[Rumor] Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

[Wendygirl]

I have the following information from an extremely good and reliable source (who shall remain nameless as I don't want said person's job put in jeopardy).

1. The Golden Horseshoe will be closed for refurbishment January 4 -20. This is a good thing I believe as the stage really needs to be redone.

2. While the Shoe is closed the Billys will be in rehearsal on new material. For some, this is good news. For purists, not so much. But now here's the kicker:

3. The shows are being cut back from 30 minutes to 20 minutes!!! A certain Billy fought against this and lost and is not happy. This is a decision made by Entertainment. We do not know at this time if this means the same number of shows as now or if there will be one or two more shows added a day.

The question is, why cut back to 20 minutes? Is it to get more people in and out of the Shoe therefore selling more food? I am one fan who loves the show and can see it over and over but on the other hand would not mind some new material. But Billy is just getting going at 20 minutes. Right now when Laughing Stock is in there on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, their show is only 20 mins. The crowd is nowhere as big as for Billys and many people are like, that's all?

What do you folks think?

Also, Frontierland is going to be mighty dead this January - no rivers, no Shoe, no HM while it's put back.

UPDATE - I've posted an update to the above information. It is on page 2, post #18.

Another UPDATE 12/30 - Page 2, post # 23

Probably last UPDATE 1/10 - Page 6, post #82

[Goofy Daddy]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

Another poor choice by those in charge of entertainment. Other than trying to force the performers to do more shows a day I see no logic in cutting 10 minutes off of the show. 30 minutes is a perfect time for a mid size live venue like this.

[Walt Jr.]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

Bad, Bad, Bad Decision.

These are the reasons why I don't have too much faith in certain divisions of Entertainment. Questionable stage show choices, lack of Parades, now this. It's really a shame.

[SanDiegoAl]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

But Billy is just getting going at 20 minutes.

You are absolutely right! This is not good at all...

Do you hear Disney? NOT GOOD AT ALL!

Why mess up a great thing? Oh yeah, I forgot; the almighty dollar.

[1FoolishMortal]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

Terrible news, but can't say I didn't see it coming. Ever since their shows were cut down to 5 days a week I've worried about them, especially since they seem to really emphasize now during their shows to "come back and see us again." It's obvious they're worried about their future at the resort.

[Mac Daddy]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

We've seen their show several times and it seems like it's the ideal length right now. The only justification that I could see them making is noticing that most folks are done eating during the last 10 minutes of the show. So the bean counters are probably suggesting that they would encourage more traffic and more sales with more shows. Just a hunch.

[Eagleman]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

The shows are being cut back from 30 minutes to 20 minutes!!!
"DISNEY" Paid more and get less............
What would you "celebrate"!

[aashee]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

I only like it if more shows are added. If not it's a bad move.

[HiddenMickeyBook]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

I remember the original Horseshoe show with Bette Taylor and Fulton Burley. It too was cut down in length. There had been an opening sing-along, then an Asian man did an awesome Irish tenor song, then the big show. I can't remember the length, but there was plenty of time for table service for food. Then the tenor was removed and the show shortened. I remember a 'Police Gazette' number that was either removed, or shown now and then to vary the show.

It seems to be the way of the Park to shorten shows. I am sorry for the Billies. Twenty minutes is hardly enough. I sure would hate to see 'Puddle Prance' eliminated.

[Theoretical]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

Just goes to show that entertainment at Disneyland is on a major decline right now... I've seen the show 3 times, and really liked it. With the 10 minutes cut off, I just want to know what they cut out of the show.

[Grandicorney]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

The way entertainment is getting cut back I wouldn't be surprised if the "parade" next year consisted of every 2000th guest being handed a kazoo at the turnstiles and being told to report to the end of main street at 3PM

All kazoos would have to be returned of course.... the Mouse ain't made of $$$

It's a shame, I thought the shows were just the right length. What needs help is faster service for the food. I'm sure plenty of people pass on getting food there because of the long lines/slow service.

[Ice101]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

This means 0 shows for the $72 paying guests on a Tuesday in January who pays the same as a guest in July. I'm just sayin...

[Ice101]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

The way entertainment is getting cut back I wouldn't be surprised if the "parade" next year consisted of every 2000th guest being handed a kazoo at the turnstiles and being told to report to the end of main street at 3PM

All kazoos would have to be returned of course.... the Mouse ain't made of $$$

Post of the month.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

the way entertainment is getting cut back i wouldn't be surprised if the "parade" next year consisted of every 2000th guest being handed a kazoo at the turnstiles and being told to report to the end of main street at 3pm

all kazoos would have to be returned of course.... The mouse ain't made of $$$

LOL!

...I look forward to DCA's 2010 parade consisting of less than 5 kazoo players! :lol:

[Radiobarry]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

I posted this, somewhat erroneously, in the other ongoing Horseshoe thread. It was meant, for this one -

Wendy, this is a classic case of Disney entertainment's "It Ain't Broke - let's fix it, as far as the length of the Billies show is concerned.

I really feel sorry for the guys. Yes, good for the refurbishment, and I'm all for some new material.

And if they want to make more money on food, how about getting stuff in that's better? And maybe table service, like they used to have?

In any case, Disneyland's entertainment division strikes again.

Well, if I'm in Frontierland looking for something to do, there's always the shooting galleries. I've never done those. EVER. (And no I won't start now).

Sorry, Wendy. Sorry, Billies. Boo-hiss, Disney.

[Radiobarry]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

LOL!

...I look forward to DCA's 2010 parade consisting of less than 5 kazoo players! :lol:

Some of us are old enough to remember a comb and wax paper....sounded pretty much like a kazoo as I recall. It'd really jazz up the parade. Hurt your mouth, but jazz up the parade...and most importantly wouldnt cost them a cent, as you'd be required to have comb and wax paper on hand...

[Wendygirl]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

Thanks for your thoughts Barry. You and I are Billy buddies and I enjoyed watching them with you at last year's meet. By this year's meet we should all know what the shows will be like.

If I hear more news, I'll be passing it on. I hope to see some Billys at a private event outside the Disneyland venue next Tuesday night. I'm sure this will be THE topic of conversation at that event amongst us Billy fans.

[Wendygirl]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

UPDATE: I just checked the calendar and the Billys do not show from Jan. 4 to Jan. 14. They begin to show up again on Jan. 15 (5 days less than what I heard). It would appear they are now going to be doing 6 shows a day. It reads as follows:

The Golden Horseshoe Stage
11:15 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. 12:15 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. 1:30 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. 3:15 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. 4:30 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. 5:30 p.m. to 5:55 p.m.

This is their current schedule:

The Golden Horseshoe Stage
11:15 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. 1:00 p.m. to 1:35 p.m. 2:35 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. 4:00 p.m. to 4:35 p.m. 5:15 p.m. to 5:50 p.m.

You will notice their current schedule shows them as doing 35 minute shows. This is not true - the shows are 30 minutes. The new schedule shows them doing 25 minute shows - again I think this is wrong and it will probably be 20 minutes.

Looks like except for the dates, my source is correct.

[GummiBears_Rock]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

The shows are being cut back from 30 minutes to 20 minutes!!!
"DISNEY" Paid more and get less............
What would you "celebrate"!

the fact that i'm broke thanks to disneyland! yay! :yea:

[MrLiver]

Re: Golden Horseshoe/Billy Hill Show dark in January plus changes coming

I have been one of the unfortunate individuals who have faught to find a seat in the Golden Horseshoe while carrying a tray of food, only to find that 90% of the seats in the theater are being taken up by folks with NO FOOD who just want to watch the show.

If this change is being done in part to eliminate the problems with seating then I am 100% for it. The length of the show (and having a show in there at all) is trivial compared to the anger and frustration of trying to find a place to just sit down and eat while you're hungry.

I have read that Walt Disney World has restricted seating to such shows to folks who have already purchased food only, and I would be in favor of that change as well. It would be very easy to block off the downstairs section to folks purchasing food, and just leave the seats up in the balcony for those folks not buying food.

Other than those initial thoughts, I can't see how anyone would think of this as a bad change. The length of the show is pretty trivial.