Block Party Bash, Place your Bets!

[stitchon]

Originally Posted by Luke Manning

ou're misunderstanding me. I know the parade is only supposed to feature Pixar characters. But I'm saying aside from the characters themselves, & the floats, nothing about it is Disney (Pixar). Most of the music is god awful. Whenever I saw that parade in DCA, I would just run in the opposite direction.

So are you saying that detailed, well done family entertainment isn't Disney? By that mentality, they might as well rename the parks. Seriously, while the music may not be "Disney" as in Disney-Owned, the parade is pure Disney entertainment, but not in a Parade of Dreams kind of way, more of a Party Gras (regarded to be one of the best parades in Disney history) kind of way. Large, colorful floats, loud music, and tons of energy is most definitely "Disney".

[Luke Manning]

Originally Posted by stitchon

So are you saying that detailed, well done family entertainment isn't Disney? By that mentality, they might as well rename the parks. Seriously, while the music may not be "Disney" as in Disney-Owned, the parade is pure Disney entertainment, but not in a Parade of Dreams kind of way, more of a Party Gras (regarded to be one of the best parades in Disney history) kind of way. Large, colorful floats, loud music, and tons of energy is most definitely "Disney".

I don't know, there's just something about it that makes me not like it. But on the other hand, I absolutely love Parade of Dreams, my 2nd favorite parade ever! Can't speak for Party Gras however, before my time.

[TDLFAN]

Originally Posted by stitchon

So are you saying that detailed, well done family entertainment isn't Disney? By that mentality, they might as well rename the parks. Seriously, while the music may not be "Disney" as in Disney-Owned, the parade is pure Disney entertainment, but not in a Parade of Dreams kind of way, more of a Party Gras (regarded to be one of the best parades in Disney history) kind of way. Large, colorful floats, loud music, and tons of energy is most definitely "Disney".

Well... I tend to disgree with this.. simply because throwing in Pixar characters is not an excuse to make this parade "Disney". Truth is... the quality of the parade is bad. Anything that requires the audience to respond to signs reading "scream" and "Clap your hand" is simply a lazy attempt at making a so-so parade "fun". There is no denying that it has a few good points... as the floats are decent and the performers give their best to bring this semi-cooked turkey to life. On the other hand... jumping around and riding skateboards, while listening to the green soldiers shout instructions to non-disney music we all hear at every wedding reception... is.. well.., a tired idea. (And before I am accused of being "biased"... TDR is majorly guilty of these show stops with silly hand dances and stuff, but at least they production values of those parades are higher and staged to original music written for them in particular, still...)

Originally Posted by Luke Manning

I prefer Stars & Motor Cars to Block Party Bash.

Well... understandable.. especially since taking a look at the photos on your signature tells me you favor the Disney princesses over Pixar. But even as bad a BPB is... it is still a higher quality production over those motorcades, which to me, were always a poor excuse passed on to unsuspecting guests as a "parade".

[almandot]

People act like they just took wedding and bar mitzvah songs and threw them into the parade soundtrack. They do that enough already with actual disney music anyways, just taking tokyo music and throwing it into some other show with rerecorded lyrics. There was a lot of production value done in putting together, arranging, and mixing these custom versions for the parade. A lot of quick, subtle song references were blended very well into what ever portion of the dance action that was going on. Furthermore, Dancin in the Streets(used several times in disney history, tokyo included), jumpin jack flash, and Rockin in the USA aren't exactly wedding party tunes but make up the majority of the time and choreography during the show. The audience participation is what includes a lot of the wedding party tunes but it's condensed into a smaller section of the show comparatively and provides an easily recognizable way to participate for kids who might not log onto a disney website and study dance choreography for the parade ahead of time like Tokyo fans do. As for the scream section being a cop-out, I think it fit very well given the Monsters Inc section, my only regret is that nothing seemed to be particularly oriented around Bugs Life even though Toy Story and Monsters both got segments.

[Space Mountain]

Originally Posted by almandot

People act like they just took wedding and bar mitzvah songs and threw them into the parade soundtrack. They do that enough already with actual disney music anyways, just taking tokyo music and throwing it into some other show with rerecorded lyrics. There was a lot of production value done in putting together, arranging, and mixing these custom versions for the parade. A lot of quick, subtle song references were blended very well into what ever portion of the dance action that was going on. Furthermore, Dancin in the Streets(used several times in disney history, tokyo included), jumpin jack flash, and Rockin in the USA aren't exactly wedding party tunes but make up the majority of the time and choreography during the show. The audience participation is what includes a lot of the wedding party tunes but it's condensed into a smaller section of the show comparatively and provides an easily recognizable way to participate for kids who might not log onto a disney website and study dance choreography for the parade ahead of time like Tokyo fans do. As for the scream section being a cop-out, I think it fit very well given the Monsters Inc section, my only regret is that nothing seemed to be particularly oriented around Bugs Life even though Toy Story and Monsters both got segments.

Finally someone somewhat agrees with me that everything at Tokyo Disney is not perfect like everyone thinks it is. There's not too many things that intrigue me to visit there.

-SPACE

[almandot]

Not what I said. I mentioned that tokyo frequently puts up small how-to videos online for their shows that involve audience participation to teach people the routine and japanese fans watch those and come prepared, something the US parks don't offer and the american audiences probably wouldn't do anyways. You should know I'm an extremely big fan of almost all the shows Tokyo puts out but their showstops tend to bore me a little when it's mostly playing charades with the audience. And I also wasn't saying domestic Disney can't do something audiences aren't as directly familiar with for participation in the future just given the atmosphere of block party I don't see what they used as a problem and think they arranged the show very well.

[tcsnwhite]

almandot,
I feel you on BPB...most people just don't "get" the parade/show, and why it was developed as such in the first place. But hey, to each his own.

BPB has taken the quality and level of WDW's entertainment up a few notches...and that's a start. They need a good kick in the you know what in updating their entertainment to what WDI-CE can create these days.


As for the cut down BPB, I heard it was only due to heat index issues and how the show is tough enough to do in the SoCal heat, let alone the oppressive Florida heat and humidity. I heard that once the weather tones down, it should return to the full show.

[TDLFAN]

Originally Posted by Space Mountain

Finally someone somewhat agrees with me that everything at Tokyo Disney is not perfect like everyone thinks it is. There's not too many things that intrigue me to visit there.

-SPACE

I challenge you to find a post of mine stating that TDR is perfect. I have said it is "as perfect a it can get for a DL park", but trust me... even I can see problems at TDR and I have discussed them in the Tokyo section of MC. Maybe you should spend some time there and find out about those problems.

[flynnibus]

at least they have a decent parade now. Most of the parades in DHS's history have been down right miserable and you try to AVOID them, not seek them out.

Thumbs up for something halfway decent. Honestly - when your previous high point was probably the roaming HSM dance thing... it doesn't take much to move up.

[imagineerthat]

I still don't understand why people don't want to like BPB. We visit the parks to be able to experience new things but when something slighty different than what were use come along it gets criticised. I think that it is a nice alternative to the standard Disney parades at the other parks, I think there is still some weariness about Pixar being in the parks..I'm sure if BPB would have been well recieved if the floats were based on Disney characters and they called it "Mickey's Block Party Bash" I'm glad it lives on in some form, even though I wish it was at DCA so I could see it still.

[Space Mountain]

Originally Posted by TDLFAN

I challenge you to find a post of mine stating that TDR is perfect. I have said it is "as perfect a it can get for a DL park", but trust me... even I can see problems at TDR and I have discussed them in the Tokyo section of MC. Maybe you should spend some time there and find out about those problems.

I never selected you out nor did i select anyone out in a crowd. I'm saying that in general a lot of people praise tokyo for all its worth. And the point im trying to make is that, as far as I can tell, it's not as great as many say it is. My own thoughts, feel free to disagree, but i never said you or any one person.

-SPACE

[TweedlDum9]

With all those cuts almandot mentioned earlier, how long are we talking for the show stop now?

[Witches of Morva]

ORWEN: Well, I really LOVE Block Party Bash. Us cauldron girls first saw it out in California--at least 3 times--before it went to Florida. And, to tell you the truth, we didn't even notice any cuts had been made. We're certainly glad Disney Hollywood Studios decided to replace Stars and Motor Cars because THAT one had played way past its prime for us.

[MJMcB]

I gotta say. I don't really like the Block Party Bash.

[Brandon]

Block Party Bash is for people who like to party. If you have trouble doing that (or to enhance the party), visit a bar before step off and lighten up. Maybe it's just me but I'd much rather dance with my favorite characters than have them wave at me, but ya, I'm just weird like that.