Stupid guest trick or stupid Disney trick?

[Cloud Buster]

Back when I was younger me, my parents, and my sister were all APs. Now, I daresay that of the four of us, only one of us was a "passhole"...maybe two. But for myself, if I may be so bold, had the utmost respect for CMs and the operation...there was one night though that I'll never forget.

Disney's LM parade - AP preview night. I don't remember much, other than watching it and thinking to myself "What the HELL is this??". A good number of people were actually booing the passing floats. I felt really bad for the actors on the floats who heard the boos and just kept smiling, maintaining their high energy level. As soon as the parade was clear of MS, my parents were in the lead of a few thousand other people bum rushing City Hall to complain about the parade, and asking for their money back (APs were charged to see it).

So, particularly for those that survived LM, what do you think. Were the guests just reducing to passhole mentality when they bum rushed City Hall or was LM really that bad?

Personally, I thought LM was absolute crap -- my apologies for those who worked it and disagree. I remember seeing concept art for it in the Disney Gallery and being blown away...all of MS was going to have fiber optics laid down and it would all light up. But those 2 dimensional cardboard-looking floats with some optical cable on them really sucked -- especially given the fact that LM was being marketed as the replacement for the Electrical Parade. On the other hand, however, anyone who's going to PAY to be a member of a test / preview audience has got to stop and think for a minute about what they might be getting into.

[Weeble]

I saw it at a preview for cast members (maybe this was the same night) and thought it was crap too BUT to rush to city hall and ask for their money back is a typical PASSHOLE move. These are the same people who want their entire hotel stay refunded when their eggs are cold at breakfast.

Give me a break. I'm sure the AP's would have BITCHED AND MOANED had they not been invited to the next preview.

[SpaceRanger]

Ditto to Weeble.... YES, it sucked. It's okay to think it sucked and give your imput, but I think rushing to city hall to ask for a refund is a bit much.

[Freak]

Wasn't LM the parade they threw confetti around and it got in people's food?

Sorry, I'm not really into the whole parade deal. Only one I ever saw was Electrical Parade.

[Cloud Buster]

Wasn't LM the parade they threw confetti around and it got in people's food?

Sorry, I'm not really into the whole parade deal. Only one I ever saw was Electrical Parade.

No...LM ("Light & Magic") was supposed to replace the Electrical Parade. It had these giant 2-dimensional floats with fiber optics on them, and it ran at night. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the public's reaction to the parade was as bad as the preview night (with the exception of demanding refunds), so the parade closed very shortly after it opened, to be filed away as one of many bad Disney memories that doesn't appear in any of their propoganada specials about the history of the park.

I believe you're referring to a parade that was done for one of the anniversaries....35th, I think? If I remember correctly, that was also when they had that giant "Dream Machine" at the hub. I don't remember the name of the parade but I do remember a ridiculous amount of confetti being used in it which was fired from big confetti guns on the top of MS buildings.

[wheelieman]

Would that be the "Party-Gras" Parade? Or maybe the street scene from Blast to the Past? i LOVED both of those. The music was awesome, and the dancers totally made the parade. I really miss those days....



Dave

[Mansion_Boi]

I think asking for refunds was just, let's face it Disney charged them to come preview this thing they called a street-tacular. It sucked so BAD. If I would have been Disney I would have been outside with money ready to refund everyone their money after that.

[Weeble]

They forked the money over willingly. If the parade had been an OVERWHELMING success, should they have been charged twice?

To ask for your money back after you were given the opportunity to be there for a preview event is ludicrous.

And why would Disney stand at the entrance handing out money? If they were previewing the parade it means they were committed to and had faith in the parade.

[techie-13]

I didn't see the parade, but I have a question about the preview. Did they have any other type of attraction open, (rides, stores, shows, or restaurants)? If they charged a nominal fee to get in and then only had the parade running and nothing else open, then I would at least be upset that the parade sucked. I would probably ask about a refund if they promised more than the parade and something happened technically that shut down everything but the parade or if it was to be just the parade and it didn't happen because of technical difficulties. You would ask for a refund (or a comp) if you paid to see a movie and something happened within the theater's control that prevented you from seeing the movie but you wouldn't ask for one if the writing sucked.

[Cloud Buster]

As I recall, most attractions were open.

[pixiedust]

Would that be the "Party-Gras" Parade? Or maybe the street scene from Blast to the Past? i LOVED both of those. The music was awesome, and the dancers totally made the parade. I really miss those days....



Dave


Aw.. I remember whatever parade/celebration that was where the BIG HUGE confetti pieces would be left all over after. I was pretty young at the time, and I would take pieces of it home with me cause it was pretty.

[sistercoyote]

Actually (my sister worked Light Magic; she was one of the Petalskippers), there was "tinsel" thrown during Light Magic. There were two kinds - largeish squares of mylar and then smaller, more glitter-like stuff.

I know this because we still periodically find it in things that the sister handled during that time period.

Stuff's pernicious.

[Polar33]

I only saw Light Magic twice (actually, more like one and a half times) and that glitter/confetti turned up in the most random places for months afterword. I even recall finding a few pieces at the park a year after LM was put "on hiatus". My sympathies go out to anyone who is still suffering from the long term effects of Light Magic confetti.

[BabyAngel024]

I was a passholder at the time that light magic was started. I did not get the see the preview because i was young at the time, but when i did see it one night, i was very unhappy about it and wrote disney about it, and i actually got a response which susprised me, and basically all that it stated was the Walt intended for everything to change and Light Magic was a good show. I complained that if i wanted to see a show i would go the theathers and watch it there, not watch them at some parade, and how they thought that it was better than the electrical parade, which i mind you that i love, still to this day. Mind you i was proably about 12 or 13 i think at the time that i wrote the letter. As a child i didnt like it and wanted the electrial parade back. And look we do, wrong park, but hey its here i cant complain.

[imissRBT]

I'm not sure if i ever watcherd the light and magic parade....but i know i was at least at the park once while it was going on...wasn't it like...super short? especially ccompared to the electricl parade if i remember right...anyway well i didn't think (what i saw of it) was worth seeing again but if i had been invited to a preview i would not have asked for my money back.

[sistercoyote]

Yes, it was "short" in terms of number of floats &c.

OTOH, it wasn't ever really intended to be a parade. More like a
streetside show (something used much more effectively over at DCA in
Eureka, frankly).

[TheManator]

Wow.
I remember when this parade debuted (I was still living in SoCal at the
time)...personally...yes, I found it a crappy replacement for the Elec
parade, but I was young at the time and it made me cry when I saw it.

I guess children like things better than adults.

[Polar33]

OTOH, it wasn't ever really intended to be a parade. More like a
streetside show...

Yes. They billed it as a "streetacular" as an attempt to not get guests into
the mindset that you could use normal parade viewing stratagies to view
it. That however wasn't near enough to get people to understand that
even though it was on the parade route, it wasn't a parade.

For the record, in the newspaper handed out to the press on the day of
the 50th announcement ceremony, the new parade was described as
a "streetacular" as well. I'm hoping that it's just a case of someone not
knowing the true origin of the word, instead of forshadowing things to
come.


Edited for width; please break up your sig.

[Cloud Buster]

For the record, in the newspaper handed out to the press on the day of
the 50th announcement ceremony, the new parade was described as
a "streetacular" as well. I'm hoping that it's just a case of someone not
knowing the true origin of the word, instead of forshadowing things to
come.

Oh no...

Well this time, I'll be on the inside. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Personally I'm more worried about the name "Parade of Dreams" and its
striking resemblance to the name POTS (Parade of the Stars)...sounds
like POTS on acid....as if POTS needed that.

[Polar33]

sounds like POTS on acid

Funny you should say that considering that I have firm beliefs that the
creator of the POTS was on acid at the time he came up with the concept.


Edited for width; please break up your sig.

[Cloud Buster]

Today me and some old(er) time show guys were chillin in the show cage swapping stories, when someone mentioned LM - or as they called it, "Light Tragic". Apparently, they were there when the floats were destroyed, and roasted marshamallows in celebration as they watched!

[VonSeegs]

Ok ok ok. To watch the show was crap. We all agree. To dance the show was really fun though. At least for me. It was my first job with Disney. It was my first paid "gig" if you will. (If you can call being a dwarf a gig.)

The thing with the show was that it came out a year too early. The big wigs said they needed a show here and now after the EP and what had been planned, a lot of the concepts, were overlooked. One of the stories that I remember hearing was they used a bunch of different vendors for the fiber optics, but the vendors all underbid for the jobs and they all went bankrupt. Fact or fiction, I dunno. If they had just waited an extra year I think it would have been a great show.

The world will never know.

[dazyhill]

I was there the night of the AP "Premire" of the LM parade. I don't remember what I was expecting the parade to be like but it certainly wasn't the parade I saw. I found it a poor replacement to the Electrical Parade and was confused by the supposed storyline. Just why were the Disney characters in pajamas :?:
At the end of the night I was one of the many who stood in line to get a refund from City Hall. I didn't feel bad about it. I mean my family spent about $100 (there were four of us) and we felt it was a waste. The parade kept breaking down and that is what we were there for right?
I felt bad though for the CM's working the area because they were caught completly off-guard and I'm sure many pass-holes gave them a bunch of crap. As if they had anything to do with the creation of the parade. They were just doing their jobs.
The night was not a total loss however. I got to meet Tony Baxter, the Imagineering genius behind many beloved DL attractions and saw a very cool model of the new Tomorrowland. :D
And while I was a passholder, I did attend some really awesome events such as Mickey's Halloween Treat, and AP Passholder Night (rode Space Mountain with the lights on , cool)

[trojantuba]

I'm not sure if i ever watcherd the light and magic parade.....


Consider yourself fortunate :?

[imissRBT]

lol...yeah i figured i wasn't missing much.

[TreoFred]

Well, in case you want to know the whole story behind LM rise and demise, you can check this

JimHillMedia.com (http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/archive.0002-1.1.htm~contentFrame)

WARNING: It's a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long story (Jim Hill doesn't do short obviously.)

I'll try to summarize:
- The EP was great for guests but WDI was never in love with it because of the way it came to exist
- Fantasmic convinced top management that a new "modern technology parade" would woo the audience
- The initial parade was to be part of Tomorroland 2055 which never really happened; it was rehashed several time
- The LM parade was to revolve around the character of Tinkerbell but thanks to some technical issues, lawyers fears, etc, she's pretty much a no show
- The Disney characters are in pyjama because (according to the story) they were not part of the parade, then marketing and management pushed to have them included and so they decided to have then in pyjamas as if they had been awaken by the parade (come on people, it's 8:00pm: curfew in SoCal) and decided to join the fun
- The external companies that were supposed to build the float (Lazarus I think), received the blueprint too late, balked out of the project and sued Disney; WDI had to scram and build the float at the last second
- Following a show of Riverdance in NY, Michael (Eisner) pushed for the inclusion of Irish gig dance step because fairies are Irish...
- The Parade people begged for a delay start but Marketing, Sales and Special Event didn't want to budge because they had a lot running on the AP Preview
- The AP Preview (thanks to the internet, and according to Jim, thanks mostly to Al Lutz) almost single handedly killed the show with horrible previews
- The night of the AP Preview, some Passholes were doing the round, convincing AP leaving the park to go to City Hall, complain (what else does an AP do in CityHall?) and ask for reimbursement (ah yes; they do that to!)

Ok, that's most of it. If you want the FULL DETAILS, read what's at the link.

BTW, I saw LM and thought it wasn't that bad... Definitely not finished or ready, but not that bad. It never got a chance to improve though.

Edited by CujoSR: Shortened URL to keep page from extending byond the regular borders

[Cloud Buster]

For those interested --

I've just found out that the idea of Tinkerbell flying down Main Street is being seriously reconsidered. Word on the Entertainment street is that within two years, both remaining human Tinkerbells will be fired in favor of anamatronic versions.

[VonSeegs]

For those interested --

I've just found out that the idea of Tinkerbell flying down Main Street is being seriously reconsidered. Word on the Entertainment street is that within two years, both remaining human Tinkerbells will be fired in favor of anamatronic versions.

Wow. That really sucks ass.

[Grumpy]

For those interested --

I've just found out that the idea of Tinkerbell flying down Main Street is
being seriously reconsidered. Word on the Entertainment street is that
within two years, both remaining human Tinkerbells will be fired in favor
of anamatronic versions.
I have actually heard that the two Tinkerbells are a mother/daughter
team. I heard that mom's been doing it for (I think) about 20 years or
so ... and she's in her 50s. I'm assuming that daughter's in her 20s or 30s
then....

[Cloud Buster]

I have actually heard that the two Tinkerbells are a mother/daughter
team. I heard that mom's been doing it for (I think) about 20 years or
so ... and she's in her 50s. I'm assuming that daughter's in her 20s or 30s
then....
Don't think so. I see them around all the time, and I know one of them
for sure -- not so sure on the second. The one I know is definetly pushing
60, but she's one of those "55 Years Young" kinda gals. She stands about
5' tall at most and has a lot of energy.

I think the other tink is about the same age, but I'm not sure I've met her
yet.

[sistercoyote]

One of the Tinks had a serious mouth on her, too. Of course, I can't say I blamed her, as she was coming in for her, uh, graceful landing behind Carnation Plaza Gardens (ah, those were the days) a leetle bit too fast and the guys who were supposed to be holding her mattress...weren't.

Man. Heck with the fireworks. I liked to go backstage on my 9:30 break from CPG and watch Tink crash.

Yeah, yeah. Shame on me.

[lady ulrike]

"Man. Heck with the fireworks. I liked to go backstage on my 9:30 break from CPG and watch Tink crash"

I'm with you on that one. In fact if you go by the exit of Casey Jr. You can see her from onstage. You can't hear her though.

[MELightyear]

When you work the routes, the classics office is behind the v-haus and next to the "tinkerbell slam" platform. Its rare but I have been very lucky quite a few times and had my break come right before tink flys. Its a pretty good vantage point from the exit of casey jr but if you go behind the village haus, you can stand directly under tinks landing platform and you get the perfect view of the 'slam'. The first time I saw it, she hit really really hard.
Good times. :pbjtime:

[Cloud Buster]

That's one place I haven't watched the pyro from yet...the "Tink Slam" platform! I should try that next time! :)

[Dalisair]

For those interested --

I've just found out that the idea of Tinkerbell flying down Main Street is
being seriously reconsidered. Word on the Entertainment street is that
within two years, both remaining human Tinkerbells will be fired in favor
of anamatronic versions.
I have actually heard that the two Tinkerbells are a mother/daughter
team. I heard that mom's been doing it for (I think) about 20 years or
so ... and she's in her 50s. I'm assuming that daughter's in her 20s or 30s
then....

From what I JUST got in orientation, yes it is a family that does Tink.

Though, speaking of AP stuff, I remember being at the "Last Main Street Electrical Parade" AP event at Disneyland. Had to buy tickets somethign like 2 months in advance.

And then they extended the parade close date.

And didn't change the AP "Last Parade" date. Um.. kinda lost the "Last Parade" magic at that point.

[IndyandMarion]

Ive never seen Light Magic before...never been to the other Mouse House either in fact. What was so bad about it?

I mean, I have the soundtrack for it and I love it. But is it one of those parades thats like "Oh just hurry up and get it the hell over with" or what?

Then again, Im one of the few that believes that the music makes the attraction/show.

I know I prolly dont make any sense right now but its 11 am, I havent had any coffee....and I have to go deal with stupid idiots in a few hours....oh well, check my topic with the book later tonight....bound to have some new HYS.

[Po!nt[h]er]

Yes, it was "short" in terms of number of floats &c.

OTOH, it wasn't ever really intended to be a parade. More like a
streetside show (something used much more effectively over at DCA in
Eureka, frankly).

I have to respond here. The Eureka parade was one of the most delightful things I've ever seen. I finally got family there to see it -- and, of course, it had closed. Something that was so wonderfully "California" should have been kept or revamped, IMHO, rather than completely thrown out in favor of more character stuff.

[caitlin]

So that's what that was called? I saved the confetti when I was little and I still have it today. The only thing I could remember was that it had fairies or something.

[PirateJohn]

Ive never seen Light Magic before...never been to the other Mouse House either in fact. What was so bad about it?To be honest, I rather enjoyed Light Magic. But it's biggest problem is that there were very few spots in which you could really see the show, and most people didn't know where those spots were.

When Light Magic was first imagined, it was a truly outstanding show, but its biggest problem was that Marketing ended up being the driving force behind when it would open as opposed to having when the damn thing was ready being the driving force. Marketing picked a date and said that would be the opening, so they printed all sorts of shirts, ads, merchandise, and so on with the opening date of Light Magic.

Only problem was, the show wasn't going to be ready by then.

You'd think, therefore, that an intelligent person would cut their losses with the money spent by Marketing and push back the opening day by a year or so and run a temporary parade in the meantime. But considering that Paul Pressler was in charge of Disneyland at the time, Disneyland was not about to do anything intelligent.

So the show was rushed. Many of the floats didn't work properly. The bugs hadn't been worked out. Many of the best effects being designed for the show hadn't even made it past the drawing board. The show ended up looking, well, unfinished.

It was a good first draft. But you don't put a first draft in front of tens of thousands of people and call it a finished product.

If, after the summer of 1997, the technical team had been allowed to go back and fix the problems as well as just plain finishing the design they had started, Light Magic could have been a great show in 1998. But by then it was too late. The name had been permamently associated with failure, and even if the show was spectacular in 1998, it would never be accepted.