Imagineering the Magic DVD release and signing

[dcs287]

Thank you all for your honest and blunt reviews of the DVD. I think I will just stay with my Tins collection and then all of the DVDs I have purchased from Extinct Attractions, Visions Fantastic, UB42 and a few others.

I have on older VHS Video of Disneyland that is actually one of my favorites for cruising around the park.

THANK YOU again. Now I can save that money for some Pirate signs I saw on Laughing Place that I will call WDW to purchase.

[Coheteboy]

Originally Posted by Lore

Exactly my thoughts. I was hoping for more meaty, technical, and behind the scenes stuff. It was nothing but talking heads against blue screen video in the wrong aspect ratio. Why couldn't they have been standing in the ride they were talking about?

Totally. I thought we would have LITERAL behind the scenes at imagineering or at the park! And when they DID film new footage at the park, it was completely surreal because they made 100% sure that NOBODY else was there!

And people ask why we don't really trust WDI with the park anymore. Because they can't even give us a DVD to really sink our teeth into. I would almost argue that the free travel planning dvds is better than this.

[yoyoflamingo]

This is good to know. Now I know I don't need to pick this up. I'll stick to the Disney Treasures too!

Thanks for the honest opinion guys!

[Coheteboy]

Oh did I say it wasn't worth it? I meant to say it's fantastic! And it just so happens that I have a used copy of the dvd for sale if anyone wants one.

[Aladdin]

Thanks for the reviews! I got used to being burned by the direct to video animated features that Eisner pushed, so I avoided a good portion of those pitfalls.

BUT if I would have been at DL this weekend, I certainly wouldn't have expected a dvd dud from Imagineering! I'm really kinda sad that it doesn't meet up to a high standard that we deserve to expect from Imagineers.

[MasterGracey]

My two cents:


It's not worth the $25.

It should be called "Disneyland Resort: Regurgitating the Magic."

There's very little new insight on Disneyland and WDI. Its a lot of the same old stories just being retold for the billionth time. And the "Imagineering DCA" featurette on Disc 2 is nothing but embarrassing - it seems like it came straight from 2001, trying to hype the park up even though its a complete failure. You'd think that an honest representation of DCA would be released after Disney's own CEO admitted that the park is a failure and a $1+ billion fixer-upper project for the park has been approved. I guess WDI is just still too proud of themselves for it. Yikes.

The main feature on Imagineering Disneyland is an okay documentary for only the most casual Disney fan -- but this is a DVD that most people who are on their once-a-year vacation probably will skip for a t-shirt -- the big buyers of this will be big Disney fans - and that was evident by the big line for the release and signing yesterday. Unfortunately, I have a feeling a lot of people are going to watch this and be quite underwhelmed by it.

The recent Walt Disney Treasures - Disneyland: Secret, Stories and Magic DVD set is far superior than this set.

[dcs287]

Was this DVD set in a Tin or was there anything special inside? Like the "Disneyland: Secret, Stories and Magic DVD" had the Ticket book and a post card of the Sleeping Beauty Castle. And I for one think that is a perfect companion to the previously released Disneyland Tin DVD set.

Again thanks to all for their honest and candid reviews. I am going to call WDW today to order several pieces that they sell that are not sold at Disneyland. I now have a little extra to spend since this DVD is not so much as a "have to have" anymore.

David

[Lore]

There's nothing inside other than two DVDs. The extras DVD looks like awkward marketing fluff. The main DVD retreads often heard stories with random marketing footage shown at the wrong aspect ratio, making it painful to watch.

Had Tony Baxter been standing near the goat on Thunder Mountain when talking about Thunder Mountain, that would have been 10 billion times more interesting than this DVD, where all the imagineers seem to have been drugged and held captive by out of control Marketing types, allowed to tell only authorized stories in front of a blue screen showing footage awkwardly cobbled together from previous marketing releases.

I've seen the footage of Walt saying why he built Disneyland a hundred times, I've never seen it at the wrong aspect ratio. This DVD set is the worst I've ever bought. I do feel better about other releases I previous thought sucked as bad as was possible.

[lazyboy97O]

Originally Posted by Lore

I've seen the footage of Walt saying why he built Disneyland a hundred times, I've never seen it at the wrong aspect ratio.

Please, the footage was plussed to be made more relevant to today's audience.

[Coheteboy]

I wish I didn't open my dvd 1st dvd. It really is the worst thing I've ever bought from the parks. I just returned my 2nd copy today (kept the autographs)... I wouldn't willingly push this onto anyone else without telling them how bad it is first. I advise anyone who hasn't opened theirs to do the same. This is really weak stuff.

[Melonballer]

Originally Posted by Coheteboy

I wish I didn't open my dvd 1st dvd. It really is the worst thing I've ever bought from the parks. I just returned my 2nd copy today (kept the autographs)... I wouldn't willingly push this onto anyone else without telling them how bad it is first. I advise anyone who hasn't opened theirs to do the same. This is really weak stuff.

Whew. Glad to hear they took the 2nd copy back. You took a bullet for the team it sounds like.

[SCUBAbe]

Originally Posted by Coheteboy

I wish I didn't open my dvd 1st dvd. It really is the worst thing I've ever bought from the parks. I just returned my 2nd copy today (kept the autographs)... I wouldn't willingly push this onto anyone else without telling them how bad it is first. I advise anyone who hasn't opened theirs to do the same. This is really weak stuff.

I haven't watched my copy yet, but I'm relieved to hear the second copy can be returned if this is as bad as people are saying.

[Coheteboy]

Originally Posted by SCUBAbe

I haven't watched my copy yet, but I'm relieved to hear the second copy can be returned if this is as bad as people are saying.

In my opinion, it really is that bad. I'll pop it in one more time tonite and see if I pick up on anything worth keeping it for.

(oh and if you don't want to return it to disneyanna, any store that sells the dvd can take it back)

[dland_lover]

What about online purchases? I ordered mine, but don't want to have to send it back through the mail. Of course, it might still be early enough to cancel it... hmm...

[Coheteboy]

You might be able to return it in the parks. Not sure.

So I popped the dvd in for a 2nd run through. I didn't really pay attention to it, only left it in the background and listened to the words spoken. For the more casual Disneyland fan, it might have information that they didn't know about, but even after it's done, you still don't get a proper look at what an imagineer does.

This was a perfect opportunity to go into all of the various departments.. from model making, to research & development, to blue sky, to engineering, lighting, sculpting, environmental design, the list goes on and on.

I would love to have a walking tour of Disneyland with Tony Baxter on a dvd too.


On the 2nd viewing, it's not as horrible as I first proclaimed, but it's still a waste of $25. I think the worst crime of all is the music. It's really annoying.