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Topic: WDW Fantasmic vs. DL Fantasmic....

#	Author	Message
1	wpheiny Fri 5/9/2008 10:15p	I just watched the video of Fantasmic from Disney's Hollywood Studios (as I haven't been to WDW since Oct '97), and I have to say that I find it very inferior to Disneyland's. Now, I can imagine that the theater The WDW version is in is probably much more accomadating to viewing the show than the Rivers of America are in Cali, I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed with FL's fantasmic. I thought the entire "bubble sequence" and "Pocahantas" parts lost a lot of momentum and excitement in the show that the "Pachaderm!" and "Peter Pan" sequences really build up in Disneyland. To be fair, the Kaa/pachaderm/Peter portion of the Disneyland show is the highlight for me, and to see it gone, well, I was kinda crushed.... The finale is also kind of a letdown in WDW's when that little boat comes around the corner when one is used to the Mark Twain.... What I find kind of strange is that the WDW version, while being the 2.0 version, does not plus on the original at all. Now I understand that the possibility of building a full size pirate ship or stern wheeler for a show and not a useable attraction is probably fiscally out of the question, I still feel like there is no "WOW!" factor to the WDW show. Heck, I've watched the DL version more times than I can count (I try to get to Disneyland once a year as I live up in Albany, OR). I watch it at least once a trip, and I have watched from the private balcony with the dessert buffet 5 times (setting a record during 1 showing by drinking 14 mint juleps...) and I still feel that "Wow!" moment every time I view the show. The Florida show just seems to get very slow and bog down for the middle third... something I don't feel at all with the DL show. I will probably see the WDW version when I'm down there next January, but I know the best and original version of Fantasmic is located in Disneyland.
2	DlandDug Fri 5/9/2008 11:30p	>>...(setting a record during 1 showing by drinking 14 mint juleps...) and I still feel that "Wow!" moment...<< Are you sure that "Wow!" moment wasn't just the granddaddy of all sugar rushes...? There are marked differences in the two versions. I, too find the Disneyland version superior. But I have met WDW regulars who find the Disneyland version lacking. Specifically: --No seating. --Lower audience capacity. --No Pocahontas sequence. (One told me that the Indian canoes and fire arrow are THE highlight of the show.) --Lack of references to any film after Beauty and the Beast. --Lame dragon at high point of Maleficent segment. --Lesser pyrotechnics. --Underwhelming finale, with Sorceror Mickey standing on the roof of a building. So it's all in one's perspective. I believe we can all agree that Disneyland has far superior river craft, and Florida has a better mountain for Mickey's grand apotheosis. Some prefer the "bubble" sequence with all the characters; I find it overlong. And the little boat at the end of the Florida version is comical, but ONLY if you're used to the Disneyland version. If Florida's mountain wasn't quite so bare, and they added a really spiffy boat at the end, I would almost be willing to give that version the edge...
3	davewasbaloo Sun 5/11/2008 2:56a	Perspectives will vary, but add me to the list of those that totally prefer the DL version (though having bleachers in WDW is great).
4	wpheiny Tue 5/13/2008 10:10p	I agree that the seating arrangements in WDW look far superior to Dl'. But to think they get that entire show out in California out of the Rivers of America... Where the entire place transforms at night from what it is during the day.... as compared to WDW version in a theater, set up specifically for that show, that is used, what twice a night? It still amazes me what they are able to do in Disneyland. As for the lack of any movie refernces post Beauty... Well, WDW has no movie refernces post Hunchback.... It all depends on when the show was put together. I have to say I also find the canoe scene rather...I dunno... crummy I guess. I know, great use of vocabulary... It's probably because I find Pocahantas to be my least favorite Disney movie of all Time. As for Miuckey only standing on the building as oposed to a mountain, to me it looks like Mickey is so far away in WDW from the audience. Of course, I don't know for sure as I've only watched the video and not the real thing....
5	Ansemnas Sat 6/7/2008 5:54a	I find that the Pocahantas scene is my least favorite part of WDW. It is a major lull for me and I wish it had Peter Par instead. I also happen to be one of those crazy people who prefers the bubble sequence, but because I havn't seen DL's in person, I may change my mind when I actually go for the first time next year. The appearance of Mickey on top of the mounatin is a great climax and I don't find that he is too far away from the audience. It't about the same as the characters at base level.
6	X-san Sat 6/7/2008 6:07a	Didn't the WDW version premiere right around when Pocahontas first opened? I think that was the problem. If it had premiered right after a cooler movie, we could've had a great pride rock scene or something. On the other hand, we could've had Stitch. So it's all relative. ;)
7	Ansemnas Sat 6/7/2008 6:43a	Lion King would be awesome! Stitch not so much. I like Stitch, he is just over used in the parks.
8	FerretAfros Mon 6/9/2008 2:49p	I tend to agree that DL's version is a lot better, but I have never seen the WDW one in person, so take it with a grain of salt. The DL configuration actually allows for a lot more people to see each show. The original plan was to create a viewing area in DL for about 12,000, but it got scaled back to around 10,000. With realistic crowds, they are able to get around 9,000 people at each show. The stadium in WDW is less flexible (you can cram a lot of people in when they're standing up), and only seats around 5,000 people per show. The Pocahontas segment in WDW looked pretty cool to me. I couldn't see too much detail on the video I saw, but the transitions between the canoes and miners looked really cool. It's a neat concept, but I still like the Peter Pan part better. It is just much more grand and spectacular, but from what I could tell, the Pocahontas scene was an adequate suppliment. The death of the dragon in WDW also seems to be lacking in comparison to DL. The fountain just sort of engulfs the stage and she disappears behind the wall of water. In DL, while the dragon may not be as impressive (I couldn't tell a difference based on the video), the electrocution death is one of the most impressive parts of the show. It just seems to bring everything together and make it all climax in one big moment. With both shows, they are able to update the finale to include more recent movies, but it definatley seems like they change the characters around a lot more in DL. Overall, the pacing just seems to be better at DL. Individual scenes aside, it just builds and builds to the point when the dragon dies and the Twain comes around the bend. There are longer and rearranged scenes in WDW that make it take a long time to get moving, and it never really seemed to fully conclude at the end, as there didn't seem to be as much of a connection at the end. The WDW stage seems a little more distant and a lot less relatable. There's something magical (in that real Disney magic kind of way, not the sparkles on commercials kind fo way) about the change from daytime frontier island to nighttime spectacular. In WDW, the whole thing is clearly set up for it to happen, so there's just something a little less surprising about it.

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