Major New Entertainment for WDW?

[Goin2Disneyland]

At long last, a rumor has emerged from Twitter mysteryboy ThemeParkOne that Steve Davison has 3 big projects for the next 18 months at WDW.

- Fantasmic! reboot with a new concept, scenes and effects (early summer 12)
- New "mega parade" at the Magic Kingdom called Festival of Fantasy (spring 12)
- Upgrade or replacement of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot (late 12/early 13)

If any one of these things turn out to be true, it will be a huge shot in the arm for the very tired entertainment roster at WDW. I can't wait to see what's done with IllumiNations, because I am super-bored with the current show (the screen-globe thing is utterly passe at this point - more pyro less movie please). The MK parade is in such bad shape that anything new is welcome, and I've always disliked DHS' Fantasmic.

What do you think? Are you going to get your hopes up or are you going to wait and see? Do you think anything might be announced at D23 this year or will these rumors come and go?

[WallyBoag]

I'm a big fan of Illuminations. I fear what Disney would do to it if they changed it today. I fear what Steve Davison in particular would do to it if he was in charge of the project. Illuminations is a great show with powerful, intellectual and artistic themes. It's pretty much the only Disney spectacular that isn't full of characters and cutesy poo broadway style music. It tells a story that goes beyond the development of a single character, but is about the development of mankind itself, and it closes with a message about how bright the future is as long as we are with the ones we love.

If Steve Davison re-does it it will be a bunch of mist screens showing clips from Disney movies.

Leave it alone.

[dlfreak]

^I seem to feel the same with regards to Illuminations. Personally I did not like it at all but it seems to be one of those untouchables like Fantasmic is in California. Upgrades are one thing, reboots are another and it seems Illuminations doesn't necessarily need a reboot.

[Goin2Disneyland]

I know that Steve Davison is MORE than capable of creating an amazing new IllumiNations - the recent projects he's done were character-centric on purpose (TDR wanted Fantasmic, which is inherently character-based). That doesn't mean he can't do something great without characters.

Besides that, IllumiNations hasn't been touched in 11 years. The time has come, especially for a show that spends most of its running time showing what looks like water buffalo on a blurry, low-res screen hundreds of feet away from the closest viewers.

[nemofinder22]

Oh please let MK finally get a new day time parade! the current ::insert promo:: Dreams Come True floats are so dated and sad, and lets not get started on the awful mirror castle float(fingers crossed that gets torn a part).

I stopped making an effort to watch Fantasmic! at DHS its just not worth it anymore. A reboot is more than welcome in my book.

Nothing about just killing Countdown to Fail? which as got to be the most pathetic thing I'v had the displeasure of watching roll down the street even more so when you know how great BPB was.

[WallyBoag]

Besides that, IllumiNations hasn't been touched in 11 years. The time has come, especially for a show that spends most of its running time showing what looks like water buffalo on a blurry, low-res screen hundreds of feet away from the closest viewers.

The timing is not right because the company, I feel, is not capable of putting out a show right now that is not character driven. If it were 1995 and illuminations were 11 years old, I'd probably not have a problem with them re-doing it. However with today's executives, imagineers and Steve Davison, it's not a good time to be re-doing Illuminations. Did you see how he mangled Fantasmic in Tokyo?

[TsWade2]

New "mega parade" at the Magic Kingdom called Festival of Fantasy (spring 12)

Well, it's about time! I'm glad Disney World has finally come to their senses that MK needs a new parade.

[Warting Wafer]

If we don't hear anything at D23 Expo, I'll consider all of this a bad rumor. It'd be great to see a new MK parade and Fastasmic! over there. illuminations... I'm not so sure about, it's a good classic as it is now, imo.

[PALISADER]

All Illuminations needs is upgrades to the water fountains (World of Color type) and a brand new Earth Globe that is bigger with High resolution.

The show itself is perfect. One evening when I was there a man & woman married couple were next to me and they were from California. Talked to them quite a lot. During and after Illuminations ROE they said WOW several times.

Illuminations is a Fantastic show. Just needs technology upgrades to make it better.

[stevek]

All Illuminations needs is upgrades to the water fountains (World of Color type) and a brand new Earth Globe that is bigger with High resolution.

The show itself is perfect. One evening when I was there a man & woman married couple were next to me and they were from California. Talked to them quite a lot. During and after Illuminations ROE they said WOW several times.

Illuminations is a Fantastic show. Just needs technology upgrades to make it better.

Speaking of Illuminations...here's a fantasic fan made tribute to it. Shot and edited from multiple angles...one of the best shots I've ever seen. I know the show itself is hit and miss for some but I really love it.

A Tribute To Illuminations ROE - HQ HD 29.97 FRAME RATE on Vimeo