"Remember" is the best thing Imagineering has done in years
 

I really think so! A large part of Disneyland's appeal to me is the nightly fireworks show, so when I heard that they were working on a really complex, new type of show for the 50th I was very excited. This thread is basically an opportunity to discuss the show and how great it is :D

Anyway, I'm convinced that this fireworks show is the best thing that Imagineering has done in quite a few years, at least in my lifetime. It manages to be a very emotional show but the majority of it isn't filled with sentimental messages about Disney magic, which is a change from the old show if I remember correctly. That and it really subscribes to Walt's old motto of "show them more than they can take in the first time so they'll come back," which is a real accomplishment for a fireworks show. I mean, the definition of a fireworks show is usually "we put a lot of explosions into this patch of air, and maybe there will be a soundtrack," but this show has the fireworks all around the hub, the castle projections and fireworks, the Matterhorn-as-cannon, the laser, and of course Tinkerbell.

I'm not sure what's happening with the show now, although "Remember... Holiday Dreams Come True" or something similar is on the calendar for December, but I'd still like to appreciate the original show (although I can't imagine they'll change very much for the holiday version). I feel like the show, or at least many of the elements from it, will be around for quite a long time. I can't imagine them really scaling it back to a "regular" show without generating a large amount of complaints.

The show does have one significant flaw, though: you don't even have a chance of getting the "full picture" if you have to watch from somewhere other than main street.

I only got to see it once, from between the Matterhorn and the Fantasyland bathrooms, and my impression was that it would have been a great show if I wasn't standing in the wings, so to speak.

Au contraire .. though the primary view is, well, orfreakingasmic in its sheer perfection of showmanship, Remember is emminently enjoyable from many spots in the Park ... and beyond.

In fact, one of the great pleasures of the show's run has been the opportunity to see it from so many different vantage points over the past year-and-a-half. There are plenty of spots where not having to camp out for three hours pays off nicely with an amazing show. And, for those who brave the camp-out, a gorgeous - dare I say - quasi-religious pyrotechnical experience awaits.


18thSt - while last Christmas featured Remember with a tacked-on snowfall that didn't really match, this season the Park is going back to Believe during Christmastime. But, as I understand it, Remember will be back afterwards. I guess I don't see how they can resist keeping the show ... it's been such a pull for them, and what really could follow it without pathetic disappointment?

But, though I'm practically the show's biggest fan, I'm not so sure I like the idea of it running in perpetuity. The limited run for the anniversary celebration was among Remember's multitude of charms.

I've never actually seen the show from anywhere but right in front of the castle. In fact, I've probably been within 5 or 10 feet of the same spot each of the 5 times I've seen it. I've been camping out between the Partners Statue and the castle, usually much closer to the statue. I feel like it would be fun to see it from the start of the hub (where Main Street ends) because then you'd be able to get a better idea of the stretching room effect, but I've never been brave enough to sit anywhere but that one spot. If it's not broke, don't fix it :cool:

Oops, thanks for the correction. It's hard to get all of these sentimental words like "Remember" and "Believe" straight, so I misread the calendar I suppose. I defintely agree with your ideas about a show following "Remember." It's tough to one-up such a great show, I think, so I really don't know what they'll do in the long run. It's not surprising that it'll return after the holiday season, but they'll eventually have to replace it and who knows what will happen then.

I guess I agree about it not running forever. The last time I went was almost exclusively just to see the show in its original form, as they'll probably change it, if only slightly, when it returns next year. (As an aside, they had been running the "fireworks may be cancelled due to winds" announcements for about a half hour, and when they finally played the "will begin in just a few minutes" announcement everyone went bananas, including me). On the other hand, if it ran for 10 years I probably wouldn't complain too much.

I know this term gets thrown about quite a bit referring to everything from bathrooms to churros but I really do think Remember is something Walt would've been very proud of, because it really does represent every ideal that he believed in when he started Disneyland in the first place.

They've already changed Julie Andrews' spiels to be post-50th. Now they can conceivably run the show forever ... but maybe it'll just play until every one of the Remember attraction references vanishes from the Park to exist only in memory. *







* saluted spiels from Matterhorn Bobsleds and Pirates of the Caribbean already having been vanquished during the show's run.

18th - you need to see the Small World projections, they are most choice. I'd also recommend the Dumbo queue view. It's the modern day Tink Taco, with your spectacular view of the hideous mask Tink wears. I love that there are fireworks on both sides of you, it's giggle inducing, especially during the Fantasyland bit.

I love this show but it's now at the same level of Fantasmic - ride rides while it's happening, see it when you save spots for out-of-towners. Such is the LoT of APers.

I love the show, but I generally love fireworks. I found myself missing Believe last night when I heard the music again. But, NO ONE matches Disney in fireworks spectacular. Believe, Remember, Wishes - thay are all incredible shows that aren't replicated anywhere else (that I frequent at least.)

You save spots for Out-Of-Towners ??????? :evil: :D :snap: :cheers: :cool:

We'll even save plaid if the spots clash with your outfit...

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I love it too - Best Fireworks show - ever.

But, wasn't it the work of Disney Entertainment - Not Immagineering?, or did those folks finally get annexed?

You mean like "Light Magic"?:rolleyes:

Hell yes - just ask Moonie. As iSm said, if you get the right spot, you're in for a quasi-religious Disneyland experience :cool:

It's the F-Spot. ;)

I'm not generally a fan of fireworks shows. I grew up with what was then (I have no idea about now) one of the largest annual 4th of July fireworks shows in the country. Everything else always seemed pretty lame in comparison, including Disneyland shows. Fireworks were generally a good time to do things while everybody else was distracted.

But Remember... is the best I've ever seen as a show. And is unusual for me in that I would have no problem watching it again regularly (though I don't think I have actually sat through it in almost a year) since I am very rarely ever at Disneyland with time to just sit around watching fireworks.

Indeed it is an honor fit for a King, or I guess a Queen.

While grovelling in thankfulness for such an honor is generally discouraged inside the park (something to do with live animals walking the street), a nice cup of White Hot Chocolate presented to the host does seem to appease the spirits. Especially if the night is a tad chilly.

Right between the E-Spot and the G-Spot

You're quite right. Creative Entertainment is responsible for parades, live shows, fireworks, etc. Imagineering designs the venues, rides and attractions. They've worked closely together a number of times, particularly with the holiday editions of Small World and Mansion. But they are two different departments.

Their respective cultures are quite different as well. I know first hand that they don't always see eye to eye, or "ear to ear" as the case may be. Rumours of their merging have been around forever, but it would be a messy process.

I agree! The half I saw (before it shut down due to high winds aloft) were excellent! It was quite a surprize.

I saw it from the Main Street Station as well. It was interesting to see everything at once. There were things I missed when sitting in front of the castle that I didn't even know happends. But I'm not sure I'd see it from there again, just too far away to enjoy it as much.

Next I want to try the Dumbo queue view, as CP recommended. Sounds grand!

My Grandmother, who I th ink some of you have met, is about 84 and has been a disney fan since day 1. In her own words she has stated that Remember was THE best fireworks display she has EVER seen.

I agree and for me it was really important to see the display from many different areas of the park. I think its a must.

For example:
- Front of the castle
- Coke Corner
- Middle of Main Street by the Arcade
- Main St. Station
- New Orleans Square
- On Big THunder Mtn.
- Small World
- Dumbo
- Space Mtn Que.
- The parking Structure
- Between DLR and DCA

Yes, I've tried all of those locations, and they are each worthwhile.

Dumbo clocks in at third place for me. Firmly in 2nd is .... over by it's a small world. And pretty as they are, I think the small world projections are but a fine thing to catch out of the corner of your eye while you are almost completely immersed in the spectacle of the most astoundingly beautiful pyrotechnic shells going off a few yards in front of you.

This is pretty much the background layer of the multi-dimensional Remember show, and it is - by itself - the greatest fireworks show ever put on by the hand of man ... without all the other embellishments that put Remember so completely over the top.

From here, you can still see some of the hub fireworks and sometimes the Matterhorn (if they keep the crowd back on the Small World Mall), and yes, the facade projections are kewl. But the experience of the main pyro "layer" at close proximity is what's killer about this spot ... my 2nd favorite after the now-aptly-coined F-Spot.

Each shell is a gorgeously realized, perfectly themed amazement. Episode after episode, it's the highest form of pyrotechnic theater yet concocted.

And if they let the audience get around near the stroller areas, it doesn't matter that your view of the hub and the Matterhorn are gone - - This is as close to fireworks as Disney will let you get, and it's fantastic. (Closer still, they sometimes let people onto the hill leading down into ToonTown. Alas, tho I've seen Believe from this spot many times, I've never caught Remember from here -- and not for lack of trying.)

I like the Indy fire from right in front of the castle, near the tunnel to Zocalo