Rumor: MSEP closing?!

[maltdizzy]

Curious if you know...when a performer is part of a show that is retiring, does Disney work with the individual to try and find a new job for them within the company if the individuals wishes to continue to work for Disney? Even if the performer doesn't go into another entertainment position.

For instance, say a performer in Lights, Motors, Action wanted to stay with the company. Even if there are no spots in entertainment open, could that individual get relocated to food service/merchandise or something?

I don't know...Disney Parks seem to higher on an as needed basis. Being the person hired as more to do with timing, being the person in the interview sit when an opening comes available, than anything else.

At least at DL, performers are hired on per-contract basis, similar to any theatrical production. Creative careers often go from project to project, contract to contract (I know this well).

 

[brookstu]

I wouldn't mind it coming back in a few years. Something to look forward to on the 50th anniversary..

 

[afan]

They could ship it to FL quickly if they wanted to. The entire IndyCar series flies all of the cars and support to races in other countries and it's a week process each way if you include the time it takes for the teams to transport to Indy for the flight. The only thing that gets shipped via barge are the tires. I would imagine F1 has a similar process for all of their international races but I've never worked in that series.

 

[rteetz]

They could ship it to FL quickly if they wanted to. The entire IndyCar series flies all of the cars and support to races in other countries and it's a week process each way if you include the time it takes for the teams to transport to Indy for the flight. The only thing that gets shipped via barge are the tires. I would imagine F1 has a similar process for all of their international races but I've never worked in that series.

This isn't an Indy car series. You need new CMs to run the parade, you need to test the parade, do audio work, and make sure the parade can run in a place it wasn't specifically built for.

 

[mom2rtk]

They could ship it to FL quickly if they wanted to. The entire IndyCar series flies all of the cars and support to races in other countries and it's a week process each way if you include the time it takes for the teams to transport to Indy for the flight. The only thing that gets shipped via barge are the tires. I would imagine F1 has a similar process for all of their international races but I've never worked in that series.

I believe that's possible. But given Disney's cost cutting ways of late, I'm doubtful they would choose that route.

 

[JJZMgailey]

Saw on Twitter this afternoon that someone said she was told that MSEP is closing and the WDW Entertainment Cast has been informed the last parade will be 9/10/16. Clearly this is unconfirmed and just a rumor, but wondering if anyone else has heard anything? I know MSEP had its critics, but I really enjoyed it.

Thanks for starting this thread! It will definitely be interesting to see what happens next, especially since the MSEP was not at WDW to begin with.

Just wanted to stop by and let you know that your thread was chosen to be featured in today's edition of the DIS Daily Fix!

 

[afan]

This isn't an Indy car series. You need new CMs to run the parade, you need to test the parade, do audio work, and make sure the parade can run in a place it wasn't specifically built for.

I was simply talking about the logistics of moving something similar, not about the logistics of setting it all up. All I said was if they truly wanted it moved it can be done in a short time frame, no where did i mention any of the other stuff or a date when anything could be done, just that moving it can be done.

 

[LSLS]

I'm really close to canceling our September trip. I'm over this. I don't have some nostalgia to MSEP. I'm ok with getting rid of it FOR SOMETHING ELSE. Crying cost savings when revenue is up... I try not to hate, but Iger and his crew are getting REALLY close.

 

[soniam]

I hear you and I hope you're right. But I also think closing MSEP (with no replacement) is a pretty crazy move in the face of poor attendance recently, and right before the 45th anniversary.

It's not crazier than only having a fireworks show at Disneyland on the weekends.That's apparently what's happening there, in addition to them losing PTN. They at least have World of Color. I love MSEP. It's hugely nostalgic for me, and I would sorely miss it. However, I have pretty much paid for its tombstone now I also think there won't be any new show to replace it. Getting rid of MSEP might encourage more people to head to DHS, Epcot, or AK at night too. MK is really too crowded most nights. Maybe it would even encourage people to watch the Electrical Parade, which is also very nostalgic for me.

 

[mom2rtk]

It's not crazier than only having a fireworks show at Disneyland on the weekends.That's apparently what's happening there, in addition to them losing PTN. They at least have World of Color. I love MSEP. It's hugely nostalgic for me, and I would sorely miss it. However, I have pretty much paid for its tombstone now I also think there won't be any new show to replace it. Getting rid of MSEP might encourage more people to head to DHS, Epcot, or AK at night too. MK is really too crowded most nights. Maybe it would even encourage people to watch the Electrical Parade, which is also very nostalgic for me.

It's actually quite normal for them to drop back to weekend only fireworks at DL in the off season, so I don't think that surprised anyone. But many of us are unhappy that they are going from a 14 minute amazing show like Disneyland Forever to a lackluster 4 minute long Fantasy in the Sky. It's even worse at DL because Fantasmic has been dark all year and will be for a while longer.

We are planning a Disney trip this November. We initially planned on DLR, but I'm starting to feel cheated with what they have been up to. So I have not made any plans beyond our initial purchase of outgoing flights, which can easily be changed. We could still swap and head to WDW instead. Or we could completely pass (I can change the airfare to next summer for our trip to the beach).

Disney is not impressing me right now. Even if they have something planned (not counting on it) they need to get their act together and let people know so they can plan. It's insane that if I decide to swap to WDW all the ADRs are gone already and I'm closing in on FP reservation day, but I don't know some critical pieces of what will even be offered on the entertainment calendars (not even times, just offerings). Not everyone is local and just decides to drop in on a moment's notice.

 

[soniam]

It's actually quite normal for them to drop back to weekend only fireworks at DL in the off season, so I don't think that surprised anyone. But many of us are unhappy that they are going from a 14 minute amazing show like Disneyland Forever to a lackluster 4 minute long Fantasy in the Sky. It's even worse at DL because Fantasmic has been dark all year and will be for a while longer.

We are planning a Disney trip this November. We initially planned on DLR, but I'm starting to feel cheated with what they have been up to. So I have not made any plans beyond our initial purchase of outgoing flights, which can easily be changed. We could still swap and head to WDW instead. Or we could completely pass (I can change the airfare to next summer for our trip to the beach).

Disney is not impressing me right now. Even if they have something planned (not counting on it) they need to get their act together and let people know so they can plan. It's insane that if I decide to swap to WDW all the ADRs are gone already and I'm closing in on FP reservation day, but I don't know some critical pieces of what will even be offered on the entertainment calendars (not even times, just offerings). Not everyone is local and just decides to drop in on a moment's notice.

I understand that. I have been toying with a Memorial Day Weekend trip to either DLR or WDW. However, with so many things still closed at DLR and just not much time on a short holiday weekend, I think we will do a Universal Orlando only trip instead. We will be back in Orlando for WDW and Universal a week before our cruise in late July anyway.

 

[HatboxHaint]

After selling (well, sorta)... a whole new event at Tony's to watch the night time parade, which I know is still planned for late Sept (our reservation has not been cancelled) I can't imagine them NOT having something... Maybe PTN... Maybe not..... I doubt that it is something new as there is no way they wouldn't have made a big deal about it, but we will see... I just hope they don't make it a "cavalcade"... That is really my only concern... If they do, oh well... more time to ride rides I guess...

Maybe they move festival of fantasy parade to nighttime and have some extra cm's shine flashlights on the floats...#thanksshanghai

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

Maybe they move festival of fantasy parade to nighttime and have some extra cm's shine flashlights on the floats...#thanksshanghai

Maybe get some strobe lights and go Yeti Style.

 

[mom2rtk]

Maybe they move festival of fantasy parade to nighttime and have some extra cm's shine flashlights on the floats...#thanksshanghai

Maybe get some strobe lights and go Yeti Style.

Now you're talking!

 

[rteetz]

Interesting note.

Disney admitted they cut costs at the US parks this year. They wouldn't specify those cuts.

Also attendance is down again... Imagineers laid off... DL and possibly WDW entertainment going away...

It's starting to make perfect sense that WDW could very well be without a nighttime parade and DL goes seasonal.

 

[mom2rtk]

Interesting note.

Disney admitted they cut costs at the US parks this year. They wouldn't specify those cuts.

Also attendance is down again... Imagineers laid off... DL and possibly WDW entertainment going away...

It's starting to make perfect sense that WDW could very well be without a nighttime parade and DL goes seasonal.

I'm sorry to say that's exactly where my mind is going with this.

I think it's ill advised to try and fix an attendance problem by downgrading the product, but they didn't ask me.........

 

[HatboxHaint]

Interesting note.

Disney admitted they cut costs at the US parks this year. They wouldn't specify those cuts.

Also attendance is down again... Imagineers laid off... DL and possibly WDW entertainment going away...

It's starting to make perfect sense that WDW could very well be without a nighttime parade and DL goes seasonal.

That video of Dopey falling on goofy is starting to feel like some kind of metaphor for my fall trip.

 

[andyman8]

That video of Dopey falling on goofy is starting to feel like some kind of metaphor for my fall trip.

But hey, nobody got hurt!

Anyways, when I heard about PTN being axed, I have to admit I was very surprised, given how much money they spent on that. I doubt it will sit dormant never to be used again, but I don't know of any plans to bring it to WDW anytime soon. Also still trying to get confirmation on this MSEP story. There have been many times where rumors have emerged of MSEP going dark, though this time may be legit. Stay tuned. If so, I would be very disappointed and, honestly, as a shareholder, worried about how they're addressing these drops in attendance.

 

[rteetz]

I'm sorry to say that's exactly where my mind is going with this.

I think it's ill advised to try and fix an attendance problem by downgrading the product, but they didn't ask me.........

I agree but Pete Werner said this perfectly today on the Disunplugged podcast. Disney executives are tone deaf and short sighted. Unless we continue to see attendance drop and possibly revenue nothing is going to change. Stock holders love Bob Iger because of the stock prices but park lovers seem to not love bob so much...

 

[Missyrose]

Interesting note.

Disney admitted they cut costs at the US parks this year. They wouldn't specify those cuts.

Also attendance is down again... Imagineers laid off... DL and possibly WDW entertainment going away...

It's starting to make perfect sense that WDW could very well be without a nighttime parade and DL goes seasonal.

With the holiday parties starting at WDW as MSEP (possibly) closes, Disney doesn't have to address the parade issue until at least January. Four parties a week means the crowds on non-party nights are ridiculous. Those people will stuff MK to see Wishes, whether there's a night time parade or not. The real losers in this are the guests, who will have no night time parade and also will contend with much longer attraction lines in the evening at MK because there isn't a parade to occupy thousands upon thousands of guests.