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

[mikeh]

Sure. But why couldn't they build them further south (but still on the other side of World Drive) where it would have been lined up with Hollywood Blvd?

Maybe, but that would have put them pretty close to a canal and Osceola off ramp. Now that I think of it, I think I saw permits that require them to put a lake where an in-line launch point would be.

Edit: Here you go - http://blogmickey.com/2016/06/new-fireworks-off-center/

 

[jrhwdw]

Saw the show viia periscope, no fire on GMR. MAYBE more Pyro????? I don't remember last night and and I can't look it up now.

 

[polynesiangirl]

Here is our video

STEVE.

A) I loved this;
B) the video quality is fantastic;
C) thank you for making this my one-stop-shop for WDW info since I was literally in college. This site is the best.

 

[donsullivan]

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.

The problem is there is only a small area of the park around Center Stage where it's possible to actually see all of the show. That area is not remotely large enough to support the number of people in the park to view this show. The result is that those folks fill further and further back on Hollywood Blvd where you basically cannot see the pyro at all, nor can you see much of anything going on to the sides of the Chinese Theater. I'm not even close to being a Disney whiner and some have suggested I can be too supportive of them. This show has major issues in it's staging and is going to have negative guest satisfaction issues because there is such a small area of the park where it's fully visible that everyone else has a less than complete experience.

If you have only watched a video, you saw it from the optimum viewing location and do not have a perspective on how disappointing it was for those thousands of guests on Hollywood Blvd.

 

[doctornick]

So,how are the views from the far side of Echo Lake? That seems to be more in line with the fireworks line of sight than Hollywood Blvd. I'd really hate to see them pave over the lake (as has been rumored at times in recent years but maybe if "Phase 3" ends up being something more around the Indy stunt theater than they could potentially create a space for better views of the show for more people. They could even theoretically create an end of the night exit gate in that area to avoid crowing on Hollywood Blvd after the show.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Some people were saying you had to wait an hour or more to get a good view and in the hub last night. Maybe it was just because of the rain, but I only wait maybe 10 minutes tonight and had this view:

https://twitter.com/PremiumConcerts/status/744365288532090880?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

 

[FullSailDan]

Some people were saying you had to wait an hour or more to get a good view and in the hub last night. Maybe it was just because of the rain, but I only wait maybe 10 minutes tonight and had this view:

https://twitter.com/PremiumConcerts/status/744365288532090880?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

To be fair a person or two can always easily slip in to the crowd and get a solid view. It's the group of 5+ that things more difficult to stay together etc

 

[Next Big Thing]

Here's a more full review of my thoughts on the show:

If i'm reviewing the show, I thought it was absolutely incredible. Of course that was from my spot. If I was anywhere behind the two projection towers, it would've been a far inferior viewing experience.

It's almost impossible to compare this show to the prior Star Wars show. The prior show was definitely more for fireworks enthusiasts whereas this show is just a marvel of great technology and some pretty nice pyro. When you're in the hub, the location of the fireworks makes sense as it's over an short building and there's a lot going on elsewhere in the area. It's an action packed show, almost to the point of sensory overload.

However, if you aren't in the hub, you'll likely leave disappointed. I truly wonder if this will lead to some sort of "DHS Hub Expansion Project" down the line sort of like MK's project so that more people can see the fireworks.

It's definitely the best use of projection mapping that i've personally ever seen. I loved the seen with the emperor and the lighting effect used to show his powers. It actually utilized the Palm Trees in an effective manner imo.

 

[JohnD]

Yeah, I still don't fully understand why they put the launch in that location. Seems like they could/should have been able to put it in line with Hollywood Blvd which would have at least made viewing the fireworks easier for more people. The projections would still suffer but I think it would have been a greater crowd pleaser.

I tend to like the projection tech more when it is used for new, unique images rather than just showing existing films on different surfaces. For example, the ToL Awakenings

Because line of sight can no longer be inside the park with construction and the future SW/TS lands behind the theater. If you continued in a straight line to the other side of World Drive, the fireworks would be at the intersection of WD and Osceola Parkway.

 

[mikeh]

Because line of sight can no longer be inside the park with construction and the future SW/TS lands behind the theater. If you continued in a straight line to the other side of World Drive, the fireworks would be at the intersection of WD and Osceola Parkway.

They wouldn't quite be at the intersection, but they would be at a yet-to-be-built retention pond - http://blogmickey.com/2016/06/new-fireworks-off-center/

 

[JohnD]

They wouldn't quite be at the intersection, but they would be at a yet-to-be-built retention pond - http://blogmickey.com/2016/06/new-fireworks-off-center/

I just pulled up Apple maps and switched to satellite view. Definitely in the vicinity.

 

[mikeh]

I just pulled up Apple maps and switched to satellite view. Definitely in the vicinity.

Absolutely in the vicinity, but this pond would be directly in line with Hollywood Blvd.

 

[FlaMel]

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.

Sure. But why couldn't they build them further south (but still on the other side of World Drive) where it would have been lined up with Hollywood Blvd?

Because line of sight can no longer be inside the park with construction and the future SW/TS lands behind the theater. If you continued in a straight line to the other side of World Drive, the fireworks would be at the intersection of WD and Osceola Parkway.

It is not as easy as just dropping the launch site (which is huge) on the center line, proper clearance zones around the launch site must be maintained. If you stay on the center line of Hollywood Boulevard, by the time you get to a point where proper clearance zones can be met, you're more than half a mile away (the other side of Osceola Parkway). If you cheat the line a bit to the north of center, you are still 1000' farther away than the current location and I believe in the middle of the giant retention pond being built.

 

[danlb_2000]

It is not as easy as just dropping the launch site (which is huge) on the center line, proper clearance zones around the launch site must be maintained. If you stay on the center line of Hollywood Boulevard, by the time you get to a point where proper clearance zones can be met, you're more than half a mile away (the other side of Osceola Parkway). If you cheat the line a bit to the north of center, you are still 1000' farther away than the current location and I believe in the middle of the giant retention pond being built.

The launch area is in blue. I don't see any worse clearances in the area marked in red, then the area in blue.

 

[FlaMel]

The launch area is in blue. I don't see any worse clearances in the area marked in red, then the area in blue.
View attachment 146856

Correct, other than it is now about 1000' further away from the audience (use the measure function on Google maps).

 

[danlb_2000]

Correct, other than it is now about 1000' further away from the audience (use the measure function on Google maps).

Yes, which is what I originally mentioned I don't see clearances as being an issue, the extra distance might be the issue. There also maybe an reason that land is more suitable for the retention pond then where the launch area ended up.

 

[Mike S]

I truly wonder if this will lead to some sort of "DHS Hub Expansion Project" down the line sort of like MK's project so that more people can see the fireworks.

 

[JohnD]

Actually, they already did that. It's called getting rid of the BAH.

 

[Next Big Thing]

I hope not as well as I love the trees and how close it feels. But I wouldn't put it past them to think that's the only solution.

Even though they have a fireworks show in Disneyland that proves all they need to do is project onto the buildings there where it's harder to see. Doesn't necessarily help the firework problem, but at least you aren't missing the whole show.

 

[Doug7856]

I’ve noticed some of the July show times overlap with Fantasmic! with Fantasmic! at 9 pm and “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” at 9:15 pm. I’m wondering if Disney is making guests choose one or the other due to the limited viewing options of the spectacular?