Nightastic!

[CoasterMatt]

It's kind of sad when one element of a show that's been running for 17 years at Disneyland gets upgraded ALMOST to what was promised in it's original ads, and the fans go CRAZY!

These people's heads would explode if Disney actually built something new...

[Prudence]

These people's heads would explode if Disney actually built something new...

See? Disney is thinking of the children. Don't want heads exploding at the Happiest Place on Earth!

[DisneyDaniel]

Ditto to much of what iSm said above. The new Fantasmic! dragon was the star of the evening. The crowds who gathered around Rivers of America loudly cheered as Maleficent first appeared (because they knew her transformation was coming, of course), and then applause exploded when the reluctant dragon finally came out for the world to see. From the timing of the applause, you could tell there were plenty of eager, dedicated dragon-watcher, Disney fans in attendance--which made it exciting to give the wonderful Fantasmic! show a renewed energy.

Side note, I shot the video on the "Pirates" bridge for a more clear view of the dragon to avoid videotaping the back of people's heads. Even though that location was several feet away from the river's edge, the volume of the cheering crowds was evident.

Of course, you all need to fully experience the whole show in person to truly be in awe of the dragon as it fits in with the rest of the show--but, as Disney fans, you know that already. :)

Also, from different photos and videos posted on various boards, it can be interesting to see the dragon from different sides of the river. Next time, I may try being in the audience's far left, closer to Haunted Mansion, to see the dragon menacing over Mickey the Brave Little Tailor, as seen in THIS POST (http://micechat.com/forums/disneyland-resort/122763-fantasmic-dragon-photos-videos-reviews-3.html#post1055535315) on MC.

And, yeah, a LoT viewing of the updated Fantasmic! would be great! Twirling napkins in unison would be a bonus! :D

[Moonliner]

applause exploded when the reluctant dragon finally came out for the world to see.

Silly Disney, they could have avoided months of bad press and disappointed fans if they had just announced that Pete's Dragon would fill in for Murphy during the down time.

[Alex]

Not particularly impressed by the video. Just looks like a moderately animated car sale balloon. I'm sure it plays better in person and with fire.

The other thing it made me realize is that I am completely unable to picture in my mind what the dragon looked like before, but I know I never found it disappointing.

[Chernabog]

Yeah I'm thinking the scale of the thing is probably impressive when you see it in person. Hopefully it won't look so much "like a moderately animated car sale balloon" when you're actually there. It's still exciting though, especially after all the build-up.

I'm down for camping out sometime. That's why the Nintendo DS and those bizarre rectangular doohickeys called "books" were invented.

[Moonliner]

That's why the Nintendo DS and those bizarre rectangular doohickeys called "books" were invented.

A common mistake, those things are called "Kindles (http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Generation/dp/B00154JDAI)" now.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

looks like a moderately animated car sale balloon.Something like a Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Dragon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onZHpGYFPls)?

[Alex]

I can't see the video from here at work (trying to decide if it will be a real flailing tube or that bit from Family Guy) but I"m thinking along the lines of this:

http://www.bigskyballoons.com/images/Balloons/King_Kong.jpg

[LSPoorEeyorick]

...to see the dragon menacing over Mickey the Brave Little Tailor...

OMG he's dressed as the Brave Little Tailor, isn't he? All these years I just thought he was dressed as Prince Phillip. What a bad Disney fan I am.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

It's the Family Guy bit.

[innerSpaceman]

No, Alex is right. It looks like a moderately animated car sale balloon. But that's better than head-on-a-broomstick. The headlight eyes make it look especially cartoonish and silly. And it definitely has the cuddly look of an inflatable. I guess we're just lucky it's not a giant plush.

Getting the fire-breathing part down is going to be important. The dragon looked really cool for those moments right after the non-happening blast when it was snorting smoke. It also looked cool when it was being zapped by, yes, the Brave Wittle Taywor. If it moved a good deal quicker during the 23 seconds between those two moments, I think it would be a rousing success.

As it was, the cheering last night was as much, if not more, for the appearance after interminable and ironic* delay as it was for the dragon's actual performance. Certainly the non-fire breathing was a notable let-down to the obviously fan-based crowd. So the cheers and screams were likely for Just.Showing.Up.





* hehe, finally premiering about a week after the Summer Nightastic promotion ended

[Cadaverous Pallor]

OMG he's dressed as the Brave Little Tailor, isn't he? All these years I just thought he was dressed as Prince Phillip. What a bad Disney fan I am.:eek: You made me gasp, for real!

That's ok - just this week I realized why Madonna's greatest hits CD is called "the Immaculate Collection". Duh.

[Ghoulish Delight]

:eek: You made me gasp, for real!

That's ok - just this week I realized why Madonna's greatest hits CD is called "the Immaculate Collection". Duh.
And I just recently got the pun in the "Above the Influence" anti-weed campaign (irony duly noted).

[Moonliner]

So with the long delayed reveal of Murphy, how were they marketing him?

Dragon shaped flashlights? Balloons? What?

[innerSpaceman]

No, the trick is not to market him at all. As soon as the marketing ended, he was ready to go on. (TeeHee, I noticed the dragon signs had been taken down from the tram station as I boarded to see the dragon's debut.)








ETA: I'm not sure if I should refer to the dragon as a girl or a boy. The role of the dragon is a "She," but it's played by Murphy, a "He." Ironic, considering that the dragon is only a She because she's a transformation of Maleficent, who is played by a He in Fantasmic!

[Moonliner]

No, the trick is not to market him at all. As soon as the marketing ended, he was ready to go on. (TeeHee, I noticed the dragon signs had been taken down from the tram station as I boarded to see the dragon's debut.)


Excuse me for my lack of clarity. Please substitute the word "merchandise" for the word "market" in my previous post.

[lashbear]

So with the long delayed reveal of Murphy, how were they marketing him?

Dragon shaped flashlights? Balloons? What?
Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Dragons?


Hehehehe Thanks, SM, I love saying that.

[lashbear]

but it's played by Murphy, a "He."
Actually, I worked with a girl called "Murphy" once. ... and then there's Murphy Brown...

[RStar]

Murphette?

It's a her. Even if it is played by a boy dragon. I mean, Lassie was a girl played by a boy dog (actually several boy dogs).

This is a clip (I think recorded by Disney about a week or so ago). It's a little clearer and has some close ups, though not all effects are working from what I can tell.

Murphette in action (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPTQLv7L5dM&NR=1&feature=fvwp)

[katiesue]

Maddie's impressions-

"oh I thought they were just going to fix the old one"

after I put up a second clip to watch

"Don't people have anything better to do?"

[BarTopDancer]

I'm pretty sure there is already a plush version.

[Morrigoon]

KAWAI!

(couldn't help myself... I pictured a Maleficent plush, big and round like those spherical character pillows)

[Gemini Cricket]

Murphy breathes fire! Video here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpVRnbqdVHo). Right at about 56 seconds in the dragon breathes fire. I gotta say it looks awesome.
:)

[innerSpaceman]

Yeah, the only reason I need to see it again soon is I want the full fire-breathing effect. Interestingly, that video is taken from the EXACT same place I was standing the night before when fire failed, but dragon prevailed.


Seriously, when's our Fantasmic meet???

[Snowflake]

Murphy breathes fire! Video here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpVRnbqdVHo). Right at about 56 seconds in the dragon breathes fire. I gotta say it looks awesome.
:)

Hey now that did look very cool! :snap:

[mousepod]

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8QecEHX8uA) was inevitable.

[RStar]

Yeah, the only reason I need to see it again soon is I want the full fire-breathing effect. Interestingly, that video is taken from the EXACT same place I was standing the night before when fire failed, but dragon prevailed.


Seriously, when's our Fantasmic meet???

Well, Louis will be here starting next friday and he wants to see it. D23 Expo will be running then, so I'm not sure how that will affect the park. All of those Disney fans in town, and a working dragon. Oye....

[Prudence]

We're tentatively planning to go saturday.

[dlrp_bopazot]

make sure you do the Fantasmic meet while i'm here ahahah

[innerSpaceman]

Which weekends are you going to be in Anaheim again??

[wolfy999]

If your up to it....maybe the Friday night you arrive?

[innerSpaceman]

As long as we don't expect him to speak or understand English at that point, apparently.;)

[dlrp_bopazot]

i'll be at disneyland on Sept 11 , 13, 18 , 27 .

[dlrp_bopazot]

As long as we don't expect him to speak or understand English at that point, apparently.;)

Oui oui Monsieur ! The Francais will éssaiera to parler English avec vous !

[RStar]

Oui oui Monsieur ! The Francais will éssaiera to parler English avec vous !

Is that Frenchlish? ;)

[dlrp_bopazot]

Is that Frenchlish? ;)

yes sir it is !

[RStar]

yes sir it is !

I thought I recognised the accent!

Well, with my plans and your dates, Sunday the 27th is the best time I can make a Fantasmic meet. We can make the 9:00 showing. I know Sundays are hard for a lot of folks, but what does any one else say?

[wolfy999]

I've already requested Sunday the 27th off because of some other friends coming in to town that day. They'll be hanging out at Tomorrowland Terrace, so the Wolfpack could probably make a meet that evening.