Norway Ride & Rivers Of Light (Disappointing Progress Updates)

[pinkgirlmommy]

Hi! I am just trying to catch up with all of the changes that are going on! We are going in December and since nothing is released for even the Fall yet, but what are everyone's thoughts on what will be happening w/ AK in December? Do we think they will have the night show, nighttime Safari and extended hours still then? Have to plan itinerary so I can book dining in a couple of weeks and it is so hard to do so early with no park hours and so many changes so I am trying to figure it all out!

 

[mikepizzo]

4) I will be attending the preview on May 24th, and can see if they pulled it off.

So how did it go?

 

[rteetz]

Hi! I am just trying to catch up with all of the changes that are going on! We are going in December and since nothing is released for even the Fall yet, but what are everyone's thoughts on what will be happening w/ AK in December? Do we think they will have the night show, nighttime Safari and extended hours still then? Have to plan itinerary so I can book dining in a couple of weeks and it is so hard to do so early with no park hours and so many changes so I am trying to figure it all out!

Rivers of light is still a question mark. Everything else at night will happen in December and for as long as they want to in the future.

 

[rteetz]

So how did it go?

I saw reports that the full show wasn't shown to CMs last night.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

So how did it go?

{Nighttime AK, will be viewed differently by many.
. . . if you Love AK, you will like the night version
. . . if you are luke-warm about AK, then you probably will be truly underwhelmed}

1) What a MAJOR disappointment the evening was . . . BUMMER.
2) It was great seeing some CM's I have not met in some time.
. . . the event was for CM's of AK and up to three guests
. . . a few of us from other areas also got an invite
. . . so, a relatively small amount of people . . . my own guess was 2,000-3,000
3) But, as for a CM-Preview, the night was a DUD!
4) For such a huge build-up, Nighttime AK is nothing to write-home about, and not worth the journey
. . . they had two free ice cream carts, but no other food/drink/bar stands available
. . . they did not even have parking lot trams running, and a few folks ended up walking quite a distance from their car
. . . EVENING SAFARI
. . . the Evening Safari did have a few nocturnal animals, which was nice
. . . the lighting was not as good as we were told to expect, so animals were tough to see
. . . TREE OF LIFE
. . . the Tree of Life was cute
. . . the Tree had animals projected onto the trunk, that made the current concrete animals seem to move!
. . . JUNGLE BOOK
. . . the Jungle Book did not even open, as the cast is not all hired yet, and certainly not rehearsed *
. . . TIFFINS
. . . although not open, a few of us snuck in and got a view of the new Tiffins restaurant
. . . we did think the new uniforms were well designed and attractive
. . . EXPEDITION EVEREST
. . . there were lights added for the nighttime riding
. . . some animations shown against a few walls

* ALERT: The Jungle Book is having an unannounced Soft Opening this Friday (May 27th). If at AK, look for it.

 

[AngiTN]

I wonder though, how different it will be once you add in the Night Time Show? I mean, can you really give a good evaluation of what is happening at AK at night when the biggest part wasn't presented?
What about the Harambe Street Party? Did they run that? Was it like the street party during Harambe Nights?

 

[rteetz]

I wonder though, how different it will be once you add in the Night Time Show? I mean, can you really give a good evaluation of what is happening at AK at night when the biggest part wasn't presented?
What about the Harambe Street Party? Did they run that? Was it like the street party during Harambe Nights?

I saw photos of the street party so that was running.

 

[rteetz]

{Nighttime AK, will be viewed differently by many.
. . . if you Love AK, you will like the night version
. . . if you are luke-warm about AK, then you probably will be truly underwhelmed}

1) What a MAJOR disappointment the evening was . . . BUMMER.
2) It was great seeing some CM's I have not met in some time.
. . . the event was for CM's of AK and up to three guests
. . . a few of us from other areas also got an invite
. . . so, a relatively small amount of people . . . my own guess was 2,000-3,000
3) But, as for a CM-Preview, the night was a DUD!
4) For such a huge build-up, Nighttime AK is nothing to write-home about, and not worth the journey
. . . they had two free ice cream carts, but no other food/drink/bar stands available
. . . they did not even have parking lot trams running, and a few folks ended up walking quite a distance from their car
. . . EVENING SAFARI
. . . the Evening Safari did have a few nocturnal animals, which was nice
. . . the lighting was not as good as we were told to expect, so animals were tough to see
. . . TREE OF LIFE
. . . the Tree of Life was cute
. . . the Tree had animals projected onto the trunk, that made the current concrete animals seem to move!
. . . JUNGLE BOOK
. . . the Jungle Book did not even open, as the cast is not all hired yet, and certainly not rehearsed *
. . . TIFFINS
. . . although not open, a few of us snuck in and got a view of the new Tiffins restaurant
. . . we did think the new uniforms were well designed and attractive
. . . EXPEDITION EVEREST
. . . there were lights added for the nighttime riding
. . . some animations shown against a few walls

* ALERT: The Jungle Book is having an unannounced Soft Opening this Friday (May 27th). If at AK, look for it.

Maybe your expectations were too high? I just feel that I'm not expecting to be wowed by anything yet however I am expecting to enjoy AK at night. AK is my favorite park so I'm looking forward to what's coming. Everything you mentioned here besides Tiffins was previewed to media already as well so info on it was out there which have kept my expectations lower. I don't know just my perspective I guess.

 

[AngiTN]

I just think without everything running and in full operation it's pretty hard to evaluate the entire nighttime experience.
And you can't discount the energy that comes from having more guests there. Sometimes empty is better but sometimes a crowd is better.
The one part I do find disappointing is the nighttime safari. The prior comments about those who had seen the lights said the simulated sunset was really good. I hope maybe something just wasn't working correctly and it will be better. I'll see for myself here in a couple of weeks.

 

[Turn the Page]

Heck, I'm just looking forward to being able to be in AK without the sun beating down on me at 90 degrees. The rides and shows are just a bonus.

I kid, I kid, but seriously, I am looking forward to being able to be there when it is a bit cooler out. Sure, some things will be reduced, like animal viewing, but it doesn't matter how light it is outside if you're watching Finding Nemo and the Lion King.

 

[HopperFan]

. . . JUNGLE BOOK
. . . the Jungle Book did not even open, as the cast is not all hired yet, and certainly not rehearsed *

* ALERT: The Jungle Book is having an unannounced Soft Opening this Friday (May 27th). If at AK, look for it.

SO ... CM preview was 24th and 25th, so as of Tues/Wed the show had not been fully cast nor rehearsed.
BUT ... They are going to do a soft showing on the 27th, Friday.
AND ... Disney site shows it opening with 2 show times on the 28th, Saturday.

This all seems pretty tight to go from not all actors or rehearsals done to a opening night in just 4 days.
Based on this info it sounds like another disappointment about to happen.
Hopefully they pull something off, especially for those that are paying for a dinner/package.

 

[AngiTN]

SO ... CM preview was 24th and 25th, so as of Tues/Wed the show had not been fully cast nor rehearsed.
BUT ... They are going to do a soft showing on the 27th, Friday.
AND ... Disney site shows it opening with 2 show times on the 28th, Saturday.

This all seems pretty tight to go from not all actors or rehearsals done to a opening night in just 4 days.
Based on this info it sounds like another disappointment about to happen.
Hopefully they pull something off, especially for those that are paying for a dinner/package.

I don't know, while I know it's more than just dancing, it's nothing for professional dancers to learn and master a routine in a few days, less than a week easily. They are very used to that.
Sure it gets better the longer they work but it's not necessarily a disaster with a short turn around.

 

[rteetz]

SO ... CM preview was 24th and 25th, so as of Tues/Wed the show had not been fully cast nor rehearsed.
BUT ... They are going to do a soft showing on the 27th, Friday.
AND ... Disney site shows it opening with 2 show times on the 28th, Saturday.

This all seems pretty tight to go from not all actors or rehearsals done to a opening night in just 4 days.
Based on this info it sounds like another disappointment about to happen.
Hopefully they pull something off, especially for those that are paying for a dinner/package.

I can't imagine all the cast isn't hired yet. I'd definitely believe they aren't fully rehearsed yet but not hired I'm not so sure.

 

[AngiTN]

I can't imagine all the cast isn't hired yet. I'd definitely believe they aren't fully rehearsed yet but not hired I'm not so sure.

I thought the same thing. I thought most of the cast were hired for RoL, just getting repurposed to JB.

 

[HopperFan]

I don't know, while I know it's more than just dancing, it's nothing for professional dancers to learn and master a routine in a few days, less than a week easily. They are very used to that.
Sure it gets better the longer they work but it's not necessarily a disaster with a short turn around.

I can't imagine all the cast isn't hired yet. I'd definitely believe they aren't fully rehearsed yet but not hired I'm not so sure.

I thought the same thing. I thought most of the cast were hired for RoL, just getting repurposed to JB.

My post was purely in response to Mr. Scuppers review of the CM Preview night.

That said, it makes perfects sense given the time frame that they would repurpose the RoL actors for Jungle Book since they are paying them. SO they have had over a month to rehearse and get ready for the new show, it should have been perfect ....... and yet they still can't pull it off at the CM Preview night. If they aren't going to show them, then just say so, why let them attend expecting it to happen then "not be ready"? This whole thing just makes one question what is going on. I know I don't believe their RoL excuses anymore.

 

[rteetz]

My post was purely in response to Mr. Scuppers review of the CM Preview night.

That said, it makes perfects sense given the time frame that they would repurpose the RoL actors for Jungle Book since they are paying them. SO they have had over a month to rehearse and get ready for the new show, it should have been perfect ....... and yet they still can't pull it off at the CM Preview night. If they aren't going to show them, then just say so, why let them attend expecting it to happen then "not be ready"? This whole thing just makes one question what is going on. I know I don't believe their RoL excuses anymore.

So what do you believe about RoL? Why do you think that show isn't happening?

The jungle book barges were out and water screen tests were happening during the CM event they just didn't get the whole show.

 

[AngiTN]

My post was purely in response to Mr. Scuppers review of the CM Preview night.

That said, it makes perfects sense given the time frame that they would repurpose the RoL actors for Jungle Book since they are paying them. SO they have had over a month to rehearse and get ready for the new show, it should have been perfect ....... and yet they still can't pull it off at the CM Preview night. If they aren't going to show them, then just say so, why let them attend expecting it to happen then "not be ready"? This whole thing just makes one question what is going on. I know I don't believe their RoL excuses anymore.

Actually, I don't believe the invitations ever said anything about JB show being part of it. Someone posted a photo of one and it wasn't mentioned anywhere on the list of activities for the night.
Unless there was something more that told them they were getting RoL then the assumption for it being included was on the attendees, not Disney.

 

[beer dave]

I'll let you all know how it goes in a couple of days.....

 

[TheRustyScupper]

This all seems pretty tight to go from not all actors or rehearsals done to a opening night in just 4 days.
The jungle book barges were out and water screen tests were happening during the CM event they just didn't get the whole show.

1) DUH !
. . . four days to get everything right?
. . . let's hope some director or producer TRULY has Pixie Dust in their pocket
2) Regardless what was or wasn't "happening", the whole-show was not presented.
. . . like getting 1/2 of a Stars Wars movie and not knowing the rest of the story
. . . this would not be acceptable to any audience
. . . one-half a show is usually worse than not seeing the entire show
. . . there is no credit for showing a "teaser"
. . . lots of us in the audience said (out loud, and in unison), "So, what else, Joe ?!?!"

 

[TheRustyScupper]

So what do you believe about RoL? Why do you think that show isn't happening?

1) There is no "Think" about it.
2) There are SIGNIFICANT technical issues.
3) From our understanding for CM's involved in RoL, it is micro-switch and programming related. *
. . . things happen when they should not
. . . things don't happen when they should
4) In this case, the entire cast IS hired and has done rehearsal, as opposed to Jungle Book.

* NOTE: This is not good. In the late 1960's, we learned about Ladder Diagrams and Ladder Programs, so the micro switches should not be an issue. We had total assembly lines run with such programming, and most auto and truck companies still use it.