Spectromagic's return? Any ideas, info, rumors?

[kschafer]

I love spectro but I was bummed when I missed MSEP last year by visiting in the spring. I'm looking forward to it this summer, I'm glad they've kept it around for awhile

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I agree with all the Spectro fans here...the music is what makes it nostalgic to me. I was hoping it would be back by our next trip....

Yes! The Spectro music always brings a lump to my throat....electric parade music is totally forgettable. We're going next week and I want my sprctro back! **stomps foot**

 

[dmoore22]

Music
The main theme for SpectroMagic ("On This Magic Night") was composed by movie composer John Debney. Together with Steve Skorija, he arranged music by Disney composers into a 14-minute suite. It is the only parade in Disney history to be in 3/4 time. The parade's scenic designer was Ken Dresser.

Show facts

Original run: October 1, 1991 - May 21, 1999
Second run: April 2, 2001 - June 5, 2010
Show duration: 20 minutes
Total number of batteries: 948
Battery type: 75 tons of deep-cycle batteries
Fiber-optic strands: over 100 miles
Miniature lights: 600,000
Miniature light colors: 11 (including clear)
Speakers: 204
Speaker power: 72,000 watts
Speaker batteries: 112

Parade Units:
Entrance Unit with Trumpeters
Title Unit heralding SpectroMagic
Spectro-Men on Whirly-balls (4 pods)
Mickey Unit
Music Unit (3 units hitched)
Sleeping Beauty Garden Unit 1 (Peacock)
Sleeping Beauty Garden Unit 2
Sleeping Beauty Garden Unit 3 (Waterfall on back)
Giant Fish Unit
Bubble Fish Unit (3 units hitched)
Ursula Unit (1 pod)
Little Mermaid Unit (3 units hitched)
Whirly Fish (2 pods)
Fantasia Opening Unit with Spinning Hippo
Baracus Unit (Fountain with Ostrich's)
Diana Unit (3 units hitched)(Flying horses)
Chernabog Unit
First Finale Unit (3 units hitched)
(The 3 Little Pigs, Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland)
Carousel Unit
Second Finale Unit (3 units hitched)
(Peter Pan, Pinocchio and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)

Technical Information

In the parade there are 29 units, and 7 whirly units giving a grand total of 36 units in the parade.
Disney refers to floats as "units." Each unit has a driver cleverly hidden in the unit. All audio is controlled through DTMF tones transmitted by RF signals from the antennas on Cinderella's Castle to each unit. Each unit has its own audio themed to the unit, with the main parade theme played on the zone speakers. Each zone is anywhere between 70 to 80 ft in length. The audio is stored on the unit as digitally encoded information. All the audio and other effects are stored in DACS (Digital Automation Control System). The lighting effects and other special effects are all controlled by on-board computers which initiate their own cues using a Programmable Logic Controller. The cues are sent via the antennas to the units. The main control center is located under Main Street USA. The PC (Production Center) is where all Magic Kingdom parades are stored. It is located behind Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain. In its original run in 1991 most units used Amiga software developed by Richmond Sound Design Ltd. running on Amiga computers to generate animations that were synchronized via MIDI Time Code with the local audio and projected onto the side of the unit.

 

[SilverSynchro919]

Spectro brings me so many memories. It's the only nighttime parade I've ever seen, as it started the year I was born. The parade makes me cry every time I watch it because it is the epitome of my Disney experience. It is so magical and the music is beautiful. MSEP just wouldn't cut it for me. I know the music, I've had it on a CD forever, and while it's okay, it's nothing in comparison to Spectro's soundtrack.

I wish they would please please please bring back Spectro.

 

[awdwnut]

Yes MSEP goes back to 1977, Spectro only 1991.

It anything should be playing for the 40th it should be MSEP.

Its like when people want CoP to go back to the original sound track of "Now is the Time" from the GE years not realizing that "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" is the original song and "Now is the Time" was an ad to sell appliances.

Its just what you grew up with, I have only seen MSEP (1977 as a teenager, 1999 with my family and 2011 again with my family) so thats my night time parade that I grew up with.

I am a very nostalgic person, and my first experience with a Disney night time parade was MSEP back in the 1980's. If all things were equal, I am sure I would prefer MSEP over Spectromagic. However, when Spectomagic came along, I was just blow away by music, and how it really did make the parade seem magical. I understand that people will take strong stands on this issue, my DW LOVES MSEP. But then again, she has not had a chance to see Specto yet, so I may be able to convert her!!

 

[Planogirl]

I imagine that Spectro will be back eventually.

Personally I love the charm and quirkiness of MSEP. We had seen Spectro enough and used that time to catch the shorter lines at rides. We first saw MSEP in Disneyland and it was a thrill to see it in MK. We've seen it only a few times so we've lost our time to ride things.

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

We just got back last week and DH and I were able to participate in the "Keys to the Kingdom" Tour. While we were backstage we were inside the hanger which holds MSEP. Next to it, under tarps, was SPECTRO!!!!!! I did everything I could to hold back my tears of joy....I didn't realize how emotional I would get but oh how our family misses it!! I recognized one of the floats and asked our Tour Guide...." isn't that Spectromagic, and is it coming back"? The Tour Guide did confirm that indeed the floats were from Spectromagic (and then also put in her 2 cents that she prefers MSEP), and then said it is coming back but she didn't know when...."could be in a year, could be in 3 years"....
Yippee!! Yippee!!! I really, really hope it's back next year!!

 

[pixistix]

I too was underwhelmed when I saw the MSEP. LOVE Spectro! Had it as my ringtone on my iphone for a long time~

 

[Disneymommy2006]

We just got back last week and DH and I were able to participate in the "Keys to the Kingdom" Tour. While we were backstage we were inside the hanger which holds MSEP. Next to it, under tarps, was SPECTRO!!!!!! I did everything I could to hold back my tears of joy....I didn't realize how emotional I would get but oh how our family misses it!! I recognized one of the floats and asked our Tour Guide...." isn't that Spectromagic, and is it coming back"? The Tour Guide did confirm that indeed the floats were from Spectromagic (and then also put in her 2 cents that she prefers MSEP), and then said it is coming back but she didn't know when...."could be in a year, could be in 3 years"....
Yippee!! Yippee!!! I really, really hope it's back next year!!

Yeah!!!

Everyone's favorite seems to relate to their memories! I will never forget our first trip. I had never been to Disney until I was an adult. My boys were 5 and 3...the look on their face when Spectro started and the music began was pure magic. I could not hold back the tears and I guess that's when
I first experienced the magic of Disney. That was 2006 and we are making our 6th trip now this June