Seriously??? Rivers of Light is still not open?

[rteetz]

Yes, but they only said 2017 and not a time frame. I wouldn't be surprised if some elements may not work in colder weather so they are deciding to wait until feb. I know the bridge by dinoland/dino dig you get wet from the water screens if the wind is blowing that way. This way it's not a "check this out, oh we're closed for weather now"

I don't think cold weather has anything to do with it. They run world of color in cooler temperatures.

 

[Accident]

I don't think cold weather has anything to do with it. They run world of color in cooler temperatures.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a minor reason why they might want to delay. It does have the difference over the other shows that spray water in that it's a man made river but it's not sterile like the other shows are.

I'm sure it's probably operating costs and waiting for more to do at night to get the crowds in and more they can do while there. That was a negative of the first jungle book shows, you couldn't really do the show and anything esle from lines until everyone heard it sucked and then you could.

 

[rteetz]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a minor reason why they might want to delay. It does have the difference over the other shows that spray water in that it's a man made river but it's not sterile like the other shows are.

I'm sure it's probably operating costs and waiting for more to do at night to get the crowds in and more they can do while there. That was a negative of the first jungle book shows, you couldn't really do the show and anything esle from lines until everyone heard it sucked and then you could.

I don't think it has anything to do with operating costs or weather.

Everyday this isn't open it's sucking money. They have gone way over exepexted budget trying to get this thing to work and it's been in development for five-ish years. It hasn't opened because it hasn't worked properly and now that it mostly works properly it doesn't wow the crowds like they had hoped.

 

[Accident]

Everyday this isn't open it's sucking money. They have gone way over exepexted budget trying to get this thing to work and it's been in development for five-ish years. It hasn't opened because it hasn't worked properly and now that it mostly works properly it doesn't wow the crowds like they had hoped.

Fair points. In reality, it's everything combined but another lack luster show is something I applaud them fixing. I was getting a little tired of the same old once and done shows that were common. some exceptions to that statement of course.

 

[DebbieB]

What about the performers? I'm sure they put a lot of rehearsal time into the previews, then it doesn't open so were they just let go?

I think it's really sad the way they keep postponing it. I was there in May, it was supposed to open in April, so we figured we would see it but no. Well, we'll see it in October. Sounded like it might be opening, but no. We did enjoy the night safari and the tree show. I just don't understand why a company like Disney can't get it together.

 

[rteetz]

What about the performers? I'm sure they put a lot of rehearsal time into the previews, then it doesn't open so were they just let go?

I think it's really sad the way they keep postponing it. I was there in May, it was supposed to open in April, so we figured we would see it but no. Well, we'll see it in October. Sounded like it might be opening, but no. We did enjoy the night safari and the tree show. I just don't understand why a company like Disney can't get it together.

It's not that Disney "can't get it together". It was tech issues that really prolonged it. Same thing happened with Test Track when that opened. New technology is not always cooperative. Then I've heard things about the company that built components might not be cooperating with Disney. There are so many aspects at play.

 

[Micca]

@_auroraborealis_
@Accident
@rteetz

OK, thanks folks, The "Summer" thing was just my imagination. I'm not even all that interested in seeing the show, I'm just enjoying following the hot mess this has turned into.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

because of the budget issues I can see there being a real dilemma.

Jungle Book was clearly a stop-gap, and wasn't a technological marvel. Most of the Disney bloggers hated it, but I think average random visitors were okay with it. They ran it anyway.

At this point, there could be pyro in this production that caused real gold doubloons to rain upon audience members (without causing head wounds!), and the finale could include the Second Coming, and it will probably get panned by management and Disney bloggers as "not wow enough" based on schedules/expectations/timelines.

They have to launch something. Whether it is actually Rivers of Light, or something else, I don't know that it matters. At least a show they can show in the high-density periods (like, now, spring break, Easter, and then summer), even if they turn it off for early fall.

 

[rteetz]

because of the budget issues I can see there being a real dilemma.

Jungle Book was clearly a stop-gap, and wasn't a technological marvel. Most of the Disney bloggers hated it, but I think average random visitors were okay with it. They ran it anyway.

At this point, there could be pyro in this production that caused real gold doubloons to rain upon audience members (without causing head wounds!), and the finale could include the Second Coming, and it will probably get panned by management and Disney bloggers as "not wow enough" based on schedules/expectations/timelines.

They have to launch something. Whether it is actually Rivers of Light, or something else, I don't know that it matters. At least a show they can show in the high-density periods (like, now, spring break, Easter, and then summer), even if they turn it off for early fall.

Jungle book was temporary. It was thrown together in a few weeks just to have something.

They can't really do pyro for this due to the animals.

You said it exactly. They have to debut something. They paid all that money to build the theater but they have no show for it yet.

 

[Travis B]

Jungle book was temporary. It was thrown together in a few weeks just to have something.

They can't really do pyro for this due to the animals.

You said it exactly. They have to debut something. They paid all that money to build the theater but they have no show for it yet.

I knew not to get my hopes up for our trip a couple weeks ago but it was such a bummer seeing the theater and everything 100% complete and not being able to see the show. I'm glad at least I got to see the Tree of Life projections, which are incredible in their own right. ROL's absence is so conspicuous, they need to get their stuff together.

 

[atricks]

Officially the word is 2017 (nothing more specific than that.) Although they did have cast previews, the problems still remain. The imagineer in charge of Animal Kingdom Joe Rohde, put this up a few days ago https://www.instagram.com/p/BOESFgeAPVw/?taken-by=joerohde Where it talks about having to do a full stop late in a process, not necessarily about Rivers of Light, but it does give some credence to the possibility it may never happen. (Or if it does will not be exactly the show that was intended to debut this past April) It wouldn't be the first time Disney killed something after an announcement (or even construction started)

 

[rteetz]

Officially the word is 2017 (nothing more specific than that.) Although they did have cast previews, the problems still remain. The imagineer in charge of Animal Kingdom Joe Rohde, put this up a few days ago https://www.instagram.com/p/BOESFgeAPVw/?taken-by=joerohde Where it talks about having to do a full stop late in a process, not necessarily about Rivers of Light, but it does give some credence to the possibility it may never happen. (Or if it does will not be exactly the show that was intended to debut this past April) It wouldn't be the first time Disney killed something after an announcement (or even construction started)

You have to read Joe's comments too.

With that said I can't see them not having a show for this theater they built. Whether it's the rivers of light or something else is still sort of up in the air.

 

[LadyD]

It's unfortunate they've encountered so many issues trying to get this show up and running. Whatever the outcome eventually is, I really hope Disney learns some major lessons to help them avoid disaster-ish endeavors in the the future, especially on the technology front. With so many major park changes occurring between WDW and DL over the next few years, I hope the situation with this show is an isolated incident and not the start of a trend where something is 75-90% done and it fails to come together as intended for a final, deliverable project.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There will be something. They will call it Rivers of Light.

Whether it bears any resemblance to all the Hype Train content posted to DPB in the past is an open question.

(And I know they can't do pyro. My point was that there is nothing they can do that will ever be found "good enough" once this debuts due to the delays.)

 

[sachilles]

There are 2 major hurdles in my opinion.

1. The technology and mechanics of the show.
2. The content and art of the show.

Up until now they couldn't overcome number 1. They've now done that, and it would seem that number 2 is the current problem. They can change the content a bit, re-show it, and then release.
Bottom line is they are not happy with something, otherwise they'd open it.

 

[KYMickey]

Like I said, this kind of missed milestone leads to rolling heads in many companies.

It sounds like you work in the corporate world like I have and unfortunately the corporate world and it's been proven over and over again that Disney operates very different than a normal corporate world. They are more likely government in many regards. They really don't worry about going over budget nor missing milestones. It's just a fact of life for them and very seldom does anybody really get in trouble for it.

 

[rteetz]

It sounds like you work in the corporate world like I have and unfortunately the corporate world and it's been proven over and over again that Disney operates very different than a normal corporate world. They are more likely government in many regards. They really don't worry about going over budget nor missing milestones. It's just a fact of life for them and very seldom does anybody really get in trouble for it.

Well the entertainment industry is just that. Movies go over budget, movies and shoes flop, theme park attractions do the same.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

They really don't worry about going over budget nor missing milestones.

Ever watched a Disney earnings report? They do worry and they do care.

Capital expenditure flow rate is one of the reasons why you won't see Epcot start until at least one land at DHS is done.

 

[rteetz]

Ever watched a Disney earnings report? They do worry and they do care.

Capital expenditure flow rate is one of the reasons why you won't see Epcot start until at least one land at DHS is done.

They worry when revenue and stock price isn't up as well as attendance. They want all three of those things up. If they aren't it's a problem.

I also disagree with your Epcot statement. They likely won't wait for that to happen. You won't see anything major close at Epcot but I wouldn't be surprised to see work begin in a place like innoventions or Universe of Energy.

 

[rangerxenos]

I knew not to get my hopes up for our trip a couple weeks ago but it was such a bummer seeing the theater and everything 100% complete and not being able to see the show. I'm glad at least I got to see the Tree of Life projections, which are incredible in their own right. ROL's absence is so conspicuous, they need to get their stuff together.

Yep, same here, I was there last month, and I kept walking past that theater and getting bummed. I asked a few CMs if they knew when it was going to open, and they all said they had no idea.

I adored the Tree Of Life projection show, I thought it was beautiful.