New Fantasmic "preshow"

[MarkTwain]

How does stuff like this pass for "entertainment" in a Disney theme park? It's almost embarrassing.

It's called Hollywood Studios, there should be some kind of entertainment, right? Go to Disney's El Capitan Theater in the real Hollywood and see how Disney opens the movies there. They have a live organist playing Disney songs on an organ that sinks into the stage, followed by a spectacular light and curtain show. For just a movie that runs several times a day. And that's just when they don't have dancers, characters, or (for the DisneyNature screenings) animal experts with live animals onstage.

As for Fantasmic... Have some 1940s-style dancers (like at old-fashioned movie premieres). Have a jazz band. Literally just have the Citizens of Hollywood go up and do skits or standup. Anything would be better than this.

 

[Communicore]

No more "Livin' La Vida Mickey"?

 

[rodserling27]

Glad to hear that AWFUL pre-show with the CMs is gone for good..that WAS cringeworthy in every way possible. Curiously, there was no pre-show whatsoever when I was there in March. This DJ crap sounds worse! Aye, will it ever end???

Although a fan of Fantasmic!, I've never been a fan of the pre-show and this new pre-show sounds even worse.

While in Disneyland 1.5 weeks ago, I was pleased that the pre-show for Fantasmic! was a little fireworks show they call "Disneyland Forever". Much better than the live hosts or this new thing that they have at DHS.

HAHA. Nice.

Fantasmic is a travesty period. That pre show is an embarrassment as was the live cms. Just play radio disney music and call it a night

Hey I don't think the show itself is a joke, but it does need some legit updating. Namely a certain dragon...can't wait to see Disneyland's version of the show when I go in July!

How does stuff like this pass for "entertainment" in a Disney theme park? It's almost embarrassing.

It's called Hollywood Studios, there should be some kind of entertainment, right? Go to Disney's El Capitan Theater in the real Hollywood and see how Disney opens the movies there. They have a live organist playing Disney songs on an organ that sinks into the stage, followed by a spectacular light and curtain show. For just a movie that runs several times a day. And that's just when they don't have dancers, characters, or (for the DisneyNature screenings) animal experts with live animals onstage.

As for Fantasmic... Have some 1940s-style dancers (like at old-fashioned movie premieres). Have a jazz band. Literally just have the Citizens of Hollywood go up and do skits or standup. Anything would be better than this.

SPOT-ON!!

 

[disney4life2008]

Something else that bothers me is the non fp+ line gets wrapped around the theater and have to wait a considerable amount of time to enter until the fp+ people are in.

 

[habuma]

Hey I don't think the show itself is a joke, but it does need some legit updating. Namely a certain dragon...can't wait to see Disneyland's version of the show when I go in July!

I'm not one to often engage in, much less initiate DL vs. WDW debates...I like both equally, but differently. That said...

DL's Fantasmic! is many times better than WDW's, and the dragon is just the start of it. The villains section of the show in DL seems more cohesive than WDWs. The Peter Pan scene that uses the Sailing Ship Columbia as Captain Hook's Jolly Roger is way better than the Pocahontas scene. The location along the Rivers of America is better. The use of the Mark Twain in the finale instead of a makeshift steamboat that looks like it was built in a high school metal shop class...better. And I already mentioned DL's "pre-show".

Don't misunderstand me: I like both versions and I'll certainly see Fantasmic! on every trip I make to WDW. But it's a sad comparison to DL's version.

 

[Communicore]

I'm not one to often engage in, much less initiate DL vs. WDW debates...I like both equally, but differently. That said...

DL's Fantasmic! is many times better than WDW's, and the dragon is just the start of it. The villains section of the show in DL seems more cohesive than WDWs. The Peter Pan scene that uses the Sailing Ship Columbia as Captain Hook's Jolly Roger is way better than the Pocahontas scene. The location along the Rivers of America is better. The use of the Mark Twain in the finale instead of a makeshift steamboat that looks like it was built in a high school metal shop class...better. And I already mentioned DL's "pre-show".

Don't misunderstand me: I like both versions and I'll certainly see Fantasmic! on every trip I make to WDW. But it's a sad comparison to DL's version.

I agree with you. I saw the DL Fantasmic back in 1995 and when it opened here I was extremely disappointed. I liked the fact that there are seats here, but that's really it. You are right about the Steamboat Willie. It looks on the cheap like typical TDO, kind of like Chester and Hester. I laughed at it and thought it was a temp thing. I also do not like the Pocahontas, sure it was more recent, but I also thought that those would change with each new flick they release.

 

[WDWVolFan]

We were there Saturday and got the same "live DJ on the booth" haha

 

[habuma]

You are right about the Steamboat Willie. It looks on the cheap like typical TDO, kind of like Chester and Hester. I laughed at it and thought it was a temp thing. I also do not like the Pocahontas, sure it was more recent, but I also thought that those would change with each new flick they release.

3 changes would make this show better (still not as good as DL, but markedly better):

• Take that same boat and plus it so that it doesn't look so cheap. I can't imagine it being that difficult to decorate it so that it looks nice. Maybe not as grand as the Mark Twain, but still very nice.
• Give us a dragon like DL's dragon.
• Replace the Pocahontas scene with...and I know this will draw ire from the masses...a Frozen scene. Yeah, I'm about tired of Frozen everywhere, too. But in this case, I think there's a lot of awesomeness that could be added to the show with Frozen. Start with the ice harvesters doing that opening song as they pick at the "ice" on those boats that the monkeys and princesses come out on. "Freeze" the mountain with projections, and have Elsa appear at the top. Do all sorts of other Arendelle stuff in between. Maybe even have Marshmallow appear on stage. Again...I'm growing weary of Frozen, too...but it'd be better than Pocahontas and I think the decision makers who see nothing but Frozen everywhere would jump on board with it.

Now I'll duck and take cover for the negative replies that I'm sure to get from that last suggestion.

 

[Theme Parkitect]

3 changes would make this show better (still not as good as DL, but markedly better):

• Take that same boat and plus it so that it doesn't look so cheap. I can't imagine it being that difficult to decorate it so that it looks nice. Maybe not as grand as the Mark Twain, but still very nice.
• Give us a dragon like DL's dragon.
• Replace the Pocahontas scene with...and I know this will draw ire from the masses...a Frozen scene. Yeah, I'm about tired of Frozen everywhere, too. But in this case, I think there's a lot of awesomeness that could be added to the show with Frozen. Start with the ice harvesters doing that opening song as they pick at the "ice" on those boats that the monkeys and princesses come out on. "Freeze" the mountain with projections, and have Elsa appear at the top. Do all sorts of other Arendelle stuff in between. Maybe even have Marshmallow appear on stage. Again...I'm growing weary of Frozen, too...but it'd be better than Pocahontas and I think the decision makers who see nothing but Frozen everywhere would jump on board with it.

Now I'll duck and take cover for the negative replies that I'm sure to get from that last suggestion.

I think that's a great idea! Good use for that Marshmallow puppet that they already have!

 

[Communicore]

The reason why the boat looks cheap is because "Steamboat Willie was black and white" but in reality that is just an excuse to build a cheap boat lol..another convenient excuse to build it on the cheap.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

The problem with this show....Is that it stops dead in it's tracks from 1997....Anything that wasn't shown past that needs some kind of addition to the show.Who wouldn't want to see Dr Facilier take over Mickey's Dream in a overpowering water induced Nightmare...

 

[habuma]

Who wouldn't want to see Dr Facilier take over Mickey's Dream in a overpowering water induced Nightmare...

So much LIKE in this! I'd vote to replace the villains segment with the more cohesive one from DL (where it's largely focused on the evil queen, Ursula, and Maleficent), then either insert Dr. Facilier into the mix or swap out Ursula for Dr. Facilier.

Anyone have any friends on the other side who can make this happen?

 

[wdwfan4ver]

I guess I have a reason to stay away from Fantasmic. I stayed away from Fantasmic because of the ridiculous antics got so bad. Could someone tell the Higher ups at Disney that stop torturing guests during the pre-show.

 

[mm52200]

I guess I have a reason to stay away from Fantasmic. I stayed away from Fantasmic because of the ridiculous antics got so bad. Could someone tell the Higher ups at Disney that stop torturing guests during the pre-show.

Granted it's literally just an audio recording so it's pretty easy to block out. Also go to the second show, they don't play it before hand

 

[Communicore]

Is it possible to dispatch Fantasmic to Shanghai so we can have a new show?

 

[YodaMan]

It's been going on for about 2 weeks now and I'm not sure I understand all the hate. As stated above, it's literally just an audio recording and incredibly easy to block out if it's not to your liking. And it's mostly an excuse to play modern pop hits (without a new DisneyMania album in over half-a-decade, they don't have anything new to add to the current loop). The "announcer" seems a little forced, but I don't see the harm in someone stating that you can in fact buy food and merch while waiting for the show to start.

Granted it's literally just an audio recording so it's pretty easy to block out. Also go to the second show, they don't play it before hand

But since it's an audio recording, your last statement isn't always true. I've seen nights where they just do it at the first show, they do it at both shows, and even one night where the pre show cut out part way through and the DisneyMania songs came back on instead.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

So much LIKE in this! I'd vote to replace the villains segment with the more cohesive one from DL (where it's largely focused on the evil queen, Ursula, and Maleficent), then either insert Dr. Facilier into the mix or swap out Ursula for Dr. Facilier.

Anyone have any friends on the other side who can make this happen?

I don't mind the villains montage of the WDW version, if only because it gives a bit of exposure to some characters that you would never see. But it is a bit disjointed. I feel there's a happy medium out there between the very focused but limited DL section and the expansive but disjointed WDW section.

Also, huge yes to having Dr. Facilier make an appearance somewhere. His character has such great presence and personality - shame he is rarely highlighted.

 

[peachykeen]

Granted it's literally just an audio recording so it's pretty easy to block out. Also go to the second show, they don't play it before hand

I went to the second show a week ago and the "DJ in a the booth" was playing. It was during SWW so maybe that was why; bigger crowds.

 

[mm52200]

I guess the biggest offender of the preshow is the inclusion of Wrecking Ball and the Miley/Hannah Montana references. Atleast to me it was.

 

[YodaMan]

Well, for those offended by Miley Cyrus, they've already removed "Wrecking Ball" and replaced it with the dance version of "Beauty and the Beast" instead.