Originally Posted By leemac <<But as a hater of parades, it's definitely not something I'm excited for.>> It always fascinates me that some of the most diehard fans aren't enamoured with the entertainment side of the parks. Both parades and shows are staples of my Disney theme park experience and I guess I always expect others to be the same.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Looks way better than the Soundsational Parade at DL.>> I've been very surprised that the fanbase haven't taken Soundsational to their heart - it does seem to have left many feeling "meh" - I'd like to know why. It isn't my favorite parade by any stretch but it is a fun parade sized appropriately for the park.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Looks like a nice parade, and it's certainly well past due. The designs remind me of some of the things they've done in the past in Tokyo, which can only be a good thing>> The parade production team have totally nailed how to roll out new parades globally now. A lot of the parades now share elements from music (Soundsational is the same song as HKDL's Flights of Fantasy parade) to actual floats (HKDL's Stitch float features a repurposed pirate boat swing that was used in TDL's Jubilation). It helps to reduce costs and convince the operator to invest in new parades.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Flights of Fantasy is beautifully designed, an amazing concept, with beautiful music ... but lacks something to me - not a fan of the un-necessarily long show stop (that not everyone along the route gets to see), and without it, the parade portion is too short.>> The park just didn't have the budget for a bigger parade but they wanted the opening day parade out of the park pronto (it never resonated with guests) and they also wanted interactivity which can only be achieved with show modes. I've yet to see it work effectively (culturally they just don't seem to "get" the concept of only going into the performance corridor when asked) but the kids seem to like it. There are elements of Flights of Fantasy that I really like - my only negative is that there isn't particularly anything new - it is the same source material that has been used exhaustively recently like The Lion King, Pooh and the Princesses.
Originally Posted By leemac <<not a fan of the un-necessarily long show stop (that not everyone along the route gets to see>> The show mode song is probably my favorite ever - it totally kills me every time I hear it. It just works perfectly. I'd always like to see a better reveal element to the show modes but they do serve their purpose here. It is up there with Make A Wish (from TDL's 20th parade) for me. The stops are strange - Mickey stops in front of the castle and at the foot of Main Street - but it is just a function of the performance corridor length.
Originally Posted By leemac <<The show mode song is probably my favorite ever - it totally kills me every time I hear it.>> And even more embarrassing is that it is a Jonas Bros. song! I really shouldn't admit to these things. However the arrangement in the parade is just exceptional. I should add my favorite Disney theme park song ever is still HKDL's Grand Opening Song. Matt Gerrard nailed that one.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>I've been very surprised that the fanbase haven't taken Soundsational to their heart - it does seem to have left many feeling "meh" - I'd like to know why.<< I think it's a fun parade, but I always felt like it was only halfway done. The full-fledged floats in it are great, but there are a bunch of pretty generic small filler floats in between. The drums featuring the Three Caballeros, Tink and Peter Pan, Aladdin, and Lion King just don't work for me. And given that those are about half of the floats in the parade, that's a fairly major component. I would prefer that instead of those 4 mini-floats, they had 2 real-sized ones, but In general though, I think it's a fun parade. It has really fun music, and it does a nice job of creating a cohesive song, while giving the units their individual songs. They also picked a pretty good variety of music to be represented, though there are a couple obvious exceptions (Peter Pan/Tink, Lion King/Jungle Book). The overall aesthetic is neat, and does a good job of giving a consistent theme to the parade; plus I like how they incorporated musical instruments into the various designs >>A lot of the parades now share elements from music (Soundsational is the same song as HKDL's Flights of Fantasy parade)...<< That's interesting that HKDL has the Soundsational music. The parade they were running on my 2010 visit (something gardening/weather-related) also used recycled music, from the Pixar Play Parade. It had different words, but the tune was unmistakable.
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite "That's interesting that HKDL has the Soundsational music. The parade they were running on my 2010 visit (something gardening/weather-related) also used recycled music, from the Pixar Play Parade. It had different words, but the tune was unmistakable." Actually, I believe Steven commissioned those two parade themes for Hong Kong first. The theme to the Pixar Play parade was first used in Mickey's Waterworks (at HKDL, the parade you just mentioned). The theme to Soundsational was first used in HKDL's Flights of Fantasy parade. It may also be because Steven's team is working on a lot of the productions at the same time. If he feels certain show elements or musical themes are really good, and can be re-purposed to fit different productions...I say, why not? And Disney has been doing this with their parades and shows since the 80s...
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite <"It always fascinates me that some of the most diehard fans aren't enamoured with the entertainment side of the parks. Both parades and shows are staples of my Disney theme park experience and I guess I always expect others to be the same."> I feel the exact same way. I think attractions, dining, shopping, ambiance, AND live entertainment (parades, shows, spectacles) are all integral elements of the true "Disney experience". That's why I get so angry when entertainment gets the short-end of the stick (budget-wise, or cut completely), or is left to get stale like WDW. Entertainment seems like such a no-brainer thing to invest in (and update), especially to promote new films, characters, etc. Why the US Disney parks don't tap into that potential more is such a waste to me. (I also don't understand why the consumer products folks don't tap into selling merchandise based on the current entertainment offerings, as well as attractions. How many Grumpy t-shirts does one need?) As for online boards, it's funny...if parades aren't your 'thing', then why do those folks always have to post that in parade topics?
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Because that's why the Internet was created, to view pornographic material and complain about things to others.
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite <"'ve been very surprised that the fanbase haven't taken Soundsational to their heart - it does seem to have left many feeling "meh" - I'd like to know why. It isn't my favorite parade by any stretch but it is a fun parade sized appropriately for the park."> Soundsational may not be as grand as Parade of Dreams was...but it is solid parade. Very "old school" to me...reminds me of the parades Disneyland had in the 80s and 90s. It's not extravagant...but it's a good length (not too short like some parades can be), with great music and energy, a good-sized cast, and beautiful costuming. I don't know, perhaps with parades being so focused on technology and show stops and effects, Soundsational has a real simplicity to it and maybe that doesn't "wow" Disney fans. I will say a few of the floats are not that great - the TLM float, and the princess one - and I kind of wish the musical theme was carried through the design even more prominently - more use of live instruments, big oversized-instruments making up the scenic elements (like the P&TF unit, which I think exemplifies it perfectly), and more musicians (why they cut the pearly band...?). I like the drum "tweener" floats...not so much in place of full floats, but as an addition. I like how it gives variation to the show, other than it just being one float unit (based off one film) then another, etc. I like how Steven is kind of using a combo of big float units, push units, "tweener" floats, etc. to give parades a bit more variation.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<It always fascinates me that some of the most diehard fans aren't enamoured with the entertainment side of the parks. Both parades and shows are staples of my Disney theme park experience and I guess I always expect others to be the same.>> I love live entertainment. FotLK, Nemo the Musical, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, the Citizens of Hollywood, etc, etc. Love all of them. I just hate parades. Do nothing for me. I just don't care about seeing a foamhead wave to me from a parade float. Plus they much up the paths of the park. I get that people like them. I just don't.
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite <"The park just didn't have the budget for a bigger parade but ... is the same source material that has been used exhaustively recently like The Lion King, Pooh and the Princesses."> Hmm, that's interesting, because Flights of Fantasy definitely does not come off as a cheap parade. It's more extravagant than even Soundsational. The concept, design, costuming, etc. is definitely top quality...so it's interesting that they "didn't have the budget for a bigger parade"...? I'd say it's quite big. The parade itself, concept and visual wise, is incredible. For me, it's just the show stops. There's a certain "wow" moment missing for me... and they run a bit long. And it is a bit funny to see it stop 3 times within the parade route, but the town square area of Main Street doesn't get one. I guess their parade route is a funny length, or something...but entertainment usually is pretty good at cutting the parade route into 3 or 4s given the length of a parade so that at least a stop is viewable from anywhere along the route (at least once). It is funny to see the HK audience shove their kids out there during the "join in" moment. And not realize that once that little moment is over, they need to go back to their spots. It's kind of crazy watching the guest control team try to get everyone back to the sidewalk. LOL! Is that a cultural thing? As for re-using, production elements...again, why not? If it works, use it. And the parade team is pretty good at making sure those elements are re-designed and in different parks on different continents. As for source material, it can get a bit monotonous (esp. with Mermaid, Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, Princesses, Pooh, etc.). I have no problem using characters/songs/films over again...just that it gets tired with every parade being the 'one animated film unit after another' concept. That's why I like how Steven and team are delving into concepts that bring out the characters/films in new ways...that's why I thought Jubilation! was so refreshing, yet still familiar. Flights of Fantasy and Soundsational are cool too, but it would have been neat to see the concept of "flight" or "music" be even heavier in the design.
Originally Posted By leemac <<The theme to Soundsational was first used in HKDL's Flights of Fantasy parade. >> My memory may be fuzzy but I'm almost certain that the song was written for Soundsational and repurposed (which is why there is so much percussion in the score).
Originally Posted By leemac <<The parade they were running on my 2010 visit (something gardening/weather-related) also used recycled music, from the Pixar Play Parade. It had different words, but the tune was unmistakable.>> I love WaterWorks - it is one of the most entertaining parades out there - just pure fun without the annoying in-your-face stuff that the various Pixar parades have had. I don't know if HKDL has made a decision about bringing it back this year (I think it skipped 2011 but otherwise has been a summer classic at the park).
Originally Posted By leemac <<That's why I get so angry when entertainment gets the short-end of the stick (budget-wise, or cut completely), or is left to get stale like WDW. Entertainment seems like such a no-brainer thing to invest in (and update), especially to promote new films, characters, etc. Why the US Disney parks don't tap into that potential more is such a waste to me. >> The US parks have no issue with allocating capex to develop and build entertainment - they just hate operating expenses (like pesky performer and CM salaries) as that hits their bottom line. Every year they have tried to cut elements from Finding Nemo: The Musical to save on running costs. Crazy.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Soundsational may not be as grand as Parade of Dreams was...but it is solid parade.>> I must admit that PoD wasn't my favorite - Eisner forced the Welcome song on to the production team and it really never gelled. The parade was a welcome return to classic parades but it didn't feel particularly fresh and new to me. Steven has definitely experimented more with his design style since Legend of Mythica - these aren't the parades of the 80s and 90s. Mythica is still the best parade ever.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I love live entertainment. FotLK, Nemo the Musical, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, the Citizens of Hollywood, etc, etc. Love all of them.>> Great list - D-MGM streetmosphere used to be exceptional and probably peaked around the time that Francis Fluke and the wannabe starlets appeared. I lost whole afternoons of my life to that lot. I felt like a groupie at times.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I thought the Parade of Dreams was forgettable, and I like parades.
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite <"My memory may be fuzzy but I'm almost certain that the song was written for Soundsational and repurposed (which is why there is so much percussion in the score)."> Ah, ok. I think both parades were kind of in production around the same time, no? At least that's my guess. But Flights of Fantasy opened first right? <"I must admit that PoD wasn't my favorite - Eisner forced the Welcome song on to the production team and it really never gelled. The parade was a welcome return to classic parades but it didn't feel particularly fresh and new to me."> What I liked about POD was how ambitious it was in terms of size and scale. And it was beautifully designed. That was nice to see after running that "Parade of the Stars" for so long...plus the return of the 'show stop'. Concept-wise, yeah, it wasn't anything new. It was definitely a "classic" parade in the sense, and I remember an interview with the creative ent. team saying that. But I personally feel that the ambitious design and scale made it quite refreshing for a "classics" parade. As for the song "Welcome", that was one of my favorite aspects to it. Whether it was forced on them, hey, to me, they made it work. I know for a lot of regular-going Disney fans, that song was very well liked, as well as the parade itself. A lot of people were pretty angry when it was retired, esp. for that horrible "Celebrate" street party that followed (that was a bitter pill to swallow). <"The US parks have no issue with allocating capex to develop and build entertainment - they just hate operating expenses (like pesky performer and CM salaries) as that hits their bottom line. Every year they have tried to cut elements from Finding Nemo: The Musical to save on running costs. Crazy."> There's that perfectly logical corporate business sense once again - 'build and develop...no prob. Operate fully...no'. LOL!!! I have to admit, I notice that certain productions start out really nice, and then as time goes on... a few performers here or there will be missing...Then they cut the princes... Then a couple show elements are taken out. Like, really? I really hate that.
