Light Magic to me was not all that tragic

[creamcityleo79]

Okay all...I've heard a lot of complaints about light magic and how bad it was. But, was it really that bad? I only saw it a few times. But, to me it seemed like a good show that had some kinks and needed some work. I think the problem lies in that it was replacing such an iconic, classic work of art known around the world. I think that at the time...and maybe now to a certain extent...there was no such thing as a work in progress. Things either worked or they didn't and if it didn't it was out the door. Would anyone have at least LIKED Light Magic if there were some refurbs or changes made? Walt may never have dreamed up what some of you would consider such a monstrosity as Light Magic. But, would he have so carelessly wasted all that time, money, and effort and thrown it out the window? Just a thought... :o

[DznyVan]

The proof's in the pudding...It started around Memorial Day and didn't last much past Labor Day.

After investing all that money, for Disney to pull the plug that quick, they must have had a TON of complaints/poor reviews (including ours the very first night that it premiered!). We felt terrible knocking something Disney, but it was just plain bad (and that is being nice).

[BigPigletFan]

I miss the MAIN STREET Electrial Parade. I don't understand why they decided to stop it in the first place when it was so popular and successful.

When did Light Magic run? I don't recall ever seeing it so that is why I voted for "Other".

[ni_teach]

Light Magic had way too many flaws. It would have taken to much work, time and money to fix it. Also by the time you were done it would have been a totally diffrent event.

[swagdaddy]

"I hated it...I'm glad it's gone!"

And that is a nice way to put it

[Larxene1959]

Light Magic? What exactly was it? The only thing that I know about it is the music score (which I have on a CD...) what made it bad?

[figment1986]

Light Magic? What exactly was it? The only thing that I know about it is the music score (which I have on a CD...) what made it bad?

I hard about it.. got an MP3..... and never seen it... but only photos...

I chose other...

[MickeyJCA]

The thing that really bothered me about LightMagic was how unoriginal it was. It was almost like they looked at what was popular and took bits and pieces expecting it to be something amazing:

"Tinkerbell is popular with Disneyland guests so let's make the whole thing about Tinkerbell's friends!"
"People really seem to like Riverdance, so how about if we make Tinkerbell's friends do Riverdancing?"
"Everyone loves Fantasmic!, so let's put projection screens into the show!"
"Everyone really misses the Main Street Electrical Parade, so let's use that music as the big finale!"

Is was just a mess from day one. I saw it on the big AP "premiere" night. While we were standing there waiting for the thing to start (following delay after delay...) we were informed that this was really just a "dress rehearsal so parts of the show might not be working." Not a good thing to say to an AP who has just forked over a premium admission after already buying an AP! And, yes, I was one of those who marched into City Hall demanding a refund (which I got).

I really wanted to like LightMagic. I will admit that there was some improvement after that fateful night, but it wasn't enough to save the show. I still get a little nostalgic listening to the soundtrack now and then. I just wish they'd released the entire show on CD.

Seeing as how it was the overhyped follow-up to the MSEP, I think it was doomed from the get go.

[Disney Analyst]

Okay what was light magic about? What went wrong with it? What was it? I never saw it....

[Larxene1959]

Well just look at Mickey JCA for what it basicly was. And now that I know I was sorry I asked >_< but thankyou for telling us Mickey

Hmm... what other parades have been considered as bombs?

[travelmom]

I only saw it a couple of times during August of 97.
I was experiencing the surprise of my life, so I couldn't really find fault with anything.
I do remember thinking, there are an awful lot of fairies. But I was disappointed that it wasn't a parade. I love the parades. They are very important to me.
You were left with the feeling, of not quite getting it, like someone said, it had too many things going on from everywhere.

[DisneyMickey]

[QUOTE=BigPigletFan]I miss the MAIN STREET Electrial Parade. I don't understand why they decided to stop it in the first place when it was so popular and successful.[QUOTE]

Paul Pressler mainly used it as marketing scam to pull in crowds, which it did.

I remember reading something about Light Magic and for some reason, they decided to add in the title "A Spectacular Journey." Since it stopped only in the re-designed Small World Mall and on Main Street(traveling dim in between the two), it never really was a journey of any sort, and was far from spectacular. Another thing about Small World Mall was that they added all those light towers and projection towers which until today, block the view of IASW's facade.

[Lost Boy]

Paul Pressler designed it. Is that enough. It was horrible. I also saw it first on that ill fated AP night and right after we went on Pirates. While standing in the indoor protion of the queue line, which was very crowded, a Pirates Crew Member was making announcements over the PA system, and he is the one who asked us if we had all seen the premiere of Light Tragic? The next day Pressler issued a memo to all cast members that they where to refrain from using bad remarks/comments about the new Light Magic Parade, or they could be fired. The music by itself is wonderful and worth getting on CD. Put it with the huge overdone floats, the funny dancing characters in their pj's trying to do Irish Step Dancing in thier slippers, and you pretty much get an idea of just how stupid the whole thing was. The floats where enourmas and beautiful. The music was wonderful. The special effects of thunder and lightning down Main Street with fiber optics hidden the store fronts was amazing. The projections on the screens that had to be pulled down on the floats where moribund and too preachy. Put it all together, and vidually it just stunk the place up.

[MickeyJCA]

Okay what was light magic about? What went wrong with it? What was it? I never saw it....

LightMagic was supposed to answer that burning question that all Disneylanders have: "What do the Disney characters do at night after everyone leaves Disneyland?

Basically, Tinkerbell and all of her creepy fairy pals (remember the half masks? ) came out and sprinkled pixie dust all over Disneyland (well, actually it was only Main Street and Small World mall), then had a party. The party supposedly woke up Mickey & Pals who came out to party with the fairies. And the big deal was that Mickey & Pals were all dressed in their jammies "as we've never seen them before!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Main Street was outfitted with fiber optics in all the building facades and the (infamous) light towers at Small World mall had the same treatment. The probelm was that, instead of waiting for the fairies to sprinkle pixie dust, the Disneyland brains decided to put the fiber optics on display to entertain guests as they waited for the show. So it never really made sense and it never had the impact they intended...

And Tinkerbell never actually showed up during the show. Weird.

Other than that, it was great.

[Darkbeer]

The best articles about Light Magic, and the one with the most details is a series from Jim Hill...

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=323

Make sure and read all 8 parts....

[DisneyMickey]

This may be A LOT to ask, but is there by chance a video that can be found on the internet?

[MickeyJCA]

The best articles about Light Magic, and the one with the most details is a series from Jim Hill...

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=323

Make sure and read all 8 parts....

Maybe someday he'll actually finish the series!

[wolfy]

Never did see the show....was during my "hate" disney time (over that now)! Got a pin from one of the people who worked on the sound, but that's about it. Doesn't sound like I missed much!

[Gn2Dlnd]

If anyone can PM me on how to get a VHS recording from television onto the internet, I'd be happy to share my tape of KCOP's TV special with you. The horror does lose something in the translation, but it's nearly the entire show. MickeyJCA's descriptions are right on the mark.

[Tinkerbell]

Ya know, I tried hard to like that, but I thought it was pretty lame. The music wasn't so bad, and that has actually grown on me over the years, but those weird little pixie people kinda freaked me out as well as the children around me. There were some nice aspects of it, I liked the use of color, but overall it was weak in comparison to a classic like the MSEP. There was magic infused in that and it was very Disney. Light Magic just couldn't keep up.