ANAHEIM, Calif. — The new “World of Color” water show at Disney California Adventure celebrating the 100th anniversary of Disney animation commits the cardinal sin of nighttime spectaculars: It’s so boring the Anaheim theme park’s trademark “kiss goodnight” will put you to sleep.
Disney hosted an employee and media preview of the new “World of Color — One” on Jan. 25 ahead of the nighttime spectacular’s public debut two days later as part of the Disney100 celebration at the Disneyland resort.
The theme of the new water show is that a single drop of water can turn into a wave of change — but “World of Color — One” barely made a ripple on the preview night that was hampered by high winds that gusted to 75 mph in some parts of Orange County.
Quiet, contemplative, thoughtful and mellow are not the words that typically come to mind when you think of bombastic and vibrant Disney nighttime spectaculars — but that’s the best way to describe “World of Color — One.”
“One” felt more like a Zen meditation than a triumphant celebration of 100 years of all things Disney. Wind gusts shredded the mist screens that serve as the canvas for the visual projections accompanying the musical water show — but the song choices were never going to generate the powerful and epic exclamation mark that Disney fans have come to expect from a “World of Color” show.
The gentle and delicate scenes chosen from “Pocahontas,” “Encanto,” “Ratatouille,” “Coco” and “Mulan” lacked action, energy or oomph. An extended jazz improv from “Soul” typified the slow and cool vibe of “One.”
There were moments when musical jolts in the “Star Wars,” “Lion King” and “Moana” scenes seemed poised to shake the show awake only to quickly shift back into low gear.
The show’s highlight was an Avengers segment that featured a spinning circle of lights projected on the water and around the rim of the Pixar Pal-A-Round Ferris wheel that mimicked Doctor Strange’s sling ring portals. The Avengers scene concluded with Thor slamming down his hammer and unleashing an emphatic lightning bolt.
The soaring, hopeful, inspiring and uplifting show ended as it began — with a whimper. It was hard to tell “World of Color — One” was actually over since it lacked any real finale.
The biggest disappointment of “One” is that “World of Color” has never looked better from a technical standpoint, with sharper projections, a sparkling Incredicoaster lighting package and brilliantly colorful fountains.
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