Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "And I think it's okay for DL if this isn't a true headliner once it makes it past the 60th hype. With fireworks and Fantasmic! running the same nights as the parade, it would be tough to have 3 must-do's in one park" True. Everything at a Disney park shouldn't have to blow your mind to be acceptable. "And for what it's worth, I like the music." <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18yg5jc5i04o6gif/ku-medium.gif">http://img.gawkerassets.com/im...dium.gif</a>
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: It's interesting that most of the characters in this parade are from Disney's more recent family of characters, rather than the older, more classic variety. Perhaps in Hong Kong that's what the guests there prefer.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros ^^I believe that's a large part of the reason that they were chosen. I've heard that Belle is the most popular princess in HKDL, which is why she is featured on a float of her own but the other traditional princesses aren't included. Bringing in more princesses is one of the changes that will happen before the parade makes its way to DL
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Honestly I can't decide whether or not DL guests would appreciate it. It's so doggone flashy I'm not convinced that locals would embrace it. It totally fits Hong Kong though.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< It's interesting that most of the characters in this parade are from Disney's more recent family of characters, rather than the older, more classic variety. Perhaps in Hong Kong that's what the guests there prefer. >>> Remember the story about Bob Iger watching the HKDL daytime parade on Opening Day in Sept 2005? He saw most of the classic Disney characters go by without much reaction or even recognition from the crowds, but whenever a Pixar character went by, the crowd went wild. The story goes that that is the moment when he decided to buy Pixar.
Originally Posted By dagobert The new parade looks beautiful. I really like the Mater Truck from Cars.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>It's so doggone flashy I'm not convinced that locals would embrace it.<< There's no denying that it's a huge departure from MSEP which is so beloved by the DLR locals, but if it's well done I think they might be open to it. The last time DLR debuted something that was flashy and garish, it became the surprise hit of the summer and was popular enough to spin off 2 different successful events in its wake (and a whole slew of less successful counterparts at WDW) <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.chipandco.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/glow-500x334.jpg">http://www.chipandco.com/wp-co...x334.jpg</a> <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/micechat/media/Dateline%20Disneyland/2010/12-27-10/IMG_0956.jpg.html">http://s1177.photobucket.com/u...jpg.html</a> <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.yesterland.com/images-caladventure/glowfest_atnight2010kw.jpg">http://www.yesterland.com/imag...10kw.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By Mr X Is it just me, or is Tinkerbell a bit Asian looking (might just be the music tricking my brain lol)?
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Was this a soft opening performance? My sisters and I thought this parade wouldn't debut until October 2014.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "The last time DLR debuted something that was flashy and garish, it became the surprise hit of the summer and was popular enough to spin off 2 different successful events in its wake (and a whole slew of less successful counterparts at WDW)" When I said flashy I literally meant flashy as in flashing lights. The new HKDL parade has so many bright blinking LEDs and mirrored surfaces it could cause a seizure. The Tea Party thing at DCA is colorful, but not in the same way that Paint the Night is. Whether or not DLR visitors would go wild for the parade is anyone's guess, but to me the show seems more suited for Hong Kong audiences than Southern California.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Hmm...after watching several videos of the special performance, I'm not sure how I feel about it. The music was weird to me, and I wasn't sure the pop song used really fit, but then it's not the song so much, after all, it was in Wreck-it Ralph. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM1YMeDsc-M">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...YMeDsc-M</a> I think it's just that the lyrics here seem a little premature, saying "when can we do this again?" while the parade is going. That's a sentiment for the finale, don't make me feel like you're forcing the excitement. Anyway, that's a small nitpick. The other issue I had was the reliance on Baroque Hoedown. I get it, I also love the MSEP, but really, can we stop paying homages to it in these things? Light Magic did it too, and it was salt in the wound then. Now, it's just a link to the past that isn't necessary. The opening announcement was a little painful. I'd be happy with just an entirely new piece of music used instead. After all, the only thing this new parade has to do with the old is the fact that it's lights, and it runs at night. The technology is cool, and I like the combinations. The screens don't bother me too much actually. And, I'll admit to really liking the 3D effect on the Mack float. It also reminded me of the old "Kaleidophonic Opening" of the Carousel of Progress, when they had a big light screen like that with color changing effects synced to the soundtrack. I do wish it had some more "classic" Disney characters in there, but I also understand that the newer properties are popular. Hopefully if it does come to DL for the 60th, they do add more. The idea of the Rapunzel float with her glowing hair would be fantastic! The magic paintbrushes are...eh. It's just with so many guests and only a few costumes to change, it really makes it ineffective. It's better that the brushes, hats, and bows just change with the colors of the floats, like the LightEar hats. Overall, it's interesting and it's very nice to see an all new nighttime parade in a Disney park. DreamLights is also fantastic, but it is even more heavily tied to the MSEP.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Oh, and the Tinker bell and Mickey floats were very nice. I especially liked that Tink was out on that rotating arm. And the rotating ball-screens on Mickey's float were pretty cool.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "The opening announcement was a little painful." Yes. Not a little but very.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>The other issue I had was the reliance on Baroque Hoedown. I get it, I also love the MSEP, but really, can we stop paying homages to it in these things?<< I think it's a reflection of Disney as a whole at the moment. Everything must be tied into some sort of franchise, which ends up including parades and theme park attractions. It seems like there are enough "subtle" references to other things in the parks that you practically need a detailed primer on The Walt Disney Company's history to really understand everything around you. In this instance, Baroque Hoedown works for me; however, I could definitely see it being confusing for someone who doesn't already know the song, since the tune is so fragmented that it hardly sounds like anything at all >>The magic paintbrushes are...eh. It's just with so many guests and only a few costumes to change, it really makes it ineffective. It's better that the brushes, hats, and bows just change with the colors of the floats, like the LightEar hats.<< I suspect that they were all distributed before the event so that it would look good in videos, similar to what was done with the Glow with the Show ears when they first debuted in the US. Unlike the Glow with the Show stuff, which seems ridiculous in person because so few people are actually using it, I think that this will really benefit from having a limited number of items in the audience. If there are only a couple people in each area with the paint brushes, it will be much easier for them to actually see their interaction in a meaningful way
Originally Posted By monorailblue I don't read this section of the boards, but I thought I'd repost the thoughts I posted elsewhere--just to rankle some feathers: I was on a small device last night, but this morning have a keyboard. I really like the incorporation of the Electrical Parade tribute elements--although the opening narration-singing was a bit much. But the dance club vibe is so intense! MSEP was catchy and upbeat--not pounding and manic. I have to go back to the word garish--every set was too bright, too busy, too frenetic and, I am certain, too loud. (I am actually appalled at the general level of most Disneyland live shows. I can hardly stand to watch Fantasmic! near the river's edge any more, as the sheer loudness hurts my ears. I'm sure this parade is the same--or would be if recreated / transplanted to Anaheim.) That level of intensity is not heartwarming and is, to me, exhausting after a long day. What MSEP had in spades and this parade has none of is delightful charm. It is entirely in-your-face, over-the-top. Compare the color changing dancers in this parade to the bug floats in MSEP. Everyone loves the bug floats--simple, cute; I hated the dancers' endlessly flickering and changing costumes. Headache! I have never understood why Disney didn't take the technological marvels of LightMagic, the bubbling (but not panicky) charm of MSEP, the equally proven success of SpectroMagic, and the heartwarming wonder of Believe . . . There's Magic in the Stars and come up with a night parade that could last as long as Fantasmic! I really believe that could be done. This parade definitely is not it.
Originally Posted By monorailblue *By "last" I mean live on over the years and decades--not have the same running time. :O)
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I have to go back to the word garish >>> Have you ever been to China? <<< I have never understood why Disney didn't take the technological marvels of LightMagic, the bubbling (but not panicky) charm of MSEP, the equally proven success of SpectroMagic, and the heartwarming wonder of Believe . . . There's Magic in the Stars and come up with a night parade that could last as long as Fantasmic! I really believe that could be done. >>> I think it's called Dreamlights, just updated and renewed for another 5-year term, guaranteeing at least a 20-year continuous run.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I actually just commented in the other thread that mono's description sounded like Dreamlights. Great minds think alike! >>Have you ever been to China?<< I agree that garish tends to be quite popular in China. It's less popular in Hong Kong (though the laser show in the harbor isn't exactly subtle), but I suppose there are a lot of mainland visitors to HKDL
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Disagree with you ferret. I work in china often and I don't think garish applies. Garish is a personal opinion and you like WDW. Right? The lesson is.… what's garish for me, can be a pot of gold so I strongly believe you're not being fair in your assessment of mainland China. Even if they pee in the bushes at HKDL.
