Diamond Horshoe to close Feb 1

[JeffH]

Rumour is now that it won't be a simple meet and greet, but a wild west show that features Toy Story Characters.
----------
We had a marvelous time there Saturday. They put on a real good show. Before the show, my brother passed out the words to Happy Trails, so when (at the end of the show) they let the audience sing, instead of silence during a not so well known line, we all sang out proudly!!!

 

[DisneyKidds]

Boy, you all take the cake. Cry, whine and moan that Disney isn't updating/changing/investing, etc. to attract guests and increase attendance, and that the parks are stale, blah, blah, blah.......................and then when Disney decides to update a 30+ year old show you cry, whine, and moan that Disney is changing something, or changing the wrong thing .

As many around here like to point out, let's try to stay out of the "I like" realm of discussion. Sure, some people like Diamond Horseshoe and will miss it. Others could care about it and will be glad to see a change. But that is neither here nor there. What is important is that Disney is investing the time and money to update something and provide a new show. Not a meet and greet, not a plush store - but an honest to goodness new show. I say BRAVO!!!!

Theme wise - I hope it is just the Woody's Roundup characters from Toy Story. That would keep the venue based in the old west. Buzz better not show up - and Woody isn't present at the Buzz ride so I doubt he will. I think they could make this a very fun and funny show that can appeal to a wide audience. Dinsey has been good at making the humor of their animated films appeal to adults, while the kiddies love the animation. Just think what they could do with Stinky Pete .

Bottom line is that this venue will likely continue to be as busy, or busier, than ever. It may be a bit of a different crowd, but so what. Replacing a 30+ year old show with a new show based on one of the more popular Disney animated features is a good way for Disney to attract new guests. Of course well have to wait and see it they do a good job with the new show, but if they do I don't see how this could be a negative in the big picture. Sure, a negative in the small picture for individual guests who like Diamond Horseshoe, but in the big picture - I don't think so.

 

[All Aboard]

Let me put it this way then (and I'll turn back the clock a little bit to capture a couple of extra shows):

Live shows in WDW theme parks that include characters found in Disney films:
Beauty and the Beast
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Hunchback of Notre Dame (sob)
Doug Live
Playhouse Disney
Fantasmic
Festival of the Lion King
Pocahontas and her Forest Friends
Tarzan Rocks

Live shows in WDW theme parks that are based on something other than Disney film characters:
Diamond Horseshoe
Wonders of Flight
Indiana Jones (not Disney, but a movie nonetheless)

Now, we lose one from list B, and add another to list A. I'm sure the show will be wonderful. But Diamond Horseshoe was a departure from the norm for Disney. Same beef that I have with the replacement of Tapestry with a character based parade. WDW has plenty of those, I like that something is a bit different.

 

[AmyA]

Originally posted by gcurling
Now, we lose one from list B, and add another to list A. I'm sure the show will be wonderful. But Diamond Horseshoe was a departure from the norm for Disney. Same beef that I have with the replacement of Tapestry with a character based parade. WDW has plenty of those, I like that something is a bit different.

I agree completely w/ gcurling. DHSR is a wonderful escape into the "old west"---a Toy Story show (while I'm sure it will be great) just isn't the same IMHO.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I like that something is a bit different.

.........and I'll like to have another attraction in the MK that has wider appeal to my entire family.

We may both see this change differently, but if we only evaluate it based on what we like this thread would likely only be a gripe session.

Will a new Woody's Roundup show fit nicely withing the context and confines of Frontierland? Absolutely. Absolutely as much as a bunch of talking and singing bears, or Brer Rabbit being chased by Brer Fox and Brer Bear. Sure, it may be more along the lines of other Disney shows - but this is Disney - I will not fault them for making use of Disney properties.

 

[raidermatt]

Boy, you all take the cake. Cry, whine and moan that Disney isn't updating/changing/investing, etc. to attract guests and increase attendance, and that the parks are stale, blah, blah, blah.......................and then when Disney decides to update a 30+ year old show you cry, whine, and moan that Disney is changing something, or changing the wrong thing .

A truly disappointing post, DK.

 

[Bob O]

Change for change sake isnt always good, just look at JIYI, would anyone say the change made the attraction better???
To me if they want to put on a show like this they could use other venues, like in Tomorrow land where they already have a Buzz Attraction or put it in MGM where they have a pizza plant Rest. To me the Diamond Horsehoe show that is there was a much better fit for the area and it was nice for a show that was more adult oriented.
I have nothing against the proposed show if it was an addition to one of the parks(and not just a change) and was put somewhere else and didnt result in the loss of a show that wasnt just for kids.

 

[space42]

They are replacing a show that involves real live performers and replacing it with a show that involves rubber heads 'singing' and dancing to a pre-recorded sound track.

If this is true, then its a cut and not a plus as far as I am concerned.

 

[DisneyKidds]

A truly disappointing post, DK.

Sheesh - someone seems a bit cranky since Jan 26th. First the Viking, and now me - sorry we disappoint you so .

Really, what is so disappointing? So far, most seem to be complaining that they are replacing a 30+ year old show that they like - so it must be wrong?

Frankly, if being disappointed in my post is the best you can do, it is I who should be disappointed in you my friend . Are you saying that a Woody's Roundup show can't be a quality show? Are you saying it can't fit in Frontierland? Are you saying it is wrong to replace a 30+ year old show even if it is somewhat popular? Oh, wait - you haven't said anything.

That confirms it - I am officially disappointed in you .

Note to Raidermatt - the above post was all in good fun and intended to help draw you out of your post Raiders-got-blown-out-in-the-Super-Bowl-funk. And yes, since your Raiders beat my Jets, this is the best I can do - sling mud at your Raiders in a fruitless attempt to make me feel better about the debacle of the second half my Jets played against the Silver and Black. Anywho - glad the Raiders didn't win the big one as I'm sure I'd have heard that insipid poem again .

 

[Another Voice]

"Are you saying that a Woody's Roundup show can't be a quality show?"

No, but it would really be a nice change for something new and original instead of the theme park version of a direct-to-video sequel. A new show instead of rubber heads singing and dancing to the old music from the moives. Perhaps it won't be that, but recent history doesn't give one a lot of encouragement to hope for something new.

It is possible to create an enjoyable show that doesn't rely on characters from a film.

 

[DisneyKidds]

It is possible to create an enjoyable show that doesn't rely on characters from a film.

Agreed. However, I don't think that makes it wrong to create an enjoyable show that does rely on characters from a film.

I have a questions for you guys. Do you think that Disney has more quality animation and film properties available to it now than it did in the 50's and 60's? If Walt had as many quality animation and film properties available to him then, do you think more DL and WDW attractions would have been based on those successful properties? Not sure I know the answer - but I thought it might make for an interesting question.

 

[DisneyKidds]

No, but it would really be a nice change for something new and original instead of the theme park version of a direct-to-video sequel. A new show instead of rubber heads singing and dancing to the old music from the moives.

Hmmmm..............

Lion King has a live show with singers, dancers, acrobats, etc.

Mermaid has a stage show with water, lazers, fluorescent characters on a blacklit background.

Hunchback and Beauty and the Beast have/had a live, broadway style stage show.

Pocahontas has her live forrest friends and an ecologic message.

Tarzan has a rock your socks off show with dancers, acrobats and in-line skaters.

I guess that would make Toy Story the only animated feature with a show that consists of "rubber heads singing and dancing".

Personally, I'll wait until the show comes out before I condemn it as unoriginal and lacking in entertainment value.

 

[KNWVIKING]

.... Just keep in mind that no one will remember who the Raiders beat to get to the SB, but no one will forget who got thrashed by Tampa Bay.

Of course, this is advice from a Viking fan who only hopes Buffalo loses another SB before the Vike's do.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Viking...........is it better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all (or at least since 1968)........................

OK...............sorry...........back on topic now .

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by Another Voice
"Are you saying that a Woody's Roundup show can't be a quality show?"

No, but it would really be a nice change for something new and original instead of the theme park version of a direct-to-video sequel. A new show instead of rubber heads singing and dancing to the old music from the moives. Perhaps it won't be that, but recent history doesn't give one a lot of encouragement to hope for something new.

It is possible to create an enjoyable show that doesn't rely on characters from a film.

Did you ever see the Woody's Round-up Show at Disneyland? I heard it was very popular and that it had a high show quality as well, but I never saw it. Was wondering if you had it to compare by?

 

[All Aboard]

We may both see this change differently, but if we only evaluate it based on what we like this thread would likely only be a gripe session.

Or we can have a symantics session. My bad for using the word "like". That's what these discussions are all about - our take on what is good or bad for the direction WDW takes on these things. Personal preference, ideals, philosophies, business perspectives, etc. are very much a part of what drives these discussions. Take that out and you have little left.

Will a new Woody's Roundup show fit nicely withing the context and confines of Frontierland? Absolutely.

I'll create a bit of a split in Frontierland. I'll call one part Frontierland Proper - Diamond Horseshoe, Pecos Bill's, Mile Long Bar (sorry, I'll climb back out of my time machine.) This strip was intended to depict an honest-to-goodness frontier setting. Diamond Horseshoe fits, Woody's Roundup doesn't (again, in my opinion.)

 

[Mooobooks]

Disney is simply trying to save money, not increase the quality of the guest experience with a new show.
Just look at the reviews that the crap character shows out on the west coast have gotten! Pre-recorded sound tracks and juvenile character shows. They cost less to produce and less to maintain.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Take that out and you have little left.

I agree - but I've been beat up so many times by the anti-"I like" police that I thought I'd arrest someone else . I agree that personal preference plays such a large part in our opinions that we can't seperate it out.

I'll create a bit of a split in Frontierland. I'll call one part Frontierland Proper - Diamond Horseshoe, Pecos Bill's, Mile Long Bar (sorry, I'll climb back out of my time machine.) This strip was intended to depict an honest-to-goodness frontier setting. Diamond Horseshoe fits, Woody's Roundup doesn't (again, in my opinion.)

Well, I don't think they had honest to goodness shootin' arcades in the real old wild west. How about Coutry Bears a'singin and a'dancin? I don't think they had them either .

All joking aside, I think the theatre the Country Bears are in would be within the area you would call Frontierland Proper - and I don't think anyone has a problem with that. The exterior of the theatre the Bears are in fits the setting. The interior of the theatre fits the setting. It's just the Bears that are a stretch from reality. Why would a Woody's Roundup show have to be any different than that?

 

[KNWVIKING]

"Disney is simply trying to save money, not increase the quality of the guest experience with a new show"

The existing show is a cast of three. I would imagine the new show would have at least three charactors and probably a lot more. How are they saving money. From what I've read,they are discontinueing the food service in Diamond also, isn't that costing them profit ? Also, since these are dressed charactors,they can run the show more often. I don't see the change as a money saver.

 

[All Aboard]

Kidds, the more I think about it, the less trouble I am having with it fitting into Frontierland. Still, Diamond Horseshoe was a nice departure from character based shows.

However, since you are an admitted Jets fan, nothing in this post constitutes agreement of any kind.