Hollywood Studios Block Party Parade Rant

[BandontheRun]

I was watching a video of the new Block Party parade at Hollywood Studios and I couldn't wait for it to be over.. I ended up stopping it! It is filled with non-Disney songs by Kool and the Gang, The Village People etc.. and basically just has the army guy yelling at everyone to scream and jump up and down amidst a bunch of High School Musical like extras. I think the fact that the Pixar characters are in it is about the only "Disney" thing about it...
Maybe I am a bit of a purist in that I like things like the Main Street Electrical Parade.. Spectromagic, I even like the Jammin Jungle Parade... but I will pass on this one.

It seems like Hollywood Studios is becoming more Pixar Studios. There seems to be less "land theming" and more just dropping attractions into spaces. I'd even like to see the big Mickey Hat removed and the Chinese Theater facade restored as a center piece. They could even remake the Great Movie Ride into well.. the Great DISNEY movies Ride..

[bigbahamadada]

I couldn't agree more. We were saw this "parade" -- really its a show that rolls from location to location -- in May. It is highly obnoxious, filed with blaring non-disney music and "high" energy, neon clad performers -- inciting the crowd to make more noise. Up! With People!! More worthy of a six-flags sideshow or a Simpson's spoof, than a Disney park.

If they were trying to create something that was the exact opposite of Stars and Motorcars, mission accomplished. But that is not a compliment.

[diva452]

We didnt' like it either when we saw it in May. I usually love the parades but this one didn't work for us.

[carolina_yankee]

The Block Party Bash was pretty popular in California Adventure, but I don't think it translates well to Florida. I think the floats are awesome, but I can do without the interactive bit. Then again, I'm a 40 something male with no kids . . .

But aren't Disney parades supposed to appeal to everyone?

Dirk

[lenshanem]

We didn't care for it at all, even my kids were bored.

[Blue&Gold]

But aren't Disney parades supposed to appeal to everyone?

Everyone who will go into one of the retail locations and plunk $25 down to buy the DVD of a bad 3rd generation re-hash of "Grease" they could have TiVo'd for free from the Disney Channel....

[nono]

Dirk, you are correct, it plays differently in DCA than in DHS. DHS is small and this parade/show really points out the tightness of it all. DHS was really built as a park-ette originally. I would suggest to anyone going to see it to skip the first stop along Hollywood Blvd. The parade overwhelms the scale of the place. The whole show rolls down the street and turns at Echo Lake and happens again, and it's a better environment. Haven't seen it from the 3rd stop yet (assuming there is a 3rd one).

Sorry for those of you didn't like it -- I do like it! I've seen it in both CA 2x and FL 2x. Gee, another afternoon parade that is a bunch of floats going by...YAWN! I've seen that for the last 30 yrs. at a Disney park. I am glad to have something to go to see at 3 p.m. I need energy at 3 p.m. I'm a geezer. ;)

[carolina_yankee]

We saw it in front of the awards plaza near Sounds Dangerous. That was pretty tight, too. I think the best area would have been closer to the Hat - much more open space there. I think that still counts as Echo Lake area? It's part of stop 2 at any rate.

Also, we had the Toy Story float - I think the Monster's Inc float would have personally been more exciting to us. If I recall, DCA also had the stop zones painted out on the walkways so people knew exactly where to be for their favorite floats.

Dirk

[Kynna]

We saw it in DCA twice and loved it, especially my kids. I think the biggest problem is calling it a Parade. It sets up the wrong expectations. If they just stopped at Block Party I think it would have been different.

The one great thing about it for younger kids is that most of the time they are expected to "sit and watch". The fact that they can jump around and be loud is a great release.

I love that they have CMs with Hula Hoops and Jump ropes for the kids all over the place now. It reall made for a pleasant Dinner for us at Cosmic Rays.

I can see how the tight quarters would be annoying. If I didn't have kids I probably wouldn't see it more than once but I also don't think that EVERY show has to appeal to EVERYONE. There are plenty of attractions at DHS that are too darn scary for my kids. People can go ride TT or see an action show where someone catches on fire will my girls jump around to cheesy 70's songs with Sully.