In response to something I saw on here somewhere

[Yfoog]

Ahhh yes. The infamous Light Magic. I remember the final days of the MSEP at Disneyland (i'm still sore about the whole buy a bulb from the floats 'cause they're gonna be destroyed and then end up in a parade in NY followed by a return to Calif. via DCA and thinking people will forget the "once it's gone it's gone forever" publicity stunt just because the name has been changed to DEP) where above the exit to the tunnels on the Main Street side were these awesome fiber optic signs advertising Light Magic for the following summer. Those signs were way better than the show itself. I agree that Eisner over estimated the popularity of Riverdance. I saw Tragic several times on Main Street (i liked the optics embeded in the buildings and the confetti that was added to the end). But the show was actually kind of depressing. It was dull---in the sense that the optics in no way could become as bright as the filiments in the bulbs of the Electrical Parade. If you're gonna replace something that's a 30 year institution, you better do it right or don't do it at all.

[screnwriter]

It even when on to be known as Light Tragic. I saw it and it really was horrible. It was the first parade after The Main Street Electircal Parade left, so the guests were expecting some as good as the MSEP. All the APs who paid to get in and see it early demanded their money back and got it. Disney just needs to go back to making parades after movies. Lion King, Mulan, Hercules, ect were all excellent parades. Now they've had Parade of the Stars (POTS) for almost 4 or 5 years now (or Parade of the Crap as is commonly refered to) and they need to move on. There is a new parade coming in May, but thats still 6 months away. Hopefully its better.

Don't forget that "Parade of the Stars" started out with that gawdoffal "Pomp & Circumstance" music. People thought there was a high school graduation going on down Main Street! Who was so stupid as to even think of that?

Another reason for the demise of Light Magic was the toll on performers. That was my last year in Fantasmic! And many friends who worked LM were injured. And injured. And injured. On many nights, only half the cast was able to work, many went out on disability for the entire run, and a few were permanently disabled. Bad costuming, shoes, tiny stairs to climb up and down on, guest interaction (Oh yeah - bringing kids up to dance with the elves was a SMART idea - caused older guests to run up and manhandle the performers thinking they were "playing"!), all played a part in causing sprains, breaking bones, pulling muscles, and so on. And replacing them was nigh unto impossible, owing to the fact that word got out and no one wanted to take on such a dangerous show.