The Future of Diamond Horseshoe

[DisneyKidds]

From Deb Wills....................
Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Revue in Magic Kingdom's Frontierland,
which closed earlier this year, is slated to reopen July 1 with
a new premise. The as-yet-unnamed show will be anchored by a
live actor, but will spotlight
Goofy and a whole range of costumed characters. The show will
begin with an onstage musical number, then will provide guests
with a new way to interact with the characters as they mingle
and perform on the floor. Unfortunately, food will no longer be
served at the saloon.
Other reports from WDW Grad nights, which used the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon as a venue for an improv bit, indicate that nothing has been changed inside. I guess that means the new show will pretty much use the saloon as is, as I imagine they couldn't do any major work in a few months time.

[YoHo]

I hate to continue to be negative, but that sounds pretty lame. Golden Horseshoe in Disneyland has an excellent live show and still sells food, so the concept can't be that bad. I'd go see Billy Hill and the Hillbillies every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

[DisneyKidds]

I hate to continue to be negative, but that sounds pretty lame.
For those who liked the Review it very well may be. For those who didn't find the review a compelling enough attraction (for whatever reasons) to set foot in the building this could be a good thing.

For the Kidds clan, this will probably get us in the building. Of course, that could be because I am a rose colored glasses wearing, 5 and 1 year old toting, plastic head mesmerized, brainwashed Disney apologist ;) :crazy: :tongue:. Whether this show will keep us coming back remains to be seen.

While the previous show may have had a following, is this one has a larger following Disney will see it as a success. Whether the fact that they took out a long standing classic and replaced it with kiddie fare (which may work for me now, but not everyone) is good or bad is a whole 'nother debate ;).

[YoHo]

I have been misunderstood, Billy Hill IS in DIsneyland and plays to big crowds even on off days.

[Luv2Roam]

Even in dead January the WDW horshoe revue was packed. :confused: We never saw it as we just never remembered far enough in advance to get a seat.

[DisneyKidds]

Even in dead January the WDW horshoe revue was packed.
So the question for Disney would be how they could make this new show more packed. If AV were still around, he'd probably point out that this new show can probably be turned over more times in a day and would provide Disney with a new opportunity to increase plush sales.

[raidermatt]

I'm sure the cost of the two shows is a factor as well, if there indeed is a difference in cost.

A poster who is a CM on another site also said female singers were being auditioned.

Was the Diamond Horseshoe still serving food before it closed?

[YoHo]

Originally posted by DisneyKidds
So the question for Disney would be how they could make this new show more packed. If AV were still around, he'd probably point out that this new show can probably be turned over more times in a day and would provide Disney with a new opportunity to increase plush sales.


Kidds, maybe I'm being dense, but if a show is "Packed" then that means, that every seat in the place is in use and therefore it cannot become more packed. Unless you mean by adding shows. Of course, that assumes Disney got rid of the shows due to lack of viewers which, of course some insiders have suggested was NOT there motivation at all.

[roymccoy]

OT - Whatever happened to AV?

Roy

[MikePezz]

I remember hearing that Disney getting ride of the original style saloon show (Jamboree version) because they could cut most of the musicians and waiters/waitresses with what replaced it. I sounds as if this new show will have only one live actor and several characters, and all prerecorded music.

[DisneyKidds]

Unless you mean by adding shows.
Bingo! If the show is shorter or requires less "live" talent they may be able to fit more shows in during the day.

[raidermatt]

Roy, AV is still around, but I think he is taking a break from at least the "debate" portion of the Dis... as we all do once in awhile.

The reason I asked about the food is that I think it makes a difference when it comes to the quality of show needed.

For example, nobody complains about Sunny Eclipse at Cosmic Ray's because you don't wait in a queue for him, and he's just a diversion while you eat (or distraction, for those with young children).

But if there's not going to be any food, it sounds like this could be run more like a regular attraction, with a queue and regularly scheduled performances. It would seem this would have to be the way it works, as opposed to the old way, where people came and went as they pleased, watching the show while they went.

So if its going to be run like a regular attraction, (think Mermaid or CBJ), I would think the show would need to be pretty good to be able to stand on its own.

Unless it really will be a Sunny Eclipse kind of thing, that is constantly running, and people come and go, but then why not serve food?

[Planogirl]

a new way to interact with the characters as they mingle and perform on the floor
This thing sounds a lot like a spruced up meet and greet except for this one line. I'll reserve judgement on this one until I see what they mean by "a new way to interact".

[WebmasterCricket]

:confused:

Food=$

Show=?

Why drop the food? Was it loosing money or what?

[raidermatt]

I'll reserve judgement on this one until I see what they mean by "a new way to interact". Good point. We have shows and parades where the characters pull guests into the show, meet and greets, character meals, and we have the impromptu character meetings, so I wonder what this "new" way is.

Maybe it involves a brass pole and lots of small bills????

:eek:

;)

[WebmasterCricket]

Originally posted by raidermatt
Maybe it involves a brass pole and lots of small bills????

So that's why you carry all those singles! :)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pc1d2c4f6e4c9e6ae8b26be2a38986215/fc3bcb96.jpg

[raidermatt]

:D

Maybe this attraction has some potential after all...

[Planogirl]

:eek:

Hey, nowadays you never know. Maybe it'll be a giant store with the characters actually running the cash registers. Might as well kill two birds with one stone. ;)

[crusader]

Well, if it's in that section of the park you may have to kill alot of birds!

[laceemouse]

On our trip down last August we ate at the Diamond Horseshoe. It was crowded but not packed. We had to go up to the balcony to get seats together (we are a family of six.) The show was cute, but not great. We ate fast and left because the kids and I were FREEZING! My hairy hubby thought it felt great, but the rest of us were shivering. This may have been on purpose to keep guests moving. I guess we would check out the new show, we are optomists after all. I thought the food was pretty good and fast though. We also liked the food at Aunt Polly's and hear that is gone now too. Fresh sandwiches are much better than burgers and fries for us in the counter service catagory. Anyway, we will check it out sometime. The brass pole comment was a riot!!! Even my 8 year old son liked the picture!!!! Thanks for the laugh...Lacee

[DisneyKidds]

We ate fast and left because the kids and I were FREEZING!
Well, I guess that debunks all those myths about Disney raising the temp on the air conditioners last summer ;).

[Space Command]

I've heard the new show is going to be called "character roundup"... iw onder if this could have any relation to "Woody's Roundup" from Toy STory II...my fingers are crossed

[doubletrouble_vb]

Well...what is the turnout at the Hoop Dee Doo like these days? That was one problem I saw with the Diamond Horseshoe...it seemed like the same show for a fraction of the price.

[Lora]

Was the Diamond Horseshoe still serving food before it closed?

In May of 2001, we ate lunch there. When we went in Oct. 2002, I planned for lunch there, but they were only serving ice cream. I asked if I could bring in lunch from Pecos Bills. The CM said that would be okay.


Well...what is the turnout at the Hoop Dee Doo like these days? That was one problem I saw with the Diamond Horseshoe...it seemed like the same show for a fraction of the price.

I saw DH as it progressed from "dancing girls", magician and musician to just the magician and musician. I also saw the Hoop De Doo this past October. I don't think they were comparable at all....maybe just the starting point of the theme. I still consider the HDD worth the money and will greatly miss the DH since it was such a fun and different show and a good place to have a meal and a break from the heat.

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by YoHo
if a show is "Packed" then that means, that every seat in the place is in use and therefore it cannot become more packed.
Well if they are not serving food, which in Dec. they were only serving snacks, they could get ride of the tables and that would allow more seating.