Is it worth it to head back to AK in the evening for ROL?

[3littlecuties]

We have not yet seen ROL. On our next trip, we plan to go to AK on a day that there are morning EMH. I'm thinking that we can see most of what we want in the am and then we have lunch reservations at Yak & Yeti. We would plan to head out of the park after that. Would you go back to AK in the evening just to see ROL? Or go to another park for a few rides in the evening?

 

[han22735]

ROL was the least impressive show out of them all. So for us it wouldn't be worth it. It was a 1 and done show. Plus those concrete benches reallky sucked. If much rather hop to another park and do some rides

 

[mybestieismickey]

Have you watched it online yet? If you're undecided, maybe watch a bit on YouTube and make up your mind from there. I know it's not the same as in person, but if you're on the fence about it, you're probably not too worried about losing the surprise factor. When we went to WDW in April, DH and I went to ROL with the intention of previewing it for our trip this fall with the kids (I did want to be surprised and didn't watch it online). Our unanimous conclusion was that they would hate it. I liked it, DH wasn't a big fan.

It's beautiful, we just didn't think it would hold their attention. But my kids are 2 and 3 and like the "booms" (fireworks). YMMV.

 

[heidijanesmith]

ROL is our least favorite show, I would not go to AK just for ROL.

I would go to AK at night just to visit Pandora at night!

 

[Petey134]

I love AK at night but its definitely not because of ROL. I am very slow to say that I dislike ANYTHING at WDW but ROL will surely be something that I do every few years, definitely not every year. I would not go back to AK solely for purposes of seeing ROL, see it next time

 

[mckennarose]

My family thinks ROL is very pretty and fitting for the Zen-like vibe of AK. On our last trip we spent our morning in AK for our Tusker House ROL breakfast package, rode some rides and took our afternoon resort break. We went back to AK for supper at Flame Tree, grabbed a mojito at Dawa and went to the show. It was a great, relaxing day and we really loved the visuals in the show. Our trip was right before Pandora opened so it was not super busy in AK.

 

[Klayfish]

I don't think ROL is a "bad" show, but definitely not one I'd go back to the park for specifically.

 

[Hootch]

I'm not sure I would go solely for ROL, but I would go to see pandora at night.

 

[hes122]

I'll go against the grain and say yes, especially if you haven't seen it yet. I personally liked it better than Illuminations and would make a point for it to be part of my AK touring plan on a future trip. I can see why younger children may not like it though.

 

[CAS239]

Pandora is worth traveling just to AK to check out.

RoL is not imo. I wouldn't travel to the other side of the park just to go see RoL, let alone go to AK just for that.

 

[Shellyb84]

I would not go back just for RoL. However we love AK at night. Riding EE and Kali in the dark are so fun, and then there is Pandora which is beautiful at night.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Pandora is worth traveling just to AK to check out.

RoL is not imo. I wouldn't travel to the other side of the park just to go see RoL, let alone go to AK just for that.

That bad huh?

 

[rtbreneman]

I might not look up from my cinnamon glazed almonds to watch RoL if I was walking by it.

 

[MaC410]

Why are people so down on RoL? Is it actually a bad show or is it just because it's not as exciting as firework shows?

 

[han22735]

Why are people so down on RoL? Is it actually a bad show or is it just because it's not as exciting as firework shows?

I feel its just a bunch of floats moving around spraying water. The projections on water screens really didn't show well.

 

[samsteele]

This is a great thread. I have FP for ROL for 2 AK days this coming Sept. I haven't seen it yet. Now leaning to keeping one of the FP but swapping out the other for Dinosaur or whatever. Thinking that one ROL experience may be enough? ps used to the hard concrete benches from HS Indiana Jones. Agree it's nasty.

 

[Canesfan3234]

no. not at all. ROL is very underwhelming

 

[disneymagicgirl]

So since everyone here are such fans should I ditch my FP for the 10:30pm RoL in August? I want to see it but maybe a FP is not necessary?

 

[Silvermist999]

We went back at night to see ROL (we didn't have park hoppers) - it was our first time seeing it. We all enjoyed it, had to see it at least once. After that, we headed straight for Pandora. Next visit, we most likely will skip ROL since we will want to spend more time in Pandora.

 

[bryanb]

Some people like RoL but definitely doesn't seem like a slam dunk on these boards. There are certainly some impressive elements to the show, such as the size of the water screens, the technology used to position the floats on the lake, and some of the special effects.

I personally thought it was too slow-moving for my taste, and wished I liked it more after learning about how much work had gone into the show. I probably will not go out of my way to watch it again.