Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

[HopperFan]

CM can bring up to the number of dependents on their main entrance pass or up to 6 people. Have the reports said anything about the theater being full? I haven't paid attention

Oh, I thought I read they could bring 1 guest only.

These pictures it looks full.

This came from mulitple sources on twitter, not just one.

Photos I saw theater looked full.
Show was delayed about 20 minutes due to technical difficulties/reset issue.
Two barges hit each other.
Show stopped again.
Resumed.

Reports are it is very "conceptual/abstract", some impressive technical things, probably Disney's best use of technical components, great music and beautiful costumes. Better than Jungle Book.

BUT ..... they say there is no story, it is boring, no wow moments, many hoping this is a not the final product - especially since they had so many technical issues happen.

A person who travels nonstop to ALL Disney parks and I trust totally said "I do hope Disney doesn't rush RoL to a public release, though. Iron out issues, debut in 2017 in a Animal Kingdom re-launch with Pandora."

The consistent message that came up over and over .... it's not ready .... it needs more work, and it needs to work consistently. BUT once they fix things - it will be something beautiful to see, and a good fit for AK. WELL that is the nice reviews.

* A couple are reporting Technical CMs said stoppage was technical problems. A few are saying some other CMs were saying they stopped the whole show because they saw someone taping ......... (SMH) if you see someone taping you go stop them, you don't stop the whole show and disrupt the timing of a sensitive show.
------

Only photos I saw ... other than the BIG sign that said NO PHOTOS during show. I won't post their name but this was before the show.

So i was able to get some quick shots in of the lotus blossom before I put my phone away. #RiversofLight

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

CM can bring up to the number of dependents on their main entrance pass or up to 6 people. Have the reports said anything about the theater being full? I haven't paid attention

I left the park late on the 28th. The theater did look pretty full at that time with more cm's and guests still making their way in.

 

[HopperFan]

I left the park late on the 28th. The theater did look pretty full at that time with more cm's and guests still making their way in.

Just out of complete curiosity after this saga I wouldn't pass it up.

 

[ArielSRL]

I'm wondering if they are going to add more elements back in to the upcoming CM preview since @rteetz mentioned the first previews did not include all the elements. Am interested to read about any differences that may occur.

 

[rteetz]

I'm wondering if they are going to add more elements back in to the upcoming CM preview since @rteetz mentioned the first previews did not include all the elements. Am interested to read about any differences that may occur.

I haven't heard anything specifically but I know the fire affects are still being worked on.

 

[Kebby]

I haven't heard anything specifically but I know the fire affects are still being worked on.

is there another cast preview schedualed? I must have missed that. When is it?

 

[TheFloatingBear]

just got back home from Candlelight (NPH was awesome by the way) so not sure if this has been posted
2 more CM previews of RoL are scheduled for Dec. 5th and 6th at 8:30pm

@Kebby , yulilin3 posted this yesterday about additional cast previews...

 

[HopperFan]

I'm wondering if they are going to add more elements back in to the upcoming CM preview since @rteetz mentioned the first previews did not include all the elements. Am interested to read about any differences that may occur.

PREVIEWS are really important, and it would make no sense to show thousands and thousands of people a partial show. That said I would HOPE they would take these reviews and responses to what they showed to possibly hold off on a release, fix the missing pieces, plug the holes and make it not just a pretty show but a WOW.

If you read the reviews of the folks who were actually there, then yes there were things that were not in the show ... that had been "promised" as being in the show last spring, some of them important. They said there was too much missing that had already been put out there as part of the show.

- Hundred lanterns floating up over the river
- Half the cast (apparently less than half what there was)
- Loss of the expected "storytelling" to point of no story
- Fire elements
- A finale. We all expect some kind of finale, ending. It apparently had none.

Some who were actually there:
http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/reiew-rivers-of-light-first-impressions-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/
http://blogmickey.com/2016/11/review-rivers-light-cast-member-preview/
http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/11/revie...-animal-kingdom-debuts-show-beautiful-boring/

And our CM Poster Mr. Scupper who has been to all the previews ...

1) More review to come.
. . . last night review is basically "OK, now what"
. . . for the most part, "Why did I waste the time?"
. . . no real "Holy, Moly:" moments
. . . more like, "Hmmm, what bars are open this late?"
2) We are going, AGAIN, to the Monday performance for the (approx) 20-minute show.
. . . if I am lucky Security will allow my flask filled with Scotch
. . . I might need a boost to get me through the show
3) We snuck into the Sunday review.
4) FAULURE, FALURE, FAILURE, FAILURE, FAILURE, FAILURE.
5) The program/parade was stopped due to collision alarms !
6) REALLY, REALLY, REALLY bad !
7) Let's see if they get it fixed tonight.
8) And, we will take a "stadium seat" with us, otherwise you sit on BARE CONCRETE bleachers.

9) ARE YOU KIDDING ME ?
10) Disney couldn't afford a plastic bleacher runner for people to sit upon?
11) Some folks complained of getting "concrete rash" on their behinds.
12) No designer thought of cold-concrete rashes ?????

NOTE1:
With all the SUPER-DUPER brains people like Rohde are "supposed" to have, they would have anticipated such breakdowns.
Nope.
So, the SAFETY system worked and stopped the performance.
I am sorry, but I have A LOT of system design experience.
I would think this would not happen - especially at a Cast Preview performance.
Looks like ANOTHER boondoggle for AK and Imagineering !
I am sorry, but I have little respect for Rohde and his "alleged" Imagineering crew.
Of course, Disney laid off the vast majority of the Imagineering Dept to outsource ride design work.
Hey Ogre (I mean Iger), how is that working for you ???????
. . . terrible nighttime AK Safari Ride
. . . mediocre MK Seven-Dwarfs ride

NOTE2: I once said, I was only assuming the problems with the RoL ride. After talking last night (Sunday) with some of the engineers, I can PLAINLY see the issues, as my design guys/gals had to overcome the same basic situations/circumstances in Over-the-Road Big Trucks. Pardon me, but this was ill-conceived by design staff and Rohde. Sometimes, one must expend the bucks to make things work, instead of skimping like they did on this attraction.

NOTE:3 AK Scoreboard
New AK attractions:
. . . nighttime safari - terrible implementation
. . . rivers of light - good show, but with lots of failure modes
. . . nighttime tree of life - nicely done and very clever
One out of three is not a good percentage for anyone, let alone Disney !!!!!!!!

OUR REVIEW: Nov-28, Second Preview of RoL . . .

1) There were no boat/float crashes tonight, so there was no stoppage of the show.
2) I took two business couples with us and the consensus of the six of us was:
. . . no discernible story, but a good use of various projections of animals
. . . pretty lights and a great use of color - which we would demand from Disney
. . . nice water fountain effects
. . . mediocre music, but, NO ONE went out humming or singing a tune, like you would expect from a Disney presentation
. . . nice show for free, but wouldn't pay to see it (such as an add-on to a dining package)
. . . an ending that was, "Hmmm. It is over. OK, time to stand up and leave."
. . . No Ta-Da feeling of WE WANT MORE or ENCORE as we walked out.
. . . longest applause we could "clock" was approx 17-seconds and several less than 10-seconds, NOT a good sign
. . . we sat ABOVE the 8th-row, so we had wooden benches and not the concrete benches in the first 8-rows
3) WDW people went around getting folks to sign-up to give an email review - yes we entered our names into the hand-held computers.
4) We heard much of the same comments from the other Cast Members as they left the amphitheater.

NOTE1: We still wanted that "WOW" factor from Disney. One of our guests said, "This is Animal Kingdom, so it should be an AH-factor." OK, it was definitely and "AH" factor, but no where close to a "WOW" factor or anywhere near the build-up it has been given.

NOTE2: This was the second night of the AK Cast Member preview. Tickets were only supposed to be available to AK Cast Members and guests listed on their Main Gate Pass (3-minimum and more if they had more dependents). I had several CM's who "owed me a favor", so I was able to easily scrounge tickets.

NOTE3: Some people think I am blaming Rohde. Yes, I am - or at least holding him responsible for the delays and ill-designed features. He really is in charge. All releases and announcements come from or through him (check several Orlando Sentinel articles, such as on Nov-23), except we did hear public address system welcoming announcements from Djuan (VP of AK). BTW, met him and Djuan Rivers is truly a nice guy!

 

[HopperFan]

Well we have almost slipped to page 2 ...
..... for all the crickets ....
..... Dec 2, 2016 ....
..... almost 9 years since RoL was uttered ....

Since we have nothing to talk about and
this is about nature, animals, water, boats on water, beautiful colors, music .............

DS went to see Moana.
I have bad cough so I stayed home, for now.
He is HIGHLY critical at movies.
He sees lighting, sets, cgi, casting, music and
most of all CONTENT.
He LOVED it.
Said musically best since B&B and Aladdin.
Thinks it blew Frozen out of water.
So when do they start the Polynesian Pavilion in WS?

HEY ........... "Moana Alive" doesn't sound like a bad thing anymore.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

DS went to see Moana . . . Thinks it blew Frozen out of water.

1) Nice to hear.
2) Maybe worth a visit.

 

[tinkerhon]

Well we have almost slipped to page 2 ...
..... for all the crickets ....
..... Dec 2, 2016 ....
..... almost 9 years since RoL was uttered ....

Since we have nothing to talk about and
this is about nature, animals, water, boats on water, beautiful colors, music .............

DS went to see Moana.
I have bad cough so I stayed home, for now.
He is HIGHLY critical at movies.
He sees lighting, sets, cgi, casting, music and
most of all CONTENT.
He LOVED it.
Said musically best since B&B and Aladdin.
Thinks it blew Frozen out of water.
So when do they start the Polynesian Pavilion in WS?

HEY ........... "Moana Alive" doesn't sound like a bad thing anymore.

Movie is sooooo good !!!

 

[tinkerhon]

 

[HopperFan]

Need a LOVE button. While I only collect villain dolls, that one actually has appeal to me. Your DD is adorable.

 

[tinkerhon]

Need a LOVE button. While I only collect villain dolls, that one actually has appeal to me. Your DD is adorable.

Thanks so much !!! Yea, they did a really nice job with it !!! Luckily, I bought her the outfit before we left NYC --- the one they had here ( and only saw it at the Poly) was different, and, of course, much more money !!

 

[HopperFan]

In my car on way to Six Flags to see their Holiday in the Park (no rumors they have millions of lights) AND listening to Moana soundtrack. LOVE IT!!! Her singing voice is amazing!

 

[tinkerhon]

In my car on way to Six Flags to see their Holiday in the Park (no rumors they have millions of lights) AND listening to Moana soundtrack. LOVE IT!!! Her singing voice is amazing!

Yes, and her voiceover was amazing !! Knew the score would be good --- Lin is a genius !!

 

[Baby Groot]

I can't wait for this, I hope it opens soon!

 

[KateP85]

I think I need a Disney break. I've gotten very grumpy about it recently.

The new add-ons (the cabanas, the monorail thing, the express bus service) really irritate me, but I can't put my finger on why. It's not that we can't afford them, or that I begrudge other people a nice experience just because it doesn't suit me. Maybe it's that it feels so money grabbing? Maybe it's just that they haven't offered anything I'm interested in yet.

Or maybe it's that I hosted 25 4-year olds for a birthday party today and I'm exhausted and cranky.

Anyway, DH is going to a preview of RoL on Tuesday so I'll report back.

 

[HopperFan]

I think I need a Disney break. I've gotten very grumpy about it recently.

The new add-ons (the cabanas, the monorail thing, the express bus service) really irritate me, but I can't put my finger on why. It's not that we can't afford them, or that I begrudge other people a nice experience just because it doesn't suit me. Maybe it's that it feels so money grabbing? Maybe it's just that they haven't offered anything I'm interested in yet.

Or maybe it's that I hosted 25 4-year olds for a birthday party today and I'm exhausted and cranky.

Anyway, DH is going to a preview of RoL on Tuesday so I'll report back.

Okay .... so I will vote on the 25 4 year olds .... 'cause if I did that, no I couldn't do that. You are the woman! I can't even imagine!!! I spent many years bribing my kids to not have parties. It worked out really well for me.

You know it seems like this stuff comes in cycles and sometimes the timing isn't so great and it piles on to the season. Holidays are expensive enough and then when you see all these happen for money I think it gets irritating at times ... adds to everything. I have been super sick a week. I have empty trees, boxes of decor sitting around, bought maybe 4 gifts total, don't feel like buying any more, while my Mom is so excited to be in town for holiday (they live FL 1/2 the year) - I'm all bah humbug and just want to go to beach.

I would rather they introduce this kind of stuff during slower times when we are looking for something new or more to do and can embrace. I get why they do it, but it seems every 6 mos they roll out lots at once, it is aggravating .....

I mean where is the priority on this SHOW, why isn't it done like it was supposed to be? Why do we have to accept a reduced show? (still hoping they don't open it and finish the job) Why are the 3rd party restaurants for DDP not finalized so folks can plan and book, it's not like 2017 was a surprise. Where is the night parade for MK? I think when we have a few big things lingering it begins to look like smoke ............... hey, look over here!

- I don't care about the transportation thing but I think it's a slippery slope and I hate taking more guests behind the scenes.
- I don't care about the cabanas but I don't want tents lingering. Make a decision and imagineer something to fit in.
- I ... am booked for the monorail dine around and hope they come up with more of these. I'm at the stage for them.

It's just that time of year it is easy, for me anyway, to get easily irked. LIKE, DS just ran out to grab a burger (better bring me some fries) and he leaves the tv on the Clemson game. I hate orange. I don't want to watch them. AND I can't reach the remote so I have to uncozy my blanket and go get it ..... first world problems.

Tell DH we CRAZY LOUNGERS are waiting .......

 

[disneymath]

Going to see Moana tomorrow with my nephews ... excited to see it based on the positive reviews!

As for RoL ... hopefully by our projected next trip (2020) it will be well established with the initial frenzy worn off ... a girl can hope, right?