Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara The only 3D movie currently in Tokyo Disneyland is "Micro Adventure" (Honey I Shrunk my Turds). It's an annoying film with limited repeatablity. Mickey's Phiharmagic, even though it's a 3D film, has far greater repeatability because of the characters and the songs--it's a moving and enjoyable experience. People love it and watch it repeatedly. It is, as Disney had hoped, a home run. The Mickey Mouse Revue wasn't a home run even in its 1971 debut. It's static and unexciting and gets by on adult nostalgia. I would prefer that it remains at TDL so I can see it in the future. I've already seen Mickey's Philharmagic in both Orlando and Hong Kong and will soon be able to add Anaheim to that. You need some variation in the parks, but that said, I think there's going to be a new mouse (err ... duck) in that house soon.
Originally Posted By Roger55 ^^Anaheim? Haven't heard that. Where would it go? Rumor? Speculation?Confirmed?
Originally Posted By WorldDisney I agree, Philharmagic is definitely a fun and REPEATABLE ride!!! I only seen it in Hong Kong, but I saw it three times the first time I went....but it's HKDL, you're doing EVERYTHING there 3 times in one day . The difference, I WANTED to keep doing Philharmagic though@
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara The Rumor is that Philharmagic is going to go into the theater currently housing Muppet Vision 3D, which doesn't attract any crowds in Disneyland.
Originally Posted By Roger55 ^^In DCA??? Hard to imagine. I don't think the theater building for Muppets 3-D is wide enough to put Philharmagic in there without some serious mods to either the building structure or the show. Maybe it is a rumor, but IMO not a realistic enough one to where I'd be saying it is already going to happen.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>I happen to like the show and think it would be great to see it remain open, however<<< I completely agree with that exact sentiment. In the best of all possible worlds, they'd keep it as a "classic" (perhaps advertising is as such) and find a different home for Philharmagic... However, that's not too realistic.
Originally Posted By Mr X **Could the show be saved possibly with the idea of changing out some of the scenes to more recent films? Or is the overall concept boring and outdated?** Hate to say it, but noone cares except for us Disney fans. There are virtually NO guests watching this show throughout the day! I don't believe updating any scenes would help...and even if SO...that'd be pretty much destroying the "classic" attraction anyway wouldn't it? Geez...I sure do hope I win the lottery soon...if I had the "REALLY" big money, I'd buy it off Disney and install it in my mansion.
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara It's true that no one really cares, and it's sad. It's a lovely attraction, obviously designed with great care, and still well maintained by the Oriental Land Company. (One can only shiver when thinking about the condition it would be in if it was in one of the US parks or Disneyland Paris.) That said, Mr. X and I are in complete agreement based on the empirical evidence--every major ride in Tokyo Disneyland can have a two-hour standby line and the Mickey Mouse Revue is essentially empty. A big audience consists of about 50 people (and it's a large theater). I think kids would enjoy the show immensely if their parents would simply take them into the show. So, in part I would say that some of the fault lies with Oriental Land for not making some effort to get the target audience into the building. (And the problems with the show are different than those of the Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour, which was only a moderately successful attraction in its execution from the day it opened. It always seemed sort of half-baked, which is not to say I didn't enjoy it, which I did because it was unique.)
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara Oh--and I would add that considering how many 3D movies (and movies in general) are now in Disney parks all around the world, it's interesting to note how few Oriental Land Company has put into its Disney parks in Tokyo. There used to be more, of course, because they had a Circle Vision Theater, and Captain Eo, and Timekeeper (Visionarium) but they've chucked all of it and put their money into more rides. Because there are so few films in the Tokyo parks, they actually have the psychological room for a good one, like Philharmagic, which is a truly magical film.
Originally Posted By Mr X **And the problems with the show are different than those of the Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour, which was only a moderately successful attraction in its execution from the day it opened. It always seemed sort of half-baked, which is not to say I didn't enjoy it, which I did because it was unique.** Well, I'm not quite sure I agree with all of that. Mystery Tour is pretty neat for what it is, and unique too I think not only because it's in Tokyo but because if I'm not mistaken it was the only narrated walk-through Disney attraction ever. Are there any other walking "guided tour" attractions anywhere? Anyway, I'm sure that was part of the problem too...they needed to make sure there was a lot of staff on hand at all times because they had to be with the guests every step of the way. However, Mystery Tour didn't seem to have any problems with lack of attendence. I always recalled seeing a healthy line of people waiting, sometimes 30 minutes or more. Of course, I assume it's low capacity. Anyway, I liked it and I'm sad they got rid of it. As for MMR, different story. It's cute and all, but it's VERY dated and only good for us fans as a nostalgia trip (like experiencing the beginnings of WDW all over again). I don't think kids would really buy into it. Maybe VERY young ones. I don't know. I'm going to Tokyo Disneyland soon, and I'll be taking my favorite 3 year old...so I'll go ahead and test it out.
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara I think the problem with the Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour was that its effects were dated before it opened. It wasn't as sophisticated as it needed to be to succeed, and the only reason it had lines was because it was so slow-loading and labor intensive. I did enjoy it, regardless, and went on it everytime I was in the park. And, yes, I believe it was the only walk-through attraction with a guide that was ever actually built at any of the parks.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Mystery Tour is pretty neat for what it is, and unique too I think not only because it's in Tokyo but because if I'm not mistaken it was the only narrated walk-through Disney attraction ever. Are there any other walking "guided tour" attractions anywhere? >>> <<< And, yes, I believe it was the only walk-through attraction with a guide that was ever actually built at any of the parks. >>> What are you two talking about? The New York City Preservation Society offers daily guided tours of the Hotel Hightower. At least, up to the point where something goes terribly wrong. <<< I think the problem with the Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour was that its effects were dated before it opened. It wasn't as sophisticated as it needed to be to succeed, and the only reason it had lines was because it was so slow-loading and labor intensive. >>> There seems to be a conflict built into what you say above. How would you define "succeed?" If there was always a wait for it, then it was operating at its maximum hourly capacity. Even if this was partially caused by it being slow loading and labor intensive, it doesn't really matter. If they had cutting-edge effects, this would not have increased the number of guests served each day, but only the average length of the line (with the exception of how many guests enter after park closing because of demand at that time).
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara I don't consider being led into the pre-show at Tower of Terror any kind of guided walk-through. More successful attractions have longer lines--the line for Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour was never long. And would you consider its line like that of the Country Bears and Mickey Mouse Revue? Or like Splash Mountain and Pooh's Hunny Hunt? It doesn't fit in any category for comparison. It thought of the Mystery Tour as more of a show, really, and your brief wait was simpy for the "theater" to clear out--like Country Bears. Here, of course, the theater is much smaller since you're cycling through in pretty small groups.
Originally Posted By Mr X Not sure when you were in the park to check out Mystery Tour, but I can tell you that during the Halloween season (that just happened to be the time I was performing nearby) there were often VERY long lines for that attraction. I rarely saw less than a 20 minute wait, just about every time I've been in the park (not counting work, I've probably been to TDL at least 50 times). I would say that it was more popular than Bears or MMR, for sure. Was it Splash or Pooh? No, definitely not. But somewhere inbetween, like maybe most of the Fantasyland dark rides (not Pooh, obviously). And, if you're really looking at what makes a "successful" attraction based on lines, keep in mind that Pirates almost NEVER has any line at all! Also, Mansion is not often busy, except for very crowded days in the park it is often a walk-on.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< rarely saw less than a 20 minute wait, just about every time I've been in the park (not counting work, I've probably been to TDL at least 50 times). >>> This more or less confirms my point about popularity and the "insufficient special effects" argument being bogus. The attraction was operating at maximum hourly capacity as it stood - improving the effects would have only lengthened the average wait in the line without serving any additional guests for the day. I am very curious to find out what the actual reason for closing it was. Hasn't it been closed about a year, and there's no sign of construction going on inside for a replacement. Even if a replacement is planned for, say, 2 years from now, what would be the reason for shutting it down long before the construction for the replacement begins? The only thing that comes to mind is cost, both in terms of hourly CM's needed to operate it and in terms of perhaps being able to skip an annual refurb that was coming up. I'm disappointed that it's gone, as it was rather unique. But it certainly doesn't spoil my visits (which I suppose is exactly the justification that could be used for closing it!).
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Also, Mansion is not often busy, except for very crowded days in the park it is often a walk-on. >>> I noticed recently that Mansion had FP's even when it was in "regular" mode and not HMH. I know DL does it this way, but I could have sworn that TDL was the same way. Has this policy changed, or am I mistaken?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Philharmagic is definitely a fun and REPEATABLE ride!!!<< It's not a ride. Philharmagic is a 3D movie presentation.
Originally Posted By a1stav ^^^^ TDLFAN referring to MMR "There is a very short video of the ride here:"
