Fantasmic gets a new Dragon (PICS)

[EliteGCUnit]

Well. Heres my 2 cents: the dragon cage probially out did the weight limit on the rafts hence it being flown onto the island. The rafts could probially take all the other peices. I haven't worked at night so i have no clue whats going on. Sorry.

[Belle Zen Whistles]

Oh wow, that's exciting to see that kind of backstage activity. Thank you for sharing the photos and doing the hard work of getting up early! It's appreciated!

[hadesthecat]

I can only hope that the NEW Dragon loks closer to the one on the original commercial. I was so disappointed when it debuted and was so cheesy. Thanks for getting up so early. Everyone should pitch in for lattes next time

[rollrcostrfrk807]

thanks for the pictures.

[Bruce Bergman]

Originally Posted by hadesthecat

I can only hope that the NEW Dragon loks closer to the one on the original commercial. I was so disappointed when it debuted and was so cheesy. Thanks for getting up so early. Everyone should pitch in for lattes next time

Admit it - First time you saw it, it had the "Wow!" Factor. "Mickey Wins!"


It's only cheesy when you are an AP or a CM and see the show over, and over, and over.... and study it in detail from various angles and back-lighting.

When you saw the First-gen dragon enough times, you realize it's just strip-cloth camouflage tenting (think 'Ghillie Suit') over a steel frame that resembles a backhoe and it's outriggers. The body is very limited articulation, and the head isn't much better.

Let's hope that the new dragon sells it even better, both to the first-timers and the five-hundredth-timers alike.

--<< Bruce >>--

[Crazee4mm]

Thanks a lot for the photos. We all eagerly await any photos that show more details. Not a morning person myself so I can sure appreciate your dedication getting the "scoop" for us all. This project has really been of great interest to me since it was first announced. Although I love the show and have viewed it at least a couple of hundered times, I have always been less than satisfied with the dragon. My friends have taken to calling it "Pez" because it looks like a head on a stick (especially from the sides). I have always longed for the dragon that has been repeadedly shown in Disney's promotional videos (and as Bruce Bergman astutely noted, this goes back to when the original television commercials promoting the show first aired) showing a fully articulated dragon with a bending neck, moving arms with elbows and flexing fingers on it's "hands". It looks like a REAL dragon (if they were to REALLY exist). The most recent version of the Disneyland Video Guide DVD still includes these shots showing the same scenes of this magnificently crafted dragon but I have never been able to find out where this dragon was filmed (it IS shown to be on Tom Sawyer's Island after all) or whether it was just some comuputerized wizardry. Either way, I wish for this new dragon to be, at least, a step in the right direction as far as technology is concerned. I will be there on "re"-opening night with my churro and frosted lemonade. Thanks to all for updating this treasured show and we look forward to new Visions Fantastic as well as the older favorites.

[GhostHostJeff]

When is this new dragon set to debut?

[Crazee4mm]

The return date that I keep hearing is June 12th with a possible "dress rehersal" for the public on June 11th. Nothing official from Disney as far as I know. I know two backstage workers who are working on this updated show and they both have heard June 12th. as the date of the first public performance but that's probably just the "official" date. Oh, anyone know why Fantasmic! is not listed on Disneyland's website as being under refurbishment, but the Steve Martin film (which is not coming back-as a main attraction) is? Seems more likely that public interest would favor Fantasmic! rather than the outdated film. No offense Steve.

[Disney Liz]

Thanks for nabbing those nifty shots. It's always exciting to see behind-the-scenes stuff going on around the park.

[1FoolishMortal]

June 12th is a Friday...

[TimmyTimmyTimmy]

the new dragon looks like a cage... I liked the old one more. but I guess people will get used to the new look
nice spy pics anyway

[danyoung]

Fishbulb, I'm curious - how did you know that this event was going to happen at this time? Or did you just get lucky? Either way, nice pics - thanks!

[Emmanuel_4]

Awesome shots, hopefully it will look better.

[twobluestripes]

I'm so excited and proud that we're getting a shiny new Bucky II! Even if this just looks like a cage thingy, it will look fabulous when it is all assembled and decorated, I'm sure! Thanks for getting these pictures.

[twobluestripes]

Originally Posted by Crazee4mm

Thanks a lot for the photos. We all eagerly await any photos that show more details. Not a morning person myself so I can sure appreciate your dedication getting the "scoop" for us all. This project has really been of great interest to me since it was first announced. Although I love the show and have viewed it at least a couple of hundered times, I have always been less than satisfied with the dragon. My friends have taken to calling it "Pez" because it looks like a head on a stick (especially from the sides). I have always longed for the dragon that has been repeadedly shown in Disney's promotional videos (and as Bruce Bergman astutely noted, this goes back to when the original television commercials promoting the show first aired) showing a fully articulated dragon with a bending neck, moving arms with elbows and moving fingers on it's "hands". It looks like a REAL dragon (if they REALLY existed). The most recent version of the Disneyland Video Guide DVD still includes these shots showing the same scenes of this magnificently crafted dragon but I have never been able to find out where this dragon was filmed (it IS shown to be on Tom Sawyer's Island, if it ever existed at all) or whether it was just some comuputerized wizardry. Either way, I wish for this new dragon to be, at least, a step in the right direction as far as technology is concerned. I will be there on "re"-opening night with my churro and frosted lemonade. Thanks to all for updating this treasured show and we look forward to new Visions Fantastic as well as the older favorites.

The promotional dragon has always looked like a model and computer animation to me!