Diamond Horshoe to close Feb 1

[Mooobooks]

I stand corrected. Aladdin at DCA.
Bug's land is old news and not much fun, even for a tiny tot, since every ride lasts just seconds and moves as slowly as dirt.
Apparently Disneyland is getting nothing for the 50th except a retread parade and a refurbishment of Space Mountain (same track in the same building). That sounds like a big deal to you? The Stitch overlay is not confirmed: could be just some fancy planets as you whoosh by.
Very glad to be a Disney fan and living on the East Coast for the next few years!

 

[raidermatt]

Let's face it, when you look at things in proportion to the size of the resorts, and take into account the last 3 years, neither coast is exactly "awash" in new and exciting projects.

 

[Mooobooks]

Well, there's always Islands of Adventure!

 

[Mooobooks]

In the latest issue of Deb Wills' "All Ears" she announces the name of the new show: "When it reopens, a new show called "Country Character Round-up" will debut in the space. "

 

[Jon360]

I hope they replace it with a gift shop that sells character merchandise.

Can't have too many of those.

 

[KNWVIKING]

It's not closing for good,just changing shows.

 

[WEDWAY100]

If this change actually happens, it would be yet another example of how the MK is being altered to “children only” entertainment. Originally, the MK was meant to entertain everyone, not just kids. The Diamond Horseshoe was a great example of a show that entertained adults as well as children.

Maybe they aren’t creative enough to entertain both audiences anymore. Maybe they are afraid to try. Maybe they just don’t “get it”.

I’m not saying that they shouldn’t update this show. In fact, I think they should. But if they continue on this path of everything just for kids, and every area of the park is Fantasyland, then they will end up with a very different product than the original intention. First Buzz in TL. Then Aladdin. Now a character revue in Liberty Square. Next will be a kiddie play fountain in Frontierland, a dodge car ride in Adventureland, and a Cowboys and Indians Batmobile in Tomorrowland. Who cares about theming anyway?

 

[All Aboard]

I've got three thoughts on this.

First, I don't like the concept. The Review is unique and fits that part of the park very well. Diamond Horseshoe is an "inbetweener" attraction. Some believe it's in Liberty Square, others believe it's in Frontierland. It's content puts it in Frontierland for me. And that content (which has changed several times) is supposed to represent what might have been found at a travelling "medicine show" or permanent saloon show back in the 19th Century American Frontier. Woody, Jesse and Bullseye are toys from the 1950's. While they are made to represent the same thing, they appeared in puppet form on television shows in the 1950's (not really, but you know what I mean.) The current show just fits the Frontierland theme so much better.

Second, why replace it? It is almost always filled with guests, no matter the season. Plenty of guests seem to enjoy it.

Third, it's a tiny venue. A character review may be _too_ popular for this location. It may be rather tough to get a seat, especially during its debut. Now, I know this sounds silly, me asking why Disney would introduce a show that seems destined for high popularity. But, it seems a bad choice of location. Too small.

 

[Mooobooks]

Perhaps they'll go back to its original format of taking reservations for shows (Fastpass?) and serving more food.

 

[KNWVIKING]

One of the drawbacks of the current show is that the actors can only do a certain number of shows a day/week/month,etc. By going to a charactor based show it can run virtually non-stop if need be.

 

[Angelrose]

The whole concept STINKS!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Are they TRYING to alienate the adults that come to Disney World??

 

[raidermatt]

Maybe they aren’t creative enough to entertain both audiences anymore. Maybe they are afraid to try. Maybe they just don’t “get it”.

Maybe, probably, and a resounding "YES!"

 

[David in Manassas]

I just have to put in my 2 cents. I've have been to WDW more times then I can remember and it has been untold years since I visited the Diamond Horseshoe Review. This trip in January was the first time without the kids, so we did all the things we wanted to do

We stopped in at the show and I really couldn't believe how good it was. The Professor was so good, he was worth 10 bucks of the admission all by himself. The place was packed to standing room only. I just can't possibly see putting something else in its place that could do any better in attendance.

I'm glad we got a chance to see the show in January..

David

 

[Bob O]

Its obvious that adults dont matter anymore and they dont want to offer adults anything. They just want us to sit their and be bored and sell more autograph books which im sure will follow at the ending of the show.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

In a related story Disney gave command of their cruise line to former Exxon captain, Joseph Hazelwood.

 

[d-r]

I still say that the character breakfast crowd is going to eat this up and love it....I've been crying the "focus only on preschoolers and not adults" line for a long time now, but I realize that some adults have different tastes than mine...

Winnie the Pooh has far, far longer rides than Toad ever had, and I bet you that Diamond Horseshoe will be more packed than ever when it reopens.

---------------------------------

Roundup at Diamond Horseshoe

Familiar characters from Disney films will be added to the cast at
Frontierland's popular live stage show.
By Robert Johnson Orlando (FL) Sentinel Staff Writer

January 29, 2003

After 32 years of live stage performances at Disney's Magic Kingdom, the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon is finally going Hollywood. And Toy Story's Woody may be its new star.

Featuring non-movie characters in various musical and comedy acts since the park opened in 1971, the 300-seat theater will temporarily close on Feb. 1 to prepare for a new show that will feature characters from Disney films, possibly including the two hit Toy Story movies.

The Frontierland theater's shows have always had an Old West theme. Currently it's the"Revue and Medicine Show," including the Traveling Troubadour, Wildcat Kate and Dr. Bill Ya Later.

The old "Revue and Medicine Show's" characters were created especially for that 45-minute show and weren't movie-based.

The new musical comedy, tentatively called "The Country Character Roundup," will star the likes of Goofy and other well-known characters from Disney movies.

Under consideration are Toy Story 2's Woody the cowpoke, Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl and Bullseye the Horse, said Jacquee Polak, a Disney World spokeswoman.

It hasn't been decided whether Buzz Lightyear, a main Toy Story character who also has his own ride in Tomorrowland, will be in the show.

It wouldn't be the first time Disney has had a theme park show based on Toy Story characters.

Disneyland in California had a live-action show based onToy Story 2 called "The All-New Woody's Roundup" at its Golden Horseshoe from November 1999, when the film opened in theaters, until July 2000.

The new Disney World show's starting date hasn't been determined, but Polak said it will probably be in the late spring or early summer.

"This is a response to guest feedback. It will give them another opportunity to interact with familiar characters from the movies they love," she said.

Arleen Moore, visiting this week from the Princeton, N.J., area with two pre-schoolers, was happy about the impending switch.

"I think it's great that they'll be offering more of characters the kids already know," she said. "They just love recognizing their favorites from the movies in a live show."

But some longtime Disney visitors were sad to hear the old show would be going away.

"We have been to this show at least six times over the years, and we'll miss it," said Joseph Bacchus, a retiree from Des Moines, Iowa.

The new show is part of the periodic freshening of Disney World attractions that management says is necessary to encourage repeat visits. But some old attractions die hard, such as Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, which was replaced by The Many Adventures of Winniethe Pooh a few years ago over the protests of numerous
supporters.

 

[mudhen]

If management says "periodic freshening of Disney
World attractions is necessary to encourage repeat
visits".........then they should start with those
attractions that actually need to be refreshed!!!
(Insert--- Body Wars, Star Tours, Living Seas,
Cranium Command, etc......)

Don't get me wrong, I love all of the above, but
come on, how many times do we have to go after
that damn sliver??

 

[mickeyminnie]

I have never seen the show to comment on it, but it sounds like a fun show and it's too bad it can't continue.

HOWEVER

Toy Story is wildly popular with kids these days. Little boys love Buzz and Woody and girls too. My daughter bought a buzz as a reward toy when she was 3 her choice. And when you take kids to Disney where can they see their favorite characters? Well if you like waiting in long lines you can ride the Buzz ride once or twice, but you don't see a lot of buzz, you shoot at things and get some narrative and such. Buzz is a cool ride, don't get me wrong but it ain't seeing their favorite character. Then if you again like long lines you can wait in the meet and greet at MGM, we had to wait in line twice before finally getting up there and we were the last ones allowed the second time so it was almost 30-40 mins for nothing again. We never saw Jessie. My kids had just chose Woody and Jessie for halloween costumes and they were so excited to see their favorites, and they barely got to see them at all.

A huge mistake, what do kids want to see when they go, they want to meet characters. It isn't the only thing but it is a big deal to these kids and shouldn't be discounted. Older kids and adults could care less right, then how come so many of them have autograph books and book sittings at character meals? The food ain't that good folks.

So while old classic attractions have a timeless quality and are adored by many there is room for new. I wish they would just add and not replace, but it doesn't seem to be in the cards. I also don't think everything need to have a character to be an attraction. But I do think that they are missing some very important characters. There is a lot of room for improvement in this area. I was so glad to see the characters out more the last time we went. You don't want to meet them then walk past on your way through we are having a blast there and don't need more in line. Lets not forget that while it is a family park and supposed to entertain children of all ages, we don't have to leave the little ones out because they grow out of it so quickly. Your teens who think characters are a bore were little once too..

Another missed one is Mulan, you rarely see her and what a wonderful heroine, a strong woman, not just a princess. But she is downplayed, gotta wonder who is in charge of that sort of decision?

 

[JeffH]

Excerpt from my recent letter to WDW...
--------------------------------
It has come to my attention that the Diamond Horseshoe Revue will close for good on February 1st, 2003 to be replaced with a Toy
Story meet and greet. Although a 'cowboy' meet and greet would fit well into Frontierland, the DHR fits better, and as a live
show is a much better attraction than a simple meet and greet (which could be put somewhere else in Frontierland).
You couldn't possibly believe the memories tied up in the DHR.
That's where my dad was picked out to received a big kiss on his bald head, and wore it proudly as we met up at the monorail to go
home.
That's where I was picked out from the balcony with the heart shaped mirror.
That's where I was picked out on the floor as the young dude that had his lap set on.
This is the attraction that I raced to to get reservations for (when reservations were taken at the door)
That's where I hoped some day to have my bald head kissed as my dad did (when I someday become bald).
This attraction has become one of my daughter, Tashas, favorite attractions at the Magic Kingdom.
This attraction is the definitive attraction for Frontierland and will always be.
This attraction has always been a crowd favorite and has always filled the building.
Please reconsider your decision and build a meet and greet somewhere else in Frontierland, or add them to a Liberty Inn lunch (or both)

 

[AmyA]

We have been quite saddened w/ this decision. DH and I both love the DHSR, and always made a point to see it at least once per trip.

I went for a mini-trip 2 weeks ago with some girlfriends (both Disney veterans), and neither had ever seen the show. I convinced them to both to go with me (and have root beer floats ). They both loved it, and said it would be a must-do for them from now on. Too bad that's not ever going to happen .