Anne Hamburger and Music at Disney Parks

[BassBone]

Since Anne Hamburger is leaving (thank God) and the Entertainment division will be shaken up, what will that mean for live music at the Disneyland Resort and other parks? In recent years the amount of live music at Disneyland has declined and the quality has suffered somewhat. Several examples that come to mind include the reduction in the number of jazz bands in New Orleans Square (there used to be three or four, a large "strolling band" the Bayou Brass Band, the Side Street Strutters and several combos... now there is one and a couple combos), the recasting of the Dapper Dans and the reduction in the size of the Disneyland Band. With Hamburger gone, will the musical offerings available at Disneyland improve? If so, how long will it take for the corporate environment to sort itself out to make this possible?

[DisneyIPresume]

I hope someone has an answer, because you are 100% right Bassbone. And I hate it how bands are limited as to what they can play. There used to
be a lot more variety years ago.

[Mr Wiggins]

First the fries, now the Hamburger. What's next, lose that entertaining background music in Frontierland? Listen, nothing says Early Americana like hearing The Good, The Bad and the Ugly played every hour. What'll they do next, select appropriate background music? Or even weirder, hire live musicians?! Hey, with Hamburger gone they might revert to the days when you couldn't cross Main Street without being run over by a marching band. You think those Humvee-size strollers are bad, how'd you like to have to dodge tubas every ten minutes?

Dump "da Burger?" What're they thinking?!

[Bruce Bergman]

^ Hey, Don't forget the "Blazing Saddles" title track...

They can take what they spent on Ms. Hamburger and hire several band CMs.

--<< Bruce >>--

[Mr Wiggins]

^ Hey, Don't forget the "Blazing Saddles" title track...

My point exactly. What's the Mark Twain without music from a Mel Brooks comedy? And that's only the beginning: start hiring authentic period musicians, and before you know it the shops will start filling with unique merchandise themed for that land. "Theme creep," they call it. Century-old entertainment machines will take over the Main Street Penny Arcade, half the ODV carts will give way to benches, somebody'll relight the fire on the Settler's Cabin, and before you can say "Paul Pressler" the Park will be managed like it was in the early '80's.

No, thanks. If they dump da Burger, I'm bringing my ipod.

[tcsnwhite]

I don't believe Anne Hamburger really had much say or influence over the live bands and atmosphere entertainment at DL and the parks (though I believe just recently WDI-CE has put together a group that will oversee the atmosphere ent. at the parks worldwide now)...but for the most part, those decisions lie at the hands of each resorts' individual entertainment departments. Her main focus was on the major, large scale entertainment offerings, in particular the stage shows.
So, I don't think the person you should be pointing the finger at is Ms. Hamburger, but rather the ent. folks at DLR.