Anyone else notice the change in the Epcot France "chair acrobats"?

[kay1864]

A year ago, the "waiter" would stack the chairs four high and do a handstand atop the top chair.

This year I saw him do a handstand on a giant champagne bottle on one chair. Not nearly as impressive.

Do they alternate shows during the week and I missed the four-high version? Or did they change their show permanently for some reason?

 

[nansmama]

I don't know, I was kind of wondering the same thing about the Chinese "acrobats." They don't actually do many acrobatics. It's mostly a cup-and-ball balancing act. My dd and I were all excited to see the show (dd is a dancer/gymnast) and walked away disappointed.

 

[bellanotte10]

A year ago, the "waiter" would stack the chairs four high and do a handstand atop the top chair. This year I saw him do a handstand on a giant champagne bottle on one chair. Not nearly as impressive. Do they alternate shows during the week and I missed the four-high version? Or did they change their show permanently for some reason?

When I was there a month ago he stacked the chairs up pretty high and did a hand stand. If I were home I could upload the picture! Give me an hour or two and I will if you want me to!

 

[christineann]

We watched the show the first week in December, and the waiter did a handstand on a stack of at least 4 chairs. It was pretty impressive

 

[winthropf]

The chair balancing is sensitive the wind speed and gusts at the time of the show. Maybe you were watching on a day with higher winds or expected gusts.

 

[cincystamper]

I saw him last week and when I finally walked away from watching, he was up to 5 chairs high... (He had to keep reassuring the little girl on the side - about 3 or 4 yrs old maybe? - who kept screaming "don't do it, it's dangerous!" at the top of her lungs. LOL)

 

[kay1864]

The chair balancing is sensitive the wind speed and gusts at the time of the show. Maybe you were watching on a day with higher winds or expected gusts.

Ah, that makes sense. Although it wasn't windy that day (I was taking video at the time, and there was no obvious wind). Maybe wind was forecasted?

Glad to hear they haven't abandoned the "tall" version entirely!

 

[wiigirl]

The chair balancing is sensitive the wind speed and gusts at the time of the show. Maybe you were watching on a day with higher winds or expected gusts.

That could be....

 

[mm522]

Every show at WDW from the fireworks to the streetmosphere like this all have contigency versions due to wind, rain, heat, or anything of the like. They always do make sure to keep the performers and cast's safety in mind at all times it seems.

 

[stormtracker]

First cut backs at CP and now this. I guess the war on Christmas continues on.

Just kidding.

 

[ktlm]

I've seen it both ways. Usually, the change is weather related, but it could also be that there was a physical reason the performer could not do the taller version that day such as an injury or illness etc.

 

[ArthurFiggis]

I don't know, I was kind of wondering the same thing about the Chinese "acrobats." They don't actually do many acrobatics. It's mostly a cup-and-ball balancing act. My dd and I were all excited to see the show (dd is a dancer/gymnast) and walked away disappointed.

I remembered reading something about the acrobats, and I found it again. The Dragon Legend acrobats left in 2011 and the Jeweled Dragon acrobats replaced them.

 

[TXPyroMom]

A year ago, the "waiter" would stack the chairs four high and do a handstand atop the top chair.

This year I saw him do a handstand on a giant champagne bottle on one chair. Not nearly as impressive.

Do they alternate shows during the week and I missed the four-high version? Or did they change their show permanently for some reason?

We watched them on Thursday (Dec 12) and he did his handstand on top of 4 chairs stacked on top of the champagne bottles. Maybe they had to do a short show when you saw them???

 

[aml3679]

We were there last week and the chairs were 4 high. We were impressed as was everyone around us.

 

[AliceandAriel]

A year ago, the "waiter" would stack the chairs four high and do a handstand atop the top chair.

This year I saw him do a handstand on a giant champagne bottle on one chair. Not nearly as impressive.

Do they alternate shows during the week and I missed the four-high version? Or did they change their show permanently for some reason?

They must alternate for different shows. In October, we watched him perform on four chairs during lunch.

 

[nansmama]

I remembered reading something about the acrobats, and I found it again. The Dragon Legend acrobats left in 2011 and the Jeweled Dragon acrobats replaced them.

Oh wow, thanks. That's too bad, they looked a lot better than the current ones. (Not that there's anything wrong with the balancing act, it's just not what I think of when I think acrobatics.)