Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

[bluezy]

I know many will talk about the lack luster finale but it really was never to have a in your face, lots of pyro type finale. It's supposed to be a grand and elegant show. It accomplishes that job.

But it should have *something* (not necessarily pyro) that wraps up the show and ties the pretty bow on the package. It shouldn't leave a theater full of people sitting there looking at each other and saying, "Is it over? Was that the end or did something malfunction and cause the show to stop?"

 

[rteetz]

But it should have *something* (not necessarily pyro) that wraps up the show and ties the pretty bow on the package. It shouldn't leave a theater full of people sitting there looking at each other and saying, "Is it over? Was that the end or did something malfunction and cause the show to stop?"

I think it's hard for Disney to recreate something like that here. We have been spoiled with amazing fireworks shows and things like fantasmic. No the show doesn't overwhelm but it's hard to do something like that at this point.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

Sort of an illuminations version 2.0 to me.

That's what I said, too!

I did not like the tiger projections on the water screens and the middle part was SLLLOOOOW.

I didn't like most of the critter projections but thought the light show with the lotus flowers was lovely. I'll likely check it out in person; amateur video is tough to gauge.

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

I watched it. I was underwhelmed.

I think a great finale would have been possible with great story telling and more live performers(like it was originally intended).

I get that not every night time show is supposed to have the same vibe, but I think this was absolutely meant to be more than it ended up being. They hyped it up SO much and the original concept art was unbelievable. So either the concept art and build up blew the show way out of proportion(which is bad marketing), or the mix of technical complications and budget cuts made it way less than Imagineers originally intended.

With creativity anything is possible. We don't need fireworks and pyrotechnics and lasers to make a great finale. What about an amazing score and an incredibly talented cast with amazing costumes? What about developing a storyline with a beginning, middle and climax? This is what Disney Imagineers are known for. The special effects should support the story, not the other way around.

I'm a Disney Kool-Aid drinker, no doubt. I have yet to have had a bad trip, and I go infrequently enough that something is always new to me! I love Disney! But I have noticed budget cuts and have read about them. Mostly it doesn't bother me, but this kind of does. It's 7 months late now, right? And they're still calling it a nighttime "spectacular" on their website. Seems like it should be referred to as just a closing show at this point. This screams budget cuts and creative constraints to me. How many performers now? 4? They had to make the show shorter because they couldn't fill up the time? And people are still calling it slow and boring? Who cares if it's visually stunning - any repeat visitor knows these same effects are used in F! and World of Color and all the others. The reason the others still feel unique is because they actually put effort into telling a creative story and making ALL aspects of the show unique. Without all that, these effects feel redundant. I've seen it before.

I'm going to give this a fair chance. Heck I'm gonna get a Dining package(halfway because I have never gotten to experience any TS at AK, and also, especially being underwhelmed, I don't want to be stressed about getting a FP+ or fighting crowds to get a good spot). I want to see this in person and have it blow my mind. But I'm actually really disappointed, I've been extremely excited about what they've been suggesting this will be. What a waste of beautiful floats, they look stunning and don't do anything.

 

[pepperandchips]

It's 7 months late now, right?

Almost 10. This was supposed to open Earth Day last year.

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

Almost 10. This was supposed to open Earth Day last year.

I rest my case!!-!

 

[jlundeen]

I started watching the one Ryan posted, but the person filming was too annoying, and I really couldn't see/hear it that well, so only saw a very small bit. I'll wait for the real thing, but only if they FP it.

The fire that consumed me for this event last year this time (when I first met you wonderful loungers!!) went out long ago. Now, I'm interested to see it in person, but based on other people's reactions, and the time we have been waiting for "the magnificent colors and light playing on the water"....well... I'm not basing my trip plans on it.

 

[bluezy]

I watched it. I was underwhelmed.

I think a great finale would have been possible with great story telling and more live performers(like it was originally intended).
...

With creativity anything is possible. We don't need fireworks and pyrotechnics and lasers to make a great finale. What about an amazing score and an incredibly talented cast with amazing costumes? What about developing a storyline with a beginning, middle and climax? This is what Disney Imagineers are known for. The special effects should support the story, not the other way around.

...

Exactly. Broadway shows, movies, etc. don't need fireworks and lasers to indicate the end of a show. A good story line, dramatic costumes, bringing all the major characters/floats back on stage, and a great swell in the music will nicely wrap up a show and evoke that "wow" feeling you want from a finale.

Unfortunately, with all the problems, delays, and cuts I don't think this show will ever be anything close to what was originally advertised.

 

[dachsie]

I watched it and was underwhelmed as well. I know it was trying to tell a story, but I didn't get it. I think it needs a narrator like Illuminations has. I loved the floats and the water coming from the lotuses. I'm sure it will be better in person but I will get a FP or dining pkg to see it

 

[ArielSRL]

I didn't watch. I'll just see it in person...at least once...though the logistics might be tough with Pandora opening right before my trip, so I don't know how much I will push for it. I'm really hoping they do the Flame Tree packages that were rumored for last year so I can save my FP for something else, but if not, I guess we will FP it.

I'm so not sure how I am going to work my FP. I hope they don't tier the FP because I don't think I have more than one days FP allotments I can use at AK. I am planning to do two days of FP at Epcot to get in FEA and Soarin/Test Track on a Rider Swap pass. We missed FEA and new Soarin' last year by days so those are priorities.

At this point (whenever they open Pandora FP), I hope to get a FP for Nav'i River Journey for all of us, then split FP for EE (me) and the Flight ride (for DH). I am no good with (more than mild) simulator rides and DH doesn't do roller coasters. The third will either be ROL or Character Outpost, I think. We plan to hit Safari first thing. I was going to FP a second ride on it right before sunset but I can give that up for Pandora. We don't do Kali and there really isn't much else that needs a FP, though I am sure the park in general will be busier than normal...so we'll just have to see how it all goes.

 

[HopperFan]

I think it's very narrow minded and unimaginative to think that only fireworks can accomplish a great finale. Disney is an entertainment company with great movies, great Broadway shows, great sky shows and has proven over and over their expertise in this area. You can't diminish their abilities to support the fact that the show lacked a finale. There are MANY ways for a finale ..... even with just music. Any orchestra or musical group would argue they can absolutely finish a show to applause with nothing more than musical notes. It lacked a finale, period. Ball dropped.

I actually did really like the music and am remembering the "touch the earth, feel the sun, we are one" refrain and liked the message. Sort of an illuminations version 2.0 to me. I did not like the tiger projections on the water screens and the middle part was SLLLOOOOW. Here's hoping they add more floats as they iron out kinks.

I'll still partake in the insanity to get FP+ or dining package reservations I'm sure... admittedly I'm a Disney kool-aid drinker....

But Illuminations 2.0 is not a compliment. Disney wants every park to have their own unique style and night time shows. They already took components from Fantasmic with the water walls. I don't think they were shooting for an Illuminations. I liked the screens when they had the things that looked like they were floating but when the "movies" like the tigers were on it just seemed like - oh we ran out of time to be creative just toss up some animal movies like Fantasmic. I noted two very slow parts .... they need to tighten it up or put something in those dead times. I don't think you'll see more floats, they had enough trouble getting these to work, and I'm not sure at this point they will iron anything out. They've had 10 months, we have lost parts not gained (other than maybe that fire thing), and since November they have done nothing to fix the lack of finale. I think this is it, the cash drawer is empty. They will hope in a couple years all will forget what it was supposed to be.

But it should have *something* (not necessarily pyro) that wraps up the show and ties the pretty bow on the package. It shouldn't leave a theater full of people sitting there looking at each other and saying, "Is it over? Was that the end or did something malfunction and cause the show to stop?"

ABSOLUTELY! NO one is suggesting pyro or fireworks. What is one of the most important parts of a movie, the music, the soundtrack, because it can set the entire mood. A crescendo of music, a flash of lasers like they do at DHS (from Flame Tree to audience does not impact animals) .... there are options all of which they are more than capable of. But leaving audience members looking left, right then realizing it's over and they should clap ....

That's what I said, too!

I didn't like most of the critter projections but thought the light show with the lotus flowers was lovely. I'll likely check it out in person; amateur video is tough to gauge.

Lotus turned out to be the stars. I loved the one when they had the April "preview, it's not going to open" event. Back then I said if these work like this they are different, fit the park and beautiful to watch. I am hoping the animal floats have more an impact in person because they are so artful.

I watched it. I was underwhelmed.

I think a great finale would have been possible with great story telling and more live performers(like it was originally intended).

I get that not every night time show is supposed to have the same vibe, but I think this was absolutely meant to be more than it ended up being. They hyped it up SO much and the original concept art was unbelievable. So either the concept art and build up blew the show way out of proportion(which is bad marketing), or the mix of technical complications and budget cuts made it way less than Imagineers originally intended.

With creativity anything is possible. We don't need fireworks and pyrotechnics and lasers to make a great finale. What about an amazing score and an incredibly talented cast with amazing costumes? What about developing a storyline with a beginning, middle and climax? This is what Disney Imagineers are known for. The special effects should support the story, not the other way around.

I'm a Disney Kool-Aid drinker, no doubt. I have yet to have had a bad trip, and I go infrequently enough that something is always new to me! I love Disney! But I have noticed budget cuts and have read about them. Mostly it doesn't bother me, but this kind of does. It's 7 months late now, right? And they're still calling it a nighttime "spectacular" on their website. Seems like it should be referred to as just a closing show at this point. This screams budget cuts and creative constraints to me. How many performers now? 4? They had to make the show shorter because they couldn't fill up the time? And people are still calling it slow and boring? Who cares if it's visually stunning - any repeat visitor knows these same effects are used in F! and World of Color and all the others. The reason the others still feel unique is because they actually put effort into telling a creative story and making ALL aspects of the show unique. Without all that, these effects feel redundant. I've seen it before.

I'm going to give this a fair chance. Heck I'm gonna get a Dining package(halfway because I have never gotten to experience any TS at AK, and also, especially being underwhelmed, I don't want to be stressed about getting a FP+ or fighting crowds to get a good spot). I want to see this in person and have it blow my mind. But I'm actually really disappointed, I've been extremely excited about what they've been suggesting this will be. What a waste of beautiful floats, they look stunning and don't do anything.

Agree with much of what you said. I don't think Disney would be happy with the Illuminations 2.0 reference we keep hearing. They were promoting something that would blow our mind, be like nothing we have ever seen, the show of shows. All of that did not happen. The fact that they absolutely ignored one of the previewers biggest issue, no finale .......... says they are done with this, cutting their losses, sticking it out there so that it's there when Pandora opens to help with the crush. They don't want to throw good money after bad. I honestly think they don't really care anymore about this show or they would have made changes.

I'll wait for the real thing, but only if they FP it.

The fire that consumed me for this event last year this time (when I first met you wonderful loungers!!) went out long ago.

FP+ or Dining Package for me unless it's a very short standby. Like very short. If I'm going to wait in line it will be in Pandora. FP+ allows you to not waste time, Dining Package saves time and gives you a meal.

Exactly. Broadway shows, movies, etc. don't need fireworks and lasers to indicate the end of a show. A good story line, dramatic costumes, bringing all the major characters/floats back on stage, and a great swell in the music will nicely wrap up a show and evoke that "wow" feeling you want from a finale.

Unfortunately, with all the problems, delays, and cuts I don't think this show will ever be anything close to what was originally advertised.

Again, a great finale that can fit this park is right up Disney's alley. It's part of their business. The fact that they knew it was a problem and didn't fix it these last couple of months says we will not see what was promised.

I watched it and was underwhelmed as well. I know it was trying to tell a story, but I didn't get it. I think it needs a narrator like Illuminations has. I loved the floats and the water coming from the lotuses. I'm sure it will be better in person but I will get a FP or dining pkg to see it

"Underwhelmed" has been the most used word since the fall previews began. For those who do their homework FP+ and Dining Package will be the must haves .............. so that gives this thread longevity and hopefully the Standby line will be full of those who didn't do homework leaving more space in the rest of the park, especially Pandora.


SO looks like the LOUNGE lives on ..... ins and outs getting a FP+ and Dining Packages

AND IF the AK goes to tiers ..... even more to discuss.

At this point I am more interested in how they will handle FP+ there. Leaving it as is means 60 day guests will take all the Pandora and ROL passes. Most Disney guests are offsite. I can't imagine it staying the way it is. Wait and see ..

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

I think I read somewhere that the seating area is way too small, too. Can anyone confirm this? If it's true that's going to be such a pain in the butt! Was this whole thing a rush job?

Now that I'm thinking about it, AK probably would have done a lot better with a nighttime parade. They've obviously proven to be successful crowd pleasers with Spectro and MSEP, not that AK should look anything like that, but with those absolutely gorgeous floats, a great score, great costumes and unique lighting(to match the beautiful evening lighting throughout the park), and not to mention that would probably make enough viewing room for everyone...there must be something I don't know that they do. That couldn't bother the animals if they did Mickey's Jammin' Jungle for so many years.

Like HopperFan said, what we see is probably what we'll get. Maybe they'll continue to hone it as time goes on and the summer crowds die down....we can hope can't we? Otherwise I suppose there is no point in griping about it. If I want to see unique shows and demonstrations of good management, I'll just have to spend more time at the West Coast park! WDW probably won't get much of my money after this year til the 50th anniversary anyway.

 

[rteetz]

I'll wait for the real thing, but only if they FP it.

They will, they have everything in place for it.

I think it's very narrow minded and unimaginative to think that only fireworks can accomplish a great finale.

I agree, but Disney Twitter thinks otherwise.

It lacked a finale, period. Ball dropped.

I don't think it lacked a finale per say but it wasn't in your face bright and flashy much like we are used to. This just kind of peacefully ended which was their goal.

I noted two very slow parts .... they need to tighten it up or put something in those dead times.

They cut 3 minutes of slow parts so I don't know how much more cutting they would do.

I am hoping the animal floats have more an impact in person because they are so artful.

Me to, they are beautiful floats but didn't seem to be included much.

Agree with much of what you said. I don't think Disney would be happy with the Illuminations 2.0 reference we keep hearing. They were promoting something that would blow our mind, be like nothing we have ever seen, the show of shows.

I don't know about this. Disney was wanting original, grand, and elegant. Illuminations is arguably the last show they did that has those elements so I think Illuminations is a fair comparison because it doesn't have the IP.

 

[rteetz]

I think I read somewhere that the seating area is way too small, too. Can anyone confirm this? If it's true that's going to be such a pain in the butt! Was this whole thing a rush job?

Its small but they couldn't have made it much bigger than it is. It was not a rush job.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

At this point I am more interested in how they will handle FP+ there. Leaving it as is means 60 day guests will take all the Pandora and ROL passes. Most Disney guests are offsite. I can't imagine it staying the way it is. Wait and see ..

I am very, very curious about that myself. My next trip is in June so our dining is booked already, but I'm noodling around with various FP configurations and the tiering possibilities. Only two of us this time, though, so if we need to wait in line somewhere, I'm not sweating it.

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

Thanks rteetz! I was just insinuating a rush job because I wondered if they had considered demand vs how much seating they could actually offer. I've seen the pictures, they definitely made it as big as they could!

 

[HopperFan]

Some of bigger bloggers comments -

"Most notably, several minutes of the show have been cut since the cast member previews a few months ago, but also some effects were missing that even appeared in those preview shows. It is likely that this is the finished product as cast members are actively scheduled to work at the theater starting this weekend and the show should formally debut around the time." WDWNT

"This was the first full exhibition of the show for an audience (this time made up mostly of select Social Media Mom bloggers and Walt Disney World cast members) and with it came news that Rivers of Light has apparently been cut down to about fifteen minutes in total length." InsideMagic


Some beautiful pictures and different angle on some video. One looks like a nice angle/view and other looks meh just like the rest.

https://twitter.com/i/moments/829167348145848321

 

[rteetz]

Another video

 

[tinkerhon]

Raising Whasians‏@raisingwhasians
Here we go! We are here at @waltdisneyworld Animal Kingdom with tons of updates! We get a sneak of Rivers of Light! #DisneySMMC

Ok --- so just got a chance to watch the video --- will reserve total judgement until we see it in person in April ---- that being said ---- from what I saw --- liked it --- agree with others --- DOesnt have that "wow" factor -- at least not to me --- I think lil ones will get bored quickly --- my F! Loving ds6 might fall asleep --- and the ending -- way too abrupt. Seemed like everyone was at a concert waiting for the band back out and do an encore!

 

[HopperFan]

Ok --- so just got a chance to watch the video --- will reserve total judgement until we see it in person in April ---- that being said ---- from what I saw --- liked it --- agree with others --- DOesnt have that "wow" factor -- at least not to me --- I think lil ones will get bored quickly --- my F! Loving ds6 might fall asleep --- and the ending -- way too abrupt. Seemed like everyone was at a concert waiting for the band back out and do an encore!

Agree there is nothing to hate (other than not getting what was promised) just not a lot to love. We all wanted to love this, it's why we are together. The fact that they had all these months to make it work and make it perfect, that they had a couple of months to address the ending, the fact that they removed another 3 minutes on top of all the rest that was removed ............... hurts our hearts.

We wanted the goosebumps they promised ..........