5 Shows that Need Updating at Walt Disney World

by Brittany DiCologero

Before going into detail on which shows I feel need the most updating, it’s time to mention a couple of runner ups. One is the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. The Laugh Floor is one of my favorite attractions in Tomorrowland, however if you’re a regular visitor to the parks some of the routines become very familiar very quickly, making the show too dependent on the audience participation being a unique experience. Because I do love this show, and because the average Disney guest probably does not watch it as often as I do, and therefore does not realize this problem I’ve omitted it from this list. I know others might expect Captain EO to be on this list, but I don’t see how this show could possibly be updated, since the fact that it’s from the 1980s is essential to the story, and I personally like the show as it is. As one last aside, I’d like to point out that I do enjoy most of the shows I’ve mentioned on this list, I simply think they could use some updating. And now, here are the 5 shows that I believe need the most updating in Walt Disney World:

5. Fantasmic!

Fantasmic! is one of my favorite shows at Walt Disney World, however there is one major component of this experience that I feel needs updating: the dragon. The climax of the show is essentially when Maleficent is turned into the dragon. Disneyland’s version of the show includes a beautifully designed dragon, that is extremely well done and believable to the audience. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the dragon’s East coast counterpart. The dragon in Walt Disney World desperately needs updating to bring its design on par with what guests are able to see in Disneyland. I believe that the rest of the show is visually stunning, however the dragon could use some updating to show off a more believable design.

4. It’s Tough to be a Bug

It’s Tough to be a Bug is one of those shows that I will watch once in a great while, usually if I’m with some friends or family who want to see the show much more than I do. It’s cute, but it’s one of those shows that once I’ve seen it, I have no real desire to see it anytime soon. I’m not quite sure how this show could be updated, though I can’t say I’d complain if the spiders (that really only serve to terrify young audience members whose parents did not realize how “scary” the attraction would be) were removed.

3. Carousel of Progress

The Carousel of Progress is one of my favorite attractions in the Magic Kingdom, though I do have to admit the it could use an update. As you might have guessed, I’m talking about the last scene, which is so noticeably dated. Even though the “progress,” namely the “new” technology emphasized in the last scene is unable to be updated for whatever reason, I wish Disney would at least update some small details in the scene. The family’s clothes could be updated, as they clearly fit the 1990’s time period, and the laptop that the mother is using could be redesigned to be less brick-like, or maybe even made into a tablet. Even if updated the entire scene is too far off, changing small details here and there would make the scene more “progressive” just for the simple fact that it would be less dated.

2. Voyage of the Little Mermaid

In my opinion, the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show has so much potential that it fails to live up to. The Little Mermaid was an extremely popular movie, and the show’s location near the Animation Courtyard in Hollywood Studios makes perfect sense—there is really no reason why a Little Mermaid stage show would not be a good idea. Unfortunately, this show falls short of my expectations, and I suspect that it was more memorable with audiences of an earlier time. I remember loving the show as a child, which I guess is the target audience, however as an adult I have a number of issues with it that could be updated. Personally, I’m not a fan of the movie screens being used in a live performance. If I wanted to watch the movie, I would watch the movie, and not spend my time in a theater watching it live. I find the lasers to be tacky and out of place with the story’s setting and theme, and I wish some of the characters (like Eric for instance) had a more substantial role in the show like they do in the movie. There is also the issue that for a condensed storytelling of the film, viewers would have absolutely no idea what’s going on if they had not seen the film recently or at all.

1. Stitch’s Great Escape

Stitch’s Great Escape is by far my least favorite show at Walt Disney World, which leads me to my belief that it needs some major updating. I actually think that the storyline is interesting, and the preshow really does hold my attention, however the attraction itself is nothing but annoying. I’m personally not a fan of being restrained in an attraction where an alien essentially breaks out of his capsule with the sole purpose of annoying me. I would love to see an update of this attraction that follows a similar storyline that the preshow sets, but does without the annoyances (belching) and restraints of the show itself.