Dr. Know
Member
Musical notes from my trip to Walt Disney World, August 17-30, 2004, in no particular order... more questions than answers...
ANIMAL KINGDOM
Has the volume been pumped up on the dreadful TARZAN ROCKS? It can be heard all along the new path leading to the Everest construction area, and beyond. Presumably this won't continue when the new attraction opens, or it will be a real nuisance.
WILDERNESS LODGE
We paid our first visit to this beautiful resort, and had an enjoyable dinner at Artist's Point. Unfortunately, the boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom is not as frequent as we would have liked. After dinner, we waited for what seemed like an eternity for the boat to the park.
As for music, I noticed a fun loop of western movie music in the hotel. Does anyone have a playlist?
EPCOT
The new pre-IllumiNations loop is horrible, IMHO.
There is at least one new piece of music playing at the FOUNTAIN OF NATIONS. I didn't get to hear it all the way through, but what little I could make out sounded New Agey. Sorry I can't be more specific.
JOURNEY INTO IMAGINATION was as dead as I have ever seen it. Even though the park was crowded, NOBODY was on this ride. As a result, the Imageworks was fairly empty, and I was able to get a better listen to the music loop that plays in there than I have in the past. Just as I had thought, it is a unique synth arrangement of the HISTA theme, not heard anywhere else.
UNIVERSE OF ENERGY: The preshow films are seriously faded; the colors no longer match. This attraction features my favorite music in the parks, composed (as we all know) by Bruce Broughton. There are two orchestral versions of the main theme played in this pavilion. The "overture" plays in the preshow area just prior to the film, and during unload. This is the piece released years ago on one of the composer's promo cds. A second arrangement of the main theme, which starts slowly and builds to a dissonant finale, is played in the auditorium while the audience enters and finds their seats. I realized on this trip that this arrangement is also played in the preshow area, prior to the "overture." This version has never been released. Perhaps it might be possible to get a good recording in the preshow area, before the crowds and crying babies arrive. Incidentally, pre-recorded spiels now play during the load, instructing the audience to take their seats and watch for the sliding doors.
I just heard an interview with Bruce Broughton on Utilidors radio, in which he says that this is one of his favorite scores, and also mentions that it was recorded in England. Too bad he hasn't found a way to release it, at least on a promotional cd.
WONDERS OF LIFE: closed. Will we ever get to hear Bruce Broughton's great score to THE MAKING OF ME again?
CIRCLE OF LIFE: exit music anyone?
REFLECTIONS OF CHINA: This is the second time I have seen this CircleVision film, and it really impressed me. The score is absolutely beautiful. I would love to know who composed it. And needless to say, a cd release would be much appreciated.
Great Britain: I have always loved the area music in this part of EPCOT. This time I noticed that it includes a bright instrumental rendition of the traditional "Days of 76" tune heard in THE AMERICAN ADVENTURE. Unfortunately, all of the speakers seem to be located well out of reach.
DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS
STAR TOURS: Its rehab was abruptly cancelled just prior to our trip, so we were able to experience this slightly tired ride. My seatbelt malfunctioned, by the way, so maybe that rehab is really in order. I never noticed before, but a very long loop of Star Wars music plays outside near the Fastpass machines and in the exterior queue area. I stopped and listened for awhile, and heard Cantina Band, March of the Ewoks, and many other cues from the soundtracks to the first three films. The tracks did not appear to be edited in any way. Does anyone have a playlist?
ONE MAN'S DREAM: OK, here we go. The load/unload music by Bruce Broughton, which features Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow and Spoonful of Sugar, is now my #1 most wanted piece of unreleased park music. I have two incomplete and inept "live" recordings- what I need is something better. Anyone? Please??? We're talking Holy Grail here!
MAGIC KINGDOM
CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS: Father's mouth didn't seem to be opening fully in the first scene, which was a distraction. During one 'performance,' a cast member welcomed everyone into the auditorium and asked if we had paid attention to the preshow video. She offered free SPACE MOUNTAIN fastpasses to anyone who could identify the two brothers who wrote the score for this attraction. Needless to say, we enjoyed our bonus ride on SM!!
TIMEKEEPER: Speaking of Holy Grails- what a treat to be able to see TIMEKEEPER for the first time since 2000. I usually visit off-season when it is closed, and why this brilliant attraction is "seasonal" is beyond me. I saw it 8 or 9 times on this trip, and it was always half to three-quarters full. And people really seem to enjoy it! As we all know, the score is magnificent - one of Broughton's great unreleased efforts.
SONNY ECLIPSE: When last seen was covered with some kind of burlap bag and hidden behind a bunch of potted plants.
WISHES: I'm really warming up to this fireworks show, though I still feel that it has too much dialogue. The Wishes cd on sale in the parks now contains the final version, with slightly different narration than the version on the press cd and in the first commercial release.
You'll be relieved to know that I made some other notes on a sheet of paper that my wife seems to have thrown away...
Thanks for 'bearing with me' to the bare end...
Jim
ANIMAL KINGDOM
Has the volume been pumped up on the dreadful TARZAN ROCKS? It can be heard all along the new path leading to the Everest construction area, and beyond. Presumably this won't continue when the new attraction opens, or it will be a real nuisance.
WILDERNESS LODGE
We paid our first visit to this beautiful resort, and had an enjoyable dinner at Artist's Point. Unfortunately, the boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom is not as frequent as we would have liked. After dinner, we waited for what seemed like an eternity for the boat to the park.
As for music, I noticed a fun loop of western movie music in the hotel. Does anyone have a playlist?
EPCOT
The new pre-IllumiNations loop is horrible, IMHO.
There is at least one new piece of music playing at the FOUNTAIN OF NATIONS. I didn't get to hear it all the way through, but what little I could make out sounded New Agey. Sorry I can't be more specific.
JOURNEY INTO IMAGINATION was as dead as I have ever seen it. Even though the park was crowded, NOBODY was on this ride. As a result, the Imageworks was fairly empty, and I was able to get a better listen to the music loop that plays in there than I have in the past. Just as I had thought, it is a unique synth arrangement of the HISTA theme, not heard anywhere else.
UNIVERSE OF ENERGY: The preshow films are seriously faded; the colors no longer match. This attraction features my favorite music in the parks, composed (as we all know) by Bruce Broughton. There are two orchestral versions of the main theme played in this pavilion. The "overture" plays in the preshow area just prior to the film, and during unload. This is the piece released years ago on one of the composer's promo cds. A second arrangement of the main theme, which starts slowly and builds to a dissonant finale, is played in the auditorium while the audience enters and finds their seats. I realized on this trip that this arrangement is also played in the preshow area, prior to the "overture." This version has never been released. Perhaps it might be possible to get a good recording in the preshow area, before the crowds and crying babies arrive. Incidentally, pre-recorded spiels now play during the load, instructing the audience to take their seats and watch for the sliding doors.
I just heard an interview with Bruce Broughton on Utilidors radio, in which he says that this is one of his favorite scores, and also mentions that it was recorded in England. Too bad he hasn't found a way to release it, at least on a promotional cd.
WONDERS OF LIFE: closed. Will we ever get to hear Bruce Broughton's great score to THE MAKING OF ME again?
CIRCLE OF LIFE: exit music anyone?
REFLECTIONS OF CHINA: This is the second time I have seen this CircleVision film, and it really impressed me. The score is absolutely beautiful. I would love to know who composed it. And needless to say, a cd release would be much appreciated.
Great Britain: I have always loved the area music in this part of EPCOT. This time I noticed that it includes a bright instrumental rendition of the traditional "Days of 76" tune heard in THE AMERICAN ADVENTURE. Unfortunately, all of the speakers seem to be located well out of reach.
DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS
STAR TOURS: Its rehab was abruptly cancelled just prior to our trip, so we were able to experience this slightly tired ride. My seatbelt malfunctioned, by the way, so maybe that rehab is really in order. I never noticed before, but a very long loop of Star Wars music plays outside near the Fastpass machines and in the exterior queue area. I stopped and listened for awhile, and heard Cantina Band, March of the Ewoks, and many other cues from the soundtracks to the first three films. The tracks did not appear to be edited in any way. Does anyone have a playlist?
ONE MAN'S DREAM: OK, here we go. The load/unload music by Bruce Broughton, which features Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow and Spoonful of Sugar, is now my #1 most wanted piece of unreleased park music. I have two incomplete and inept "live" recordings- what I need is something better. Anyone? Please??? We're talking Holy Grail here!
MAGIC KINGDOM
CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS: Father's mouth didn't seem to be opening fully in the first scene, which was a distraction. During one 'performance,' a cast member welcomed everyone into the auditorium and asked if we had paid attention to the preshow video. She offered free SPACE MOUNTAIN fastpasses to anyone who could identify the two brothers who wrote the score for this attraction. Needless to say, we enjoyed our bonus ride on SM!!
TIMEKEEPER: Speaking of Holy Grails- what a treat to be able to see TIMEKEEPER for the first time since 2000. I usually visit off-season when it is closed, and why this brilliant attraction is "seasonal" is beyond me. I saw it 8 or 9 times on this trip, and it was always half to three-quarters full. And people really seem to enjoy it! As we all know, the score is magnificent - one of Broughton's great unreleased efforts.
SONNY ECLIPSE: When last seen was covered with some kind of burlap bag and hidden behind a bunch of potted plants.
WISHES: I'm really warming up to this fireworks show, though I still feel that it has too much dialogue. The Wishes cd on sale in the parks now contains the final version, with slightly different narration than the version on the press cd and in the first commercial release.
You'll be relieved to know that I made some other notes on a sheet of paper that my wife seems to have thrown away...
Thanks for 'bearing with me' to the bare end...
Jim
