Category — q. Reviews

STAR WARS: A GALACTIC SPECTACULAR

A new evening show, Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular, debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer.

The show replaces a Star Wars fireworks show that had been going on since December, and adds to fireworks stirring music, lasers, and projections.

Lasers:

Projections:

Fireworks:

The projections are shown on Grauman’s Chinese Theater, and can’t be seen well from anyplace not close to it.

Because the fireworks themselves more punctuate and add drama to the projections than carry their weight as a show in themselves, it’s best to think of this as a “projection show with fireworks” rather than as a “fireworks show with projections.”

This is important, as it means you have to be close to the theater to fully experience the show. Specifically, you should be between the projection towers (circled in red) and the theater (also with a red circle).

Those seeing the show from further away won’t have nearly as good an experience.

Recent schedules make it hard to see both the first Fantasmic and and to see this show as well.  That’s just fine, as that aren’t remotely enough good viewing spots for the 10,000 people that Fantasmic can hold to see this show at its best.

Those who can spend two evenings in Disney’s Hollywood Studios are can see both. But if you have to choose between the two, be guided by this: the fireworks show is all about Star Wars, and Fantasmic is all about Disney animation. Which will be more fun for your group?

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FROZEN EVER AFTER

The ride Frozen Ever After replaced Maelstrom at Epcot in June 2016.

Using essentially the same ride system as Maelstrom, it takes you into and out of a special Summer Snow Day Celebration in Arandelle, along the way revisiting all of the key characters from Frozen and from the short Frozen Fever.

(See this for Jim Korkis on the background to this ride and the Norway Pavilion, where it is located.)

You begin in a village that contains Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post…

…from which, curiously enough, you can see Hogsmeade in the distance.

Just kidding.  You then pass a sign that gives you the only hint of the story of the ride–that is a winter day in summer, and that you will be touring Arandelle during the celebration of it.

You board boats…

and visit with the key Frozen and Frozen Fever folk. The animatronics and setting are very well done–my pictures don’t really do them justice.

You will also, as you might imagine, hear some familiar tunes!

A must-see for those who love the movie and its songs, there’s not much to this ride for anyone else. A family trying to negotiate a minimum Frozen dose for their trip would be better served at the Frozen Sing Along at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where humor makes that show of broader appeal.

The use of the old ride system means that this ride has a relatively low hourly capacity of about a thousand people.

As a result, you should aim for FastPass+ or ride it at park close.  The low capacity, proportion of rides allocated to FastPass+, people coming from early breakfasts, etc., breakdown history, etc., means that counting on low waits by arriving early may be a bad bet.

For more on strategies for trying to see Frozen Ever After while avoiding long waits, see this from my co-author Josh.

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SOARIN’ AROUND THE WORLD

Soarin’ Around the World opened in June 2016 at Epcot, replacing the much-loved Soarin’ that used to occupy its infrastructure, and adding a third ride system, increasing capacity–when all three concourses are operating–by 50%.

The ride system is themed to replicate the swooping and soaring of a hang glider, and an enormous screen in front makes you feel as though you are in the sky.

The old Soarin’ film, much worn by the time of its replacement, depicted various California scenes (the film was made for the Soarin’ Over California ride at Disney California Adventure) that all brought back, for me, happy memories of spending my Cub Scout years in California as a Navy brat.

The new film takes the same hang glider tour concept and spreads it around the world, adding sharper scene transitions, and a more defined sense of being high in the sky and at times swooping quickly–creating more drama and, for those with even the slightest fear of heights, a definite frisson.

It also adds more artifice, with more animated (though highly realistic) bits added to the film, e.g. this polar bear…

…and is marred by distortion to many verticals.  The best seats are definitely in the center of apparatus, in “Hangar B,” which see the least distortion.

The Eiffel tower seen from Hangar B:

The Pyramids as seen from the far right of the right-most Hangar, Hangar C.

Regardless, I really did find this a terrific ride, and recommend it to everyone except those with acute fear of heights. The new world tour is fun, the added animations add drama and action, and the new sense of height and swoopiness adds thrills. (Kids must be at least 40 inches tall to ride).

Soarin’ Around the World is located in Epcot’s Land Pavilion…

…at its bottom, across from Sunshine Seasons, which with the ride’s opening now offers breakfast again.

You’ll be directed into Concourse A, B, or C (C is the new one, but is no different from A or B). Once you get to the next step, ask to be put into Hangar B.

The pre-show includes from the former ride both crowd-pleasing Patrick and the gratuitous dig at balding men.

Then it’s into the ride system, strapping in, and you are off!

Some scenes from the new Soarin’ Around the World:

Note the not-so-hidden Hidden Mickeys!

At Epcot, Soarin’ Around the World is available as a Tier One FastPass+. Unless you are among the first at rope drop, it’s best seen via FastPass+, as lines build quickly in the morning. Alternatively, see it near park close.  My co-author Josh has more on other times to see the ride here.

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(For the first page of this review of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, see this.)

THE POOL AT DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS FRENCH QUARTER RESORT

There’s a couple of features at French Quarter that make it unusual among the moderates, and one is that it has only one pool.

Other Disney World “traditional” moderate resorts (that is, excluding Fort Wilderness) have from four (Coronado Springs) to seven pools (Caribbean Beach), and sister resort Port Orleans Riverside has six.

Properly understood, though, this is a feature, not a bug.  The other resorts have so many pools because they sprawl so much that walks to the pools would be too long otherwise.  French Quarter’s single pool is a testament to the compactness of the resort and how easy it is to get around.

See the image, where the French Quarter pool is marked with a blue X, and the pools at Riverside in red, with the main pool there getting a larger red X.

Note the distance of many Riverside rooms from its main pool, and how all French Quarter buildings but one (Building 7) are an easy walk to its pool.

Moreover, the French Quarter pool has more effective capacity than even the Riverside pools all added together.

The bathing load of of the French Quarter pool is 243 persons.  The main pool at Riverside can only hold 175, and the rest only 270 more, for a total capacity at Riverside of 445. So Riverside pools can hold 83% more guests than French Quarter. However, since Riverside at full capacity can have 2.3 times as many hotel guests as French Quarter, in effect French Quarter has 25% more pool capacity than Riverside.

OK enough math (I could show more you know), my point is that the single pool at French Quarter is a feature, not a bug!

The pool is centrally located and reached from the main area of French Quarter by a pathway guarded by Mardi Gras figures.

One side of this walkway has a playground…

…and the other a hot tub.

Another shot of the hot tub.

Next comes the main pool itself.

The figure draped around it is Scales the Sea Serpent, not, perhaps, the most child-friendly theming…

…but he does contribute a water slide!

In 2016 both fencing (not shown in all my photos) and a brand-new kids water play area were added.

The water play area with its two more slides  is enormous and fun, and really adds to the kid appeal of this pool.

Among the other moderates, only Caribbean Beach has an equivalently fun play area.

The adult play area (the bar) is on the other side of the pool.

Besides the usual drinks, it has a light food menu.

There’s a large seating area next to it.

On the back side of the bar building is the guest laundry–handy for drinking while washing.

Introverts can use the online laundry management system and drink in the privacy of their room.

The only criticism I have of this pool complex is its lack of shade.  Those seeking more shady options will need to walk half a mile to the Riverside pool.

MATERIAL IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS FRENCH QUARTER RESORT

• Overview and summary of Port Orleans French Quarter
• Port Orleans French Quarter theming and accommodations
• A photo tour of a refurbed standard room at Port Orleans French Quarter
• Amenities at Port Orleans French Quarter
• Dining at Port Orleans French Quarter
• The pool at Port Orleans French Quarter

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• Where to stay–the Basics
• Where first-timers should stay
• Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 150+ stays in them

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STAR WARS AT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

The Disney World theme park Disney’s Hollywood Studios is undergoing a transformation while new Toy Story and Star Wars lands are being built.

Several less popular, lower capacity, and/or somewhat pointless attractions have been closed to create space for the new offerings, and in the meantime the old Star Wars attractions here have seen revamps, and new ones have been added.

For years the mainstays of the Star Wars offerings here have been Star Tours and the Jedi Training Academy.

Star Tours has been updated with scenes from The Force Awakens, and the Jedi Training Academy has had its capacity doubled.

Each of these is a terrific experience. Star Tours should be on the touring plans of all guests, and the Jedi Training Academy should be directly experienced by children who are Star Wars fans, and watched by everyone else.

Added to the must-do list in December 2015 are the Star Wars fireworks, Symphony in the Stars. This show had been showing mostly nightly since its opening, but is on only four days a week in May. Later “this summer” it will be replaced by what looks to be an even more impressive Star Wars fireworks extravaganza.

Three other more minor Star Wars offerings are also on hand.

• Path of the Jedi, which finally puts something in the old Sounds Dangerous building, recaps the Star Wars saga and is a good refresher for those who haven’t seen the films in a while
• Star Wars: A Galaxy Far Far Away is a minor stage show featuring almost all the core Star Wars characters
• Star Wars Launch Bay has Star Wars meet and greets, a film, replicas of objects from the films, and is the base for Stormtrooper encounters, including a march several times a day

I saw, or saw again, all six of these in my December, January and April visits to Disney World, and reviews and photos are in the links.

These last three are probably only for true fans, but the first three are great entertainments for everyone!

There’s more on the upcoming Star Wars land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios here.

Have you seen any of these new or revamped offerings?  What did you think?

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STAR WARS: A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY

Star Wars: A Galaxy Far Far Away is a stage show that occurs multiple times a day on an overly short stage in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater/The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Debuting in April 2016, the show combines movie clips, characters from the Star Wars saga—tons of characters—and some minor pyrotechnics.

There’s no real plot to the show—it’s kinda like an extended curtain call.

First, old good guys show up….

…then bad guys, who tend to get the best pyrotechnics and light effects….

…then new good guys…

…then almost everybody.

The viewing area is small, but even so it’s hard to see (especially BB-8) if you aren’t close to the stage, as it is a bit low.

For Star Wars fans, it’s a chance to see the characters, if the fans get close enough to the stage. It’s not of much interest to others.

Have you seen it? What did you think?

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