GLOWfest

[keith - SuPeR K!]

I personally enjoy the GLOWfest concept and execution. Of course I could be biased ;) It's something fun and entertaining to partake in after dark at DCA and there is no queue to get in or wander the area. Think of it as an updated Videopolis...

Of course anything that glows and has a dance beat is commonly related to a "rave" in the public eye and there have been many guest complaints about having such and inappropriate event take place in a Disney park. I came across this editorial today which mirrors my thoughts on those accusations. Take a look! (http://www.thecaliforniasource.com/5083-editorial-disneyland-alcohol-teens-families-glow-fest/)

Have any of you experienced GLOWfest? What are your thoughts? :)

[innerSpaceman]

:iSm: I can't WAIT to check out GLOWfest more thoroughly. Yes, it's Videopolis WITH BOOZE - - so I predict it won't be back after this summer.

Per Al, it's getting higher guest satisfaction marks than World of Color. Hahahaha. And he says Disney Entertainment is pissed, because it was all put on by an outside company. (Purportedly, the divas at D.E. were also jealous of The Power of Blast.) Sore losers.


Um, sorry if other people are better than you at what you do, Disney Entertainment. Take some inspiration.






ETA: Excellent article, btw.

[BarTopDancer]

I love glowy things!

[CoasterMatt]

Just add Mutaytor and I'd never leave...

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I was kind of excited about this until:
The music presented at Glow Fest is the expected mix of Justin Bieber and Jonas Brothers thrown in with the likes of Aerosmith and Journey.The fact that the word "rave" is being kicked around is laughable. Since I respect K and iSm's opinion on such things, I would assume the atmosphere is good enough to make the scene. Ok, fine, I'd probably enjoy the music, but it's not the feel I was hoping for.

[Chernabog]

Hehe actually BJ and I enjoyed Glowfest, thought it probably looks totally hideous during the day.

[keith - SuPeR K!]

It does look very out of place during the day. The music I've heard while in the area wasn't the usual Disney Channel fare (at least during the two times I was hanging out in the area), though they definitely were capitalizing on the success of FOX's Glee with the Journey - Don't Stop Believing track (which I didn't mind since I love Glee and that track). I was also happy to hear some Pogo (http://www.youtube.com/user/Fagottron) being played (he makes mashup songs using audio clips from Disney movies).

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Just to clarify, I don't expect anything that ends up having a rep for being a "rave at Disneyland" to BE a rave in any way or actually feature real rave music, but at the very least, have top 40 dance music.

After we stumbled over the poor druggy kid in the halls of the Villa, I didn't expect the playlist to include Journey...though I guess if you're desperate for a place to drop something it's not a bad choice. We did stuff at DL without any special music necessary...

[Not Afraid]

Journey? WTF!

[BarTopDancer]

You can listen to Journey while going on a trip...

[Ghoulish Delight]

Not that Journey

[RStar]

I was kind of excited about this until:
The fact that the word "rave" is being kicked around is laughable.

Except the Register said it was a "raise"....

Someone needs to check what they are writing about over there....

[mousepod]

Just to clarify, I don't expect anything that ends up having a rep for being a "rave at Disneyland" to BE a rave in any way or actually feature real rave music, but at the very least, have top 40 dance music.

After we stumbled over the poor druggy kid in the halls of the Villa, I didn't expect the playlist to include Journey...though I guess if you're desperate for a place to drop something it's not a bad choice. We did stuff at DL without any special music necessary...

Hey old lady, thanks to "Glee", "Don't Stop Believin'" was #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009.

Sheesh. Kids today...

[Alex]

Journey is one of the six bands (above Natalie Merchant, behind KISS, Heart, Paul McCartney and Celine Dion) I've seen in concert. It was reasonably enjoyable and it is good to see a Filipino achieve success in the United States.

[Kevy Baby]

Hey old lady, thanks to "Glee", "Don't Stop Believin'" was #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009."Don't Stop Believin'" also enjoyed a thrust of popularity after the series finale of The Sopranos.

Neil Schon and his hair:

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/070612/neil_l.jpg

[BarTopDancer]

The first few lines are also played at every Red Wings home game.

Just a city boy... born and raised in SOUTH DETROIT....

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Hey old lady, thanks to "Glee", "Don't Stop Believin'" was #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009.

Sheesh. Kids today...I know. I also belt this song whenever I hear it. :) I listened to Arrow 93.1 FM for much of its existence, and I have always dug the song. That doesn't mean it's danceable.

[mousepod]

I know. I also belt this song whenever I hear it. :) I listened to Arrow 93.1 FM for much of its existence, and I have always dug the song. That doesn't mean it's danceable.

I was just funnin' with ya. When I was in my 30s, I'd complain that the "punks" like Green Day and their ilk weren't legitimate. The kids will always be stupid.

On the other hand... Dance Remix of Don't Stop Believin' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQB9cmevlKU)

[innerSpaceman]

I want them to play the Gay Club Dance Remix of World of Color inside GLOWFest. Now that would by synergy!

[Gn2Dlnd]

I was just funnin' with ya. When I was in my 30s, I'd complain that the "punks" like Green Day and their ilk weren't legitimate. The kids will always be stupid.

On the other hand... Dance Remix of Don't Stop Believin' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQB9cmevlKU)

And on the OTHER other hand, Don't Stop, Just Dance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy9A9mbKbMM)

Re: The guy with a blog, er, "editorial," Put me down on the side of the old fogeys. I find Glow-Fest to be jarringly out of place inside the park. In a tent in the Esplanade, or taking over half of Downtown Disney, or in the parade building behind Paradise Pier I would be all for. Completely disregarding the architecture and themeing of the backlot area, and the mix of children in a high energy club environment fueled by booze and whatever stash you brought in with you, kinda creeps me out. I walked around for about a 1/2 hour, admired the wall projections and the the kooky klub kids in their fun-fur outfits and thousands of glowy bracelets, and realized I was probably coming off like a letch. So, what was there for my 47 year old single white male self to do while waiting for the late late showing of WOC? The rest of the park is a ghost town, most attractions are closed. There is no transition from this loud and brightly lit dance club to the ghost town atmosphere of the rest of the park. If this is your crowd control mitigation plan, theme it out to the rest of the park. Have one area be a night club, transition to quieter areas with lighting effects and projections, don't just have it stop dead at the entrance to the backlot. There is zero connective tissue between Glow-Fest and World of Color. One does not, necessarily, lead to the other, and isn't that the function this is supposed to be serving? If WOC is their nighttime "story" (because a fully operational theme park certainly doesn't seem to be), then everything should be serving that story. Right now, there's a schizophrenic disconnect between the expensive dining packages, a show where you're likely to get drenched if you don't pony up another $6.50 for a generic "Disney Parks" poncho, a "rave" (there, I said it), and a largely inaccessible theme park due to the many queue areas for WOC.

I will say this, Fantasmic! is loads of fun, where WOC is loads of technical wizardry. Glow-Fest is the element of fun missing from the show, so I definitely see why it's getting high marks in the guest surveys. I just think it's its own thing, and not, in any way, effectively connected to the WOC experience.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, since World of Color saw fit to have zero connective tissue for its random Disney-clip segments, I don't see why DCA should bother having such connections between a "this is all we have open in evenings" zone and where the show takes place.

I'm not necessarily knocking WoC, btw, for having no connections. Most fireworks shows in the history of Disneyland have been a random assembly of Disney songs set to pyro ("Remember" being the lone and notable exception).

Seeing that they wanted to offer something fun (check) and perhaps (though likely I'm giving them too much credit) synergistically rainbow color-themed (check), and seeing that the Backlot is currently the only dead-end street in the park, I think it's the perfect thing in the perfect location.

Assuming they want to have something fun IN the park while everything else is closed, where else might they have put GLOWFest inside DCA??


I have to also assume it looks just tacky awful during the day when it's supposed to just be the Hollywood street - - but at night I think the theme of pseudo-rave works quite nicely on a Hollywood street. I think a generic street (e.g., Downtown Disney) would be a tad more boring, and a tent unacceptably boring.


It may not be your cup of tea, and perhaps the alcohol service being 3 levels more prevalent than in the rest of DCA rubs you understandably the wrong way (i.e., rubbing alcohol) - - but just go and enjoy your inner perv. :D Cute raver boys all high on dope await your perving delights. (I perv on cute boys everywhere in Disney, why should it be a problem if, for a while, a bunch of them are conveniently grouped, as long as there's no grope?)

[alphabassettgrrl]

I'd like to check it out. It has potential to be interesting, or appalling.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Assuming they want to have something fun IN the park while everything else is closed, where else might they have put GLOWFest inside DCA??


That's my only choice, in the entire Disney/entertainment/1940's era backlot category? Glow-Fest?

BTW, is GLOWFest one of those oh-so-clever DisneyParks acronyms? Gay Lights Or Water Fights, Get Lecherous Over Wee Furries, Good Lord Our Wallet's Fvcked...

[innerSpaceman]

Acronyms notwithstanding, it might be your only choice if you wanted to appeal to the teen and young adult market for a change. Such a change that Disney Entertainment has not been able to manage it for decades.

Meanwhile, between GLOWFest, Bollywood Dancers, and I daresay even World of Color, I have never in my life seen DCA with such a happening vibe of pure fun and excitement among the guests.

[keith - SuPeR K!]

]Meanwhile, between GLOWFest, Bollywood Dancers, and I daresay even World of Color, I have never in my life seen DCA with such a happening vibe of pure fun and excitement among the guests.

I have to agree. The park actually feels alive for once!

[Gn2Dlnd]

Acronyms notwithstanding, it might be your only choice if you wanted to appeal to the teen and young adult market for a change. Such a change that Disney Entertainment has not been able to manage it for decades.


And, somehow, Disneyland doesn't get any less crowded. How ever do they do it?

I'd love to see WOC again this summer, I just doubt that I'll be spending my waiting time inside DCA. So, it will be interesting to see if Glow-fest's numbers stay up once WOC has been seen by the locals.

[Kevy Baby]

I'm beginning to think Gn2Dlnd is going to out-curmudgeon the King Curmudgeon

[innerSpaceman]

Maybe no less crowded, but not the same demographic of crowds as when they had Videopolis. Heheh, it was a demo that seemingly scared the bejesus out of some guests (likely the same guests scared nowadays by the Goths or the red shirts). But perhaps that youthful, less responsible demographic was more free-spending than older demos, and thus more desireable. I personally don't think so. But add in alcohol sales, and I think you have minted a gold mine!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

What's a red shirt? My only frame of reference for that term is Star Trek.

[Morrigoon]

Really? Or just kidding?

[innerSpaceman]

Disney code for Da Gays!!! Tsk, tsk, SM.




Nowadays, there's the infamous Thai militia, too. It's not just Star Trek anymore, bud. Nicely, though, of the three groups, it's the gay red shirts that have the best chances of survival.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Oh yes, of course. When you linked it with Goths, I thought it was some new fad the kids are getting into. Gay Days didn't even cross my mind.

[Gn2Dlnd]

What's a red shirt? My only frame of reference for that term is Star Trek.

Bwa-ha.

On that note, I saw some guy in DL a few weeks ago wearing a red t-shirt with the word "Expendable" printed in Star Trek font.

Grumble. Okay. Disney has known how to mint money from day one. Usually they resist going for the easiest money and the lowest common denominator. DCA was the massive exception to the rule and, by all accounts, it was a big mistake for them. Remember, "If it's good enough for Magic Mountain?" So, Eisner was ousted, and we now have this multi-billion dollar makeover going on at Disney's second least compelling theme park. (I'll let the French get all curmudgeonly about Disney Studios.) Lots of fantastic artwork to look at in the Blue Sky Cellar, and daily updates on the company's blog from people like Steve Davison and John Lasseter. Quality, quality, quality. You people aren't going to believe the amount of quality we're going to be cramming into this park. And then, practically on the eve of what would define what we should expect from now on from DCA, Iger got nervous, dumbed down the centerpiece show and installed a temporary, and temporary looking dance party. They're trying to create a Hollywood Bowl picnic and concert experience, and then they sell you a plastic poncho and want you to hang out at a rave. Good for them, I guess. Remember the uproar when The Candlelight Procession was moved to the Fantasyland Theatre, and the only way you could be guaranteed a seat was if you bought a dining package? I'm sure there were people who loved the convenience, but it was terrible showmanship, and the extortion was transparent.

Yes, alcohol sells. Yes, Romans like watching lions eat Christians. Doesn't make either a great idea. There's more to this than, "I don't like children running around in a party where mixed drinks are being sold so I'm going to be a cranky old stick-in-the-mud." I really hate the cheap show quality of Glow-fest. I hate that they continue to ignore the infrastructure and themeing that already exists in the park. I hate that executive arrogance inserted itself into the creative process for WOC.

What is the point of WOC? Is it simply to give people a show, and create ancillary ways to pull money out of our pockets? Or is it a way to re-brand DCA, giving us a reason to come back and play at that park we used to hate? Every great show at Disneyland is filled with iconic Disneyland moments, Tinkerbell flies over the Castle, the MSEP towers over the crowds sitting on the curbs of Main Street, the Columbia is Captain Hook's pirate ship! Nighttime at Disneyland itself is so iconic there was an entire episode of The Wonderful World of Disney about it. The current "parade," Celebrate! A Street Party, is utterly forgettable and has no iconic Disneyland moments, neither did Light Magic. I would argue that WOC comes close, using the Fun Wheel as a lighting effect. Unfortunately, the cattle herding and the sheer amount of time invested just to see the damn thing makes makin' memories secondary to navigating the experience. Using the Hollywood Blvd. backdrop wall as a projection surface is a great idea, but (here's that word again) iconic scenes from Hollywood films might be a better fit for the Backlot. Move the bars inside Hollywood and Dine, hire a real live band in "I just got off from work at my studio job" costumes to play on the improv stage. I swear, DCA wouldn't lose a single guest waiting to see WOC, and they might walk away saying DCA is finally getting its act together.

I know Glow-fest isn't going anywhere, they're already hiring more food trucks to amp up the L.A. edgy hipness factor. Maybe, if it makes enough money, they'll just stop with all this expensive and unnecessary remodeling, shut down that little fountain show, and wrap the entire park in Glow-fest contact paper.

I'm not judging anyone for enjoying it. Go, have fun. Raise heck. I'd just rather see the full might and power of the Disney Magic Machine put to work here.

[innerSpaceman]

But the full might and power of the Disney machine has proved clueless for more than 2 decades how to appeal to, well, not only the teen market - but to anyone.

DCA? A nearly complete failure for nearly 10 years. And what major attraction has been added to Disneyland in the last 2 decades? Now name ONE that wasn't a revival of a much older Disneyland attraction.

How old is Fantasmic? What's that? New dragon, you say? You mean the dragon that was shown in the advertising commercials for the original Fantasmic over two decades ago? Finally getting around to that is NOT demonstrating any current talent for appealing to guests.

Ironically enough, it's DCA that has more recent successes. Midway Mania jumps to mind. Disneyland has been resting on its considerable laurels, or returning to them in a headlong rush, for longer than many of my friends have been alive.


But as for appealing to hipster young folks, Disney has done zip for the last quarter-century, and two outside companies contracted to install entertainment at DCA have had wild success. Um, I don't think I want Disney Entertainment involved in anything. The Imagineers could disappear tomorrow, too - and I would hardly notice.

Steve Davidson can stay. But get that Iger idiot off his back.

[Gn2Dlnd]

But the full might and power of the Disney machine has proved clueless for more than 2 decades how to appeal to, well, not only the teen market - but to anyone.

But as for appealing to hipster young folks, Disney has done zip for the last quarter-century, and two outside companies contracted to install entertainment at DCA have had wild success. Um, I don't think I want Disney Entertainment involved in anything. The Imagineers could disappear tomorrow, too - and I would hardly notice.



I know Glow-fest isn't going anywhere, they're already hiring more food trucks to amp up the L.A. edgy hipness factor. Maybe, if it makes enough money, they'll just stop with all this expensive and unnecessary remodeling, shut down that little fountain show, and wrap the entire park in Glow-fest contact paper.


^Then I guess this is the answer.

I'll be over at the old park, complaining about the loss of Carousel of Progress.

[Kevy Baby]

And what major attraction has been added to Disneyland in the last 2 decades? Now name ONE that wasn't a revival of a much older Disneyland attraction.What about The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/attractions/detail?name=ManyAdventuresOfWinnieThePoohAttractio nPage)? You have to admit that this one attraction alone saved Disneyland from closing the doors forever!

[BarTopDancer]

What about The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/attractions/detail?name=ManyAdventuresOfWinnieThePoohAttractio nPage)? You have to admit that this one attraction alone saved Disneyland from closing the doors forever!

I'm so sad. That ride SUCKED!

[innerSpaceman]

Hahahahaha, your best line at Disney since "Do they siralcohol here?"

[BarTopDancer]

Maybe if I had partook in some alcohol I wouldn't have been so sad!

[Gn2Dlnd]

Partookened.

The grammarian in me. Makes my clothes tight.

[keith - SuPeR K!]

What about The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/attractions/detail?name=ManyAdventuresOfWinnieThePoohAttractio nPage)? You have to admit that this one attraction alone saved Disneyland from closing the doors forever!

Visual mojo as I must spread mojo around before giving more to you.

[BarTopDancer]

Glowfest was.... bizarre. And glowy.

[€uroMeinke]

Glowfest was a blast - especially with the Bollywood dancers taking positions in the gogo cages. We stuck around and watched an informal circle develop with kids doing break dance moves - of course Disney broke it up when it got to big. I think I'd like to go back. I think this is something that fits into the original concept of DCA. If only they figured it out sooner.

[Not Afraid]

I had a blast! We me up with Mark and Mindy and us girls were having a ball catching on to the Bollywood moves.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Walked into DCA Tuesday and saw the Glowfest was starting. The Mohawk glow folk was interesting when suddenly the Bollywood dancers came out and it was just amazing. WOW!

Enjoyed the hell out of it and as a bonus ran into Lisa & Chris - Sadly, Lisa's favorite Bolly never returned that evening.

[Not Afraid]

I have Bolly-lust. :)

But, even better, had a FANTASTIC time dancing and singing and moving to the groovin' with Mark and Mindy. If I did that every night, I'd be in great shape!

[BarTopDancer]

Sadly, Lisa's favorite Bolly never returned that evening.
That's what she'd like you to think. You know she went backstage and apprehended him.

[Ghoulish Delight]

It wasn't the Bolly she was after. It was the wood.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Thankfully I found this video for Lisa... heheheh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT3afR5kmyw

[Not Afraid]

Thankfully I found this video for Lisa... heheheh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT3afR5kmyw

Oh lookie! There is Sir Hotness on the left.

It is usually Chris that is lusting after the pretty Indian woman and I'm the one very lukewarm about the men. I grabbed Chris' 10x zoom camera and "stole" some close-ups. Maybe he'll post them. ;)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm telling Roger

[innerSpaceman]

Um, yeah, he's a cutie alright. Bring on the close-ups!

[Not Afraid]

I'm telling Roger


I still love Roger.

[€uroMeinke]

Here are some pics from the Bolywood Glowfest

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs108.snc4/35775_411784979555_593354555_4223674_3273717_n.jpg

Here's Lisa's favorite Bollywood Dancer:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs048.ash2/35775_411785019555_593354555_4223682_82976_n.jpg

And here he is again posing with my favortite Bollywood dancer - perhaps we can invite them over?

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs182.snc4/37462_411785134555_593354555_4223684_2117947_n.jpg


Dancing in the streets:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs016.ash2/34186_411785319555_593354555_4223703_4438313_n.jpg

Borneo soaking in the glow

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs057.ash2/36220_411785394555_593354555_4223705_5629210_n.jpg

Mindy & Lisa showing off their moves

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs097.snc4/36220_411785404555_593354555_4223707_3535725_n.jpg

Bollywood meets Hollywood

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs117.snc4/36220_411785414555_593354555_4223709_5296378_n.jpg

More photos here (http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/album.php?aid=184718&id=593354555)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Wow, looks to me like DCA might be figuring itself out. :snap: How was the music?

[Not Afraid]

The dance music sucked - big time. If only they had thrown some Bollywood tunes in there......