The World's Most Magical Celebration - Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary

[John park hopper]

Okay. About Harmonious. Saw it in person last night. I have a different take.

Too much dependence on whiz bang gizmos: Stargate and taco projections, water effects, and robotic arms flailing about. Then came the music and fireworks. It’s as if the budget was all sunk into tech then they remembered at the last minute they needed to add a score and fireworks. Was I impressed by the tech? Sure. Was I wowed by the show as a whole? No.

Give me a good fireworks show with an excellent musical score any day. Sometimes less is more.

Have not seen it live or tube so from what you have said there is no fireworks ? If that's there case that really sucks

 

[Touchdown]

Anyone know if Universal has been low crowds recently too or just Disney?

Dead outside of HHN Tues-Thur, summer busy Saturday.

 

[JohnD]

Have not seen it live or tube so from what you have said there is no fireworks ? If that's there case that really sucks

I did not say that. There were fireworks. Just more dependence on the fancy tech.

 

[John park hopper]

I did not say that. There were fireworks. Just more dependence on the fancy tech.

Answered my own question just watched the show on u tube

 

[mikejs78]

Your 4 year old isn't a 2 year old, which is what I said.

Best friends 2 year old also regularly wears a mask with no issue.

Regardless, there are enough parents who don't want their kids in masks and enough parents who are waiting for the vaccine for their kids to significantly impact a family destination - agree on that?

 

[castlecake2.0]

When are people going to realize that Josh is just as much responsible for this mess as chapek? People lining up to take pictures with this schmuck when they should have been asking him where a proper celebration is.

 

[Chomama]

I did not say that. There were fireworks. Just more dependence on the fancy tech.

Oh my gosh yesssss! We saw it last night for the first time and we had avoided any spoilers. We have kids ages 4-15, so I will also share what they had to say. The show was I credibly slow to start. The first 4-5 segments have almost no pyro and the transition from
Song to song is weird. We were with a vip tour guide and he and I kept glancing at each other like, is this the show? What’s happening? It started to pick up with coco, which was, to me, the best part. It was really pretty. Then the fireworks start really going. The rotating arms make fireworks shoot like machine guns. All 4 kids asked why there were machine gun fireworks. The thing in the middle (stargate) just pours water and lights up. It’s weird. When it ended I had one kids who said she prefers it to enchantment but could have done without the mechanical light up flailing octopus in the middle. Her words . My boys thought that was boring until coco and then ok. My husband said he won’t go out of his way to see it again but I was fine. The tour guide and I were both confused about what it actually was. I need to see it again to really understand the show. Honestly the eyesore in the lagoon did not enhance the show at all, save the finale which was great. I am really confused but I guess the budget was cut so it isn’t what it was meant to be? Updating illuminations May have been a better show

 

[wtyy21]

Okay. About Harmonious. Saw it in person last night. I have a different take.

Too much dependence on whiz bang gizmos: Stargate and taco projections, water effects, and robotic arms flailing about. Then came the music and fireworks. It’s as if the budget was all sunk into tech then they remembered at the last minute they needed to add a score and fireworks. (Yes, there were fireworks. But obviously they wanted to impress us with tech. Why else leave those monstrosities in the middle of WS lagoon.) Was I impressed by the tech? Sure. Was I wowed by the show as a whole? No.

Give me a good fireworks show with an excellent musical score any day. Sometimes less is more.

Harmonious would be more amazing if they using original pyro testing (known as A-mode) that last saw in June 4. The show in B-mode looks slightly bad for me due to budget cuts regarding pyrotechnics and other tech equipment.

 

[mikejs78]

When are people going to realize that Josh is just as much responsible for this mess as chapek? People lining up to take pictures with this schmuck when they should have been asking him where a proper celebration is.

Because by all accounts it's Chapek who overrules everything that Parks comes up with.

 

[CntrlFlPete]

Oh my gosh yesssss! We saw it last night for the first time and we had avoided any spoilers. We have kids ages 4-15, so I will also share what they had to say. The show was I credibly slow to start. The first 4-5 segments have almost no pyro and the transition from
Song to song is weird. We were with a vip tour guide and he and I kept glancing at each other like, is this the show? What’s happening? It started to pick up with coco, which was, to me, the best part. It was really pretty. Then the fireworks start really going. The rotating arms make fireworks shoot like machine guns. All 4 kids asked why there were machine gun fireworks. The thing in the middle (stargate) just pours water and lights up. It’s weird. When it ended I had one kids who said she prefers it to enchantment but could have done without the mechanical light up flailing octopus in the middle. Her words . My boys thought that was boring until coco and then ok. My husband said he won’t go out of his way to see it again but I was fine. The tour guide and I were both confused about what it actually was. I need to see it again to really understand the show. Honestly the eyesore in the lagoon did not enhance the show at all, save the finale which was great. I am really confused but I guess the budget was cut so it isn’t what it was meant to be? Updating illuminations May have been a better show

The 'stargate' is meant to be a screen for a projector. It sounds like (from your report and another from Thursday) that the center projector only worked for that first showing on Wednesday? That is odd, a bit sad, but I mean that portion of the 'show' is limited to two sides of the lake anyway.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Best friends 2 year old also regularly wears a mask with no issue.

Regardless, there are enough parents who don't want their kids in masks and enough parents who are waiting for the vaccine for their kids to significantly impact a family destination - agree on that?

I guess, but is a vaccine for under 5 being discussed anywhere even in theory? I didn't think that was a thing.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Some answers to why Disney is not busy:

1. Large and Small Conventions are not happening right now.

2. Brazilian travel groups are not visiting

3. The Florida Resident 3-4 day promotion ended a few weeks ago outside of the one that runs all the time that is more expensive.

4. No Florida resident discounts on hotel rooms until December.

5. Schools are back in session. This is the return of the slow season Disney used to get.

6. Annual passes lost a huge perk with free fast pass going away.

7. No real concerts at Epcot Food and Wine

8. Velocicoaster and Hagrids Coaster is a much bigger draw locally than Ratatouille.

9. No recent animation hits recently that drives visits like the Frozen years. Onward, Soul, Luca, and Raya aren’t driving theme park visits. Animation hasn’t been great since Lasseter has been gone.

10. People are waiting for parades and fantasmic to return along with other live entertainment.

11. People are waiting until Guardians and Tron open up.

12. Covid and fear of crowds by many, including families that are also not going to movies in person because vaccines aren’t available for kids younger than 12.

13. This time of year had historically been a 'dead' time for WDW, but it was the Party Nights and discounts which made the Fall a peak time. Now, there are no discounts, no DDP packages, and no Party Nights. What's in place of the Parties is a After Hours event which has one third the participants of a Party night. And the Christmas version seems to be priced out of most people's tolerance.

14. World wide pandemic.

 

[dreday3]

Some of you are mind boggling.

While some of us are comfortable traveling right now - many people aren't. Do you know how many people I know that still aren't very comfortable eating inside a restaurant, here at home where our positivity rate is 2.7%? I don't get it, but it's not for me to decide.

Florida's Covid-Delta numbers were nuts until very, very recently. People cancelled. It's really not that mysterious.

As for those saying "there's no shortages due to covid" - try buying certain prescriptions, certain pet food. Ordering a piece of furniture.
I couldn't even find a jar of pickles this weekend!

 

[John park hopper]

Some of you are mind boggling.

While some of us are comfortable traveling right now - many people aren't. Do you know how many people I know that still aren't very comfortable eating inside a restaurant, here at home where our positivity rate is 2.7%? I don't get it, but it's not for me to decide.

Florida's Covid-Delta numbers were nuts until very, very recently. People cancelled. It's really not that mysterious.

As for those saying "there's no shortages due to covid" - try buying certain prescriptions, certain pet food. Ordering a piece of furniture.
I couldn't even find a jar of pickles this weekend!

Try buying building supplies and repair parts --waiting over a month for my lawn mower part. Son has been waiting 6 months for a new garage door

 

[Chi84]

Some of you are mind boggling.

While some of us are comfortable traveling right now - many people aren't. Do you know how many people I know that still aren't very comfortable eating inside a restaurant, here at home where our positivity rate is 2.7%? I don't get it, but it's not for me to decide.

Florida's Covid-Delta numbers were nuts until very, very recently. People cancelled. It's really not that mysterious.

As for those saying "there's no shortages due to covid" - try buying certain prescriptions, certain pet food. Ordering a piece of furniture.
I couldn't even find a jar of pickles this weekend!

I don't get it either. Apparently, COVID is responsible for supply and labor shortages everywhere but at WDW. There, it's greed and cost-cutting.

 

[dreday3]

I wanted to comment - has anyone been reading reviews of the new treats being offered throughout the parks/resorts/Springs?
I have and most of them are getting good reviews!

Many may balk, but I appreciate all the new food offerings. I'm specifically looking forward to the Glimmer and Shimmer Pineapple Mousse at DHS.

Oooh and the Lemon Chiffon Cake from Sunshine Seasons!

 

[Trauma]

Some of you are mind boggling.

While some of us are comfortable traveling right now - many people aren't. Do you know how many people I know that still aren't very comfortable eating inside a restaurant, here at home where our positivity rate is 2.7%? I don't get it, but it's not for me to decide.

Florida's Covid-Delta numbers were nuts until very, very recently. People cancelled. It's really not that mysterious.

As for those saying "there's no shortages due to covid" - try buying certain prescriptions, certain pet food. Ordering a piece of furniture.
I couldn't even find a jar of pickles this weekend!

Yeah great people cancelled we get that.

When it’s time to rebook when they feel “safe” they are going to need a reason to return.

I don’t think the two new shows and Genie+ are going to be that inspiring.

Over the next few years as Disney tries to remember what made it so special to begin with Universal is building a third park.

Someone said I’m overall negative about all aspects of the company, and I would agree.

That doesn’t mean I think they are closing the doors in the next few years.

What it means to me is they desperately need a change in leadership and a renewed focus on guest experience.

Negative word of mouth can be a powerful thing.

Parents talk to others parents.

I love Disney parks and I wish I had a different a attitude.

I guess we will see how things shake out after Genie+ launches. I hope I’m wrong and it’s a great service that makes everything more enjoyable for the average guest.

Does what Walt have to say describe Cheapek to you?

“Leadership means that a group, large or small, is willing to entrust authority to a person who has shown judgment, wisdom, personal appeal, and proven competence.”

Walt Disney

 

[Trauma]

I don't get it either. Apparently, COVID is responsible for supply and labor shortages everywhere but at WDW. There, it's greed and cost-cutting.

What does labor shortages have to do with canceling the magical express?

Is Genie+ because of labor shortages?

I guess once the labor market stabilizes we can expect a return of lost benefits and lower prices.

Can’t wait!

 

[beertiki]

Negative word of mouth can be a powerful thing.

Parents talk to others parents.

The conversations we had with and overheard from other guests at the Oasis pool at Poly were very negative. Almost everyone had been coming to Disney for decades, and had been looking forward to the 50th. All agreed it felt like the ball was dropped.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I don’t think the two new shows and Genie+ are going to be that inspiring.

You understand that people like going to Walt Disney World for the things they currently have, right? Even if they built zero new attractions ever, there will still be new and repeat visitors going to experience the existing slate of offerings.