Decline at FotLK?

[Gangstarr]

Has anyone noticed a decline in the quality of performers at Festival of the Lion King show at AK? I recently watched the show and noticed the "animal" performers just don't have that spark anymore. I've noticed, too that some of the performers don't really fit the "dancer type". Now before I get flamed, I myself do not fit the "dancer type". I love to eat good food (not that healthy junk), I hate excercise, and I have the coveted fat gene. I have accepted my body for what it is. That being said I don't want to go to a stage show of the type that FotLK is and see someone of my size squeezed into a tight spandex thing. I mean, I applaud the guys and girls who are comfortable to let it all hang out. I just don't think a beer gut hanging over a skirt is something I want to see in a show like this. I just had to vent a little. Heck, if this is the turn the dance world is taking, maybe I can fulfill my lifetime dream of being a ballerina...

 

[BlindTyldak]

I have to agree on one point . . . last time we saw it the dancers didn't seem quite as energetic as they had the time I saw it when AK had just opened. That first trip we'd videotaped the whole show, and I happened to have my photos from 6 years later out while watching the video once. Something jumped out immediately - many of them were the EXACT same dancers who had been there when I first saw it! After several performances a day of the same show for 6 years, i think I'd be tired too!

 

[Gangstarr]

After several performances a day of the same show for 6 years, i think I'd be tired too!

I suppose this is true. My ex works in entertainment in a different park and he once told me that most of the people in entertainment haven't had two whole days off in several years. The last time I talked to him he said it was only getting worse.

 

[Gangstarr]

*****

 

[Samirella]

Has anyone noticed a decline in the quality of performers at Festival of the Lion King show at AK? I recently watched the show and noticed the "animal" performers just don't have that spark anymore. I've noticed, too that some of the performers don't really fit the "dancer type". Now before I get flamed, I myself do not fit the "dancer type". I love to eat good food (not that healthy junk), I hate excercise, and I have the coveted fat gene. I have accepted my body for what it is. That being said I don't want to go to a stage show of the type that FotLK is and see someone of my size squeezed into a tight spandex thing. I mean, I applaud the guys and girls who are comfortable to let it all hang out. I just don't think a beer gut hanging over a skirt is something I want to see in a show like this. I just had to vent a little. Heck, if this is the turn the dance world is taking, maybe I can fulfill my lifetime dream of being a ballerina...

I haven't noticed what you speak of.

 

[Robo]

I haven't noticed what you speak of.

We saw the show 3 times over the course of a week this mid-May.

The shows were great and the performers were very "into it".

(We have seen this show dozens of times, and I am in the production business and a close observer of these kind of things.)

Some shows are better than others, of course, but we commented that one show we saw last month was one of the best we'd ever seen of FotLK!

Sometimes its a matter of timing (when you happen to be there) and your "mood" when you see it.

Like in any theater, the "house" (audience) can have an effect on how "good" the show seems.

 

[88Keys]

I work in show business and bad days just happen -- I have seen FOLK 3 times in the past 3 years -- not a huge amount, but I have to say that the last time was the best I had seen it. I actually sent a note to WDW my first time seeing it because some of the actors were goofing off and I wanted Disney to know that audiences notice such things.

 

[Robo]

I work in show business and bad days just happen -- I have seen FOLK 3 times in the past 3 years -- not a huge amount, but I have to say that the last time was the best I had seen it. I actually sent a note to WDW my first time seeing it because some of the actors were goofing off and I wanted Disney to know that audiences notice such things.

Yes, audiences see EVERYTHING.
They can feel it when the actors are just not "with it".
But when the show is "Clickin' " and everyone on stage is "into the show" its MAGIC!

That's why we love to see FotLK. There's so MUCH going on, much of the time its hard to see it all. The actors/dancers/Animal Puppets/Tumble Monkeys... and TIMON... are all interacting with the guests and each other... most times they look like thery're still having a GREAT time!
We like to catch the first show of the day, when the cast (and the GUESTS) are still FRESH.

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88Keys
Working my way to 500 posts!
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Gaithersburg, MD
Posts: 222
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And 88Keys, I assume the show biz YOU'RE in might have something to do with, I don't know, KEYBOARDS, perhaps?

I'm watching your progress towards "500 posts"... you're about half-way there... keep at it.

 

[Joanna71985]

I haven't noticed a decline. However, I love the FOTLK. It is probably my favorite show in the parks. I think they all do an amazing job.

 

[PamNC]

I'm glad you started this thread because YES I've noticed this the last few times we've seen the show. And it pains me. This use to be a must-do for us. We LOVED this show so much. I'll speak to a recent trip in May because it's fresh in my mind. The performers, particularly the singers, were just not as good. I hate to say this, the singing was just not good (I'm being kind) and they seemed to be just reciting the lines...not really putting themselves into the show. I did notice the energy of the dancers was off...not all of them though. The energy of the show was way way down.

We've noticed this the last three times, each time getting worse. But, I was chalking it up to the fact that we've seen it so many times. Perhaps we're just getting bored with it. But, I don't think so. This show has/had the Disney magic for sure. It's definitely off the must-do list for us now. Not that we won't see it, but in the past it was something we never missed. As soon as we entered the park, we found out what the show times were.

I hope they fix it. Oh - and I'm so glad Tarzan is gone. I HATED that loud mess. It didn't follow the formula of Disney shows. I'm hoping the new Nemo attraction is good. I have a feeling it will be.

PamNC

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I suppose this is true. My ex works in entertainment in a different park and he once told me that most of the people in entertainment haven't had two whole days off in several years. The last time I talked to him he said it was only getting worse.

1) I hear you!
2) Working six-days mandatory does hurt your attitude and lower your energy.

 

[DebbieB]

I saw it last Wednesday night at 7:30pm and thought they were very good! It was the first time I had seen the show in at least 5 years.

 

[Idroveallnight]

On our last trip Feb/March we went 3 times and the first part was great! However there were stage malfunctions at all 3 shows and we were told to leave so I don't know about the energy of the rest of the show, but the first half was great!

 

[Gangstarr]

I did notice the energy of the dancers was off...not all of them though. The energy of the show was way way down.

From what I understand they aren't as selective with who they teach the show to. They aren't finding performers who are as good because that level of talent are following the jobs that actually pay well. I guess that must be the case if they're putting in performers who are bigger like me. Its very sad as I used to love watching this show.

 

[PatriciaH]

WDW is hurting for people right now. Lots of ads in the paper offering bonuses of $1,000 (nice but when they are paying $6.50 an hour hard to make it here anymore.) They even had an ad for entertainment a few weeks ago with no height requirement for face characters and they used to be quite strict about that.

 

[PatriciaH]

1) I hear you!
2) Working six-days mandatory does hurt your attitude and lower your energy.

Most people we know that work at resorts have been on 6 days mandatory for over a year now!

 

[88Keys]

----------------------------------
88Keys
Working my way to 500 posts!
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Gaithersburg, MD
Posts: 222
----------------------------------

And 88Keys, I assume the show biz YOU'RE in might have something to do with, I don't know, KEYBOARDS, perhaps?

I'm watching your progress towards "500 posts"... you're about half-way there... keep at it.

Yes, slowly but surely. I might have to post a bunch of "I am the ______ King" threads to bump up my numbers (enjoyed the "I am the King of the 3:00 Parade" in particular)

And, yeah, I am a piano/conductor for professional theater.

 

[PamNC]

WDW is hurting for people right now. Lots of ads in the paper offering bonuses of $1,000 (nice but when they are paying $6.50 an hour hard to make it here anymore.) They even had an ad for entertainment a few weeks ago with no height requirement for face characters and they used to be quite strict about that.

That explains it! You know, $1,000 is a very nice bonus indeed, but given the rising cost of housing down there, you're right...$6.50 an hour isn't enough. Bonus or not. This is truly sad and I fear that this will, and is, making a big impact for the guests. They need to step up the pay big time. The CM's deserve it!! And, they need to be picky and stick to the original formulas that Walt set forth.

C'mon now - pay these people DISNEY. They keep going up on prices for the guests. Why not share the wealth with those who make the most difference in the guest's experience...THE CM'S.

PamNC

 

[PamNC]

From what I understand they aren't as selective with who they teach the show to. They aren't finding performers who are as good because that level of talent are following the jobs that actually pay well. I guess that must be the case if they're putting in performers who are bigger like me. Its very sad as I used to love watching this show.

Again, this pains me to hear. It's making sense though - my DH and I were wondering why things seemed to be slipping. Not just entertainment. We still love Disney and hold out hope that things will turn around.

You know - I noticed the head guy - the bass baritone KING character was a bit chunky. (I'm being kind). My husband is an opera singer and years ago we moved to Orlando because I got a job at Disney. In marketing - now called Yellow Shoes Creative. Long story short, I loved my job but for many reasons including our home not selling here in NC, we had to come back to NC. My husband's opera career was sort of stale at the time. Wouldn't you know it, when we came back home, he took off. Anyway, I'm off the subject.

He auditioned for entertainment while he was there, in fact it was his second audition. He had auditioned about 6 years prior when we were first married. Now, I'm bias but my husband is EXCELLENT. He is now singing all over the world. On the first audition back in 1994 or 1995 (I can't remember) they went bezerk over him. How I know that is he left for the airport immediately following his audition. They called me at home in NC and asked if I knew his airline and flight info because they wanted to get him back there immediately. We didn't have a cell phone yet, so I called the airport and had him paged. Some Disney folks met him at the airport and took him to Epcot to meet the Voices of Liberty crowd and sing for them. Then they asked him if he would let them tape him and asked him to do an audition for the now defunct SuperStar Theatre. We were sure he would be getting a job. NOPE. Nothing happened. We followed up and up and up and NOTHING. The voices of liberty told him they were moving people around and wouldn't be hiring at the time.

Then, he auditioned again in 2000 when I worked there. They seemed to really love him, and were talking to him about the FOTLK. (he's a baritone so he would be the King). He was at the time very overweight and that hurt him badly. They so much as told him.

Now, he's lost 85 pounds and looks marvelous. But, when we were there in May he saw the "fat" king guy and he said "I can't believe it. They wouldn't hire my fat *&#, but look at that."

I guess it wasn't meant to be for us to be CM's. We moved back home to NC and we're loving it. Things work out for the best although I really did love my job at Disney. I was there 4 months. It was a very hard decision to move back home. We're back to being GUESTS.

PamNC

 

[88Keys]

That explains it! You know, $1,000 is a very nice bonus indeed, but given the rising cost of housing down there, you're right...$6.50 an hour isn't enough. Bonus or not. This is truly sad and I fear that this will, and is, making a big impact for the guests. They need to step up the pay big time. The CM's deserve it!! And, they need to be picky and stick to the original formulas that Walt set forth.

C'mon now - pay these people DISNEY. They keep going up on prices for the guests. Why not share the wealth with those who make the most difference in the guest's experience...THE CM'S.

PamNC

I could be totally wrong, but I don't think many, if any, of the performers in FOLK are getting $6.50 an hour. I think a good chunk of them (if not all) are members of Actor's Equity.