.

If what I've heard is correct, most of the money that went towards making the Idol attraction came from FOX, so it was relatively cheap for WDW. HOWEVER, I'm pretty darn sure that AIE was supposed to replace F! as the nightly show at DHS. To keep the crowds in AIE, they decided to cut out the competition (i.e. themselves).
Yeah, it really gets my chain too.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

If what I've heard is correct, most of the money that went towards making the Idol attraction came from FOX, so it was relatively cheap for WDW. HOWEVER, I'm pretty darn sure that AIE was supposed to replace F! as the nightly show at DHS. To keep the crowds in AIE, they decided to cut out the competition (i.e. themselves).
Yeah, it really gets my chain too.

Why did they think AIE was even remotely comparable to Fantasmic? This is something I could watch on TV for free and probably see much better talent anyway when I do so. There's no real sense of competition or achievement.

Oh boy, you get a front of the line pass when there's an American Idol audition, and chances are since your competition is likely going to be much more talented than you, you won't make it past the first cut anyway at the real thing.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire was a good attraction based on a game show. AIE is a concept that works great on TV when they can really have control over who makes it, whereas at DHS you just don't have to suck. In fact if you do you'll probably make it on stage anyway since everyone needs a laugh right? When I think nighttime shows I think fireworks, lasers, synchronized soundtracks, characters, water fountains. I don't think glorified karaoke sans the drunks.

 

[MousDad]

Why don't they just commission a study to see if the sun came up this morning, while they're at it.

 

[GizmoDuck]

I've heard F! costs around $30,000 a show :shrug:

EDIT: I wonder where all that money went after they cut the number of performances?

 

[Atomicmickey]

I've heard F! costs around $30,000 a show :shrug:

EDIT: I wonder where all that money went after they cut the number of performances?

They gave the money to us, in the form of 'buy 4, get 3', and 'free dining' plans. Sorta like a tax cut.

 

[BrerFrog]

That is great news!

 

[Deadman]

why don't they just commission a study to see if the sun came up this morning, while they're at it.

:roflol:

 

[BigThunderMatt]

Exactly...Now all we need is for the penny pinchers to see the errors in the over hiring of CPs & ICPs and lack of hiring many of the local people out of work.

I hate to break it to you, but a lot of the 'local' cast members are the worst kind. I've done 3 college programs, am about to do a management internship and I can tell you I worked my butt off every day, going above and beyond what was expected of me to give guests a memorable experience.

Those same 'local' cast members you refer to were generally the cynical ones who had been there for years and had gotten so complacent in their jobs that they just sat there barely doing the bare minimum and criticizing every CP for not doing their job right when they had no authority to do so. They could get away with it too because any time anyone of authority stepped one toe out of line in the local's mind, they just went crying to their union to file for a greivance. There are many local cast members that, in my opinion, should be fired on the spot. When I worked at the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground we had 2 full time cast members who routinely did nothing and took longer breaks than they should have and got away with it because management knew if they tried to say anything, the grievances would come flying in.

I'm sorry, but I'm incredibly sick and tired of hearing that CPs and ICPs are the problem. If anything, we're the solution. Many of the current leaders at WDW did a college program at some point in their career. Many of us do it because we plan on doing something with our lives. Many of us have aspirations for a future career with Disney. For the locals, I can understand retirees, snow birds, and high schoolers, that's fine! But I met FAR too many jaded local individuals who clearly aspired to nothing more and only considered WDW as their lot in life and simply tolerated it on a day to day basis. This should NEVER be the attitude that a Cast Member has.

 

[disney4life2008]

What does that AIE have to do with Fantasmic?

When AIE came to HS, Fantasmic!! was reduced. There were many posts on here about Disney wanted to have AIE be the nighttime entertainment that everyone went to. There were complaints that Fantasmic! costs $30,000 a show to produce. That is the correlation.

 

[disney4life2008]

Personally I couldn't really care less if we have Fantasmic every night as ours is awful. If they would give it a major refurb putting in hi-def projectors, and the new additions that DL has maybe I'd be willing to go see it again. I've been underwhelmed everytime I've seen it.

I have to agree with you on this one. The Disneyland version is infinity better than WDWs. However, I love the show and would not want it to disappear.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

I am in no way looking to start an argument here, but unfortunately my experience and many other FTs I know have had different views.....Now don't get me wrong...but doesn't performing your job correctly assure the magical guest experience?

No worries, if anything this has just given me more motivation to perform even better than how I expect myself to in an effort to prove you wrong.

 

[TubaGeek]

No worries, if anything this has just given me more motivation to perform even better than how I expect myself to in an effort to prove you wrong.

I honestly hope you can prove me wrong...maybe the level of guest service would return to they way it was before the major introduction of CPs and when FTs were the back bone of the company.

While I certainly understand both of you for wanting to protect your respective sides, keep in mind that it depends entirely on the individual CM, regardless of status.

 

[E P C O T]

Void.

 

[drew81]

If what I've heard is correct, most of the money that went towards making the Idol attraction came from FOX, so it was relatively cheap for WDW. HOWEVER, I'm pretty darn sure that AIE was supposed to replace F! as the nightly show at DHS. To keep the crowds in AIE, they decided to cut out the competition (i.e. themselves).
Yeah, it really gets my chain too.

Yeah and they shove it down everyone's throat at Studios.... they even took out the big tree next to the Snow White topiary so that guests can see American Idol better as they walk in.

 

[E P C O T]

Void.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I was at the 5:00 PM American Idol show today. Light crowds in the park meant a half full theater. This is a situation where I'm asking for entertainment cuts. They need to cut out at least one show on days like today. There's not enough demand for 7 shows + a finale.