Originally Posted By TDLFAN I stopped by DHS last night to see the Frozen fireworks show, which was ok, and being able to get FP for the last Fantasmic show, made me decide to stay and sit thru this grinding show since I have not seen it in over 3 years, and partly because I saw TDS' high tech version last week, so it would be interesting to take it all in once again and see how badly cheated the american audiences are when it comes to this poor man's version of Fantasmic. First up. Not much has changed here. The show still relies way too much on projected images and poor sequence execution, not to mention outdated technology. Not all is a loss here. I was pleasantly surprised by the lovely lighting effects now found on the Princesses barges. It elevates this sequence to royal heights, which in return make the rest of the show look even worst. Immediate fixes are needs: -Filmed sequences need to be cut bad, reedited and spread out more. They need to install new more powerful HD projectors to really bring those filmed moments more clarify and brilliance. Even on a still night like this, with no winds affecting the quality of the water mist screens, the projection on them was blurry and dimmed. Just horrible. The entire Pocahontas sequence needs to go, period. Its a failed movie with a failed action sequence that simply gets lost in the distance between audience and stage, and it's a messy choreographed moment. Sorry but Peter does the rope swing much better in DL. The dragon, still impressive but, you really can't see much of it. Then the water screens go up to further hide it. Why is that? Fear of seeing the mechanism of it retracting it into the mountain? The whole sequence of Mickey firing his sword at the water wall doesn't work for me. Then that puny Steamboat at the end. No wonder most people are getting up at this time and leaving the theater before the show ends. It's just sad. WDW needs to throw $$$ and improve this show, bring it into the 21st century and make changes to keep it current and fresh. Would that really be that difficult? TDLFAN rates this old Fantasmic show a D-. Skip like the plague. Stay for it only if you're from the midwest, UK or Brazil. All others, heat to Anaheim or Tokyo and see those versions instead.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Too far. Go to Anaheim. Its the best version of it still. Go to Tokyo for the entire resort. Not just Fantasmic.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn I saw Fantasmic at DHS in June. I agree with your assessment. It felt like I was swamped with a brand-fest. All the animations need to be reillustrated at proper definition if that's the way they want to go. Then again, I had just exited The Great Movie Ride before I saw Fantasmic, so it felt like a step up.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I've never been much of a fan of the WDW version of Fantasmic! I do like the dedicated area and amphitheater though. It may lack the charm of showing it on the Rivers of America, but it doesn't make a major area of the park totally clogged and impassible for a major portion of each evening as happens in Anaheim.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I completely agree that the WDW show desperately needs a huge tech upgrade, but I think that it's better than the TDS version of the show. Yes, TDS has fancy fountains and projection globes, but the storyline is even less clear than WDW's, there's no musical throughline, and the staging is awkward-at-best That said, the WDW show could really use some tightening up, and the aforementioned technical upgrades. The first time I saw it (after many years of DL's show), I literally couldn't stop laughing at how pathetic the finale boat was, yet it somehow seemed fitting of the whole show From a purely technical standpoint, TDS probably has the best show. But when you consider the storyline and pacing, it's even worse than World of Color, which is pretty dismal at times. DL definitely has the best version, and there are certain things to like about the other two, but TDS's shouldn't be given a free pass just because everything else in the park is so good
Originally Posted By TDLFAN The staging at TDS is odd due to the show being designed for a round viewing audience, but there is a whole lot more live stuff happening there and lots f kinetic changes. My problem with the DHS show has always been the extensive use of filmed moments. TDS' version makes that a low percentage of the show, so for that reason, I will take the TDS show over DHS' anytime. I think WDW has slept on it's laurels here. This show is still nice for the majority of guests who don't see it as often as anyone of us do. But it really is an embarrassment when compared to the original DL version and definitely TDS'. Maybe the day they invent big $$$ into improving this show, like they did at DL, and like OLC obviously paid for TDS' show, then I will review DHS Fantasmic in a better light. Same goes for the outdated aspects of Reflections at EPCOT. Keep the pyro sequence but for the love of God, ditch and improve the first half of the show with better visuals, stunning water effects and more dazzle. I am so embarrassed for WDW with these two below standard shows.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Same goes for the outdated aspects of Reflections at EPCOT.<< This is the one that has really made me sad in recent years. When the show debuted, it truly was a world-class spectacle with many incredibly unique features. However, in the 15 years since then, the world has caught up and not much of anything has been done to upgrade the show (though they've altered the pyro a few times due to supply changes). I think more than anything else in WDW, I like this show because of what it used to be, rather than what it is now. Epcot should be a place to celebrate the latest technical achievements and people of the world; it really needs an updated show that reflects this mission, like ROE once did. However, given current management's lust for character franchises, I'm really not sure I trust them to properly overhaul the production. I'm cautiously optimistic for Rivers of Light at DAK (the concept art reminds me of the Transformation scene from Brother Bear, which I've always thought would have been a perfect fit in WOC), but I'm still not sure that I believe they'll do it right
