Ummmmm that's it?

[emonade8]

I'll be honest.... I am trying to decide if you believe what you are saying, or if you have just perhaps been skipping over 70% of the recent posts on these boards.

I'm still not sure.

I assure you, I've read this entire thread. And I read the entirety of any thread I'm interested in. I understand that people are expresing opinions here, even if they're framed as if they're factual statements. I think people frame them that way because they assume others here know that everyone is expressing opinions.

But I'm also an idealist so....

 

[annekablam]

I have a million cutting remarks to make about Harmonious, Kite Tails and Disney in general right now. But I am going to take a break from the boards because I don't want to rain on anyone's parade. I do hope some of this is addressed on the next podcast though. Beyond disappointed here.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I assure you, I've read this entire thread. And I read the entirety of any thread I'm interested in. I understand that people are expresing opinions here, even if they're framed as if they're factual statements. I think people frame them that way because they assume others here know that everyone is expressing opinions.

But I'm also an idealist so....

I will grant that this thread has been mostly on the non-personal side. People are negative about it, but not telling you that you have to be negative. However, the boards in general HAVE been that way.

Exhibit A is a poster from a few weeks ago telling me what my opinion MUST be. And let me stop your objections right there about this being just an opinion and everyone understood that, because a number of people protested and that person continued to insist that we all see things their way.

That same poster has been spreading shade around this thread as well.



Do you want me to post exhibits B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J? I have a lot more. But I think the prosecution can rest it's case. Unfortunately, it's not an isolated example on these boards as late. I posted a positive thread a while back and immediately was jumped on for it. You can't be positive around these boards right now without being ridiculed and attacked.

 

[MainMom]

I’ll reserve judgement until I see it in person. I loved Illuminations & Wishes in person. I did not get the same feel on YouTube. I did not love HEA in person. It was one and done for me.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

You seem to insist on attacking me personally when I have never even had a conversation with you and you know nothing about me. This is the very kind of thing that is actually not supposed to be allowed here.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

You seem to insist on attacking me personally when I have never even had a conversation with you and you know nothing about me. This is the very kind of thing that is actually not supposed to be allowed here.

I did not post a name. I did not say anything disparaging. I just posted text which was said to me in a thread (which is a fact). Were those words not written by someone to me on a public thread?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

No. That post was not written directly to you. Unless your real name is "All you people."

Don't bother responding. I won't see it.

 

[Cuddlemama]

I think Harmonious is incredible, visually and musically. I have enjoyed making Stargate jokes, but I also know that most people aren't significantly invested in having an unobstructed view across the lagoon, anyway, so for them it's not going to be an issue as long as the production at the end of the night is enjoyable. And for probably 80% of the folks who come to see the show, it will be outstanding because it's being compared to their local hometown fireworks and not to old Disney shows from memories past.

 

[catnik]

To me, the stream was disappointing. We are going next week and I will see it in person to decide if that changes. I read posts on these boards for guidance. If people post negative things about an attraction, show, meal or experience, I want to read it to better understand/plan for my next trip. If people post negatively on everything, I just skip those posts and move on. I believe everyone should be allowed to express their opinion(s). I also allow myself to not respond

 

[Disneyfan754321]

My kids were bored

 

[Disney0010]

I don’t need or want to see it in person. “In my opinion” the show felt disjointed and did not flow well. It felt “to me” as though Disney took HEA and dropped it into World Showcase Lagoon. Keep the Broadway Disney fluff at the MK. I was bored half way through the show and that never happened with the previous shows. Finally “IMHO” the entire setup ruins World Showcase Lagoon.

 

[Dashzap]

I liked Harmonious, especially the cultural enhancement of the IPs.
I liked Kitetails, too.

I've only seen them in video though, so in-person may be different.

 

[Ermise]

I will grant that this thread has been mostly on the non-personal side. People are negative about it, but not telling you that you have to be negative. However, the boards in general HAVE been that way.

I agree the boards have been generally more negative lately but I think there are valid reasons for that. There has been a monumental change taking place at Disney Parks and a lot of people aren't happy about it. It feels like some sort of tipping point has been reached.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I agree the boards have been generally more negative lately but I think there are valid reasons for that. There has been a monumental change taking place at Disney Parks and a lot of people aren't happy about it. It feels like some sort of tipping point has been reached.

Personally, I feel like people are being unfair to Disney. They seem to forget there is a pandemic at play. Or at least they are unwilling to accept excuses for Disney given the nature of the pandemic, where I feel they are willing to give excuses to other companies. Arguably Disney here is a victim of it's own brand successes. They have spent so long delivering a customer experience that is above and beyond and it's expected even where it may be impractical or impossible. I am not suggesting that is the situation for all of the things people are upset about - but I think the point is valid. They expect more from Disney.

When I was young and wet behind the ears I remember starting a new job and I hit the ground running. I wowed them on my first week. At the end of my first year however in my review, I got an "average" rating. My boss explained to me that because I wowed them on the first day, my time since then was measured against what he expected OF ME, not against how I compared to others. I.E. I had to get better than the amazing I already did. Which was BS and very unfair. Yes - I left the job. But I think some of the same dynamic exists here.

One thing is true - there is a vocal community of people who are upset. But at the same time, I think Disney has been struggling for some time with over-crowded parks.... So as mean as it sounds, I am not sure they are going to do much about it until the parks get TOO empty - and I do not think they are anywhere near there yet. I.E. some backlash is not only expected, but maybe even welcome to a degree (as odd as that sounds). But it's a VERY thin tightrope to cross.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

If you are going to express a "mathematical fact", I would like to see your work, please. Something like square millimeters of obstruction from all viewing angles would do nicely. I will be patiently awaiting your proof of this "fact".

If can be determined visually, arcangle counting not required.

By the way, I do hope you realize that was meant as humor. A smiley would have helped back there. Sorry 'bout that.

 

[bsmcneil]

I'm holding out on seeing anything until I see it in person on Saturday, but I've been seeing mostly positive reviews, so I can't wait!!

But I should've known better than to open this thread while on vacation. People on here are just getting way too dang negative about everything.

Sometimes I wonder if you had a negative experience, how you'd be able to process it. Sometimes it's really cool that there is someone more relentlessly optimistic than I am (in part because I know so few optimists). I don't follow Disney people or things on twitter - went there last night (I follow friends and family) and saw that Epcot was trending (before I watched Harmonious). To be fair, there were a LOT of positive reviews of Spaceship Earth as the Beacon of Light. I saw very few positive reviews of Harmonious. I didn't see many here. What were some of the mostly positive reviews you saw?

 

[bsmcneil]

. This (bold) is how I have felt. Haven't seen the show yet but I have seen the very ugly "StarGate" structures in the once beautiful lagoon. Maybe not to all, but to ME, that view was something that I appreciated many many times on every day of my visit. IMO, it's ruined now. Your thought about budget .... Never thought of that but probably true... Which grinds my gears even more. Others may not agree with this, but what's important to me is not necessarily going to be what's important to others, (and vice versa) and that's ok.

I personally don't feel like the view is all that disturbed (was there last week) but I definitely read that many others do. I mean - does the barge move and I had an especially good view vs others? Or is it just that it exists at all? That said, I do wish the show had a story. I just visited with friends and we talked about how what we mostly enjoyed about WDW was the attention to detail, the ability to move us through sight/sound/smell, etc and this didn't do that via livestreaming. I'd enjoy it more if it was tweaked some (and, fwiw, I cried last week at Epcot Forever, I cry at Illuminations, etc - I'm a happy crier and that comes up a lot at WDW).

 

[bsmcneil]

I am the most Disney-positive person you will meet. But this show makes me anything but that

Harmonius has no soul, it has no discernable message, it has zero transition between segments, and it has no climax. It was just a hyper-compressed Disney animation short film collection projected on spraying water.

Maybe it belongs in MK, but I doubt it.

Technically it was great, but I expected that.

I hate seeing myself growing negative feelings toward Disney, but this was truly a horrible step backward from what was a highlight of every evening at Epcot.

Illuminations tugged at my emotions still, after all the years it ran. It had a message about humanity, it was uplifting, it was inspiring.

Harmonious isn’t even close.

Not having ever seen RoL, it sounded reasonable to me when people said this could be a good fit for DAK. I felt, honestly, like this show was fairly similar to HEA (though I only saw it once, last Friday). I realize I could use a more nuanced look at the two - but they felt interchangeable to me. That said, I teared up a little during HEA (not during Harmonious) but felt it was lacking compared to Wishes (also recognizing that could be nostalgia of being there with family, etc). I did tear up a bit at Epcot Forever (some of which was nostalgia).

 

[k5xs]

Personally, I feel like people are being unfair to Disney. They seem to forget there is a pandemic at play. Or at least they are unwilling to accept excuses for Disney given the nature of the pandemic, where I feel they are willing to give excuses to other companies. Arguably Disney here is a victim of it's own brand successes. They have spent so long delivering a customer experience that is above and beyond and it's expected even where it may be impractical or impossible. I am not suggesting that is the situation for all of the things people are upset about - but I think the point is valid. They expect more from Disney.

One thing is true - there is a vocal community of people who are upset. But at the same time, I think Disney has been struggling for some time with over-crowded parks.... So as mean as it sounds, I am not sure they are going to do much about it until the parks get TOO empty - and I do not think they are anywhere near there yet. I.E. some backlash is not only expected, but maybe even welcome to a degree (as odd as that sounds). But it's a VERY thin tightrope to cross.

I think you are making some good points.

I _DO_ "expect more from Disney." And that's why I and my family have spent thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars there every year. I like what they provide, and it's been worth what I have paid. Up to now (we'll see going forward).

It seems to me they--like so many companies--are using the pandemic as an excuse to make changes they have wanted to make, but didn't before because they knew the blowback would be intense. Now it seems they are saying "Because pandemic."

Many Disney fans were hit hard financially by the pandemic, and Disney was too. But while those fans will struggle for some time to recover, Disney seems intent on recovering all at once by reducing services while simultaneously increasing prices. And this trend pre-dates the pandemic.

Complimentary resort parking: Gone

Disney's Magical Express: Gone

Complimentary FP+: Gone

Complimentary PhotoPass for AP holders: Gone

Ticket prices: Up

AP prices: Up

Room prices: Up

Food & Beverage prices: Up

Extra-Magic Hours: Restricted for all but deluxe resorts

Housekeeping: Reduced

I get it, the Walt Disney Company ultimately exists to make stockholders money. But I think it is being short-sighted. With $200 billion in assets, it could have incrementally done these things and built on the goodwill it enjoys. But Chapek and other executives are compensated based on quarterly/annual numbers, not how much lifetime loyalty they engender in guests, so...

(And it is downright insulting to have Chapek say Genie+ and the park reservation system were implemented to enhance the guest experience. Hogwash. They exist to drive profits higher.)

I am not predicting the imminent demise of Disney parks. But I think it's more likely because of the totality of these changes. And that would be tragic

 

[luv2cheer92]

Sometimes I wonder if you had a negative experience, how you'd be able to process it. Sometimes it's really cool that there is someone more relentlessly optimistic than I am (in part because I know so few optimists). I don't follow Disney people or things on twitter - went there last night (I follow friends and family) and saw that Epcot was trending (before I watched Harmonious). To be fair, there were a LOT of positive reviews of Spaceship Earth as the Beacon of Light. I saw very few positive reviews of Harmonious. I didn't see many here. What were some of the mostly positive reviews you saw?

Lol, I've had plenty of negative experiences, not sure why thats a question, so not even gonna try to answer that.... genuinely baffled by that statement
Plenty of people (many in this very thread) have said that they enjoyed it.