Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

[HopperFan]

He had a conference call he has to be on tonight so couldn't go then, and tomorrow we have reservations for the Candlelight Processional dinner package and we're going to the 8.15pm show. He doesn't care at all, he has no interest in it - meanwhile I've text five different people telling them "you tell me as soon as you know if it sucks or not!"

There is plenty of reports coming out of the theater ....

 

[KateP85]

There is plenty of reports coming out of the theater ....

Really? Where? My one friend text and said "not good" but when I asked her what was not good, she didn't respond. What are you hearing?

 

[bluezy]

I'm seeing mixed reviews on Twitter. Seems like it's technically and visually stunning but no story line and no "wow" moment. Saw a few people say the show was boring. Others say it was worth the wait.

I'm looking forward to reading more reviews. And hopefully some day actually seeing the show in person.

 

[HopperFan]

Really? Where? My one friend text and said "not good" but when I asked her what was not good, she didn't respond. What are you hearing?

This came from mulitple sources on twitter, not just one.

Photos I saw theater looked full.
Show was delayed about 20 minutes due to technical difficulties/reset issue.
Two barges hit each other.
Show stopped again.
Resumed.

Reports are it is very "conceptual/abstract", some impressive technical things, probably Disney's best use of technical components, great music and beautiful costumes. Better than Jungle Book.

BUT ..... they say there is no story, it is boring, no wow moments, many hoping this is a not the final product - especially since they had so many technical issues happen.

A person who travels nonstop to ALL Disney parks and I trust totally said "I do hope Disney doesn't rush RoL to a public release, though. Iron out issues, debut in 2017 in a Animal Kingdom re-launch with Pandora."

The consistent message that came up over and over .... it's not ready .... it needs more work, and it needs to work consistently. BUT once they fix things - it will be something beautiful to see, and a good fit for AK. WELL that is the nice reviews.

* A couple are reporting Technical CMs said stoppage was technical problems. A few are saying some other CMs were saying they stopped the whole show because they saw someone taping ......... (SMH) if you see someone taping you go stop them, you don't stop the whole show and disrupt the timing of a sensitive show.
------

Only photos I saw ... other than the BIG sign that said NO PHOTOS during show. I won't post their name but this was before the show.

So i was able to get some quick shots in of the lotus blossom before I put my phone away. #RiversofLight

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

I was in AK past closing with my daughter tonight. The theater was very full at 7:30. Wanted to be able to stay SO badly! Everything looked absolutely beautiful. But I guess it did the first time around on testing as well. Lol.

 

[KateP85]

OK, so this was the feedback I got.

Friend that said "not good" was talking about the show having to restart because of tech issues. She then said that two barges ran into each other. Her final review was "it was fine."

Another friend loved it though. She said it was beautiful, she loved the music, and she said it looked stunning. So that's promising.

It doesn't quite sound ready yet though.

 

[HopperFan]

OK, so this was the feedback I got.

Friend that said "not good" was talking about the show having to restart because of tech issues. She then said that two barges ran into each other. Her final review was "it was fine."

Another friend loved it though. She said it was beautiful, she loved the music, and she said it looked stunning. So that's promising.

It doesn't quite sound ready yet though.

Sounds consistent across the bulk of the reports. Needs work, but the varying components are beautiful. I would rather they get it fine tuned and kick off later. This thing has to run more than once per night - smoothly, even if they don't address the "boring" factor - they have to fix the technical issues. The worst you can do is have a theater full of guests and things freeze, or floats move or hit each other.

Written REVIEWS are starting to show up:

https://twitter.com/easywdw/status/803082233120772096

https://twitter.com/Blog_Mickey/status/803085729341521920

 

[ckelly14]

Sounds great, hope to see it in my AK day Dec 19

 

[brnrss34]

Cheers from the lounge that they get it running smoothly soon. Can't believe baby ROlf is 8months! Can't believe we are still discussing this. Here's to hoping Pandora will be open for my Sept. trip.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Technical issues are a huge thing. They have to be able to run this more than once per night, and they have to be able to run it through each time to stay on schedule. Technical problems are a killer.

I wouldn't expect to see it on schedule any time soon if they can't even get through one run.

I suspect the cut in cast is more because until they can get the floats working entirely, they need to economize on performers. Expanding cast is easy enough if you have a working basis for the show.

 

[HopperFan]

Josh's review is in ................. and the one thing he talked about no one else mentioned ....

"....missing. This includes the “about a hundred” lanterns that were supposed to float autonomously around Discovery River. They were reportedly cut ..." WOW. That and the animals were the two main things I looked forward to. All the promo pieces showing all those lanterns, so cool. That may have been the WOW moment that could have changed reviews. His last paragraph is a good synopsis.

He also said the fire was missing and the cast cut by more than half. With all these missing pieces, it would seem that either this is a preliminary preview and they will keep working on it OR we are getting a much reduced ROL. I truly hope they go back to work and find a way to bring these components back, bring the show up to WOW level.


josh‏ @easywdw

here's that review: http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/reiew-rivers-of-light-first-impressions-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/… basically, RoL is a "good show." it is not a "good nighttime spectacular" in its current state

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Well, if the floats are still colliding, fire seems... possibly problematic.

 

[HopperFan]

Well, if the floats are still colliding, fire seems... possibly problematic.

 

[KateP85]

Well, if the floats are still colliding, fire seems... possibly problematic.

Right?!

 

[rteetz]

Well, if the floats are still colliding, fire seems... possibly problematic.

The way I've heard it explained is the show was paused due to a technical issue. The pause doesn't cause the floats to just stop immediately (physics) so they kept moving in which the floats then collided.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The way I've heard it explained is the show was paused due to a technical issue. The pause doesn't cause the floats to just stop immediately (physics) so they kept moving in which the floats then collided.

Right, but if that happens, and you have all the fire around...

Physics is a harsh mistress.

 

[rteetz]

Right, but if that happens, and you have all the fire around...

Physics is a harsh mistress.

While true I believe only the big lotus was supposed to have fire and I don't believe that is one that was collided with.

 

[HopperFan]

DISCLAIMER: This is for chuckles purposes only.

Some were calling this a dumpster fire and wondering if they should take fire extinguishers with them to the preview.

But alas, there was no fire .....

 

[TheFloatingBear]

I seem to recall something else being referred to as a dumpster fire....

When I read the easyWDW review this morning, I was struck by the irony of the missing lanterns - oh the lantern talk we had!

 

[HopperFan]

Pretty sure this is not his first preview of this show, maybe his third?

1) More review to come.
. . . last night review is basically "OK, now what"
. . . for the most part, "Why did I waste the time?"
. . . no real "Holy, Moly:" moments
. . . more like, "Hmmm, what bars are open this late?"
2) We are going, AGAIN, to the Monday performance for the (approx) 20-minute show.
. . . if I am lucky Security will allow my flask filled with Scotch
. . . I might need a boost to get me through the show
3) We snuck into the Sunday review.
4) FAULURE, FALURE, FAILURE, FAILURE, FAILURE, FAILURE.
5) The program/parade was stopped due to collision alarms !
6) REALLY, REALLY, REALLY bad !
7) Let's see if they get it fixed tonight.
8) And, we will take a "stadium seat" with us, otherwise you sit on BARE CONCRETE bleachers.

9) ARE YOU KIDDING ME ?
10) Disney couldn't afford a plastic bleacher runner for people to sit upon?
11) Some folks complained of getting "concrete rash" on their behinds.
12) No designer thought of cold-concrete rashes ?????

NOTE1:
With all the SUPER-DUPER brains people like Rohde are "supposed" to have, they would have anticipated such breakdowns.
Nope.
So, the SAFETY system worked and stopped the performance.
I am sorry, but I have A LOT of system design experience.
I would think this would not happen - especially at a Cast Preview performance.
Looks like ANOTHER boondoggle for AK and Imagineering !
I am sorry, but I have little respect for Rohde and his "alleged" Imagineering crew.
Of course, Disney laid off the vast majority of the Imagineering Dept to outsource ride design work.
Hey Ogre (I mean Iger), how is that working for you ???????
. . . terrible nighttime AK Safari Ride
. . . mediocre MK Seven-Dwarfs ride

NOTE2: I once said, I was only assuming the problems with the RoL ride. After talking last night (Sunday) with some of the engineers, I can PLAINLY see the issues, as my design guys/gals had to overcome the same basic situations/circumstances in Over-the-Road Big Trucks. Pardon me, but this was ill-conceived by design staff and Rohde. Sometimes, one must expend the bucks to make things work, instead of skimping like they did on this attraction.

NOTE:3 AK Scoreboard
New AK attractions:
. . . nighttime safari - terrible implementation
. . . rivers of light - good show, but with lots of failure modes
. . . nighttime tree of life - nicely done and very clever
One out of three is not a good percentage for anyone, let alone Disney !!!!!!!!