Time for a change?

[Grumpy John]

Hi all, just got back today (Sunday) after 8 days in Orlando. Weather fantastic 80+ most days.

While we enjoyed it all - as we normally do - we are now wondering if the Magic Kingdom Share a Dream parade and the Illuminations firework display have done their time

Surely with all the imagination that Disney has in its armoury they can come up with a different parade in the Magic Kingdom. The present one has been running now for just over 3 years.

As for the fireworks at Epcot they have been running for about the same amount of time and while the fireworks are superb we are getting a bit bored with the world spinning out half way through and find some of it very boring.

The fireworks at Magic Kingdom needed a change and they have done a fantastic job. The wishes display is absolutely fantastic and is thoroughly recommended.

We will go back in October and will still go to Epcot for the evening entertainment and food (especially the food). But feel that the evening will be complete with a different ending.

 

[WDWfan uk]

Welcome back!

Bear in mind that these parades and fireworks cost a tremendous amount of money and so they will get their money's worth out of them before they start new parades and fireworks.

Plus, IllumiNations was an overwhelming success and since many guests do not visit as often as you do, for some people it is still their first experience of this incredible display.

I'm sure that they will be devising a new daytime parade - these do change every few years and I would also think they are working on a new display at Epcot to coincide with a special celebration perhaps.

 

[billybluenose]

Surely a parade in Epcot is required before changing Illuminations.
I never saw tapestry of nations but loved Tapestry of Dreams and would love to see a similar parade re-installed at Epcot.

 

[UKDEB]

I agree with you. SADCT is conceptually brilliant, but loses something in the execution for me. I'm convinced it's all about the music. I <i>loved</i> its predecessor - Magical Moments ("It's Time to Remember the Magic") and I'm a big fan of Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade ("We're Jammin' in the Jungle"). My favourite of all was TON/TOD. Again, it's the music which makes it.

I preferred the original IllumiNations (i.e. pre Reflections of Earth). I've always found the globe thing a bit monotonous. It always seems too far away - maybe I'm not viewing it from the best spot. I do love the music, though.

 

[Grumpy John]

Shirley, the cost is not an issue because at the end of the day Disney make a tremendous amount of money out of us visitors ie admission, food, gifts, hotel rooms etc etc and if they keep blasting out how fantastic their imagineers are then surely they can change things every couple of years.

Now Michael Eisner has been kicked out maybe things will change!

 

[Goofyish]

I could watch Illuminations every night Hang on - I think we nearly did that in August

 

[SimonV]

Disney typically change their big set-piece displays (parades, fireworks, etc) every 5 years or so and this seems to work pretty well for the repeat visitor patterns. Occasionally they change something out sooner if it doesn't meet their (high) visitor satisfaction standards. Look for a change in IllumiNations in 2005/06 to coincide with a lot of new development around the parks then. The cost issue of bringing in a new parade and/or fireworks show is astronomical, hence they like to ensure they give everything as long a 'shelf life' as they think they can bear. There are still plenty who haven't seen IllumiNations and it is hard to imagine Disney changing that one anytime soon.

And, nice as it would be to think Michael Eisner has been kicked out, he remains very firmly in place as CEO (he has only just lost the Chairman part of his job/title - and then only to his good friend ex-senator John Mitchell) for the foreseeable future, possibly up to the end of his tenure in 2006. So there are no changes likely on that score, hence the bean counters and 'corporate thinkers' will remain in charge.

 

[Grumpy John]

Thanks for the comments. I will stand by mine though and I am sure a lot of other people agree with the observations I made.

I really enjoy looking through the various topics on these boards and enjoy the friendly banter that goes on but I sometimes think that there are those who do not like Disney getting the occasional good kicking.

They are not perfect. Just look at the CMs going round the varous parks, some even have trouble cracking a smile and the general attitude has changed from a few years ago.

Just a small correction in SimonV's reply: The senator was George Mitchell not John

 

[KayleeUK]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion this is a discussion board after all I enjoy listening to other peoples view on things, it would be a very boring world if we all liked the same stuff!

I love Illuminations and certainly are not bored with it just yet We only catch the show two or three times during our trip (obviously should be watching it more eh Tim ) I do agree that TON/TOD was wonderful and I really miss that in Epcot.

Share a Dream parade is a lovely parade too. It must have cost a lot of money putting that parade together with those wonderful snowglobes How long has this parade been going for now?

 

[Grumpy John]

Too long!!

 

[SimonV]

Share a Dream, etc, came in as part of the big Millennium celebrations in October 1999 and was originally scheduled to last only into the first quarter of 2001. But it proved so popular (along with the other new parades) that Disney took a practical (and probably financial!) decision to keep it going. That means it has now been running for almost 4.5 years.

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Do away with Reflections of Earth?

Sacrilege! Stone the blasphemer!

I've got to go and have a large glass of beer to calm my nerves. I've come over all faint.

Kev

 

[Grumpy John]

Oh no not another one turned on by a flame-spurting globe moving extremely slowly across the water.

Please don't turn to alcohol or pass out I am sure someone somewhere has a barrow load of pixie dust.

Please has anyone out there got any pixie dust?

 

[wilki32]

Dear John

By the time you read this letter.....oops sorry, wrong forum.

The first time we went to disney was nov 1999 and our fourth visit will be in dec of htis year. Now maybe we haven't been as many times as some people, including yourself, I can only speak for my family and we have the same excited looks in our eyes when we see share a dream come true parade and the tears well up in our eyes in Illuminations. Obiously mine is because i have pixie dust in my eye!

Maybe on your next visit don't go to Illuminations and share a dream....only a suggestion.

I have to agree that from the first visit in 1999 to oct 2003 we did see a change in the attitude of the CMs, whereas in 1999, everybody seemed very helpful and friendly. Last year it seemed some of the cms were friendly but then again is that just us taking it for granted. Im sure, in fact i know, that no theme park, sorry comapny, unfortunatley in this country, offering the Disney service.

Anthony
P.S. I have a bottle of pixie dust but it will fetch a high price, i lifted it fron the cm last year, maybe that was the problem!!

 

[Red-Snapper]

Isnt there enough of this sort of debate on the news and rumours board without putting it on the UK trip planning board as well ???

/I'll get me coat