Goodbye Parade of Dreams?

[tcsnwhite]

Originally Posted by TweedlDum9

B. Relatively new? They've been run into the ground for four years!
Everyone keeps talking about these 'beautiful, elegant floats' compared to other parades, which is true, but that's got to have some drawbacks.
I bet the Magic Kingdom's parade floats can still be rigged to work so long because they're small, boring little things. The POD floats, however, were some pretty HUGE and complicated-looking things with all the light and sound effects and such... and that's ultimately got to mean some huge maintenance bills on Disney's end. Plus, maybe they don't have enough time to fix things when the parade runs seven days a week for 10 months out of the year?
Had no one noticed how faded and stretched-out Ursula's skin had become? Or how sometimes she would stop talking because her mouth was cracked and torn? Or how Simba didn't roar as dramatically as he used to? Or how some parts of the Alice in Wonderland float never seemed to work?

As I have said before, I don't mind a longer run if the parade is truly a high-quality production. POD may not have been everyone's cup of tea, nor BPB, but they were both two of the highest quality parade productions Disney had done in a long time, especially for the DLR.
And if they are going to run things like that, they need to do the proper maintenance. I agree, POD needed some work in areas (Ursula was looking pretty beat). But if Disney wants to create these lavish, technologically advanced parade and show productions (and I sure want them to), then they need to do what is necessary to keep them up.

And while I understand that entertainment is an area that gets cut a lot (when cuts need to be made), it's just kind of sad. You wouldn't see them shut down Space Mountain for year. I understand entertainment is not seen as the "main draw" for guests as the attractions are...but I just think it's sad when the main parade (and only one for that park mind you) gets cut. Things must be bad, or they're bracing for it...

[Aladdin]

Originally Posted by TweedlDum9

Exactly.

In all seriousness, though, didn't it sound surprising to anyone that they were planning to run both Celebration and POD to begin with? We should be glad that at least they're replacing POD with SOMETHING and not just having the street be empty all year... because if they're worried about cutting costs, then THAT would have been even cheaper to do!

No, it wasn't surprisng that they were thinking of running Parade of Dreams and the Celebration thingie streetacular. Parade of Dreams IS a Parade. BUT the Celebration thingie IS NOT A PARADE. It will be FAR inferior to ANY Parade DL has had in at least the past 20 years. Quite frankly I'm anticipating it to be a big dud. Hope that I can be proved wrong on that. But really, nothing that special is going to stand out about the street party. It's not going to have a huge variety of floats, either. In fact, the units will likely be worse than what DL had for Light Magic.

DL was more than likely just looking for an excuse to have less entertainment during the summer of 2009, and sending PoD away now, is a way to do cut that expense. At the detriment to the guests who will expect, and want to see a parade.

Unfortunately, Disney entertainment is really sliding recently. The only live show is Aladdin in DCA. Disneyland hasn't had a real show since the Princesses took over the theater. And now in summer of 2009 DL won't even have a REAL Parade AT ALL! DL management has some serious explaining to do. DCA will have the water parade, but that isn't exactly a runaway hit. Heck this could very well be the VERY FIRST SUMMER that DL DOES NOT HAVE A REAL Parade!

[Walt Jr.]

Originally Posted by Aladdin

No, it wasn't surprisng that they were thinking of running Parade of Dreams and the Celebration thingie streetacular. Parade of Dreams IS a Parade. BUT the Celebration thingie IS NOT A PARADE. It will be FAR inferior to ANY Parade DL has had in at least the past 20 years. Quite frankly I'm anticipating it to be a big dud. Hope that I can be proved wrong on that. But really, nothing that special is going to stand out about the street party. It's not going to have a huge variety of floats, either. In fact, the units will likely be worse than what DL had for Light Magic.

DL was more than likely just looking for an excuse to have less entertainment during the summer of 2009, and sending PoD away now, is a way to do cut that expense. At the detriment to the guests who will expect, and want to see a parade.

Unfortunately, Disney entertainment is really sliding recently. The only live show is Aladdin in DCA. Disneyland hasn't had a real show since the Princesses took over the theater. And now in summer of 2009 DL won't even have a REAL Parade AT ALL! DL management has some serious explaining to do. DCA will have the water parade, but that isn't exactly a runaway hit. Heck this could very well be the VERY FIRST SUMMER that DL DOES NOT HAVE A REAL Parade!

I completely agree. With the entertainment currently being offered at Disneyland. I can say one of two things.

A. They spent a whole ton of money on LEDing the tree show and spent way too much. A fifteen minute average use isn't worth that much money no matter how beautiful it is. (Thats if entertainment had something to do with the Snowfalls, I think they do.)

B. The department has absolutely NO MONEY! RDCT is presented by Honda, all of the parades are presented by Sylvania and there are no real other huge shows other than Fantasmic and Aladdin. If they spent it all on Fantasmic's renovation they obviously need to reset priorities. There is no way they should sacrifice parade for anything.

[Walt Jr.]

Let me add something,

If PoD leaves but Electrical comes (unharmed). Then this will be better.

[salasavandy]

according to mouseplanet.com, parade of dreams will returen feb 13 along with remember...looks like the princess faire will get the noticable buget cuts

[Radiobarry]

The Parade of Dreams is a nice parade, perfect for the 50th anniversay, which was oh-by-the-way 3 1/2 years ago.

So let's not get carried away. Whoops, too late...

Originally Posted by Walt Jr.

This parade is the best Disneyland has ever had...

And you've been there to see them all? America On Parade back in the 70's, for example? POD might be just as good as that was ...

But not even anywhere in the same ballpark as the Main Street Electrical Parade, which ran at Disneyland for close to 25 years, as you may recall.

Sheesh.

-- Barry

[tcsnwhite]

Originally Posted by Radiobarry

The Parade of Dreams is a nice parade, perfect for the 50th anniversay, which was oh-by-the-way 3 1/2 years ago.

So let's not get carried away. Whoops, too late...



And you've been there to see them all? America On Parade back in the 70's, for example? POD might be just as good as that was ...

But not even anywhere in the same ballpark as the Main Street Electrical Parade, which ran at Disneyland for close to 25 years, as you may recall.

Sheesh.

-- Barry

It's not about getting carried away.
I highly doubt any of us would be upset as we are if World of Wonder (the next real parade) was coming right away. But it's not. We have a little over a year until that...

The issue, at least for me, is that we get a street show/cavalcade, no matter how nice I am sure it will be (and I look forward to it), that will most likely not be on the level of a full scale, major parade production. We essentially get less...
If it was years ago when DL use to make parades and other major ent. seasonal, it wouldn't be such a problem. But for over a decade or more, they have conditioned the guest to expect at least one or two real, major live ent. offerings throughout the whole year...specifically a daytime parade. They changed the game for themselves...

[TweedlDum9]

Originally Posted by Aladdin

Parade of Dreams IS a Parade. BUT the Celebration thingie IS NOT A PARADE. It will be FAR inferior to ANY Parade DL has had in at least the past 20 years. Quite frankly I'm anticipating it to be a big dud. Hope that I can be proved wrong on that. But really, nothing that special is going to stand out about the street party. It's not going to have a huge variety of floats, either. In fact, the units will likely be worse than what DL had for Light Magic.

A big dud? Why would you expect that?
From everything that's been announced or leaked on the internet, it sounds like it'll be another Main Street Hop or Block Party (which itself was a 21st century Main Street Hop)... and BOTH of those were hugely successful.

And say what you will about Light Magic as a show, but the floats themselves were very pretty to look at.

[tcsnwhite]

Originally Posted by TweedlDum9

A big dud? Why would you expect that?
From everything that's been announced or leaked on the internet, it sounds like it'll be another Main Street Hop or Block Party (which itself was a 21st century Main Street Hop)... and BOTH of those were hugely successful.

And that's one of the things that makes me excited about it. It sounds cool, but is it going to be on the scale of Block Party, or POD? And do you have to be in designated areas to really see the whole show? And are they going to let folks know that (as they did with BPB)?
(oh, and I actually liked Light Magic too ).

[SpectroMan]

Originally Posted by tcsnwhite

If it was years ago when DL use to make parades and other major ent. seasonal, it wouldn't be such a problem. But for over a decade or more, they have conditioned the guest to expect at least one or two real, major live ent. offerings throughout the whole year...specifically a daytime parade. They changed the game for themselves...

And I fear they're changing it back...with POD at 7pm weeknights in off season, it was a great way to keep guests in the park until the 8pm closing so they would then eat dinner in-house..but without a parade, I can easily see them going back to 6pm closes..

[Walt Jr.]

Originally Posted by Radiobarry

The Parade of Dreams is a nice parade, perfect for the 50th anniversay, which was oh-by-the-way 3 1/2 years ago.

So let's not get carried away. Whoops, too late...



And you've been there to see them all? America On Parade back in the 70's, for example? POD might be just as good as that was ...

But not even anywhere in the same ballpark as the Main Street Electrical Parade, which ran at Disneyland for close to 25 years, as you may recall.

Sheesh.

-- Barry

Oops. My Bad. In my opinion PoD is the best parade, at least in a while. I don't care much for Electrical but if it returns I will be happy.

I have seen many of DL's previous parades by video or by live and nothing but PoD has really struck a cord.

[NCTJoe]

Originally Posted by Radiobarry

The Parade of Dreams is a nice parade, perfect for the 50th anniversay, which was oh-by-the-way 3 1/2 years ago.

So let's not get carried away. Whoops, too late...



And you've been there to see them all? America On Parade back in the 70's, for example? POD might be just as good as that was ...

But not even anywhere in the same ballpark as the Main Street Electrical Parade, which ran at Disneyland for close to 25 years, as you may recall.

Sheesh.

-- Barry

Now this is all in good fun, remember that...

...but you have to admit its kinda funny to knock someone for claiming one parade is far better than all the others....

....only to then say a different parade is far better than all the others.

we all got our opinions. no real need to "sheesh" what someone genuinely feels.

[Crazee4mm]

While it is always sad to see a beloved attraction, parade, show, or "Streetacular" pass into Yesterland, I have to agree that POD has had it's day. I have been in the crowd at least 40 times watching this parade work it's way through the Magic Kingdom. I mouth the lyrics and tap my toes every time. I have met and conversed with many many people awaiting the various performances. I have brought many many friends to enjoy the parade as well. I will miss it but am ready for a change. It originally started as a parade to celebrate the 50th but (after some opening narration changes) no longer is relevant in that capacity. To me, this creates a strong argument for the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade to DL! Each park would have their own E-Ticket parades and the birthday celebration show would be the daytime time filler. Besides, are they planning to have performances of Disney's Electrical Parade AND the new Wonderful World of Color lagoon show at DCA on the same nights? Part of the parade route practically skirts the DCA lagoon. We all know that crowds will start massing for the new water show at least a couple of hours before the show even starts. They STILL do that for Fantasmic, and it's more than 10 years old! As a guest, it might be nice to be able to stand over by the Zepher/Jumpin' Jellyfish area and watch DEP and then turn 180 degrees to watch the Wonderful World of Color from the same vantage point. I know I am over simplifying but you get the gist. This could be a logistical nightmare for cast members doing crowd control. Just picture two major DL nighttime entertainment offerings being performed right next to each other within a limited allowable time frame (nighttime with neither starting before 8:45 if history is an indicator) and the resultant after show stampede. Time will tell.
As for POD, it was a class act and has had a great run! Thanks to all who made it possible...particularly to those performing cast members who made it look easy, even on the hottest days of summer.
Too bad the celebration street show won't be ready until March (if rumors are true). My friend is already bummed at the idea of it not being there by the time of her birthday in early February. Oh well, reduced show offerings during a year that is guaranteed to have a LOT of free guest admission
is to be expected. Less money in, less money out.
No complaints from me in the long run. What is coming in the not-too- distant-future will more than compensate for any grumbling going on now.

[tcsnwhite]

In a way, I don't really care whether POD "had its run/had its day" or whatever. Sure, its been running for a long time now...as it was planned.
If you are going to end the real parade offering, replace it with equal or greater value. That is not coming until 2010.
In the meantime, we get what will probably still be a great and fun street show/cavalcade that is most likely not going to be on the level of a real parade like POD.
Essentially, same prices (unless they raise them) and less entertainment. I get that that is the point of budget cuts, but where they are making them just sucks.
For people that feel entertainment is a major reason as to why they visit the parks, and there are actually a lot of people out there who care, it's just very disappointing. Of course, we are essentially a minority...

[Donald1980]

Originally Posted by salasavandy

according to mouseplanet.com, parade of dreams will returen feb 13 along with remember...looks like the princess faire will get the noticable buget cuts

There is a chance that the information on Mousplanet.com hasn't been updated. Cast Member information use to say the same thing, but has recently changed.

Also, it looks like PPP will be going to 5 days a week starting in January.