FitchCoaster Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 There's always been something very fascinating to me with lasers, pyro and water fountains to me... maybe which is why I like Fantastic. I don't love it, but it is a neat thing to watch. That having been said, I haven't seen it that many times at all, so perhaps I'm just not 'done' with it yet. Ever since I was a kid, I thought it was pretty magical to have RoA transform into a huge show at night. It's not really that magical anymore to me, but I'd imagine that first-time viewers and little kids think it's pretty spectacular. I haven't seen the WDW version in person, but I think it takes the 'magic' out of the show by having it in a stadium. Part of what made me love Fantasmic the first time I saw it was that you wouldn't expect there to be a large-scale show like that there. I still think it's pretty awesome. The crowds though, not so much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I am split between which Fantasmic I prefer, the Columbia and Mark Twain are much better than what they have in Orlando but the WDW show is more dark and has more evil characters which I like better about it. I also like the lagoon setting but all of the logistical issues it causes pretty much cancels that out so the fact that they made a big ampitheater for WDW's I can understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreditCrazy Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Personally, as much as I like the show at DL, I really hate not being able to go over to that side of the park from about 8:00pm to 11:00pm every night when the show is going on. I agree that it gets really annoying how crowded it gets over in that area of the park during the show. It's especially hard to get through because there isn't any seating so you just have a huge crowd standing trying to see the show. The staff does a great job of making it as organized as possible, but it's still a mess. Seating would be nice, but I would think the only way to do that without making it look out of place would to be to have the show in a stadium which almost wouldn't be worth it. Besides the whole crowd issue, I still just think the show is okay. I'm not a show person and I've only seen Fantasmic once with a pretty bad view, so my opinion isn't really fair. I definitely have to see it again sometime, especially with this new dragon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taytig Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I liked both shows, but I think I prefer Cali! Actually my daughter hated the show at WDW - she thought it was too scary (and she doesn't normally get scared). The crowds trying to get in and out of the stadium ruined Florida for me. I know at DL the crowds can get intense, but it doesn't seem the same. When I saw the show at DL, I had no idea of the scale of the show. It blew me away that they could do so much right inside a small area of the park. As for the Dragon - the old dragon was disappointing and I am glad they have changed it. As for the Florida version - changing the dragon would not make me go see it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Clinksalot Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I'm also going to guess that is not the same for the WDW Fantasmic! crowd who are mostly seeing the show for their first and only time in their life. I thought the same thing Robb, until I actually saw the show at WDW. We were actually at the very top of the stadium because we had reserved the dessert viewing. I'm going to say at least 35%-40% of the audience started leaving the show as the finale' was starting. Not really the behaviour of a crowd that hasn't seen the show before. And it royally pissed me off because my video was pretty great until that spot. You can see it at the end of this video I posted a few months back: Skip ahead to about the 4:00 mark (or watch all 4 videos as I'm quite proud of the music integration on this as I used the music from the CD) [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=Fantasmic_4_3l4d[/coastertube] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedracer Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Watching the Murphy video reminded me of another once amazing animatronic dragon: That dragon was so jaw droppingly awesome to see live, USH were idiots to have removed this show. Still the best show they've ever done at the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FitchCoaster Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Here's a pretty good video of Murphy's debut: It didn't set the river on fire, and I read somewhere that it wasn't moving to it's fullest extent tonight. It still looks damn good, I'd say. EDIT: Changed the video to a better one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFreak Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I went yesterday to meet some friends and the hope that Murphy would show up and it did not fail to at least make an appearance. The thing is much more impressive in person then the videos show. I just hope they can get it to move a little faster, and during the first show the flame thrower effect was not working, but at least they managed to at least get the poor girl up. I recorded some of the show, but it is a rather large file (and HD!) at 179MB but it gives a slightly different angle then the other youtube video. But that's what I get for showing up one minute before the show was to start with the hope of running to main street for the fireworks to start. ANyway enjoy the video and YAY Murphy! [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=00006_gmja[/coastertube] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsterfan99 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I thought the same thing Robb, until I actually saw the show at WDW. We were actually at the very top of the stadium because we had reserved the dessert viewing. I'm going to say at least 35%-40% of the audience started leaving the show as the finale' was starting. Not really the behaviour of a crowd that hasn't seen the show before. And it royally pissed me off because my video was pretty great until that spot. I went to the show at WDW for the first time last month and the amount of people leaving early was simply stunning. I can't say I blame them with the feeling of being cattle leaving a full show. The first show is even worse with people trying to leave to get back into the park for that one last ride. Robb, you are not missing out on on much by missing the WDW version. When we were there (August 4th and then August 18th) the crowds were insane to just get in. People were lining up for the first show up to 3 hours early. The second show had lines form before the first show even started. Just not worth it plus IllumiiNations is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Clinksalot Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I'll admit to being rather underwhelmed by the videos of the dragon. I will reserve my final judgement until I see it in person. I just thought it was going to DO more than just sit there. I don't expect it to fly around the matterhorn or something but you could tell it was a robot and didn't evoke any kind of real dragoness (or animated dragoness) tendencies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotchTAPE Posted September 3, 2009 Author Share Posted September 3, 2009 Seems like Disneyland still has a few kinks to work out, yesterday Murphy didn't breathe fire although the sparks from her head shot out, tonight she did breathe fire, but the sparks did not shoot out . Hopefully sometime this week she'll be all fine . Here's a video of her in the fire spewing; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 /\ Wow thats definitley not the way its supposed to work. Too much headbanging he cant move his neck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FitchCoaster Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Finally a video with all the known effects working. She's also more animated now, most noticeably when she looks down at Mickey. She leans a bit to the side, which I think is pretty cool: At one point, didn't Disney say that Murphy would lean down to the water when she 'lights the river on fire', or am I just imagining things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DisWiz Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 ^ Wow that shows so much more detail with it being zoomed in more. I never noticed that it has eye-lids that move and change the shape of the eye. It really adds to the overall dragon I think, awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeoplemoverMatt Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I can't help but wonder how many parents & children of the general public, who have no idea of any dragon saga anything, now come away from the show wondering why in the world there are raucous cheers when the big evil dragon shows up and lights the place on fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice101 Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 At one point, didn't Disney say that Murphy would lean down to the water when she 'lights the river on fire', or am I just imagining things? They actually presented a video of the model of the dragon lighting the river on fire. It swang it's neck around the entire river, it was very impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotchTAPE Posted September 5, 2009 Author Share Posted September 5, 2009 At one point, didn't Disney say that Murphy would lean down to the water when she 'lights the river on fire', or am I just imagining things? They actually presented a video of the model of the dragon lighting the river on fire. It swang it's neck around the entire river, it was very impressive. Yes they did! They presented a stop motion animation of the dragon which had the same movement as the dragon does now (somewhat) including the swooping to the rivers and setting it on fire. Remember how the dragon broke, it was because of the head failure. There's this website called MiceChat (I'm sure some of you know it) they say that the dragon is currently moving in "B-mode" basically rehersal mode, not putting the dragon out to it's full potential. My guess is that they're taking it safe as of right now with the dragons movements, keeping the dragon at an up right position when shooting fire out of her mouth. I'm hoping that next year when the refurb of the river is finished, Murphy will have her swaying back and forth blowing fire motion out. By the way for those who are interested, the stop motion animation is in this video, look around the 7:29 mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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