IllumiNights 2013

[Zachary]

Honestly, I think the F&WF is probably taking up a large portion of the budget this year.

Most of the F&W costs should, in theory, be coming out of Culinary's budget. The Entertainment department is probably designing the booths, but beyond the plywood boxes, they shouldn't have that much to do with the event I wouldn't think...

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

So, here's an idea. Instead of scheduled shows at all the places in the park, what if the park just had real street performers instead. They should do what they do during CT with musicians, and not have them on a set schedule, but have fire jugglers and other performers out and about at night. Mimes and other performers could also roam the park like hordes. This way it makes the event a bit more leisurely. They could also have one big show *coughimaginiquecough* at night followed by fireworks. I really think this could make the event more atmospheric.

 

[Thomas]

Wow, that's such a good idea, it's almost like it's mine.

 

[Ludwig II]

Mimes and other performers could also roam the park like hordes.

This is a great idea. The hordes didn't work for HOS because that event is based off of surprises and scares.

Meanwhile, Illuminights isn't. If you saw a group of say, fire jugglers like you said, coming down the road it would get people excited to watch them. Soon, everybody starts forming a circle around them and BOOM you've got a successful street show.

 

[BGWScream]

Pretzel, that's a great idea. I'm going to my first Illuminights this year. I would love to see that happen. Kind of like a roaming cirque de soliel.

 

[Zachary]

Wow, that's such a good idea, it's almost like it's mine.

You got that vibe too? He did a good job of summarizing our ideas though...

Anyway, yes, seeing that the roaming performer idea was mine, I think it's brilliant.

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

You guys didn't want to post it...

 

[BGW Family]

Back when Imaginique was there, some of the performers would come out and do a small show in the streets of France. They always attracted a crowd (and made a traffic jam (before they removed the steps)). It was nice to see them perform that close up and to take pictures with them.

 

[Nora]

Pretzel Kaiser

~ oh if only. I look back at how awesome all the street performers were back in the early years and would love to see it again- even if it was just for Illuminights.

~if only.

 

[Party Rocker]

The hordes didn't work for HOS because that event is based off of surprises and scares.

I actually think the hordes did really well during HOS. Sure you may have saw it coming, but most of their scares were from people running away or thinking they have past and they come up behind them. They really did do a decent job especially once they got into the groove of things.

I am all for roaming street actors instead of the shows. I believe that is the one thing that could really make the event what it needs to be.

 

[Zachary]

Just when you thought the event couldn't get any worse, it's time for a list update.

---

Ireland: New Show
Everyone knows The Legend of Killarney will be replaced this year. Nothing new here. With what is the question.

Oktoberfest: None
Wunderbarn has been completely cut from the event and everyone hired to work it has been fired. No replacement expected.

San Marco: Giardino Magico
I've heard talk of changes coming to San Marco but it sounds like it's merely an upgraded version of Giardino Magico, not a new show.

France: None
Voila! has been cut from IllumiNights 2013 presumably due to budget constraints within the Entertainment department. No replacement expected.

General: Fireworks
Fireworks should continue as they always have. Expect the same basic show that we've had since the beginning.

---

With only two shows this year, does this "event" even deserve a name anymore? I can't imagine the general public is going to go for only having two shows when they got four last year. I should also mention that, like Voila!, Wunderbarn's removal is the result of massive budget cuts the park is currently going through and there's no signs of it improving anytime soon. The story I've heard from countless independent sources is that the Entertainment department called up everyone who was assigned to work Wunderbarn and fired them all on the spot. Absolutely insane.

 

[BGWScream]

It sounds like they just need to scrap the whole event. I was interesting in checking it out but doesn't sound as much fun.

 

[Planeteer]

Can anyone here sing? We could bust out a flash mob in the middle of Oktoberfest! Make our own show!

 

[chickenking]

All of this because of two seasons of Entwined...

 

[Applesauce]

While there's no love lost from me for Wunderbarn, it's a shame that they fired everyone for it. :/

At this point, I can't predict what Entertainment is trying to do. I think it would just be better to scrap the entire event all together at the rate they're going.

If they want to make an event out of two shows and some fireworks, those shows had better make me see the light of god or something. Because, there's no way I'd ever go specifically for the event. (Not that I ever really went for the event before.)

 

[Party Rocker]

I think they are taking their least popular event and cutting it down. Cuts got to be made somewhere and I'd prefer them to cut down two shows here than cut out say three houses for HOS or cut out shows for CT.

Remember we all said we would be fine with one show and fireworks previously, it just depends on the show. Obviously a 15 minute street show is not going to work. But a full length theater show like say Imaginique would work perfect. However I feel they are going somewhere in between the two or continue the smaller of the two.

At least there are fireworks!

 

[Ben]

hmm, seems to me like this event won't last much longer,I still wish for the return of a nightly show in the RPT, fireworks are cool but, seems to me that this event is on its last leg.

As for laying off the people from Wunderbarn, that's just business, just like the government, BGW is going to make cuts if they want to make money, they are a business after all.

 

[Hoopla]

This is a stretch, but what is they added a small fountain show? Like the Belagio or World of color. It wouldn't be HUGE, but it could be something small. Like I said, it is a stretch.

 

[Ben]

This is a stretch, but what is they added a small fountain show? Like the Belagio or World of color. It wouldn't be HUGE, but it could be something small. Like I said, it is a stretch.

On the rhine? not enough space or viewing area I think.

 

[Applesauce]

Remember we all said we would be fine with one show and fireworks previously, it just depends on the show. Obviously a 15 minute street show is not going to work. But a full length theater show like say Imaginique would work perfect. However I feel they are going somewhere in between the two or continue the smaller of the two.

At least there are fireworks!

Yeah but they aren't doing a large show like Imaginique. It just sounds like they are making it smaller and trying to keep the same name. After a few years people expect minor changes here or there, just to keep things interesting. But in the end the expect the event to get bigger, not smaller.

I'd love for a nightly summer show, if it was as grand as Imaginique. But a New show in Ireland, and a slightly changed show in Italy doesn't say "grand". It clearly looks like budget cuts. Which is a problem. Budget cuts I understand, but that doesn't mean most of the public showing up, expecting something like the previous years, and what they get is two small shows and fireworks.

And I'd hate to burst your bubble, but fireworks are only enticing for so long. It was special back when they only did them for the 4th of July, so it drew a crowd. Now that they are giving them almost every day for the event, it loses it's appeal. And since they've been doing this for a few years now, It's lost even more of it's appeal.