Disney on Ice has me thinking...

[chernabog]

My and family and I recently attended Disney on Ice when it came to Buffalo and ever since, I have been pondering the apparent demise of Disney and their inability to create a smash hit movie. After I watched three classic films, Snow White, Little Mermaid & 101 Dalmations, performed on frozen pond, I said to my wife how lame I thought the show was. Disney's failed attempts at re-creating a Lion King or Little Mermaid type film has even affected Disney on Ice. This, then made me wonder if the Animation department's lack of imagination is just a smaller part of a much bigger problem. When I read through these posts and threads and see how much money Disney has lost, the rumors that Pixar my sever ties with "Uncle Mikie" and the numerous corporate sponsors that have pulled out of the parks, it concerns me about the future of Disney and their inability to capture the imagination of it's fans. Could it be that we have become over-satuarated with Disney and that every place we look, Disney has it's hand in something else? Or the fact that we have new movie releases EVERY year? Or simply that "Uncle Mikie" has selfishly forgotten about Walt's vision and is only concerned with his bottom line? Whatever it is, it certainly has me concerned about the direction that this company is going. My only hope is that I will be able to fullfill my 42 year obligation with the Vacation Club before they decide to fold up their tents and pack it in!!!

 

[zakatak]

HEY!! I know EXACTLY where Tonawanda, NY is!!

(Hi neighbor!)

I thought Disney On Ice was nice, until the 101 Dalmations. I thought that sucked. My little girls (2 and 4) LOVED the Little Mermaid and Cinderella. Now... if you really want to see a horrible show, go to the UB Performing Arts Center and see their "interpretaion" of Cinderella. OYE! My Cinderella crazed DD (4) pretty much collapsed during it of starvation. lol... really was bad.

Now, onto Disney... Three of the last 5 things I have bought at Disney World have broken. The little plastic figurines they sell (Mulan, etc) are junk. Mulan broke as well as Mushu, and as they are this wierd plastic, the hot glue gun didn't work. My earrings I bought in November just broke... the stone came out of Mickey. Sweaters and shirts from the Disney Store have ripped along the seam of the armhole (NOT from over wearing them, either!).

So... I just turned down a trip to WDW OUT OF BUFFALO from March 5-March 9th due to the terror threats. But honestly, we are going in July and I am not going to purchase any more toys there for my kids. I am going to TRY to do special treats (go somewhere, ride something, etc) instead of toys. I am sick of the quality going downhill.

OK... I have enjoyed the last couple of movies (Lilo and Stitch, Treasure Planet, Atlantis) but don't understand the sequals going into the theatres. That just looks greedy to me.

Well, off now. We finally HAD a snow day!

Karen (from Akron, NY)

 

[chernabog]

Don't get me wrong, both my DD's enjoyed the show and the look and my youngest's (20 months) face when it started was priceless, but in the big scheme of things I was very, very disappointed. We went to Toy Story (remember, Pixar!) on Ice several years ago and loved it. I guess I just expected more and have been really disappointed with all the negative talk lately!
SNOW! This is nothing!!! I bet after you woke up this morning you had second thoughts about cancelling your trip

 

[zakatak]

You're right! I still sit here wondering if I am sane or insane to cancel. I think I might take a poll, but the dis people are probably tired of my indecision.

Karen

 

[chesirechik]

So the 100 years of Magic Disney on Ice isn't all that good? I have tickets for 2/26 in Pittsburgh, PA and really looking forward to it. What made not so good? The perfomers/performances? Costumes? Just curious so I know what I'm in for.,....and how much DH is going to complain!

 

[chernabog]

Chesirechik, I'm not sure if you'll be getting the same show as we did here in Buffalo. I know that when I watch my satellite dish, I often see other Disney on Ice shows advertised and they' are not the same ones that pass through my area. As for the show, it wasn't so much as the performance itself that disappointed me, but the fact that they had to use older movies to theme it after. That started me thinking about the state of Disney. My family and I enjoyed the performances, except for the 101 Dalmations segment (it was painful to watch wasn't it Zakatak?) but it just made me believe that there's trouble in paradise!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I think you raise some very valid points, chernabog. Not sure about my thoughts on them, but I do see your point. As for corporate sponsors, two big ones at Epcot this year, AT&T with SE and GE with Illuminations.

 

[Wishing on a star]

We took DS to see the Disney on Ice Show... The one with Snow White, Cinderella, Mermaid, 1001 Dalmations. (Other ice shows feature some newer Disney movies....) And, while the sets and costumes, etc... were all GREAT!!! I too was very very disappointed.

I really and truly feel that in some ways, Disney has lost touch with the 'Magic'. It simply was not there..... Not one little bit.

The show started off FANTASTIC, with the Snow White piece... The beautiful and innocent Snow White, the adorable 7 Dwarves... And a really awesome set. But, after the first 15 minutes, the whole show went downhill... Hard... and Fast.....

Each of the segments went WAY overboard on the villian.... My son was almost in tears at one point.... There were segments where there were like dozens of skaters on the ice in fast moving, almost frenetic, numbers.... And, Since when does Cinderella come out for the Ball, and NOT wear a beautiful long gown!!! My poor little son only wanted to see the cute little Dalmations... Yeah Right... after sitting through the whole show, ( of only which the Characters of Snow White and Sebastian were any good AT ALL..... ) And telling DS that the Dalmations would be on soon.... As one poster said... That piece was awful!!! I could just see the disappointment in DS eyes... My heart was not full of happiness and magic that night.... Disney let us down.....

In short, I am happy to see here that someone else agrees that Disney is straying way off course!

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

Possibly the only decent excuse I can come up with pertaining to the quality of the show is the fact that Disney on Ice isn't actually produced by the Disney company but rather Feld Entertainment which also runs Ringling Bros. and Barnimum Bailey Circus. We went to the 3 Jungle Adventures show last year and thought it was tremendous! I actually managed to sneak back downtown to the arena and see it a second time. I also must attest to the fact that some things that happened at the first show I saw didn't happen the next day at the second show. It's quite possible that it could have been just one of those "off" days for the cast. If it's the actual music/ choreograhpy, etc that wasn't good, then, well, that's a whole other story.

I do agree, however with your views on Disney's (lack of) imagination. Walt once said, "I've never believed in doing sequels. I didn't want to waste the time I have doing a sequel; I'd rather be using that time doing something new and different. It goes back to when they wanted me to do more pigs." Unfortunately, Michael Ei$ner could care less about doing something new and different. He'd rather make a quick buck off of cheaply produced sequels. Instead of milking that past for every cent possible, Ei$ner needs to concern himself with building a road to the future or, sadly, there won't be one for the Walt Disney Company.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, I know that the shows are actually produced by Feld entertainment... I say, so what.... It is still DISNEY on ice...

It really was so disappointing.... My little DS didn't care one tiny hoot how 'talented' the skaters were... or how 'elaborate' the production... We went to see Cinderella, and the Dalmations...

And, like I said, they just weren't there. It was indeed more of a 'circus'.... Not meaning that in a good way either...

SAD!!!!!