Entertainment? Whats left?

[Glenn]

Ever since WDW cut out much of the entertainment like Off Kilter I havent seen much mentioned on the boards about park entertainment. Besides specific shows what kind of entertainment is left & is it any good? Saw a YouTube clip of the new irish group of 4 they brought in last year, they were really bad. Besides the last groups they canceled wondering whats happening on main street, are the traditional players still at what used to be called Norway?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hey, Glenn, good to see you.

Probably the best site for entertainment information is Steve's site. He updates it weekly, generally Saturday. Use the tabs at the top to check the various parks.

http://wdwent.com/

 

[disnut8]

There is still live entertainment all around the parks so, as Dan mentioned, check out the schedule and see what would interest you. Some people (like myself) loved Off Kilter and were disappointed when they were let go but then, again, some people did not like Off Kilter. Entertainment is a personal choice so choose what you want just as in the past and experience new things that might surprise you (like, we never saw Off Kilter because of what we thought of "overblown" entertainment). Then we did see them and became fans.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Unfortunately, as the OP alluded to, so much live entertainment has been done away with. DS was lucky enough to have a summer internship in live entertainment (musician) at DL, and at the time, I hoped he'd applied for a regular job there. Now, seeing how many live acts have been cut, I'm glad he didn't! I miss so many live acts. I recently found the live entertainment schedule for Epcot from our first trip in 1987. There are currently about 1/4 the number of acts.

 

[Bete]

Although, it's definitely not as good as before there is enough live entertainment still around. The Steve Soares site is the best for scheduling.

We enjoy going for the Christmas holidays because they add entertainment like the Candlelight Processional and the holiday storytellers through World Showcase. You have the MVMCP, too.

The Food and Wine festival has more entertainment in Epcot, as well.

I will say our trips are shorter to Disney World these days. It just doesn't have enough to offer anymore.

 

[Fizban]

There isnt much left unless you want to see a bunch of fat rednecks play with chainsaws. Because we all know that Canada is nothing but fat rednecks with chainsaws /sarcasm (what the heck is the board thinking???).

 

[Glenn]

Anyone else that has been there in the last year want to comment on how good or bad the entertainment is? I sort of knew about the list but that doesnt tell you if they might be worth my time. Simbas mom is right about how much less is available in Epcot since the mid 80s.

 

[yulilin3]

Anyone else that has been there in the last year want to comment on how good or bad the entertainment is? I sort of knew about the list but that doesnt tell you if they might be worth my time. Simbas mom is right about how much less is available in Epcot since the mid 80s.

how good or bad is completely subjective...a lot of people enjoy the drums in Japan, I don't like them so itre ally depends on the person.
New entertainment being offered is good, in my opinion. I love the a capella group at the American Garden Theater, American Sound Machine but I love a capella music.
The flag show in Italy is worth a look, they are very impressive how the control them. The new Morrocan band is definitely authentic, not sure if it's everyone's cup of tea.
There's still shows in every pavilion so I wouldn't say that entertainment has diminished, it's just changed. Again my opinion

 

[JRawkSteady]

Yeah, I've been down a couple times this year... the entertainment sure is lacking without The World Showcase Players, Off Kilter and the other sacked acts. The flag show in Italy is...meh. The new folky Celtic band in UK is just okay... Without Miyuki, Japan is just a bunch of loud drums... The Chinese acrobats are still great... But one thing the World Showcase is missing is the pizzaz! There used to be a lot of variety, but now, I just am not feeling it. Still, there are so many things there that draw me in...I just wish that extra element of entertainment was still there.

This is how the wife and I felt about it, at least. Other folks may have different opinions.

 

[Magpie]

There isnt much left unless you want to see a bunch of fat rednecks play with chainsaws. Because we all know that Canada is nothing but fat rednecks with chainsaws /sarcasm (what the heck is the board thinking???).

Actually, I'm Canadian, vote socialist, and am far from "fat", and I quite enjoyed that show. It was reminiscent of the Lumberjack Festival in Kapuskasing, which we used to go to every year.

Sorry.

 

[Fizban]

Actually, I'm Canadian, vote socialist, and am far from "fat", and I quite enjoyed that show. It was reminiscent of the Lumberjack Festival in Kapuskasing, which we used to go to every year.

Sorry.

No reason to be sorry (well maybe your voting uh eh nevermind )

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

The lumberjack show is wrong on so many levels.

Let's look at the fact that over at ONE park we have an entire ride devoted to "don't destroy the forest" while over at another we have an entire show devoted to 'wasting resources" Not to mention the fun skills your kids will want to practice at home (axe throwing anyone?)

The new group in the UK is good, but without sound they are generally just hard to hear. The group in Morocco looks bored (as does the audience) Mexico still has their live act and so far the bean counters have not attacked Voices of Liberty.

But sadly Epcot is just becoming a echo of what it was. When My AP expires I am taking a few years off. Between FP and the lack of entertainment it's time to spend some money elsewhere... (Harry Potter here I come )

 

[Fizban]

The lumberjack show is wrong on so many levels.

Let's look at the fact that over at ONE park we have an entire ride devoted to "don't destroy the forest" while over at another we have an entire show devoted to 'wasting resources" Not to mention the fun skills your kids will want to practice at home (axe throwing anyone?)

The new group in the UK is good, but without sound they are generally just hard to hear. The group in Morocco looks bored (as does the audience) Mexico still has their live act and so far the bean counters have not attacked Voices of Liberty.

But sadly Epcot is just becoming a echo of what it was. When My AP expires I am taking a few years off. Between FP and the lack of entertainment it's time to spend some money elsewhere... (Harry Potter here I come )

We as well are letting our 4 AP's expire on the last day that we are here this year. I cant justify the loss of ROI with my internal budget person (me). hopefully after they capitalize on the people looking for another 6 flags they will circle back to what Disney World was supposed to be. Until then my vacation dollars will go elsewhere.

 

[disnut8]

how good or bad is completely subjective

Totally agree. So many people focus in on the lumberjack show replacing Off Kilter and that's the basis for Epcot's entertainment going downhill. I loved Off Kilter and have yet to see the lumberjacks (they were not performing the last time we were there) so I'm not going to bash the performance since I have yet to see it.

My husband can watch the Japanese drummers for a long time. I just take my beer and look out over the lagoon while he enjoys. We don't want to see the acrobats in China, we don't like the whistle blowing whatever he is in France, but then there are some acts we just happen upon and take a few minutes to watch or hear. We do like the British Revolution and find it an improvement over the British Invasion (I am NOT a Beatles fan having been subjected to two over the top fans during my sophomore year at college which was in 1980 and we all know what happened in December of that year). So, my tastes are even different from my husband's.

The only way to find out if you like something is to experience it yourself.