DCA's World of Color begins to show off its tricks...

Not sure how many of you Buzzers are keeping up with the California Adventure remodeling, but the large-scale water based nighttime show "Disney's World of Color" is now showing signs of testing. The Paradise Pier lagoon has been completely refilled and the fountains are being put to test.

Look at this amazing photo as they test the "water screen" feature in which lasers and animated projections will dance across a wall of water:

http://www.disneygeek.com/updates/disneyland_image.php?update_dir=2...um_image=3

http://www.disneygeek.com/updates/disneyland_image.php?update_dir=2...um_image=2

Looks like Phantasmic's water screen, only larger. Is that the only difference or am I missing something?

I am not too thrilled about the water screens. Everytime I have seen a show with a water screen, I have got wet. :(

You should stop seeing those shows on windy days!

Or get out of the lake. Your not supposed be be in there to begin with.

I am not supposed to be in the lake?...Now you tell me. :)

Phantasmic sucks. Seriously, I can't believe how underwhelmed I was.

I cried. lol

Love Fantasmic!. I would venture to guess most people do and that the wait to see the show at DW (with it's reduced schedule) and DL (with people staking out spots hours early) is what puts some people off. Like it can't live up to the hype after those kind of waits.

Or some people just don't care for it. I guess that's another way to look at it.

I thought Phantasmic was much better in the more intimate DL setting, but neither have really blown me away, or come close to it. Some of the parts are way cool but most are few and far between, with lots of lame movie footage in the middle. On water screens.

I agree.

Most of the show is water screens. I just don't see why the show gets all the hype it does. It' just an O-K show at best.

We really enjoyed DL's fantasmic, but we also sprang for the riverside dessert seating---not cheap, but a nice splurge. We put WDW's a notch below DL's, but when it's running close to a full schedule, it's a lot easier to see, so that's okay. On it's current neutered schedule, I won't touch it with a 10-foot mickey bar.

Add me to the list of "gets misty-eyed during Fantasmic". I'm a sucker.

Geez, thought I was the only "get misty at Fantasmic" person around here! LOL

When that pirate ship rounds the corner with Captain Hook and Peter Pan, its a MAJOR wow factor. (Disneyland version)

*Sniff*

Florida's version was entertaining, but not nearly as amazing to watch. Probably because you feel much more removed in those stands.

I cannot wait to go back to DL and see the new version with "Murphy." (Murphy is the name of the new Malificent Dragon that breathes fire.)

I don't get it. I mean, it really pales compared to the "shock and awe" of Illuminations. I haven't seen Wishes from within the park, but even that seemed more impressive.

^ You must've only caught the inferior WDW version, I gather.

True that the DL version is better and I feel less dependent on the water screens than DW.

As well as the more intimate feel, Disneyland's is also much shorter and to the point. Disney World's feels like it's trying to make some epic movie out of a very short story.

I don't visit Disney parks to see shows and parades, but obviously others do - with the amount of time people seem to invest their day into them. To me, that stuff seems like a nice little extra if you were able to catch it, not something to base a schedule around.

I mean, it really pales compared to the "shock and awe" of Illuminations. I haven't seen Wishes from within the park, but even that seemed more impressive.

Fantasmic is less of a spectacle than Illuminations, no question--even the DL version, though the Columbia is a pretty cool segment. But, from my perspective, Fantasmic does a better job with story and emotional resonance---perhaps primarily because I've got kids, and am seeing it in part through their eyes.

The whole "earth forms from the void, life erupts, mankind celebrates" thing just doesn't work as much for me. Illuminations is a great fireworks show, and the soundtrack has some truly wonderful moments, but it just isn't as interesting to me from the story perpective. It's almost too abstract an experience for"we're never subtle" Disney.

If Phantasmic had a story, I don't remember it. Seemed more like a commercial for DVD sales.

Here's what I remember about Wishes - ooooh pretty lights and fireworks!

Here's what I remember about Fantasmic - ooooh pretty lights and fireworks!

Here's what I remember about Illuminations - ooooh pretty lights and fireworks!