The Orlando Sentinel just came out with their review/Disney Promo Spot for Block Party Bash.
They really liked it and even have a short video clip showing it at MGM. (Though most have seen the video's or pictures on here already)
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/orl-bevil1408mar14,0,2112186.column
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Dewayne Bevil | Theme Park Ranger
March 14, 2008
I didn't spot the kitchen sink, but I bet it's there somewhere during the new Block Party Bash at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Everything else is tossed into this parade -- scooters, gigantic orange traffic cones, bouncy stilts, trampolines, hydraulic lifts, extensive choreography, crowd participation, Green Army Men barking orders, blowing banners, jump ropes, tambourines, vibrant costuming and characters from three Pixar movies. It's set to a party-mix soundtrack with (gasp!) only one Disney song.
The Bash officially debuts today after running since 2005 at Disney's California Adventure park in Anaheim, Calif. I was exhausted after watching it, and I was merely on sink patrol.
It begins at the front of the park, sets up shop along the length of Hollywood Boulevard, performs the routine, then packs up its things, makes a sharp left, sets up shop again and repeats. The parts are three large, blocky floats -- with themes fashioned after Monsters, Inc., A Bug's Life and the Toy Story films -- interspersed with smaller floats, cones and trampolines. The lineup includes 20 costumed characters, 12 acrobats, six Green Army Men and 48 dancers (Disney calls the dancers "Pixar Pals," but you don't have to).
The Green Army Men instruct the crowd about a three-part mission: jump, scream and dance. Part 1 brings out bounding stilt walkers and bouncing trampoline artists, who unfold a large cube to reveal four trampolines with a common landing area.
"The main challenge is unison," Block Party Bash producer Thomas Tryon says of the stunts. "Normally, as a trampoline performer, I'm just doing my thing on my own."
The scream portion provides brief relief from the physical activity. Each side of the street tries to outshout the other ("Not bad for Barbie dolls!" yells a Green Army Man). This breaks into "Shout!" repurposed here as "Scream!", very Monsters-ish, right? Actually, these Pixar flicks had little music usable for an upbeat parade.
"The idea was to use Pixar as the inspiration and the whole idea of play -- and that this was a big party," Tryon says. "People are here to see the characters, and they know they're not in the context of the movie. It was really putting them in their own context with this Party Bash idea."
The dance section mashes a dozen uptempo, slightly tweaked songs. I didn't expect Disney to encourage me to shake my booty, as the song goes, but there you have it. There's a crowd participation segment, so if you're shy and don't want to do the Macarena in front of others, start seeking shelter during "Footloose." What follows: "Staying Alive," "Y.M.C.A.," "U Can't Touch This" and others.
This builds to the late arrival of Incredibles characters, lifted 30 feet into the air as the ensemble breaks into "R.O.C.K. in the USA" More bouncing! Rev the scooters! Rattle the tambourines! Launch little balls! It's unbelievably perky, even by Disney World standards.
Finally, it winds down with "You've Got a Friend in Me" from Toy Story as the group packs up. There's a lot to see, and because the units are stationary, you might need to move to see it all. The parade starts daily at 3 p.m., the slot previously held by the now-gone Disney Stars and Motorcars parade. (The High School Musical 2: School's Out! production still rolls several times daily.)
Isn't 3 p.m. the heat of the day? Will cast members wilt in these conditions? There have been discussions about what to do once the Florida weather becomes ungodly hot, Tryon says. That may mean fewer stops or shortening the songs.
"Luckily, we started in the spring where the kids are really building up their energy," Tryon says. "We'll see what happens when May comes around, and we see what works best for the park's operation, too, in terms of guests."
In the meantime, costume modifications have been made since the move from California. The Green Army Men have enlisted breathable mesh, and some multilayered costumes now are sewn to appear multilayered.
Now we know why "Gonna Make You Sweat" is in the dance medley.
They really liked it and even have a short video clip showing it at MGM. (Though most have seen the video's or pictures on here already)
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/orl-bevil1408mar14,0,2112186.column
************
Dewayne Bevil | Theme Park Ranger
March 14, 2008
I didn't spot the kitchen sink, but I bet it's there somewhere during the new Block Party Bash at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Everything else is tossed into this parade -- scooters, gigantic orange traffic cones, bouncy stilts, trampolines, hydraulic lifts, extensive choreography, crowd participation, Green Army Men barking orders, blowing banners, jump ropes, tambourines, vibrant costuming and characters from three Pixar movies. It's set to a party-mix soundtrack with (gasp!) only one Disney song.
The Bash officially debuts today after running since 2005 at Disney's California Adventure park in Anaheim, Calif. I was exhausted after watching it, and I was merely on sink patrol.
It begins at the front of the park, sets up shop along the length of Hollywood Boulevard, performs the routine, then packs up its things, makes a sharp left, sets up shop again and repeats. The parts are three large, blocky floats -- with themes fashioned after Monsters, Inc., A Bug's Life and the Toy Story films -- interspersed with smaller floats, cones and trampolines. The lineup includes 20 costumed characters, 12 acrobats, six Green Army Men and 48 dancers (Disney calls the dancers "Pixar Pals," but you don't have to).
The Green Army Men instruct the crowd about a three-part mission: jump, scream and dance. Part 1 brings out bounding stilt walkers and bouncing trampoline artists, who unfold a large cube to reveal four trampolines with a common landing area.
"The main challenge is unison," Block Party Bash producer Thomas Tryon says of the stunts. "Normally, as a trampoline performer, I'm just doing my thing on my own."
The scream portion provides brief relief from the physical activity. Each side of the street tries to outshout the other ("Not bad for Barbie dolls!" yells a Green Army Man). This breaks into "Shout!" repurposed here as "Scream!", very Monsters-ish, right? Actually, these Pixar flicks had little music usable for an upbeat parade.
"The idea was to use Pixar as the inspiration and the whole idea of play -- and that this was a big party," Tryon says. "People are here to see the characters, and they know they're not in the context of the movie. It was really putting them in their own context with this Party Bash idea."
The dance section mashes a dozen uptempo, slightly tweaked songs. I didn't expect Disney to encourage me to shake my booty, as the song goes, but there you have it. There's a crowd participation segment, so if you're shy and don't want to do the Macarena in front of others, start seeking shelter during "Footloose." What follows: "Staying Alive," "Y.M.C.A.," "U Can't Touch This" and others.
This builds to the late arrival of Incredibles characters, lifted 30 feet into the air as the ensemble breaks into "R.O.C.K. in the USA" More bouncing! Rev the scooters! Rattle the tambourines! Launch little balls! It's unbelievably perky, even by Disney World standards.
Finally, it winds down with "You've Got a Friend in Me" from Toy Story as the group packs up. There's a lot to see, and because the units are stationary, you might need to move to see it all. The parade starts daily at 3 p.m., the slot previously held by the now-gone Disney Stars and Motorcars parade. (The High School Musical 2: School's Out! production still rolls several times daily.)
Isn't 3 p.m. the heat of the day? Will cast members wilt in these conditions? There have been discussions about what to do once the Florida weather becomes ungodly hot, Tryon says. That may mean fewer stops or shortening the songs.
"Luckily, we started in the spring where the kids are really building up their energy," Tryon says. "We'll see what happens when May comes around, and we see what works best for the park's operation, too, in terms of guests."
In the meantime, costume modifications have been made since the move from California. The Green Army Men have enlisted breathable mesh, and some multilayered costumes now are sewn to appear multilayered.
Now we know why "Gonna Make You Sweat" is in the dance medley.
