Stupid guest trick or stupid Disney trick?

Cloud Buster · Post by **Cloud Buster** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 1:28 pm

Back when I was younger me, my parents, and my sister were all APs. Now, I daresay that of the four of us, only one of us was a "passhole"...maybe two. But for myself, if I may be so bold, had the utmost respect for CMs and the operation...there was one night though that I'll never forget.

Disney's LM parade - AP preview night. I don't remember much, other than watching it and thinking to myself "What the HELL is this??". A good number of people were actually booing the passing floats. I felt really bad for the actors on the floats who heard the boos and just kept smiling, maintaining their high energy level. As soon as the parade was clear of MS, my parents were in the lead of a few thousand other people bum rushing City Hall to complain about the parade, and asking for their money back (APs were charged to see it).

So, particularly for those that survived LM, what do you think. Were the guests just reducing to passhole mentality when they bum rushed City Hall or was LM really that bad?

Personally, I thought LM was absolute crap -- my apologies for those who worked it and disagree. I remember seeing concept art for it in the Disney Gallery and being blown away...all of MS was going to have fiber optics laid down and it would all light up. But those 2 dimensional cardboard-looking floats with some optical cable on them really sucked -- especially given the fact that LM was being marketed as the replacement for the Electrical Parade. On the other hand, however, anyone who's going to PAY to be a member of a test / preview audience has got to stop and think for a minute about what they might be getting into.

Weeble · Post by **Weeble** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 2:29 pm

I saw it at a preview for cast members (maybe this was the same night) and thought it was crap too BUT to rush to city hall and ask for their money back is a typical PASSHOLE move. These are the same people who want their entire hotel stay refunded when their eggs are cold at breakfast.

Give me a break. I'm sure the AP's would have BITCHED AND MOANED had they not been invited to the next preview.

SpaceRanger · Post by **SpaceRanger** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 3:14 pm

Ditto to Weeble.... YES, it sucked. It's okay to think it sucked and give your imput, but I think rushing to city hall to ask for a refund is a bit much.

Freak · Post by **Freak** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 3:41 pm

Wasn't LM the parade they threw confetti around and it got in people's food?

Sorry, I'm not really into the whole parade deal. Only one I ever saw was Electrical Parade.

Cloud Buster · Post by **Cloud Buster** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 8:52 pm

Freak wrote:Wasn't LM the parade they threw confetti around and it got in people's food?

Sorry, I'm not really into the whole parade deal. Only one I ever saw was Electrical Parade.

No...LM ("Light & Magic") was supposed to replace the Electrical Parade. It had these giant 2-dimensional floats with fiber optics on them, and it ran at night. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the public's reaction to the parade was as bad as the preview night (with the exception of demanding refunds), so the parade closed very shortly after it opened, to be filed away as one of many bad Disney memories that doesn't appear in any of their propoganada specials about the history of the park.

I believe you're referring to a parade that was done for one of the anniversaries....35th, I think? If I remember correctly, that was also when they had that giant "Dream Machine" at the hub. I don't remember the name of the parade but I do remember a ridiculous amount of confetti being used in it which was fired from big confetti guns on the top of MS buildings.

wheelieman · Post by **wheelieman** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 10:24 pm

Would that be the "Party-Gras" Parade? Or maybe the street scene from Blast to the Past? i LOVED both of those. The music was awesome, and the dancers totally made the parade. I really miss those days....

Dave

Mansion_Boi · Post by **Mansion_Boi** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 10:59 pm

I think asking for refunds was just, let's face it Disney charged them to come preview this thing they called a street-tacular. It sucked so BAD. If I would have been Disney I would have been outside with money ready to refund everyone their money after that.

Weeble · Post by **Weeble** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 12:20 am

They forked the money over willingly. If the parade had been an OVERWHELMING success, should they have been charged twice?

To ask for your money back after you were given the opportunity to be there for a preview event is ludicrous.

And why would Disney stand at the entrance handing out money? If they were previewing the parade it means they were committed to and had faith in the parade.

techie-13 · Post by **techie-13** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 11:21 am

I didn't see the parade, but I have a question about the preview. Did they have any other type of attraction open, (rides, stores, shows, or restaurants)? If they charged a nominal fee to get in and then only had the parade running and nothing else open, then I would at least be upset that the parade sucked. I would probably ask about a refund if they promised more than the parade and something happened technically that shut down everything but the parade or if it was to be just the parade and it didn't happen because of technical difficulties. You would ask for a refund (or a comp) if you paid to see a movie and something happened within the theater's control that prevented you from seeing the movie but you wouldn't ask for one if the writing sucked.

Cloud Buster · Post by **Cloud Buster** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 10:22 pm

As I recall, most attractions were open.