Just saw Finding Nemo at WDW yesterday - 3rd day of previews

[ProducersFan]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 10:38am

Hi all! I searched and couldn't find any other threads from people who have actually seen the show, so I thought I would add my personal review.

I saw the 12:30 show yesterday, which was about the show's 5th performance - they are only running 2 shows/day this week with it being dark on Tues and Sat, then moving up to 4 shows/day next week. This is all very soft opening with performances that could be cancelled within minutes of starting. Beginning in mid-November, the show will still be in previews, but not as soft and will have a more definite schedule. The official opening looks like it will be in January.

I went with two of my friends who work the new Nemo attraction at Epcot, so we were all familiar with "Big Blue World" beforehand. But the rest of the songs are adorable. Nemo's solos in "Tank Gang" are so saddeningly sweet. There's a great innocence in the lyrics, but it still retains that great Lopez wordplay with simple rhymes but clever phrases. My favorite was the song that Crush sings, although it was a little hard to hear and hopefully they will fix the mic issues.

The puppets are absolutely breathtaking and amazingly well done. The puppeteers/actors operate the mouths as they talk and there's a real fluid motion to it. I know a lot of people were getting annoyed that you could see the actors, but just like TLK you forget the dual nature after a minute. Great choreography and the actors are fantastic at manuvering the various puppets. Each shark takes 2 people to operate (Bruce has 3 at one time) but it works so well.

The story has been trimmed to around 35-40 minutes, but it is well-paced with some great jokes thrown in between scenes (particularly the scene where the different creatures are passing along Marlin's story). Yet unlike the boring BatB show at MGM, this show doesn't feel like a rehash of the movie. It stands alone as a great show that takes the movie's plot and makes it a little unique.

Yes, it's a little cheesy and silly at times, but it's also an amazing theatrical show. It's theme park-level but it's still great entertainment. I hope everyone gets a chance to see it - I personally am planning to go back many times during the tweaking process. And I can't wait until the cast recording (which probably won't be until January).

[timote316]

Posted: 11/9/06 at 11:01am

I'm a sucker for the Disney theme park shows. I believe I saw Festival of the Lion King at the Animal Kingdom like 4 times when I went a few years ago, in addition to seeing the BatB show you mentioned twice.

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 8:59pm

wait...there's going to be a cast recording?

[Broadway Dancer]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 9:09pm

I wouldn't be surprised if Disney released it some way, because it's full of original music (unlike the other shows playing in the parks). Thanks for the review, I'll be seeing this in June, and it's nice to hear positive things about it.

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 9:46pm

My friend auditioned for it.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 11:06pm

I'll probably see it when I go to Disney in April.

I've seen all the shows at the Disney parks...I'm a loser that way.

[Broadway Dancer]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 11:37pm

Don't worry, I've seen them all multiple times, since I've been to Disney World 23 times. Most of the people I go with don't want to see the shows, but I always insist on it. I heard that guests aren't allowed to record this show, but I wonder if that's just for the preview period.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/11/06 at 1:43am

It sounds great. So, are the actors doing all the singing or is it recorded? Is there a pit band or what?

[Kungaloosh1937]

Posted: 11/11/06 at 1:47am

It's an entirely Equity singing cast, with a tracked score.

[ProducersFan]

Posted: 11/11/06 at 10:12am

From what I've heard, there will be no recording (audio, video, or still) allowed by the audience at all - even after the show is offically open. That is all subject to change of course, but I wouldn't be surprised if it stayed like that. Of course, I'm sure people will find ways around that, as they always do.

Updated On: 11/11/06 at 10:12 AM

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 11/11/06 at 10:14am

i think there will be a cast recording also- they recorded "Festival of the Lion King", so i don't know why they wouldn't record this

i hope to see it when i go to Disney in a few weeks :)

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 11/11/06 at 10:49am

I still think everything about it sounds adorable/cute.
It probably is too.

Maybe Disney will take it to Broadway eventually. (Don't bite my head off for saying that, lol)

[jasonf]

Posted: 11/11/06 at 10:50am

I hope they release it -- even if it's just in the parks -- since I plan to go back next summer! :)