Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Getting into the swim of ‘Rivers of Light: We Are One’
Theme Park Ranger the surface of the water. But I had forgotten about the barges with stainedglass-esque animals, which make their own grand entrances early in the program. They don’t have as many tricks as the blossoms, but they sure are showy.
■ It’s difficult to determine which images on the water screens are new for “We Are One.” Once you’ve seen Disney’s projections on Cinderella Castle, Tower of Terror, the Chinese Theater and beyond, the memory gets blurry. Among the featured films in the Animal Kingdom show are nature-driven animations including “Tarzan,” “Moana,” “The Lion King,” “Pocahontas” and “The Jungle Book.” (Of course, the appearance of a certain clownfish is greeted with young shouts of “Nemo!”) ■ People sitting near me are impressed. There are oohs and aahhs for the initial launches of water, the rainbow projections and all the floats, like they don’t have that every night in Peoria. “Those guys are good,” says a woman behind me. Her surly preshow mood (“C’MON, START ALREADY!”) has lifted.
■ Clearly, we locals can be spoiled by nightly blowouts.
■ Still, I find myself squinting to figure out which animation is on the other side of the lagoon. Rushing water isn’t an ideal viewing surface. (Sometimes identical images appear on the sail of the barges, and they’re crisper.)
■ Unlike the original version of “Rivers,” there are no humans seen. (They were cut a while back.)
■ Definitely on my like list: the motion of the lotus blossoms, which reminds me of the June Taylor Dancers (Kids, ask your nana), and the rippling fire-ography near the end, after the tower emerges.
■ I’m back on those colorful animal floats, which I’d pay to see just traveling down the street. Night parade anyone? (CoughBeFairToFloridaCough).
■ Granted, I’m more of a pyrotechnics kind of guy. But I like that this is something a little different for Disney: a nice, mellow, end-of-day event. It fits the tone of Animal Kingdom. And while we might consider driving out for “IllumiNations” at Epcot or “Happily Ever After” at Magic Kingdom, it doesn’t always have to be about us. Gasp! Maybe this isn’t for us. (CoughDisneySkylinerCough).
■ There’s more mellowness on the way out, with Tree of Life Awakenings projections, including a new one that’s inspired by “The Lion King” story.
■ Math tells us that if “Rivers of Light” runs as long as “IllumiNations,” it will close in the year 2037.