This is Oktoberfest

[chickenking]

Apologies if there is already a thread for this show.  I didn't see one.

Oompa music.  Following the disaster that is Entwined v3.  Chicken Dance!  Thanks for bringing it back.  Not a great show, but still very good.  Definitely fun and entertaining.  Would rather watch this any time in the Festhaus.  Felt a little odd on the stage set for Entwined.  Did I say FUN?!?! It just feels right.

 

[BuschGardener]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

I loved it. I thought they did a great job with the current set-up, well, stage. The band is smaller, 5 piece, but big enough. They did a great job. Sound is being mixed from the loft over the entrance. The band marches in then takes the right side of the stage, facing the eight dancers. The dancers did great as well.

The show went off without a hitch. It seemed very similar to, if not a little shorter than the most recent edition. German tradition, songs and dances, including the kids favorite, the Chicken Dance. The dancers pulled reluctant onlookers to the floor for a dance and lead the ziggy-zaggy, hoi-hoi-hoi cheers.

Many of the parks employees expressed their happiness with the return of the show. One told me the park had received thousands of letters condemning the cancellation last year. So there must have been ay least one or two other people writing with me.

I was there by myself. My wife & daughter ran in the Shamrock Marathon yesterday. But my wife, Erin would have enjoyed seeing me fight back the tears of joy, sitting with a beer in one of my favorite places on earth, the Festhaus, catching up with an old, sorely missed friend, This is Octoberfest!

Thanks for bringing it back Busch Gardens. It felt good to be back in the Old Country.

 

[Pretzel Kaiser]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

I think it should be noted that the maypole show has returned as well, live music and everything.

 

[Shane]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

I missed that? Out in front of Das Festhaus?

 

[Pretzel Kaiser]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

No, they use MT as the maypole, that's why it was down.

 

[jedijunky]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

But my wife, Erin would have enjoyed seeing me fight back the tears of joy, sitting with a beer in one of my favorite places on earth, the Festhaus, catching up with an old, sorely missed friend, This is Octoberfest!

Thanks for bringing it back Busch Gardens. It felt good to be back in the Old Country.

I totally agree. Just hearing the Bürgermeister and the music starting up gave me chills. Very happy to see it return.

 

[chickenking]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

My daughter has been saying "Zicke zacke zicke zacke hoi hoi hoi!!!" every day since seeing this show. Also loves the Chicken Dance (as do I).

 

[Shafor]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

Never had a strong opinion about this show one way or the other. But after seeing it Sunday, I'd have to say, the Festhaus just NEEDS this show. People were dancing, clapping, swaying, smiling, etc. It really does bring home that beer hall atmosphere. So while I didn't really miss it all that much, I'm actually very glad it's back.

 

[CastleOSullivan]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

I was watching some of the entertainment crew while they had reservations at a table during the first show. I too so many people enjoying themselves in the Festhaus. Then I looked at Scott Gasparich, and he looked embarrassed about all the people enjoying themselves much more than they did with "Entwined". He did not look happy. Next, I looked at the rest of his team, and everybody, including Phil Raybourn were smiling from ear to ear. Basically what I'm saying is: He doesn't seem to like people enjoying a show unless he created it himself. Even with this great new team the park has hired, that kind of attitude will still continue to pull the park back. He needs to learn to be happy when they have a show that entertains people, whether he was involved with it or not.

 

[Zachary]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

^ THIS! I wasn't going to say anything because I thought we were the only ones who noticed.

All through the show Scott looked bored out of his mind. He clapped along during the parts where it was encouraged but he did so in the same way you'd clap for a bad opening act at a concert. It really was quite comical to watch.

 

[chickenking]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

And right after Entwined we stayed for the first showing of THIS IS OKTOBERFEST. Look people, I know it's not the greatest show. But by God it is a lot of fun. There was only about 50-75 people watching it, about 1/4 the crowd for Entwined, and the energy was just so much better in the room for it. Clapping, singing, dancing, crowd participation... this show is somehow magical without all of the over-produced drama and technology. If the words of a child mean anything, listen to this:

Amy: "Daddy, I like this better than the other show." (meaning Entwined)
Daddy: "What did you like about it?"
Amy: "I love the dancing and everyone singing together. It's fun!"

Out of the mouths of babes...

---

Also, Maypole show schedule:

 

[chickenking]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

The Maypole is every bit as enjoyable as This is OktoberFest. Love it!

I love how just under the big sign for ENTWINED at the Festhaus they snuck in a little bitty sign saying: "Also Showing for Dinner: This is OktoberFest."

 

[CoolDrMoney]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

^ THIS! I wasn't going to say anything because I thought we were the only ones who noticed.

All through the show Scott looked bored out of his mind. He clapped along during the parts where it was encouraged but he did so in the same way you'd clap for a bad opening act at a concert. It really was quite comical to watch.

If you would please direct your attention to the following insightful, well-reasoned explanation:

Now, sometimes what can happen ... is that someone comes along who has seen it too many times and decides that what people really want now is something different, more mature, less cliched. This person is usually out of touch with the real pulse of the general audience, and after some initial critical success, runs into dead ends and does weird things that the audience can't identify with because it breaks the formula and just comes across as noisy and confusing.

I don't know Scott Gasparich, but I'd be willing to make a small wager that the reason he doesn't "get" TiO, the reason he thinks people would prefer a big, hip production is the same reason comic book people tend to not like Superman (the most beloved comic book hero of all time), foodies hate McDonald's (the most successful restaurant in the history of the human race), and no critic ever likes the movie you like (even though it turned over a billion dollars at the box office). He's not a normal audience member. He is a show guy, and the audience isn't. He is bound to think this plain, vanilla, decidedly un-broadway thing is too cliche, not cool enough. And he's bound to be wrong.

Regular people think Superman is awesome.

 

[Party Rocker]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

In my opinion, This Is Oktoberfest is an outdated show that does need a replacement. However, Entwined is not the replacement it needs. Whatever show they decided to have in the Festhaus can not have a strong plot. You want to people to continue eating and look up occasionally and not have to worry about missing anything important.
This Is Oktoberfest, is just simply outdated. It is not that it's bad or anything because the show is a perfect fit for the Festhaus and is a really decent show for that purpose; I just think they need to throw something more fresh in there. Something that hasn't been seen the past 35 years; but still follows a fit for the Festhaus.
Personally, I have never felt the urge to plan this show around my day because it isn't big and upscale and a attraction all its own. It is just something to watch while your eating so you don't get bored with just your food.

 

[chickenking]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

Maybe...
But how long has the actual OktoberFest been celebrated? Has it changed much? Does it need to be refreshed? I kinda doubt it. And that is probably the reason that so many people come to the Festhaus for it, and have missed it so much in its absence. It is that feel of the old country that is needed and appreciated. If anything, this season's attempt to balance things with that OTHER show is a good idea. Even if it is Entwined.

 

[CoolDrMoney]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

In my opinion, This Is Oktoberfest is an outdated show that does need a replacement. However, Entwined is not the replacement it needs. Whatever show they decided to have in the Festhaus can not have a strong plot. You want to people to continue eating and look up occasionally and not have to worry about missing anything important.
This Is Oktoberfest, is just simply outdated. It is not that it's bad or anything because the show is a perfect fit for the Festhaus and is a really decent show for that purpose; I just think they need to throw something more fresh in there. Something that hasn't been seen the past 35 years; but still follows a fit for the Festhaus.
Personally, I have never felt the urge to plan this show around my day because it isn't big and upscale and a attraction all its own. It is just something to watch while your eating so you don't get bored with just your food.

Oddly enough, I don't entirely disagree with this. I think annual or semi-annual updates to the theme of the TiO show would be enough. You know, you have the entire history of Bavarian beer culture (which is extensive) to draw from. New costumes (but still authentic ones) and new dance numbers year over year is really all the update you need. Keep a few numbers in and rotate others and that's it. You can have a narrator explaining or introducing the acts, if you want.

 

[Haberdasher1973]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

I think annual or semi-annual updates to the theme of the TiO show would be enough. You know, you have the entire history of Bavarian beer culture (which is extensive) to draw from. New costumes (but still authentic ones) and new dance numbers year over year is really all the update you need. Keep a few numbers in and rotate others and that's it. You can have a narrator explaining or introducing the acts, if you want.

That's pretty much what the park did before Scott.

 

[CoolDrMoney]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

^ I know, to a certain degree. I was talking about something that was a little more obvious. Like...the Ringling Circus changes all the time, but they mostly do the same acts over and over. It just looks really different, but it still looks like a circus. Does that make sense? Maybe I'm not explaining this well...

 

[Youhow2]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

^ I know, to a certain degree. I was talking about something that was a little more obvious. Like...the Ringling Circus changes all the time, but they mostly do the same acts over and over. It just looks really different, but it still looks like a circus. Does that make sense? Maybe I'm not explaining this well...

minus a few acts that are hard to come by but considered essential, (i.e the wheel of death, animal trainers) most acts are exchanged out every two years. each show tours for two years (and there are two shows that alternate cities) while they develop its replacement. just so ya know

 

[CoolDrMoney]

RE: This is Oktoberfest (1976 to 2011, 2013 to Present)

I forgot you were in the circus (which I think is unbelievably cool).

When you go to circus, you expect to see some things. Tight rope. Trapeze. Lions. Clowns. But they're presented in a lot of different ways, but still fit that big-top circus sort of feel. That's what I mean. There are some things you should expect from TiO, but they can change up how it is presented.