Fantasmic History?

[iAmJacksDLand]

This has probably been talked about before, but I can't help but wonder. How did Fantasmic get going? Who thought of it? Did Eisner okay it? Was Sklar invovled?

It's obviously an incredible show with many great stories behind how it came to be.

Also, how much does it cost each night to run?

Thanks,
Tyler

[Andrew]

Originally posted by iAmJacksDLand
This has probably been talked about before, but I can't help but wonder. How did Fantasmic get going? Who thought of it? Did Eisner okay it? Was Sklar invovled?
It's obviously an incredible show with many great stories behind how it came to be.
Also, how much does it cost each night to run?

Check out this article by MousePlanet columnist Kevin Yee.

[Lost Boy]

It has been awhile since I read Kevin's article and I can't remember if he said anything about the creation or not. But I talked to Tony Baxter about the show shortly after it first opened and this is what I learned from him:

1. Imagineering had nothing to do with this show. It was done entirly by Disneyland.

2. Imagineering basically hates this show for several reasons:

a. They consider the set up of the show a "Bad Show" using
Walt's words. In other words, you as a guest, sitting or
standing along the waterfront, should not see workers in
normal dress and hip boots assembling the hardware
required for the show. It should be done by people
dressed in costumes or as characters who are putting
the show together for the night's performnces.
b. They had just finished adding an entire new sound system
along the riverbanks all around the island, to play the
sounds of day animals, and a night system to play night
insects and animals. It is hardly ever used as neither of
the river's boats run after 6pm when Fantasmic is on.
c. The Park got swell headed after Fantasmic was a big
success and threw the Imagineers out of the Park and
said they could do the job of creating and building all the
new attractions themselves. A few months later mgt
called the Imagineers back to retheme adventureland for
and the Jungle Cruise and to creat something "Big" for tha
area. Indiana Jones was the result, along with the new
2 story boathouse for Jungle Cruise.

There is lots more, most of which I have forgotten, but you get the picture. Fantasmic is an incredilbe show, the Imagineers love the show itself, just not the way the "preshow" is handled and a couple of other things that went wrong also don't set well with them. But, the fact remains that Disneyland built the show all by themselves. And it's a darn good show!!