interesting rumor

[Strmchsr]

I had lunch yesterday with a good friend who's a senior CM (been with WDW 20+ years). She said this is not confirmed by any means, but it currently looks like a good possibility that Fantasmic will be going away and they will bring back Sorcery in the Sky. A new ride will go where Fantasmic is currently located (she didn't know what that new ride might be only that a new ride was being discussed at that location). She said it'll probably be 2012 or so before anything of this could happen, and, as I mentioned, it's far from confirmed, but I was excited about the idea of the return of Sorcery in the Sky. Apparently the WDW suits feel Fantasmic is a "bad guest experience" because of the huge lines, long waits, and packing everyone into the theater.

[elmjimmlm]

Apparently the WDW suits feel Fantasmic is a "bad guest experience" because of the huge lines, long waits, and packing everyone into the theater.

On the other hand, isn't that a sign of how much this show is loved?

[Mousemates]

Wow...huge lines 1st equals a cutback in the number of weekly showings ...and now it means cancellation . What is the logical part of this that I am I missing?

[JPL]

The part you are missing is that Fantasmic costs $30,000 a show to put on according to some sources. So do the math $60,000 a night when they have 2 shows. $420,000 a week multiply that by 52 weeks a year $21.8 million a year added directly to the bottom line.

[brownie]

The part you are missing is that Fantasmic costs $30,000 a show to put on according to some sources. So do the math $60,000 a night when they have 2 shows. $420,000 a week multiply that by 52 weeks a year $21.8 million a year added directly to the bottom line.

Wouldn't it be taken away from the bottom line and not added?

I really enjoy Fantasmic! and hope that if they are planning on getting rid of it, they wait until after I can see it again. Disneyland just made some changes to their Fantasmic!, so it makes me wonder if this is something that's not under serious consideration.

[GoinGoofyPlanninThisTrip]

I'm not familiar with Sorcery in the Sky. Where does one view this?

[BMan62]

The part you are missing is that Fantasmic costs $30,000 a show to put on according to some sources. So do the math $60,000 a night when they have 2 shows. $420,000 a week multiply that by 52 weeks a year $21.8 million a year added directly to the bottom line.

And how does that compare to Wishes and Illuminations? Throwing out a bunch of numbers without any comparison is ludicrous.

What would be the cost of "Sorcery In The Sky" per night/week/year?

[BriarRose]

Truthfully, we only saw Fantasmic once in all the times we have gone to WDW. I think it's because I am comparing it to the DL version, which is soooo much better. That being said, I would definately enjoy a different show.

[SBETigg]

Fantasmic is a great show, but I haven't felt the need to go back in a few years. It's not worth the hassle and time for us now. I wouldn't have wanted to miss it entirely, glad I saw it once or twice, but maybe it's time to move on.

[animalkingdomguy]

Actually this would be a very sound business decision. The amphlitheatre used for this show is dedicated for this show and as such is only used a small portion of any park day. This real estate is valuable and is under utilized. If Disney opened a singnature ride attraction that drew crowds and allowed visitors to enjoy the attraction all day they would be much further ahead.

Changing the signature fireworks show to a wishes-like attraction would disperse the crowds and smooth the foot traffic. Think about wishes, the guests are directly adjacent to main street shops were they might be tempted to shop before and after the wishes show. This places people near food and shopping venues where they are prone to drop cash.

Also, since Hollywood Studio has a dedicated back stage area that could be used as a lauch site for the fireworks show and buildings for lasers, HS could make a really great show with viewing opportunities from many locations of the parks.

Don't get me wrong I love Fantasmic, but from a business model there are better fits to the night time spectacular that could leverage more profits and please park guests with entertainment and improved foot traffic and less congestion.

As a tangent it has always irritated my family that the HTH, RNR and Fantasmic caused a perfect storm of chaos in that tiny area of the park during evening hours.

[Gooftroop5]

Changing the signature fireworks show to a wishes-like attraction would disperse the crowds and smooth the foot traffic. Think about wishes, the guests are directly adjacent to main street shops were they might be tempted to shop before and after the wishes show. This places people near food and shopping venues where they are prone to drop cash.

This is similar to what my mother said when I told her this morning. Except hers was more that its a long time that people are sitting to long to hold seats & wait in line to get in when they could be out shopping & spending money instead they are just waiting around.

With Disney as is all companies its not just the cost of the show its where else they are losing money. Between the cost for the show where they could do something cheaper they need to get the money circulating elsewhere.

A new ride is needed they cut back so much else there they need another draw for the whole day not just an hour at night. Its a park that a lot of people here only go 1/2 day & not a lot of people that take a 1-2 trip even mess with going to. I am even guilty of that. The studio more then 1 day is not a big deal to me.

Of course it is easy for me to talk in all the years I have been (including last December) this will be my first trip (and possibly last) where I get to see Fantasmic.

[senderella]

I agree with others, I would not be disappointed with Fantasmic going away. I don't like waiting in line and then sitting in your seat for an hour or so when I could be riding other rides. I also don't like the stampede when it is over. My kids have been nearly run over in the past.
I would vote for another ride.
NOW, I would die if Wishes went away! Wishes sums the whole Disney experience into one show. It is magic, gives me chills everytime.

[Katzateer]

Sorcery in the Sky is a great fireworks display-we have seen it a few times and loved it. But it is nothing compared to Fantasmic. It would certainly be cheaper and easier for guests to watch than being packed into the theatre. I wouldn't mind being able to see it again-I know they still show it for special occasions.

[JRocker]

I kind of like this rumor. We should track CM/Bus Driver rumors and vote for the best ones each year.
Then maybe they'll come true.

I have seen Fantasmic twice. Our first experience ranks among our top 10 worst things that have happened to us at WDW. We stood in line for an hour (lost revenue for Disney), and then when we did get in, it was standing room only. After a long day in the parks, standing to watch a show was not on my list of most exciting things to do.
Every single time I would squat down to rest my weary legs, a CM would be right there to explain that there was no sitting in the standing area... Instead of on vacation, I felt like I was at a high school assembly, and the CM was that evil World Lit teacher.
To top it all off, I couldn't hardly see the show because of all the people standing in front of me.
I still consider that moment a wasted 2 hours (lost revenue for Disney).
The second time (and last) we saw the show, I was properly seated about four rows back. The show was entertaining and I enjoyed it. However, I did not enjoy it enough to ever stand in line and lose two hours of park time again.
For myself, it is just not worth the wait. I know for many, many others it is. But, this customer would be pleased to see it go away and replaced with something else. Only if it is replaced with something else though.

Long live Cast Member rumors!

[Laughin' place]

Just goes to show how different opinions can be here, even tho we have so much in common.
We consider Fantasmic a "must do". We have, since the inception of the plan, used the "dine and view" package, having dinner at Mamma Melrose's and then avoiding the line and wait by sitting in the reserved section. I think Fantasmic is one of the greatest spectacles Ive ever seen. Id be very disappointed if it were to be removed.

[JabberJaws]

I will say the following about this rumor:

1. Another poster mentioned that CMs are typically the last to hear about this stuff. They are dead-on with that remark. I was a CM in both the front-line and corporate/marketing side and can safely say that every CM (particularly front-liners) think they have the scoop, but they usually don't. For example, I had a friend who worked at a WDW restaraunt. Some imagineers were eating there, and one left behind some notepad or something. The notepad was full of all of these changes to the parks that made it sound like were imminent. One of these was turning DAK into Disney's Lion Kingdom, and theming EVERYTHING there around the lion king. Needless to say this NEVER happened haha.
2. From a logistical standpoint, it would be a terrible idea, and probably not feasible, to put a new e or d ticket attraction where F! is. Think about the traffic issues already caused by RnR and ToT being right next to one another.
3. Considering the fact that the site was designed specifically for F!, including all electric wiring, water, facilities, etc etc, it wouldn't be feasible from a cost standpoint to gut it and replace it.
4. There is money being put into F! at DL to update it.

I would suspect you will see similar improvements/upgrades at WDW's F! as you are seeing at DL's F! I think the show is in need of a facelift, but can't imagine disney gutting and replacing. That would cost more than simple upgrades to F! IMO.

[GothMickey]

I will say the following about this rumor:

1. Another poster mentioned that CMs are typically the last to hear about this stuff. They are dead-on with that remark. I was a CM in both the front-line and corporate/marketing side and can safely say that every CM (particularly front-liners) think they have the scoop, but they usually don't. For example, I had a friend who worked at a WDW restaraunt. Some imagineers were eating there, and one left behind some notepad or something. The notepad was full of all of these changes to the parks that made it sound like were imminent. One of these was turning DAK into Disney's Lion Kingdom, and theming EVERYTHING there around the lion king. Needless to say this NEVER happened haha.
2. From a logistical standpoint, it would be a terrible idea, and probably not feasible, to put a new e or d ticket attraction where F! is. Think about the traffic issues already caused by RnR and ToT being right next to one another.
3. Considering the fact that the site was designed specifically for F!, including all electric wiring, water, facilities, etc etc, it wouldn't be feasible from a cost standpoint to gut it and replace it.
4. There is money being put into F! at DL to update it.

I would suspect you will see similar improvements/upgrades at WDW's F! as you are seeing at DL's F! I think the show is in need of a facelift, but can't imagine disney gutting and replacing. That would cost more than simple upgrades to F! IMO.

DL's Fantasmic is getting a new snake/dragon, correct? Give it some time and it will make it's way to Orlando as well. There is also a rumor that the hat was soon to be taken down. This came out of the 20th celebration for DHS. In fact, the imagineers alluded to it. IF, and I stress IF, Fantasmic goes away, and Sorcery in the Sky returns, removing the hat makes sense since it will block the view of some of the fireworks.

But, answer me this: When Pixar Place was constructed, wasn't the cannons for the fireworks for Sorcery in the Sky removed?

[JabberJaws]

DL's Fantasmic is getting a new snake/dragon, correct? Give it some time and it will make it's way to Orlando as well. .

Yeah DL's F! is getting a new dragon that looks like the SB dragon rather than a modified piece of construction equipment like WDWs! They are also getting a rather large animatronic tick-tock croc for the PP scene, and two large animatronic floating Floatsum and Jetsum figures. I believe they are also getting HD projectors for the water projection scenes, which are supposed to really make the projections pop and be crystal clear.

I can almost guarantee you that you will see updates similar to these come to WDW soon.

[GrumpyFan]

Interesting rumour, and half-way feasible. Fantasmic is somewhat of a hassle to get in and out of, and it's not the greatest show of the night time spectaculars. I wouldn't mind seeing it scrapped for a new attraction. The question is, what attraction are they considering?

[Jasper]

I will say the following about this rumor:
[*]From a logistical standpoint, it would be a terrible idea, and probably not feasible, to put a new e or d ticket attraction where F! is. Think about the traffic issues already caused by RnR and ToT being right next to one another.[*]Considering the fact that the site was designed specifically for F!, including all electric wiring, water, facilities, etc etc, it wouldn't be feasible from a cost standpoint to gut it and replace it.

You know, the congestion doesn't have to be bad if they put an E ride on the current fantasmic location. I don't know where you currently enter the theater if you do the Fantasmic dining program but it used to be down by the restrooms near the front entrance to the park.

While entering the theater from that direction in the past I have commented several times that they have enough land back there to put in an entire new street of shops ending with an E ride attraction at the current Fantasmic location and then looping back in front of the Tower of Terror.

And as for money, when Disney decides a project is worth doing then money is not an issue. Any time in the past when they decided to do something they always found the money to do it and I am sure that is still the case today!