Fantasmic!

[Fantasmic!kid]

What do you guys think of this version?

~F!kid

[HMF]

What do you guys think of this version?
Its the first one i have seen. the Disneyland one is a bit better.:wink: The bubble sequence in RDCT was taken from the WDW version of Fantasmic.:wink:

[wdwmickeyfan]

It's nowhere near as good as Disneyland's in my opinion.

[xfkirsten]

Speaking as someone who was in WDW Entertainment... bleeeeech. :p It's horribly unimpressive when compared to Disneyland's. Everything just feels like it's done on a much smaller scale. The only thing that I really like better is that Mickey's battle with the dragon is a bit more drawn out (although I think WDW goes a bit too far the other way and makes it too long and not confrontational enough) and that Sorcerer Mickey's up on a huge mountain rather than a shed.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

I agree with kirsten, bleeeeech is a good word for it. I watched it not knowing what I would see, and I was in pain from the moment the familiar monkeys did not come out. There are several wonderful moments that simply don't exist in MGM's Fantasmic! & that version also has some painfully drawn out moments including the bubble scene, canoers/Pocahontas scene, Jafar snake scene (utterly pointless), and the Dragon battle.

-- Peoplemover "Look! I'm Mickey Mouse - I just got a sword which I'll use to kill that big dragon over there, but I'm going to dance around for about 20 minutes first. Don't worry, dragon'll just sit there and watch me. It takes a while for 87 villians to agree on what I should do." Matt

[Fantasmic!kid]

Imagine if there was no such thing as Disneyland's Fantasmic!.............................. .....:icon_shoc ........DUN DUN DUHHHHHH! jk.

To tell the truth, the thing that struck me the most (about Walt Disney World) was the effects, fountains, and lighting. The story: *vomit*
The only parts of the story I enjoy are the ones from Disneyland.

Though for some reason, I feel the need to record...

~F!kid

[GreenLantern13]

I went knowing all the talk, having participated in a lot of it myself, and having seen the videos seeral times. But when I was there watching it, differences aside, I couldn't help but bounce and sing along and enjoy it. My criticisms of it still stand but I had fun experiencing it. The quality of seeing it in person was certainly better than I'd been able to see on some low quality video I'd seen.

my friend i was with was honestly impressed at how much i enjoyed stuff he figured i'd shrug off and scoff at like most dlanders do heh =D

[Fantasmic!kid]

I wonder why they didn't just copy Disneyland's version.
It would probably be more popular that way.

~F!kid

[xfkirsten]

I agree with kirsten, bleeeeech is a good word for it. I watched it not knowing what I would see, and I was in pain from the moment the familiar monkeys did not come out. There are several wonderful moments that simply don't exist in MGM's Fantasmic! & that version also has some painfully drawn out moments including the bubble scene, canoers/Pocahontas scene, Jafar snake scene (utterly pointless), and the Dragon battle.

-- Peoplemover "Look! I'm Mickey Mouse - I just got a sword which I'll use to kill that big dragon over there, but I'm going to dance around for about 20 minutes first. Don't worry, dragon'll just sit there and watch me. It takes a while for 87 villians to agree on what I should do." Matt

Yeah, the Jafar snake thing is another one of my gripes. It's a neat idea, but horribly executed - and WAY too long. There's too much time just watching the snake walk back and forth with no real action. And you hit the nail exactly on the head on the dragon scene. I always thought that in Disneyland's version, the climactic battle didn't have enough conflict (Mickey just kinda walks up and *bang*, Maleficent is dead)... but I think WDW went too far the other way - they spend too much time with Mickey just walking around and the dragon just sitting there. It'd be really nice to see a bit more action/interaction between the two of them, although I understand that that could make it considerably more technically complex.

I went knowing all the talk, having participated in a lot of it myself, and having seen the videos seeral times. But when I was there watching it, differences aside, I couldn't help but bounce and sing along and enjoy it. My criticisms of it still stand but I had fun experiencing it. The quality of seeing it in person was certainly better than I'd been able to see on some low quality video I'd seen.

my friend i was with was honestly impressed at how much i enjoyed stuff he figured i'd shrug off and scoff at like most dlanders do heh =D

Oh, I still think it's fun to watch, and Sorcerer Mickey still gives me goosebumps. But when I think of what it could have been, that's when I become disappointed.

[HMF]

Speaking as someone who was in WDW Entertainment... bleeeeech. :p It's horribly unimpressive when compared to Disneyland's. Everything just feels like it's done on a much smaller scale. The only thing that I really like better is that Mickey's battle with the dragon is a bit more drawn out (although I think WDW goes a bit too far the other way and makes it too long and not confrontational enough) and that Sorcerer Mickey's up on a huge mountain rather than a shed.
I like that this one has more villains in it.and you dont want to have the two exactly alikethe surrounding is different. I wish they had stadium seating at Disneyland the way we have it at MGM. It was really hard to see with all the trees along the Rivers of America.:wink:

[PeoplemoverMatt]

No...having the show not in its own stadium really adds to the magic of it.

-- PMM :cool:

[Disneyland_Wolf]

Yeah, but WDW's mountain stage is more far apart. You can't get more of the action in your face, like DL's version.

[xfkirsten]

I like that this one has more villains in it.and you dont want to have the two exactly alikethe surrounding is different. I wish they had stadium seating at Disneyland the way we have it at MGM. It was really hard to see with all the trees along the Rivers of America.:wink:

It'd be nice that there's more villains... except that they just have clips of the villains laughing for ages on end, and it gets old fast. Now, if the additional villains actually added something to the show, I'd be all for it!

I definitely want the shows to be different. I think the letdown is that WDW has this big, nice stadium, but they don't seem to make full use of it. The set dwarfs the show. They had the potential to do something big in that space, but they don't. I do know that space is an issue, which is why they can't do a sequence like the Peter Pan one (they only have space backstage for one boat, Steamboat Willie), which kind of leads me to believe that the stadium itself was poorly planned from a creative standpoint. They didn't give themselves the room for something bigger. They built a big mountain, and put small scenes in front of it. It's hard for me to explain, but it just seems like such a waste.

Yeah, but WDW's mountain stage is more far apart. You can't more of the action in your face, like DL's version.

I think that's part of my problem with it. You're more separated from the action than you are at Disneyland. It just seems to much more exciting when the show is right in your face and it's big - you have the Mark Twain and the Columbia towering over you. When you lose that, you just don't feel like you're in the action as much.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Good points kirsten. Add to that Fantasmic! is stuck in a what is not a full day park...only maybe 2 or 3 other headline attractions, and the circle of Disneyland envy is complete.

-- PMM :cool:

[fantasmic_boy122]

idunno... i think itz a little out there but i like the villains added to it

[HMF]

No...having the show not in its own stadium really adds to the magic of it.

-- PMM :cool:
Dont get me wrong I prefer it on the Rivers of America. But there is all this visual clutter everywhere. (the trees etc. I just wish they had benches like at WDW i do not like standing and where i was sitting at a table in Frontierland i had to over come a tree. It was not too bad but i prefer they had a more WDW style arrangement.:wink: Also EPCOT and MGM are right across the street from each other. Reflections of Earth starts around the same time as Fantasmic. If you pay attention you might see one of the fireworks from Reflections over the mountain.

[Fantasmic!kid]

I did hear a rumor (that obviously didn't come to pass) that they were going to have an inflatable Chernabog puppet (like DL's Ursula) and do the whole Night on Bald Mountain thing, with UV lighted ghosts.

[xfkirsten]

Good points kirsten. Add to that Fantasmic! is stuck in a what is not a full day park...only maybe 2 or 3 other headline attractions, and the circle of Disneyland envy is complete.

-- PMM :cool:

See, I come from a different perspective - I'm an entertainment-minded person, and I've come to favor shows over rides in recent years. Disney-MGM Studios is a full-day park - but only if you're into shows. They only have a few big ride attractions, but from a show standpoint they also have Indy, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, the Animation Building, LMA, etc. It becomes a full-day park when you take those into account (because shows really do suck up a lot of time).

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Well coming from parks as dense with both shows and attractions as Disneyland and DCA are, even with those shows you mentioned plus things like the Studio Tour & Drew Carey's Sounds Dangerous, Disney-MGM Studios still seems on the lighter side.

-- PMM :cool:

[GreenLantern13]

I did hear a rumor (that obviously didn't come to pass) that they were going to have an inflatable Chernabog puppet (like DL's Ursula) and do the whole Night on Bald Mountain thing, with UV lighted ghosts.

I've heard something like that before but it would've been so repetitious with the dragon, having these two large demonic creatures coming out of the mountain, that there's no way they coulda done it. Would've undermined the dragon entirely. And I'd much rather the dragon be there.

I also heard that the finale we all like to complain about for taking too long just to shoot the dragon wasn't the finale we were supposed to have. Having the sword in the stone that mickey goes and pulls and shoots the dragon just like DL's version was slapped together at the very last minute. Apparently mickey was supposed to walk out onto the river and then rise up in a big column of water and destroy the dragon with some magic. The mechanisms are rumored to still be there. Some say they couldn't get the hydraulics to fully work. A lot say that Michael Eisner watched the show before it came out and immediately said "Mickey does not walk on water." So they had to come up with the sword in the stone instead. Meanwhile the show's CD had already been produced, and hence the last track is called 'Mickey Walks On Water/Evil Destroyed."

[fantasmic_boy122]

oh now looking at the CD tracks... that makes sense.. i so wanna se Mickey walk on water... MI... y cant mickey walk on water.... HE'S IN HIS IMAGINATION..... so i dont get y he thought why that that should not happen

[GreenLantern13]

religious conflicts. he wasn't willing to deal with it. and who knows, i mean it may have been unreliable hydraulics too.

[Harrison Hightower III]

I haven't seen Fantasmic so you guys can bicker away.

[Fantasmic!kid]

^Not bickering, discussing! :biggrin:

[jagfkb]

This is probably my favorite since this is what started Fantasmic the musical.

[buzzlightsnack]

I've seen a few videos of Fantasmic from MGM Studios and I noticed that during the Princess sequence that Prince Eric and Prince Charming don't pick up Ariel and Snow White when the lyrics say "ready to stand.." like in the Disneyland version, does anybody know why?

[GreenLantern13]

the equity union has an agreement with disney so that any non-equity members are not allowed to do choreography deemed too complex, things like singing, etc... prince charming picking up snow white and spinning her around is deemed too complex. The whole equity situation bogging down their entertainment sucks over there imho.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

^ The lack of choreography was also a big downer.

-- PMM :cool:

[Disneyland_Wolf]

So that's why the Pocahontes battle scene lacked choreography. No wonder, it looked dull.

Disneyland Fantasmic! is completely choreographed.

[xfkirsten]

the equity union has an agreement with disney so that any non-equity members are not allowed to do choreography deemed too complex, things like singing, etc... prince charming picking up snow white and spinning her around is deemed too complex. The whole equity situation bogging down their entertainment sucks over there imho.

It's all too true, and I'm of the opinion that that rule really kills a lot of what they can do in terms of choreography. There's some incredible dancers in the character department there, but they're limited to such basic choreography because of that agreement. I think Festival of the Lion King is about as complex as it gets for them (and Celebrate the Season and Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas are a bit heavier on the dance side).

While I was down there, I recall hearing a rumor that some shows (at least for awhile) had "non-equity" days where they had different choreography and used character performers instead of equity dancers as a way to cut back on budget. I never saw any evidence of that myself, though.

So that's why the Pocahontes battle scene lacked choreography. No wonder, it looked dull.

Disneyland Fantasmic! is completely choreographed.

They can still do choreography, they're just limited in what that can include (eg high kicks are out). That scene was just dumb in general, not just because of a lack of choreography. :p

[Believe100Years]

Like I said before--been to both parks a million times each.

There is NOTHING like seeing Fantasmic come alive with these enormous floating sets, the choreography and special effects at Disneyland.

When you're qeued to death waiting to get into the impressive theater at MGM, it's a complete downer to view a trifled version of bring-tears-to-your-eyes Fantasmic in California.

And by the way, Steamboat Willie looks like he's steering a motorboat built out of a soap box!

[HMF]

Like I said before--been to both parks a million times each.

There is NOTHING like seeing Fantasmic come alive with these enormous floating sets, the choreography and special effects at Disneyland.

When you're qeued to death waiting to get into the impressive theater at MGM, it's a complete downer to view a trifled version of bring-tears-to-your-eyes Fantasmic in California.

And by the way, Steamboat Willie looks like he's steering a motorboat built out of a soap box!
Its not the same feeling in the WDW version and i have seeen the WDW version about 4 times and i have seen Disneylands only once. You cant relate as well to the MGM version like in Disneyland its on Tom Sawyer Island and on the Columbia and Mark Twain where you can say I WAS ON THAT SHIP.

[iluvdisney01]

I think both versions are good, but the Disneyland one is better. I love being able to go on TSI and ride both the Columbia and Mark Twain during the day and seeing them get used during the show. There's something magical about seeing the ROA area get transformed, especially when you see the dragon come out from the cabin. I also love watching entertainment CM's prepare for the show!

[BCC]

Sigh... WE should bring these questions up when there are more WDW users...

I like MGM's better... The bleachers are the best cause we can sit and not have achy behinds...

The fire from the dragon is actually REALLY HOT at MGM... DL, no heat at all...

You don't have to ask someone "Could you please move your head?"

Some DL's Fantasmic parts don't make sense... What's with the Pinochio part? I don't get that part...

CONS of WDW Fantasmic...

Could be cancelled due to weather... DL doesn't have any weather... so no worries about cancellations.

Don't let people in after theater is filled... DL you can crowd in...

People are right... No sparks shooting at dragon... Mickey has BAD AIM...lol

Fantasmic not in same district of Disney as DLR is...

But still... I think WDW's Fantasmic is better...

[PeoplemoverMatt]

I like MGM's better... The bleachers are the best cause we can sit and not have achy behinds...
Hard aluminum bleachers actually make my rump feel the worst of all. Most people bring soft blankets to cushion their up-close & personal seat to Fantasmic! here.

The fire from the dragon is actually REALLY HOT at MGM... DL, no heat at all...
Not sure how that's possible when you're 10x closer to the fire here than at MGM. If anything that statement's the complete opposite in reality because at Disneyland you're actually close enough to the fire to feel it.

You don't have to ask someone "Could you please move your head?"
Again, in reality there's way more problems with this in a stadium setting than not. When you're seated at Disneyland, you're mostly looking up at the stage so no one's head is in your way. When standing, well, you're at the mercy of how tall you are. However, people know to arrive early enough to get their desired location at either the 9pm or 10:30pm Fantasmic!.

In the stadium, you're looking down at the stage, and you're forced to look through/around all the heads of folks around you. This is true regardless of personal height, unless you're lucky enough to be sitting behind a small child.

Some DL's Fantasmic parts don't make sense... What's with the Pinochio part? I don't get that part...
Ok could you please explain MGM's....
Painfully extended bubble scene
Pointless canoers
Superfluous Pocahontas scene
10 or so villians in the dragon instead of 3
Jafar snake scene
Why Mickey dances around the dragon before finally deciding to shoot him
And more...


As far as the Pinocchio scene goes, it's a transition between the dancing elephants and ultimately the Peter Pan scene. Elephants lead to Pinocchio leads to Jiminy Cricket in his burst bubble leads to Monstro leads to Mickey going 'Uh-oh!' leads to the Pirate Ship. Remember this is Mickey's dream and not all dreams move coherently from image to image. That being said, no dream is an obvious showcase for random Disney characters like the bubble & Pocahontas scenes are in MGM's version.

Fantasmic not in same district of Disney as DLR is...
This statement makes no sense.

You might get more people touting their Fantasmic! with more members from the WDW area on these boards but it won't change what I've cited above. I'd like for more WDW-oriented members here so I can read how they get around these details. I enjoy a rousing discussion but when things don't make sense, they don't make sense.

-- PMM :cool:

[wdwmickeyfan]

^
I completely agree with you Matt.

[stevo505]

Wow Matt you said it. Personaly I have seen many videos (High and low quality) videos of WDW's Fantasmic! and something about it just dosen't feel like Disney Magic for some reason...Idk, but I think most scenes are completley pointless, and what's with the steamboat? It looks like it was put together with tape and a glue stick..

[Disneyland_Wolf]

Here is the cost of each Fantasmic show.

My most favorite. Bar none.

Disneyland's - $75,000 to $79,000.

Walt Disney World's - $20,000.

DL's came out first and it is the original one.

WDW's is second, the show is not copy, but a sister to the original. The good thing about the show is that the lighting is better, the fountains are newer, the sound is louder, the opening is fantastic!

[DisneyParksFan]

I feel that it's difficult to judge something you haven't actually seen in person. Like most Disney attractions and shows, the settings help create the magic and a better experience.
It might seem that there is no magic present because of the area that it's designed in.
You have to take a path that leads up towards the ampitheather, which I find to be magical while under the nighttime skies. But sometimes, the walk can seem long. It's really a mind set, thinking that you want to be there already... That the wait is painstaking.

I perfer the stadium over crowding around the ROA because it's a little more organized and there's not too much blocking your vision (There's some sound euipment and sometimes people's heads).

Having been to both performances (WDW and DLR), both performance areas has viewing locations right next to the water.
You can feel the heat at DLR and WDW. When at the WDW showing, you can sit about 10-15 rows (can't rmember exact number,sorry) back and still get a refreshing or cold breeze from the fountain displays. It depends on how you look at it. :biggrin:

I would probably have to say that if you like DLR over WDW, chances are you'll like the DLR version better. And if you're more of a WDW fan, you might like the WDW version over the DLR one. Not saying that is always true. It's because that's what you're used to and what you stand by.

Personally, I liked the WDW version over the DLR one. I've taken some memories from the showings, more than from DLR and that's probably my influence in enjoying WDW's better.
But, both shows are excellent in my opinoin. :cool:

I'm looking forward to what everybody thinks :old_wink:



-mickey2005

[PeoplemoverMatt]

I feel that it's difficult to judge something you haven't actually seen in person.

A lot of us may live in CA, but trust me, we've been there to see what's in other parks. While your statement is true, it is hard to judge something you haven't actually seen, that implies that that's what we're doing, and for a great many of us, that's not true. Just want to make that clear. :smile:

You have to take a path that leads up towards the ampitheather, which I find to be magical while under the nighttime skies. But sometimes, the walk can seem long. It's really a mind set, thinking that you want to be there already... That the wait is painstaking.
Blech. Yeah, been up that path, reminded me of the migration into the Rivers of America area that GC herds us into. Only in this case it's longer & uphill. After that it's 'your on your own!' for the most part. Woe be unto you if you have the slightest hesitation.

I would probably have to say that if you like DLR over WDW, chances are you'll like the DLR version better. And if you're more of a WDW fan, you might like the WDW version over the DLR one. Not saying that is always true. It's because that's what you're used to and what you stand by.

Probably true but I try to keep as objective & detail-oriented as possible. While I don't believe I much enjoy the monkeys & Kaa, dancing elephants & Pinocchio scene over the weird jungle scene & painfully extended bubble scene only because that's the one I'm used to, it might have something to do with it. Kinda like a 'hey you didn't do that!' thing maybe? On the other hand it could be that monkey, dancing elephants & Pinocchio is just better show.

-- PMM :cool:

[wdwmickeyfan]

Count me in for one of those people who prefer Disneyland's Fantasmic by far even though they're a WDW fan (look at my username).

[HMF]

Count me in for one of those people who prefer Disneyland's Fantasmic by far even though they're a WDW fan (look at my username).
I second that.:wink:

[LoehnWolf]

Have to agree with the consensus here. Wow, did I just say that out loud?? I think the largest drawback is being so far from the performance because of the stadium. We went on one of the "dinner packages", and even then we still needed a zoom and we were supposed to be in the "good seats" Maybe if they used more of the stadium area, maybe madeit more interactive or "3D" it would add more dimension to being so far from the action.

[mrsix24]

I have never been to DLR but I can tell you that I've seen MANY versions of that version of Fantasmic! plus I've seen WDW Fantasmic! in person. I think their both unique in their own ways. I just don't get how DLR spent more $ on their Fantasmic! than WDW's Fanasmic! when the WDW version had to build more sets and build a WHOLE new ampitheatre. It just doesnt make sense.

[Fantasmic!kid]

Ok could you please explain MGM's....

Painfully extended bubble scene
Pointless canoers
Superfluous Pocahontas scene
10 or so villians in the dragon instead of 3
Jafar snake scene
Why Mickey dances around the dragon before finally deciding to shoot him
And more...-- PMM :cool:


I speak from experience when I say: Animal puppets are close to impossible to get off a stage. And getting a pompous governor on the stage with 15 Englishmen is no easy task either, hence the "extend"age.
The canoers distract from the quick stage change (putting up fort, etc.)
The only "action" sequence that could work with a mountain.
DL's dragon comes up from the stage after a 20' trap door opens. WDW's dragon has to come through a hole barely bigger than its head and I think the wings are separate, which takes longer.
The only other villain that would have something menacing to offer.
He's supposed to be putting out the fire. But since the fire is not divided into sections, they have to turn it off all at once.
~F!kid

[stevo505]

Hmm.. Good reasoning Fantasmic!Kid. I never though about MGM's that way. But as everyone says "The Jafar sequence dosen't fit in," it really does not that much, but I kinda like that part :D.

[xfkirsten]

I speak from experience when I say: Animal puppets are close to impossible to get off a stage. And getting a pompous governor on the stage with 15 Englishmen is no easy task either, hence the "extend"age.
The canoers distract from the quick stage change (putting up fort, etc.)
The only "action" sequence that could work with a mountain.
DL's dragon comes up from the stage after a 20' trap door opens. WDW's dragon has to come through a hole barely bigger than its head and I think the wings are separate, which takes longer.
The only other villain that would have something menacing to offer.
He's supposed to be putting out the fire. But since the fire is not divided into sections, they have to turn it off all at once.
~F!kid


While it's true that most of that stuff is in there for logistics purposes, unfortunately most of that screams "poor planning" to me. I think that if they had modified the show in other ways, they could have either avoided these problems, or put something in those gaps that was more impressive.

[tonichelle]

I've never seen the DL show live, but I did see this one live a couple years ago... and I can't remember anything I didn't like about it...

[Fantasmic!kid]

In the refurbishment schedule on the main page, it says Fantasmic! will be down starting Nov. 1. Maybe, they'll redo something.

~The Creature

[stevo505]

Maybe they are just refurbishing the audio or techical stuff.

[lovesdisney]

Could be cancelled due to weather... DL doesn't have any weather... so no worries about cancellations.

I'm not going to step into the fray because I've never seen WDW's Fantasmic, not even on videos, so I don't think I have enough information to make a judgement on which is better.

BUT.

This statement above? Not true. I've had Fantasmic! cancelled on me due to weather (those darn prevailing winds). Just wanted to clarify that. Besides, PMM pretty much hit on everything else, anyway.

[jagfkb]

I really don't think we should compare the two of these shows together. Fantasmic at DL draws you in more since everyone is closer together on the stage. Wdw's Fantasmic is more of like a fireworks show, it's shown on a broad perspective, and for me, Mickey being the tallest thing in sight is way cooler then seeing trees that are higher than him in the finale. Still, if they could tie these two ideas together for a show at possibly Tokyo, then we would have something. Just because they have the same name doesn't make one better than another. True, some of our favorite parts of Dl's fantasmic aren't in WDW's but we still have amazing effects and the water screen in both versions.

[Evan-500]

I actually dislike the stadium.. TSI is magical, your on it during the day, and suddenly it trasforms before your eyes, while your standing in the same spot you did that day. WIth the stadium you know somethings gonna happen, the show in MGM looks to staged, and less on the spot.. and the mountain is butt ugly.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Still, if they could tie these two ideas together for a show at possibly Tokyo, then we would have something.

Well there is BraviSEAmo at DisneySea, and they don't use a Stadium for that. :wink:

-- The Chief :cool:

[wdwmickeyfan]

Well there is BraviSEAmo at DisneySea, and they don't use a Stadium for that. :wink:

-- The Chief :cool:

Correct. They use a very large lagoon to perform their shows, though it's not nearly as big as the World Showcase Lagoon I believe. It's big enough to hold a large scale show, yet compact enough to offer excellent views no matter where you stand. One of the disadvantages of IllumiNations is that you're too far away to really see the globe and fountain effects, so the Imagineers who designed DisneySea made sure the lagoon was just the right size for the shows.

[ah92us]

since i haven't seen the Disney-MGM version of Fantasmic, I'll have to stay out of the conversation

does anyone have a full, relatively clear video of Fantasmic?

[Disneyland_Wolf]

Here you go, it is from YouTube and WDW Magic.com

WDW Fantasmic! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdNDs7eB7yw)

[Fantasmic!kid]

This is how the finale should be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNVFBuD5r_E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNVFBuD5r_E)

~The Creature

P.S. I think the video's audio is a bit off.

[Fantasmic17]

I'm just going to simply state it, otherwise I will be typing for hours furiously about how horrible WDW is for taking this wonderful show and butchering it into a morphed version of their own.

WDW's version, I hate with intensity.

[Palm Desert Babe]

I've never seen it, never will. Not after this thread.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Well, it's not so terrible that I wouldn't touch it with a 50ft pole. I just wouldn't make it a nightly priority to see it, nor would I feel all that bad if I ended up missing it for one reason or another.

-- PMM :cool:

[xfkirsten]

I've never seen it, never will. Not after this thread.

Ah, a number of us may not like it as much as Disneyland's, but I wouldn't discount it until you've seen it yourself. :smile: I still enjoy it, even with all its shortcomings. :smile:

[Fantasmic17]

Hard aluminum bleachers actually make my rump feel the worst of all. Most people bring soft blankets to cushion their up-close & personal seat to Fantasmic! here.


Not sure how that's possible when you're 10x closer to the fire here than at MGM. If anything that statement's the complete opposite in reality because at Disneyland you're actually close enough to the fire to feel it.


Again, in reality there's way more problems with this in a stadium setting than not. When you're seated at Disneyland, you're mostly looking up at the stage so no one's head is in your way. When standing, well, you're at the mercy of how tall you are. However, people know to arrive early enough to get their desired location at either the 9pm or 10:30pm Fantasmic!.

In the stadium, you're looking down at the stage, and you're forced to look through/around all the heads of folks around you. This is true regardless of personal height, unless you're lucky enough to be sitting behind a small child.


Ok could you please explain MGM's....
Painfully extended bubble scene
Pointless canoers
Superfluous Pocahontas scene
10 or so villians in the dragon instead of 3
Jafar snake scene
Why Mickey dances around the dragon before finally deciding to shoot him
And more...


As far as the Pinocchio scene goes, it's a transition between the dancing elephants and ultimately the Peter Pan scene. Elephants lead to Pinocchio leads to Jiminy Cricket in his burst bubble leads to Monstro leads to Mickey going 'Uh-oh!' leads to the Pirate Ship. Remember this is Mickey's dream and not all dreams move coherently from image to image. That being said, no dream is an obvious showcase for random Disney characters like the bubble & Pocahontas scenes are in MGM's version.


This statement makes no sense.

You might get more people touting their Fantasmic! with more members from the WDW area on these boards but it won't change what I've cited above. I'd like for more WDW-oriented members here so I can read how they get around these details. I enjoy a rousing discussion but when things don't make sense, they don't make sense.

-- PMM :cool:

PMM, you have summarized everything of what I've been trying to tell people in all my time being here. Thank you!

[k_peek_2000]

Does anybody have a video of "A Taste Of Fantasmic" from MGM.

[uscfan7690]

In regard to WDW Fantasmic!:
Well, it's not so terrible that I wouldn't touch it with a 50ft pole. I just wouldn't make it a nightly priority to see it, nor would I feel all that bad if I ended up missing it for one reason or another.


That's essentially as I would put it as well. Certainly worth seeing if you have the open time, but it's not something I center my evening around if I have other plans (at DLR, Fantasmic! comes first for me).