Anybody else worried Rivers of Light will also disappoint?

[Dr.Mickey]

I realize it's early to say this (maybe months early given the current progress). Less than stellar reviews of JB are harping on the "thrown together" feeling of JB, but I'm afraid the problems may be directly related to Rivers of Light. Here's why...

1. The seating is the real deal, and it's not getting great reviews.
2. The barges with the dancers were not improvised for a placeholder show. You can't improvise giant props - so they are likely part of the plan for ROL. And they are not getting good reviews, especially for visibility. Which leads us to...
3. The original promos of ROL hinted a World of Color (Disneyland) vibe, but giant slow barges will prevent the kind of water spectacle that WofC could present with the thousands of dancing fountains. Which makes me think...
4. ROL will be shooting for a hybrid of the Fantasmic human characters and the technical wizardry of WofC. Which sounds like a compromise that won't really offer the best of either show.

I realize that some people have really liked JB. But it has clearly not blown away the crowd like WofC. I, too, am hoping ROL will be awesome. But I am starting to fear that it will not be anywhere as good as World of Color, which I think is spectacular. Sorry for the long post, but that's my thoughts right now.

 

[Disneylover99]

My expectations are low anyways.......I'm not a huge fan of Wishes, Illuminations or Fantasmic, so I think I'll enjoy it okay.

 

[rteetz]

No I'm not worried they can only go up from jungle book.

 

[beer dave]

My expectations are low anyways.......I'm not a huge fan of Wishes, Illuminations or Fantasmic, so I think I'll enjoy it okay.

So -- you do not like any of the shows at WDW-- what do you like? And why do you return?

 

[Disneylover99]

So -- you do not like any of the shows at WDW-- what do you like? And why do you return?

I love many shows at Disney.....Nemo, Lion King, Birds of Wonder, Beauty and the Beast.....to name a few. I'm just not a fan of those night time shows I mentioned. Sure the fireworks are great, but I've just never personally made a connection to the music/storyline that accompanies those three particular shows. Add in the crowds and waits, and they become, my "not must do's".

So while I definitely will check out RofL when it opens, and I think I'll probably like it okay, I'm not going to be disappointed if I don't.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

WDW has a great variety of show types...... Not every one is going to like them all. I expect ROL to be just great in its own way. Some one doesn't care for it that fine too. However that does not mean its not a great show. It's personal like and dislike.

AKK

 

[Eoghann]

2. The barges with the dancers were not improvised for a placeholder show. You can't improvise giant props - so they are likely part of the plan for ROL. And they are not getting good reviews, especially for visibility. Which leads us to...
3. The original promos of ROL hinted a World of Color (Disneyland) vibe, but giant slow barges will prevent the kind of water spectacle that WofC could present with the thousands of dancing fountains. Which makes me think...

I don't think you're right on these two. We've seen pictures of some of the RoL barges and they didn't look like the ones in the JB videos. Given what DW has onsite throwing together a basic barge (and those JB ones are very basic) is actually quite easy, but the RoL ones seem much more intricate than these. Plus the RoL barges are supposed to be using a different technology (the problem apparently) so that may significantly change how they behave compared to these ones.

It could still suck of course but I wouldn't judge it based off a hastily thrown together show in the same arena.

 

[dcibrando]

I wouldn't compare anything they are doing to WOC. That is a unique show in a water system designed for a show like that. In AK they are retrofitting an area for a night show that wasn't ever designed to have one.

With that being said I am concerned. The JB show is definitely lacking imo

I have been seeing lots of negative reviews and issues with seating, crowd logistics, entertainment of the show, no wow factor, water cannon projection issues, etc

 

[JACKNAG]

Just saw the show on youtube, taking account it was an amature video . This show in my opinion stunk. I would not wait in line to see it live

 

[LittleDreamer]

1. The seating is the real deal, and it's not getting great reviews.
2. The barges with the dancers were not improvised for a placeholder show. You can't improvise giant props - so they are likely part of the plan for ROL. And they are not getting good reviews, especially for visibility. Which leads us to...
3. The original promos of ROL hinted a World of Color (Disneyland) vibe, but giant slow barges will prevent the kind of water spectacle that WofC could present with the thousands of dancing fountains. Which makes me think...
4. ROL will be shooting for a hybrid of the Fantasmic human characters and the technical wizardry of WofC. Which sounds like a compromise that won't really offer the best of either show.

1. The seating wasn't designed for the Jungle Book show. RoL, from what I understand, does not have those two closer stages, instead everything takes place further out in the lagoon. With Jungle Book everything is a bit closer then those seats were designed for, I believe. The placement of the two floating stages right in front of the seating areas definitely changes the viewing angles and that could be that complaint. Watch the RoL preview and compare how far out they things are compared to Jungle Book
2. I'm pretty sure those barges were improvised. I haven't seen anything on those barges that puts them above simply stage craft. There is no special effects; not much beyond basic lighting. In all the art and previews we have seen the RoL pieces are: 2 story teller boats (maybe 2 shadow screen boats also?), lanterns, 4 animal barges, the lilly flowers (4-6) and the center piece (which has yet to make an apperance. ) If the dancer barges are meant to be part of RoL then why weren't they at the media preview? Also did we see casting calls for dancers before the trouble started?
3. Disney said they were using water screens like World of Color but they definately didn't install all the spouts underwater like DCA. Each of the water lilly barges do have dancing water elements too them though. Here is DIS's video to give some idea but keep in mind this was limited since they are still dealing with technical issues.

 

[rteetz]

1. The seating wasn't designed for the Jungle Book show. RoL from what I understand does not have those two closer stages instead everything takes place further out in the lagoon. Jungle Book everything is a bit closer then those seats were designed for I believe. The placement of those two floating stages right in front of the seating areas definitely changes the view angles and that could be that complaint. What the RoL preview and compare how far out they things are compared to Jungle Book
2. I'm pretty sure those barges were improvised. I haven't seen anything on those barges that puts them above simply stage craft. There is no special effects not much beyond basic lighting. In all the art and previews we have seen the RoL pieces are the 2 story teller boats (maybe 2 shadow screen boats also?), lanterns, 4 animal barges, the lilly flowers (4-6) and the center piece (which has yet to make an apperance. ) If the dancer barges are meant to be part of RoL then why weren't they at the media preview? Also did we see casting calls for dancers before the trouble started?
3. Disney said they were using water screens like World of Color but they definately didn't install all the spouts underwater like DCA. Each of the water lilly barges do have dancing water elements too them though. Heres DIS's video to give some idea but keep in mind this was limited since they are still dealing with technical issues.

Everything you said here is basically spot on. The barges for jungle book are only for jungle book no RoL elements are being used here except for the water screen.

 

[Dr.Mickey]

You guys are giving me hope. Thanks for pointing out the info about the barges. But with that said, I'm still disappointed this seems to be diverging more from the World of Color water show mechanism - but that's my problem, not Disney's.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I'm not worried about it at all.

But I just going to a show to enjoy it.

I don't generally compare it to other shows, even other shows on property. Each show, for me, is it's own unique performance.

I guess I am "WOWed' very easily.

 

[EdmondD]

It's not the content...but I do wonder if the delays are related to technical issues and if technical complexities and that if this means certain elements of the show will be down or in a poor state of operation for long stretches. We know how they take so long to fix things.

 

[Micca]

My expectations are low anyways.......I'm not a huge fan of Wishes, Illuminations or Fantasmic, so I think I'll enjoy it okay.

Same here. Those shows are terrific, but there can be a lot of waiting around and I've seen them plenty of times. Besides, I'm usually chillin' at the resort by the time those shows begin. I know a lot of guests are looking forward to ROL, and Disney is counting on increased revenue from the night time schedule at AK. There's a lot riding on the success of ROL, let's hope they make it an E-Ticket show.

 

[rteetz]

You guys are giving me hope. Thanks for pointing out the info about the barges. But with that said, I'm still disappointed this seems to be diverging more from the World of Color water show mechanism - but that's my problem, not Disney's.

Jungle book and RoL are not supposed to be fountain shows like World of Color. Yes RoL will use fountains but not nearly as many as world of color. RoL will focus on the animal floats, lotus flowers with fountains and water screens all working together to present a story.

 

[rteetz]

It's not the content...but I do wonder if the delays are related to technical issues and if technical complexities and that if this means certain elements of the show will be down or in a poor state of operation for long stretches. We know how they take so long to fix things.

The delay is because of technical problems. The problems they are having are with the unmanned floats with the GPS and micro switch technology.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Everything you said here is basically spot on. The barges for jungle book are only for jungle book no RoL elements are being used here except for the water screen.

On the Rumors of Light thread, it's being reported the barges are from DLR's Fantasmic. Fantasmic is downed right now due to construction for SWLand. That's why the barges look familiar and they are operated and maneuvered by a driver unlike the RoL barges.

 

[rteetz]

On the Rumors of Light thread, it's being reported the barges are from DLR's Fantasmic. Fantasmic is downed right now due to construction for SWLand. That's why the barges look familiar and they are operated and maneuvered by a driver unlike the RoL barges.

That would make a lot of sense.

 

[HopperFan]

On the Rumors of Light thread, it's being reported the barges are from DLR's Fantasmic. Fantasmic is downed right now due to construction for SWLand. That's why the barges look familiar and they are operated and maneuvered by a driver unlike the RoL barges.

Yup, the moving barges are Fantasmics shipped in. The Small World/Agrabah barges farther out were built just for this show. I believe the only piece of RoL involved is the water screen and from all videos ... it obviously isn't working since there is a gap and projections are falling into the abyss.