Fantasmic!

[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]

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Originally Posted by Captain Bingo

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.

Originally Posted by Captain Bingo

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.

Originally Posted by Captain Bingo

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.

Originally Posted by Captain Bingo

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

[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.

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.

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



-mickey2005

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Originally Posted by mickey2005

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Mickey2005

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

[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]

Originally Posted by 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).

I second that.

[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]

Originally Posted by PeoplemoverMatt

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

• 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