Illuminations not what it once was from my point of view

[lustergirl]

<<<love Illuminations the best out of any other fireworks display at Disney.

 

[Wdwfan2016]

You mean like the one at the very beginning?

there were used in the finale

 

[MakiraMarlena]

So just saw illuminations tonight had fastpass. Not that impressed. I have seen this show so many times and this used to be my favorite night time show at any theme park.

I don't know if it has really been dumbed down or just certain elements where just down for that show? I am a local so we do go to the parks often. But things like the fire barge not working or maybe it has been removed? Not all the countries lite up as well. Well not morocco. I may just be me but is Disney in a bubble? They seem that they just don't care as much anymore about the quality of their products anymore. This seems to be a site wide thing to me. Or maybe they will continue to scale back everything untill they really see their profits from their domestic parks drop. Maybe my standards are too high. But for me Disney set that bar for me back in the 80's and 90's.

I know that fireworks and pyrotechnics aren't cheap but it seems really scaled back from shows in the past. Like HS Fireworks before Star Wars. Their show might have been the best fireworks anywhere. Does anyone remember villainy in the sky?

I know that us Disney fans can really be extremely brand loyal people but have we or just myself become blind to the going on's at Disney over the last say 5 or so years? So all in all how about thoughts on illuminations or any of those topics. Do any of you long time Wdw fans notice that their own standards, that they established, have begun to erode. If so why? Thanks.

1. Yes it has been changed. Some elements were removed. The fire barge was not one of them, so it may not have been functioning the night you saw it. Some elements also don't happen on certain nights when the wind is deemed too strong to use them.
2. Morocco has never lit up. (Neither has Norway.)
3. Yes, there are fewer fireworks than there were 5-10 years ago. But not a lot fewer.
4. I don't have that much of a problem with them removing a few fireworks. If I hasn't been told they were different I wouldn't have noticed it.
5. Because of the current WDW management which believes in cutting back as much as possible but still providing a passable experience, which is in conflict with past or frequent visitors who have come to expect more than passable.
6. If you're going back to childhood memories, it is possible you might be thinking of the pre-1999 version of the show, which was very different.

 

[jetdoctor]

HALT! OP, enough already with the saying you are sorry, and changing your title(really?).
YOU have an opinion, expressed it (quite well), and that's all there is to it.
Some people don't agree, that's okay.
This is a discussion board, you discussed your opinions, experiences, and that should be it. No Need to apologize. You'll never make everybody happy.
Just my thoughts.
By the way, I agree with you about things deteriorating at WDW, in several areas. There are many threads about this so you are not alone.

Thank you. You are right. I don't hate Disney but it seems to me anytime anyone makes a comment or gives any negative thought, there are always those who need to correct you. I am no a reporter. I'm just some guy that puts my 2 cent opinion. These forums are not that fun to me because if your wrong about a few little things they jump down your throat and let you know how wrong you are.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Always thought that Fantasmic was the best. Encompasses all that Disney stands for and the ending with the boat and all the characters nearly brings a tear to me eye.

Wishes is a close second. We've only experienced Holiday Wishes the past 5 or so years, but it still really hits me.

Illuminations is great. If you can find a solid spot, it's pretty awe-inspiring... but I can see how it doesn't "do it" for some people.

 

[jetdoctor]

Man I thought I was somewhat knowledgeable with most things Disney but it seems that there are people whom keep much better records or memories then I do. The show that was the my favorite was, not sure of the years, but it was when they did focus on the individual countries.

 

[Jennasis]

there were used in the finale

Eww...then thank goodness they stopped doing that. They're obnoxious enough at the start of the show.

 

[MHSweb79]

I agree with the OP- our family just doesn't enjoy the current Illuminations. We loved the pre-1999 show and I think this show is more than ready for an update.

 

[DavidNYC]

Seen in pretty much every year for the last 15 and don't really notice any changes (unless you're trying to compare a holiday ending to the non-holiday show). Any show after repeated viewings is bound to wear off on you.

 

[FastPasser]

.

 

[DebbieB]

I agree with the OP- our family just doesn't enjoy the current Illuminations. We loved the pre-1999 show and I think this show is more than ready for an update.

The current show was written for the Millenium (thousand circles round the sun). I agree, time for a new one.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I really think a lot of the good-old-days type complaining on this board has a lot to do with childhood memories that don't quite match up with reality.

I agree that a lot of the good ole Disney magic has waned over the years. My first visit was in '72 and I was 19. It really has changed over the years and not always for the better.

 

[BookGirl305]

I saw the show for the first time on Wednesday night. It was pretty good, but not the WOW I was expecting. Didn't get the lasers at all. I was in the FP section.

 

[FastPasser]

.

 

[Robo]

And just for the record, the IllumiNations shows have always had lasers.
In an early incarnation as the closing show at Epcot, it's name was "Laserphonic Fantasy."

The lasers (as far as I know, there are actually just one or two lasers... and LOTS of carefully-aimed mirrors) were/are just an interesting/exciting-looking effect as they course through the fireworks' smoke. If the wind conditions are wrong, the smoke does not linger in the proper location for it to catch the light of the lasers.

 

[BookGirl305]

From my angle, I could see a laser beam that did nothing. It didn't move or do a pattern or anything. It was just there.

 

[FastPasser]

.

 

[Srbright]

Thank you. You are right. I don't hate Disney but it seems to me anytime anyone makes a comment or gives any negative thought, there are always those who need to correct you. I am no a reporter. I'm just some guy that puts my 2 cent opinion. These forums are not that fun to me because if your wrong about a few little things they jump down your throat and let you know how wrong you are.

I think people on these types of boards put too much thought into the tone and underlying meaning instead of focusing on the actual words used (Brell Rants anyone?). I always picture the words in like oompalopa voices from little tweedledee and tweedledumbs Because I have to agree with my husband in this. Really none of you are real people. You could be my imagination or one guy on a computer in his mothers basement perpetuating an elaborate hoax. Think of that next time you assign tone to message board posts.

Has Disney failed to give you that which you purchased? You have a ticket that grants you admission to the park. They don't say every cast member will treat you like a rock star and every attraction will be open when you are there.

That would be like me ranting at the Guggenheim because "Starry Night" was being maintained and not on display when I went. I wonder if there is a message board for the Guggenheim?

Stacy

 

[Farro]

I can only watch Illunminations from start to finish once a trip and then I don't have the patience to watch fully another night. The rest of the time it's just background while I enjoy some cocktails.

Really, I only watch fireworks at any park once during the trip, none of them make me feel the need to purposely view twice.

 

[jetdoctor]

And just four the record, the IllumiNations shows have always had lasers.
In an early incarnation as the closing show at Epcot, it's name was "Laserphonic Fantasy."

The lasers (as far as I know, there are actually just one or two lasers... and LOTS of carefully-aimed mirrors) were/are just an interesting/exciting-looking effect as they course through the fireworks' smoke. If the wind conditions are wrong, the smoke does not linger in the proper location for it to catch the light of the lasers.

Want happened to the laser coming out of the American adventure? It used to project onto spaceship earth. Sometimes it would write out thing like seimens. I have seen it do Mike from monsters inc. too. You could see that laser in the window right in the middle of the building.