New Star Wars Fireworks Show - 'Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular'

[Kylo Ken]

I'm excited to see this in person but this did kind of disappoint me. The projections are awesome but I can see how what everyone is saying is true. If you're not in the hub then you won't be able to get a good vantage point. So I'm guessing then that this puts a premium on the dessert party since that would probably be the best vantage point. Again, maybe I need to see it in person but from what I saw, I personally enjoyed Symphony in the Stars more

 

[FullSailDan]

Was there last night, waited for 2 hours since we had family in town and had a larger group. Normally husband and I just find a spot in the hub 20-30 minutes before. It was still very crowded though due to the opening. I'm not a doom and gloom guy for the parks normally so it's painful to be writing this:

Fireworks nerf is very real and tragic. Last show was intense and in your face, this show... I've seen better displays at small city 4th of July celebrations. The placement of the fireworks is atrocious. The dessert party really does eat up most of the good viewing, very lame. Can't imagine what they were thinking by skewing everything to one side at a park where sight lines are already very challenging. It's not this is new, they've dealt with it from frozen show to now.

The projections are neat. It makes you feel like you're there in the action at some points. I think some of the lighting/lasers while on paper sound cool, don't really add that much to the show. The exception being the aerial battle scenes. However there are too many points where I'm just watching a movie. I want some damn pyro or something beyond moving a spotlight around.

Overall impact: last show actually did what it needed to, draw people out of MK for a damn good show. This one, I anticipate if you're on vacation you will see it once. If you're a local, you head to MK again, or Epcot to drink away the sorrows of what could have been at Hollywood.

 

[wdwhoneymooner]

After seeing a few videos of the new production, I absolutely prefer the previous show much more. This offering seems like a video montage with accents of lights and some pyrotechnics. The previous one was a quality fireworks show! It was very entertaining with the audio accentuating the pyro, not the pyro being placed in a supporting role.

 

[JohnD]

I liked the show for what it is. Essentially they did a SW version of combining CTM and Wishes into one show. I think I would have preferred a projection show first followed by in line of sight fireworks behind the Chinese Theater.

 

[Herbie]

It's cool. But I'm not a huge Star Wars fan. And I hope to God they don't remove the trees. And I do hope it'll be replaced by something less intrusive down the line when the Land is open... something more general film-related (like how I suppose those Sorcery/Symphony shows were? I don't know much about them.)

 

[Tip Top Club]

I thought the show was breathtaking! Not perfect, of course, but altogether fantastic!

 

[Slowjack]

For my own personal taste, I'm just not a huge fan of projection shows. The first time I saw a building used as a projection screen, it was really cool, but it's gotten less cool with each new application. I much prefer things really happening in the space I'm in than simulations, which is why I prefer AAs and sets over screens and motion bases.

All that said, taken as a projection-based show that uses fireworks as an enhancement, the way it uses lasers and other lighting, I think this show looks really good. It's well-designed and uses the materials available to good effect. Taken as a fireworks show, though, the show is lacking. I think Disney needs to manage the expectations on this--not lower them, exactly, but make sure people know what to expect. It looks like that's what they are trying to do on the official site: "State-of-the-art projection effects, dynamic lighting, lasers and pyrotechnics light up the night like never before!" The fireworks are the last thing mentioned. It would be better if that web page wasn't titled Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Fireworks, though.

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

C'mon folks, we all know what the reason they offset the fireworks(with only good viewing spots in the hub) is... they will now be upselling a PACKAGE with meal and a reserved spot in the Hub!

My take on watching the video is... A good show, but too much projection and not enough pyrotechnics!

 

[donsullivan]

Disney sold this as a spectacular with pyrotechnics/fireworks (see exact copy from WDW website below) but only a small portion of the guests in the park can actually see the whole show.

"State-of-the-art projection effects, dynamic lighting, lasers and pyrotechnics light up the night like never before! The music, magic and characters of Star Wars combine with special effects and fireworks to put you inside iconic scenes from the Star Wars saga."

As I've thought about this more, I'm wondering whether Operations took too much control over the design of the show and required that things like TSMM had to remain open during the new show vs closing the back of the park as previous shows required. The result was removal of almost all of the in-park pyro which dramatically diminished the show. All of the pyro launched from the roofs in the previous Star Wars and Frozen shows were fantastic. Since most of the show is simply not visible from Hollywood Blvd you now have a Star Wars themed version of Celebrate the Magic and some fireworks that most guests cannot see

 

[surfsupdon]

I thought the previous show and Frozen show were far superior, especially as they relate to pyro. Oh well. I'm happy MGM has a pretty permanent show!

 

[ptaylor]

Saw the show last night from the hub, some comments.

- The audio is incredible. Best in-park audio I have ever heard. Lots of bass, extremely directional sound, and wonderful surround sound effects.

- The projections are clear and fit the buildings will.

- The lasers and lighting package is good.

- The firework positioning is awful.

Overall, the show doesn't really work. It feels like you are watching movie clips on a large screen, with a firework show going off in another park off to the side. You know how like when you are at Epcot and you see Wishes in the background.

Surprisingly, the actual firework design isn't up to the high standard sets by the previous Frozen and Star Wars shows. Nothing really seemed to be in sync, and it there wasn't much of it. The rooftop fireworks are greatly missed, it leaves a huge gap in the show.

A huge problem already highlighted is that the show can't be viewed outside of the hub beyond the tip board.

It is very clear the same creative designer produced this and the stage show. They both rely too much on video clips are fall short of what they could be.

Sadly, this new show is a step back from what was already there. For those of you who keep asking for a rework of Wishes and IllumiNations, be careful what you wish for. Bringing in projections, lasers and lighting is a great way to reduce pyro costs, but at the expense of an impressive show.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

What @ptaylor said.

Can only judge by the videos, and we'll see if more effects get added in the coming week, but it seemed like 2 different shows sorta combined into one but never really coming together cohesively. The are a few good projection effects, but too many static photos and 15 second movie clips from the films. They did look very crisp though. The pyro left me wholly unimpressed, from the timings to the positioning to the types of shells used. Disney usually excels at pyro design but I get the sense they didn't even really try with this one.

Overall, it's a meh. It's not something that I would stake out 1+ hour in advance (which it looks like you might have to do given the limited viewing angles), nor is it something that I would pay to see as part of a dessert party.

 

[Speedy71]

Here are my "let's be real" thoughts-

This show ruins what made all DHS firework shows so awesome. They removed the amazing line of rooftop launches... WHY? And the fireworks off to the side kills it for anyone not watching in the hub. It ruins the amazing view that was offered across the lake.

This is a wannabe Disneyland Forever. What holds it back is you can't watch it from anywhere except the hub, and that the fireworks are awful (in a park that once offered the best fireworks). Guest relations will hopefully get tons of complaints from guests who waited on Hollywood Blvd just to see nothing.

The projections are very nice and crisp and make up 90% of the show.

Don't get me started on how they ruined the finale... So weak now compared to the old Symphony & uses the same soundtrack.

This is essentially a more expensive version of Universal's Cinematic Spectacular (projection show with fireworks only viewable from certain locations)

Still better then jungle book alive with magic.

 

[FigmentForver96]

I still can't think of one flaw from last night. But the bitter will be bitter regardless, such is life. Anyway, here is the view I had for the show. Even with the umbrellas and trees, it was a great view

I hate the "Well we couldn't see it from our spot" excuse. Well hate it for ya but you should have found a better spot. This show surpasses the original in every way. The projections mixed with the fireworks and music made for a great show. I'm not saying it's the best Disney ever made but it def makes its mark in nighttime spectaculars.

 

[wdwmagic]

And also, it's been known for quite sometime that the view of the show would be garage from Hollywood Blvd. I'm shocked those who are such avid readers here still, stupidly, chose to view the show from there. No one to blame but themselves, I agree!

Part of the problem was that unless you were not there an hour before show time, there was little choice. Many people will end up seeing this show a long way back on Hollywood Blvd until other changes are made.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

My first thought was that it seemed like I was watching two completely separate shows at the same time.
It doesn't seem like the fireworks and projections were tied together as much as I was hoping. But hey! I'm just glad to see permanent fireworks at Hollywood studios. I'm also sure the in person experience will be better than the YouTube experience

 

[matt9112]

And also, it's been known for quite sometime that the view of the show would be garage from Hollywood Blvd. I'm shocked those who are such avid readers here still, stupidly, chose to view the show from there. No one to blame but themselves, I agree!

so its the fault of guests for not waging a war to get spots at the hub.....rather than a show that could have been built to have wider viewing angles...got it.

maybe disney should have a hard long look at how lately even there good ideas only affect a small number of guests and attempt to create things that the vast majority of guests can easily access.

 

[Mike S]

so its the fault of guests for not waging a war to get spots at the hub.....rather than a show that could have been built to have wider viewing angles...got it.

maybe disney should have a hard long look at how lately even there good ideas only affect a small number of guests and attempt to create things that the vast majority of guests can easily access.

There wouldn't be a problem if the show was like Disneyland Forever with projections on Hollywood Blvd.

 

[danlb_2000]

Would the launch site have been better placed where they are building that retention pond? It's just below the launch site and would have been more center, correct?

The launch site would have been better aligned with the theater that way, but maybe it would put it to far away. There may have also been other reasons why that land was more suitable for the retention pond.

 

[21stamps]

I mean I had a great view that I found 15 mins before the show. I can't help that some others didn't

Sorry if this has been asked before, but what is the logistics of getting from F! to a location with a good view of the Star Wars fireworks. Do you have to leave fantasmic early to avoid the crowds when exiting?

Also, can you do Fantasmic and a Star Wars desert party?