The Disney Parks Live-Entertainment Bracket -- Round One, Day Two
Ready to vote?
Good morning, friends! (Possibly you’re reading this in the afternoon or the evening. I don’t know! But it’s morning for me.) I hope you all enjoyed the first day of the Disney Parks Live-Entertainment bracket. As a reminder, I broke down all the details about how the bracket will work in yesterday’s newsletter.
No puffed-up fanfare today, though. Let’s dive right into our four matchups of the day. Remember: you can only vote in the polls by subscribing to the newsletter, for free. And what a coincidence, there’s a button for you to subscribe right here!
(2) IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth vs. (15) Mariachi Divas: Now that IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is no more, it would be easy to say that my love of the nighttime spectacular at Epcot is purely nostalgic — if it was still here, would I favor it quite as much? Well, certainly in a matchup like this, the answer would be yes. (I enjoy the Mariachi Divas! They’re fun! But not at the same level.)
But I think the answer is always going to be yes. It’s true that IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is a sanded-down depiction of world harmony and unity, but it’s a 30-minute nighttime show, so the level of complexity is likely going to be low. To me, it’s a near-perfect fusion of music, pyrotechnics, and other special effects that Epcot is probably never going to top. You don’t need me to tell you to vote for IllumiNations, right? I hope you know what to do.
(7) Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular vs. (10) Five and Dime: This is a little tougher, but only slightly. As a red-blooded human, I of course adore the Indiana Jones films (even though I dread the prospect of one not directed by Steven Spielberg). I love the dedication to depicting practical effects in a live environment as the Epic Stunt Spectacular does at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
But I will not deny the charms of Five and Dime, a fun musical group you can watch at Disney California Adventure that lends extra charm to the Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land areas. Both are solid choices, but I will lean towards my good friend Indy. Now — as I note that even Substack appears to have a character limit on poll options — it’s time for you to vote!
(3) Golden Horseshoe Revue vs. (14) Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue: Thematically, I realize that these two live performances are very similar to each other. But this one is a feat of nostalgia. How could I not vote for the Golden Horseshoe Revue? Wally Boag is one of the peak Disney Legends to me, and his raucous performance alone in the show, as captured in the version linked above, is an all-timer. (Side note: have you also imagined a 60s-set TV show about the behind-the-scenes of constant performances like this, in the vein of prestige shows like Mad Men or Sports Night? Because I have.)
Anyway. Vote!
(6) Pixar Play Parade vs. (11) Billy Hill and the Hillbillies: I know some folks hold Billy Hill and the Hillbillies in fairly high esteem, and it’s nothing against them that I’m leaning towards Pixar Play Parade instead. But I appreciate a good parade float or ten as much as the next person, so I will vote with Sheriff Woody and his hillbillies as opposed to Billy Hill.
How about you?
I'm voting for all the small performances and groups on sheer principle. Big shows are great, but small groups are what make magic for visitors.
You love to see that tie.
And although I understand the historical significance of Golden Horseshoe, and I had a pretty good churro sundae during my visit earlier this year, I couldn’t vote against Hoop-Dee-Doo’s strawberry shortcake. Not yet, at least.