Universal makes the greatest rides in the world but can't make a night time show

[ky07]

In the words of show creator Mike Aiello "this show is a love letter to Universal movies, without the movies we wouldn't have a park."
It was an amazing show, and lots to see. Saw it for the first time last night. Brought tears to my eyes. It's a great show for everyone, but it's a lot better if you love movies. In my opinion, better than Illuminations. Then again, I don't really reflect on the earth much. And the videos do NO justice whatsoever. You must see it in person

 

[Molyneuxd]

I got to see the preview last Monday, and was hands down better than Disney Fantasmic, which to be honest wish I hadn't waited for!

 

[nile455]

I got to see the preview last Monday, and was hands down better than Disney Fantasmic, which to be honest wish I hadn't waited for!

Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but unless I was a diehard Universal film fan or had a personal vendetta against Disney, I just can't imagine sharing that opinion. Just looking at it objectively:

Original musical score
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Great fireworks that are connected to the plot and music
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Artistic use of fountains and lasers
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Live characters
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Stunts and magic
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Elements that utilize the lagoon (i.e. rafts, boats)
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Actually has elements of storytelling
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Universal's show could be a DVD bonus track played in any living room.

Fantasmic, on the other hand......

 

[mark290]

Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but unless I was a diehard Universal film fan or had a personal vendetta against Disney, I just can't imagine sharing that opinion. Just looking at it objectively:

Original musical score
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Great fireworks that are connected to the plot and music
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Artistic use of fountains and lasers
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Live characters
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Stunts and magic
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Elements that utilize the lagoon (i.e. rafts, boats)
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Actually has elements of storytelling
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Universal's show could be a DVD bonus track played in any living room.

Fantasmic, on the other hand......

Kind of hard to argue with that.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but unless I was a diehard Universal film fan or had a personal vendetta against Disney, I just can't imagine sharing that opinion. Just looking at it objectively:

Original musical score
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Great fireworks that are connected to the plot and music
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Artistic use of fountains and lasers
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Live characters
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Stunts and magic
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Elements that utilize the lagoon (i.e. rafts, boats)
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Actually has elements of storytelling
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Universal's show could be a DVD bonus track played in any living room.

Fantasmic, on the other hand......

I agree 100%

 

[Molyneuxd]

I'm not a die hard universal fan or Disney for that matter, I was just very bored at Fantasmic and having seen the sneak peak the day before I know which I would like to view again!

Each to their own as you say, but if I visit Hollywood Studios again, probably won't wait for Fantasmic show!

 

[Rip]

Kind of hard to argue with that.

Not really, it all comes down to personal preference. It's kinda like you trying to tell me that some boring Oscar-winning flick is better than Big Trouble in Little China and expecting me to agree with you just because of a list of things that are supposed to be superior.

 

[damo]

Not really, it all comes down to personal preference. It's kinda like you trying to tell me that some boring Oscar-winning flick is better than Big Trouble in Little China and expecting me to agree with you just because of a list of things that are supposed to be superior.

Exactly. Storytelling isn't going to make me like one show better than another and neither is original score, characters or boats on the lagoon. I do believe that there are fountains in both and fireworks in both.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but unless I was a diehard Universal film fan or had a personal vendetta against Disney, I just can't imagine sharing that opinion. Just looking at it objectively:

Original musical score
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Great fireworks that are connected to the plot and music
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Artistic use of fountains and lasers
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Live characters
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Stunts and magic
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Elements that utilize the lagoon (i.e. rafts, boats)
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Actually has elements of storytelling
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Universal's show could be a DVD bonus track played in any living room.

Fantasmic, on the other hand......

How is that objective at all?

If you don't think that the fireworks were timed with the music/projections (excellent use of the fireworks to finish of certain theme songs, as well as highlight the action scenes), or that the fountains weren't used artistically, I don't know what show you were watching. If you like Fantasmic better, that's fine; but give credit where credit is due.

 

[Sleepyhollowstudios]

Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but unless I was a diehard Universal film fan or had a personal vendetta against Disney, I just can't imagine sharing that opinion. Just looking at it objectively:

Original musical score
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Great fireworks that are connected to the plot and music
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Artistic use of fountains and lasers
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Live characters
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Stunts and magic
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Elements that utilize the lagoon (i.e. rafts, boats)
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Actually has elements of storytelling
Disney Fantasmic: Yes
Universal Spectacular: No

Universal's show could be a DVD bonus track played in any living room.

Fantasmic, on the other hand......

How inane can you get? Since this enumeration is partially based on your personal feelings rather than facts I fail to see how it is "objective."

-Andy

 

[nile455]

How inane can you get? Since this enumeration is partially based on your personal feelings rather than facts I fail to see how it is "objective."

-Andy

Most of what I said was based on absolute facts. Unless you're trying to say the Universal show actually does have live actors, an original score, moving elements within the lagoon like boats and rafts, stunts and magic, and tells a story? And showing clips of their best horror films, comedies, villains, etc is not telling a story. There is no direction to that show whatsoever. There is no conflict/struggle, triumph of good over evil etc. It's just a clip show.

I guess the artistry of the fountains and fireworks choreography is a personal opinion, so maybe that wasn't very objective. But I believe most people would agree that Fantasmic's fireworks are far more connected and timed better.

 

[Rip]

Most of what I said was based on absolute facts. Unless you're trying to say the Universal show actually does have live actors, an original score, moving elements within the lagoon like boats and rafts, stunts and magic, and tells a story? And showing clips of their best horror films, comedies, villains, etc is not telling a story. There is no direction to that show whatsoever. There is no conflict/struggle, triumph of good over evil etc. It's just a clip show.

I guess the artistry of the fountains and fireworks choreography is a personal opinion, so maybe that wasn't very objective. But I believe most people would agree that Fantasmic's fireworks are far more connected and timed better.

All of that may be entirely true - but so what? Things like this come down to what you find more enjoyable. I haven't seen Universal's new show, so I might think it sucks. What I do know is that I'm not a huge fan of Fantasmic. It is overrated in the extreme and I probably wouldn't watch it again even if there were no long waits just to get in and out of the theater - which of course there are.

 

[yaytezIOA]

Having seen both in person, I can say I prefer Cinematic Spectacular. Let's say that again...I prefer Cinematic Spectacular. I am a fan of film, and I love Universal more than Disney. There's my bias.
I can see how a Disney fan, who loves disney and is just a casual Universal fan would prefer Fantasmic. And honestly, to compare the two shows are really unfair. Both have fireworks, both have fountains and both are on the water....other than that they start to differ greatly. The closest thing to Spectacular that I've seen is World of Color. Surprised that one hasn't been trumpeting that as superior as it's closer than Fantasmic in the type of show.
The huge advantage is the crowd level, and the fact that no matter where in the lagoon you are, you can see Cinematic Spectacular. Don't think the same can be said about World of Color or Fantasmic for that matter. It's something that should be seen in person, and not judged upon by the admittedly good clips that are youtube. Seeing it on video does not do it justice.
That being said, it boils down to preference. Entertainment is subjective, and what one person finds entertaining may not be so for other people.

 

[Molyneuxd]

I think it's being compared to Fantasmic due to me, I watched both over two nights last week and posted I wouldn't watch Fantasmic again, found it very boring. Whereas universal I was wide eyed from start to finish, gazing at the water displays!

Even before the show starts they are impressive with the patterns!

 

[yaytezIOA]

I think it's being compared to Fantasmic due to me, I watched both over two nights last week and posted I wouldn't watch Fantasmic again, found it very boring. Whereas universal I was wide eyed from start to finish, gazing at the water displays!

Even before the show starts they are impressive with the patterns!

They started doing ET, JAWS and BTTF patterns before the show last night.

Some pics here

 

[PammyK]

I was able to catch the new nighttime show on the 7th, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprise with how much I enjoyed the show. I thought the use of technology to produce such high quality imagery on the water screens was wonderful. And though I would never consider myself a movie buff, I enjoyed the various themed sections of the film clips. And while this may be damning with faint praise, I think I can honestly say that, for me, this is the best "nighttime spectacular" that Universal Orlando has produced.

 

[phamton]

I think the show is a vast improvement over cinesphere 360. That said, I love Fantasmic. I love the story line, the effects and the storyline of Fantasmic. IMO, Disney does a fantastic job on shows and parades. (The Festival of the Lion King is also one of my favorites.) I think Universal's night time show is better than Epcot's.

I think that Universal is really working hard to create some great parades and shows and I am glad that they are stepping it up. Progress is being made. Just a few short years ago, the parks closed ever night during the off-season at 6:00 PM. Now, with increased attendance, the parks are now open later at night even in the off-season and so night-time shows are possible. I am excited to see the longer hours, more shows, parades,and new rides in just the last few years.

Heck, I remember a few years ago when they cancelled Grinchmas. Personally as long as I keep seeing improvements and additions to the park, I am thrilled. I think the new character parade is very well done. I still think that Magic Kingdom's 3:00 character parade and night time parade are better but I think Universal's parade is better than Hollywood's Star and Cars parade or the parade in Animal Kingdom. Progress is being made and that makes me excited for things to come.

Here are my ratings and I am sure that many of you would rate them totally different:
Best Night time show
1.Fantasmic
2.Universal's Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories.
3.Wishes
4.IllumiNations

Best Parades
1.SpectroMagic
2. Magic Kingdom character parade (3 o'clock parade)
3. Universal's Superstars parade
4. Animal Kingdom and MGM parades tied for last.

Best Shows
1. Festival of the Lion King
2. Grinchmas show
3. Horror makeup Show
4. Finding Nemo muscial
5. Crush the Turtle and Beauty and the Beast (tied)

 

[SanFranciscan]

I got to see the preview last Monday, and was hands down better than Disney Fantasmic, which to be honest wish I hadn't waited for!

by

While I have no axe to grind with Disney and have enjoyed Disney parks and even loved Disney enough to work as a volunteer for the museum run by Walt Disney's family in San Francisco, the wait for Fantasmic was frightening. I did not feel safe at all in that crowd entering the theater and started wishing that I could get out of there before my husband and I even got into the theater.

I felt safe at the lagoon of Universal Studios while we waited for the show to begin on Wednesday night, and this better enabled me to enjoy the show for 100 Years of Movie Magic. I will give WDW their due that they do put on a great show, but the narrow entrance for that very large theater going into Fantasmic is something that I would like to see changed. My husband told me later that he felt like he was going to be crushed that night. I understand, but the large number of people behind us made it impossible to turn back. Being in my seat during Fantasmic freaked me out a little bit too as I got paranoid that that theater was a deathtrap.

 

[AJA]

I really liked the new show. Is it Disney, no but it's pretty cool. It's also nice to walk up 10 mins before the show and get a great view. -something I've never managed to do at Disney.

Will it bring a tear to your eye like watching wishes for the first time with your four year old? Probably not, but as far as it being a really cool nighttime fireworks/entertainment show we loved it.

 

[DCTooTall]

From watching the video online, I enjoyed the new show. I enjoyed the "storyline" that celebrated the history of films.... But then again, I'm a bit of a movie buff. (I was scared how many clips I recognized...... And that I recognized The Last Starfighter music towards the beginning of the show.).



And seriously people.... You need to learn to quit comparing Disney and Universal. It's like comparing Coffee and Soda. They both are beverages which provide a caffine boost...But they are very different with their own unique flavors, markets, and objectives. They are both great parks in their own right, but Disney will never be Universal (with tons of awesome thrill rides), and Universal will never be Disney (With it's history of providing 'magic' and being synonymous with great Family entertainment).