Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "If they're at BTR, then what's been in the Golden Horseshoe since they moved?" See post 28.
Originally Posted By smd4 >>>They've been around for 20 years. It's time for a new act and new blood.<<< I feel the same way about Fantascrap!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes, Disney keeps its shows, parades and "night-time spectaculars" around WAY too long. The only one I even bother with anymore is Illuminations at Epcot and I'm not sure how much longer even that will get my attention... it is BADLY in need of replacement. Even Silver Dollar City, a local regional (and very well run) theme park, changes its shows out every few years. If they can do it, what not a huge outfit like Disney??
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt >>>They've been around for 20 years. It's time for a new act and new blood.<<< "I feel the same way about Fantascrap!" Fantasmic is a terrific show, and has successfully stood the test of time. I'd be very leery about Disney replacing it with something else. It would probably be better to keep the basic format and give the show a major refresh rather than removing it altogether.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "Even Silver Dollar City, a local regional (and very well run) theme park, changes its shows out every few years. If they can do it, what not a huge outfit like Disney??" If a show is still extremely popular (DL's Fantasmic of Epcot's Illumination), why should they? Would the 2003 Silver Dollar City shoe still bring in the people that Illuminations does (adjusting for overall attendance).
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I love Illuminations, but if they are going to keep it they should FIX IT. The last couple of times I saw it the huge globe that opens was not functioning properly. As far as Fantasmic, can't say. I've never seen the one at DL because I can't stand how crowded that whole area of the park gets. At WDW, they could replace it as far as I'm concerned. It doesn't appear to be that popular anymore... during much of the year they only run it twice a week. The larger more popular shows do tend to stick around at SDC and remain very popular. I was thinking more of the smaller "saloon-type" shows that get swapped out every few years. That is where Disney could use some work. I don't think some of their parades (especially the daytime ones) are all that popular. I can think of a couple that should have gone after the first year.
Originally Posted By wendebird I'm very sad to see them go. I make a point every trip to see there show. After 13 years of going to Disneyland, it's still not old. Even to my 17 & 14 year old kids. A petition has been started to try to save the Billy's. If you're so inclined, please sign. https://www.change.org/petitions/disneyland-resort-anaheim-ca-continue-to-provide-billy-hill-the-hillbilly-shows
Originally Posted By smd4 >>> I'd be very leery about Disney replacing it with something else.<<< Who said anything about replacing it? If I had my druthers I'd shelve it and return TSI and the NOS waterfronts to their wonderful original designs.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt >>> I'd be very leery about Disney replacing it with something else.<<< "Who said anything about replacing it? If I had my druthers I'd shelve it and return TSI and the NOS waterfronts to their wonderful original designs." That's how you define "a new act and new blood"?
Originally Posted By crazycroc To be honest, I'm kind of shook up about this. I will sincerely miss this show, so very much. I thought they would play there forever. I love this show. It is one of those bonding things for me and my daughter. I would eat at Captain Kidd's every day if they would just let them stay. Put 'em back in the Horseshoe. And if it doesn't work out. The guys should make a run for Knott's Berry Farm. I swear, if they put some rubberhead plushie crap in the Horseshoe, I may never go back to D-land.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>I would eat at Captain Kidd's every day if they would just let them stay.<< What's the sense in that? You wouldn't last a week.
Originally Posted By ssturgeo wendebird...thanks for the petition link...probably will not do any good...but always makes me feel better to have a venue to voice my opinion. Shared it on FB with all my DL peeps!
Originally Posted By wendebird I agree, I'm sure once Disney has made up their mind, it's a done deal. This is at least a way to make your voice heard. My kids are writing letters too.
Originally Posted By berol How do the Billys feel about it? They may have been the ones to call it quits for all I know.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Those guys had a good run and were very fortunate to maintain a steady gig for so long. It had to end sooner or later.
Originally Posted By wendebird The Billy's have a statement in their web page stating it was Disney's decision to retire them. From the verbage I'd say they weren't happy with losing their gig.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I can't believe Disney does not consult us before making any changes. We know what we want and we know what is good for the parks. They think we are all going to die someday but No we will return to haunt them for every decision that we do not approve of. And this is one of them. Seriously this is our fault because we did not ask for a Billyhill giftshop exit experience in all those guest surveys.
Originally Posted By hbquikcomjamesl As for Disney keeping shows around long past the point where they become stale, The MSEP ran for as long as it did because (1) It surpassed everybody's expectations, especially those of its own designers. Among other things, it was one of the most perfect synergies between visuals and music since Fantasia. I'd say that Spectro was similar in this regard, and Disney may regret their decision to retire it with extreme prejudice. (2) DL guests, both regulars and vacationers, loved it, and whenever it stepped aside, whether for America On Parade, or for Flights of Fantasy, or for Party Gras, or for Light Magic, it was the guests who wanted it back. (3) IT EVOLVED OVER TIME. Small changes (and sometimes big ones) were regularly made, to keep it fresh, and one-season units were frequently inserted to promote the latest Disney film, or to commemorate important anniversaries. The original Fantasmic in DL does better than the WDW version because (1) It's impossible to ignore. DL Fantasmic essentially takes over most of Frontierland at night, including three of its biggest attractions (one of which was already, of course, closing at dusk), while WDW Fantasmic is off in a quiet corner of a relatively quiet park (yes, I know, it's near the original ToT, and not too far from RnR, but two E-tickets do not a high-traffic area make. (Are the entrances to "ToT lite" and RSR in DCA high-traffic areas? Not particularly.) (2) It's bigger than life. They're using ROA and TSI for the stage, with the Columbia redressed as Captain Hook's vessel, and the Mark Twain for the finale. By comparison, the WDW Fantasmic is sort of like how the DL Fantasmic looks when both the Columbia and the Mark Twain are down for repairs. (3) It, too, has evolved somewhat, over the years. As I recall, they retired the Ursula boat that looked like a refugee from Flights of Fantasy. I've always felt that the best way for any kind of show to stay fresh is for it to be allowed to evolve naturally, over time (think of how long MASH, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and All in the Family lasted on television, and think especially of how different the final season of MASH was from the first season). Radical changes can save a dying show, or they can kill a show that could have lasted for many more years with small, incremental changes.
Originally Posted By sjdimon I am really bummed about this. I realize the DL is NOT a museum, and that things must change, but I sure hope that this is not another example of them "declining by degrees" (to quote Kevin Yee). Hopefully it will be like when they "fired" the Dapper Dans - only to rehire them (and they are still here to this very day). Only time will tell, as we see what comes about over the next few weeks and months. Whatever they do, I hope that there is some form of APPROPRIATE (non-character!) entertainment that goes into the Golden Horseshoe. Worst thing possible, leaving it empty (of course, they have recently rehabbed the building, so it's unlikely that they will simply leave it empty).
