"Frozen Summer Fun – Live at Disney’s Hollywood Studios" starts July 5 and will feature several Frozen-themed events each day through September 1 (though no meet and greet with the royal duo):
Given that one of the main reasons behind Walt Disney Word's new MyMagic+ system is to use advance scheduling to redistribute guests from overflowing queues into less-crowded queues and areas of the park, this collection of Frozen-themed events seems designed to advance that same goal. If it manages to coax a few people from Disney World's most overcrowded queue — the wait for the Anna and Elsa meet and greet — into otherwise unused areas of the resort's least-attended park, Disney will count it a wild success.
What do you think? Will you include these events in your Disney World plans this summer?
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If I am at DHS when the Frozen shows are playing, I will probably see some but I am not planning a special trip just for them.
(Ugh, no, I can't do it.)
1) During the dance party prior to the fireworks, the crowd--kid, dad and twenty-somethings alike--was loudly singing along to a Let It Go remix. It was one of those shared (ahem, magical?) moments that Disney music triggers.
2) Why isn't the stage under the hat itself? It's big enough. You can tuck the lights up into it. Use the area speakers and hide some more if you need sound. I don't understand why you build a cheap-looking stage--and it always looks cheap, no matter what flair they hang on it--for months.
The idea to put a party stage on the Streets of America ghost town is great. And if they must put a stage on the congested Boulevard, build something that complements the Theatre.
Oh, and I'm no hat fan. I'm not sure I believe the rights issue story, but if true, make a deal already! Pay something, put "when in Hollywood, visit..." flyers at the exit, whatever.
As far as Frozen goes, it is just OK. The script is just mediocre, and Disney has made far better musicals over the years. Plus the lead antagonist went from good to bad with no indicators which is confusing to small children.
I'm starting to wonder if Disney screenwriters have plot guidelines on the walls in their offices.
1. You must kill off or make non-present one or both parents.
2. If it is a movie aimed at girls, the girls/women have to be smart, beautiful, and courageous and the boys/men must be weak, dumb, ugly, and evil or any combination thereof.
3. If it is a movie aimed at boys, the boys/men can be good or bad looking and smart or slightly dumb but the girls/women must still be smart and attractive.
4. Lead protagonists must have funny/klutzy animal or human sidekicks for comic relief.
5. Somebody has to be royalty - preferably the female lead since it leads to merchandising opportunities.
6. The lead characters must have some kind of notable clothing or accessories that can lead to unique merchandising opportunities.
Did I miss anything?
The word is Disney has amassed a warehouse full of exclusive merchandise. When the company saw orders from the Walmart and Toys R Us franchises, it drew back and held on to tons of inventory. Retail sales will soar.
In addition, the events at DHS will be spread across the park and throughout the day -- avoiding the congestion (thermonuclear crowds) that the Potter sequel (alley = narrow streets with small shops) may well endure. Events like the dance party and fireworks do not require guests to queue up in order to experience an attraction or merely enter an area of the park.
Of course the characters from 'Frozen' play right into the Disney wheelhouse. The Disney princesses are a multi-billion dollar franchise. These events are dead on target with the demographic that has made the Disney parks the most attended and successful in history.
If the crowds swarm to DHS it will capture some substantial media attention -- buoyed by the success of a film that premiered as recently as eight months ago -- as opposed to three years ago.
Kinda makes ya think Disney's timing was pretty damn shrewd, eh?
Disney may have been very shrewd about how they have been promoting the Frozen events and merchandise, but at some point the blatant, over-the-top marketing becomes painfully obvious, and people get tired of it. But, that is the genius of Disney because every few years a new crop of little kids comes along and falls in love with the latest Disney marketing phenomenon, and the process starts all over again.
You've got to admire them for their ability to get a lot out of a little, but it is somehow sad how formulaic the whole process has become.
I respond: Had to decode the double negative. One of the first posts on this thread indicates people are standing in line for five hours for character meet and greets. While parents may eventually become burned out it's unlikely that it will happen this summer ... or (frankly) anytime soon. Again, the film has been out for less than a year. And since Disney owns the product (licensing) it will rake in copious amounts of green while the sun shines. Which is an ironic metaphor considering the film's name.
T. Hillman: "But, that is the genius of Disney because every few years a new crop of little kids comes along and falls in love with the latest Disney marketing phenomenon, and the process starts all over again."
I Respond: Bull's eye! While 'Frozen" is hot (another ironic metaphor) there is an army of little ones stomping around WDW dressed as Belle or Cinderella or Rapunzel. In other words the princesses always pay off. Also (is there any doubt) as 'Frozen' starts to thaw (HAH!) there will likely be another princess waiting in the wings.
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The only good thing is that some many people have been sucked into the combined vortex of Frozen and Seven Dwarfs that the rest of the lines have been manageable. And no, they are not manageable because of FP+.