Rivers of Light – Fraught with problems and persistent rumors from its earliest pre-production phases, this newest nighttime show in Disney’s Animal Kingdom got mixed reviews from Raymond, Joseph and I when we recently saw it for the first time.

Who Would Love Disney’s Rivers of Light

Originally scheduled to premier in April, 2016, Rivers of Light finally made its long-awaited and much-anticipated debut in February, 2017.  Rumors about the cause of the delay ranged from problems with the floats to mechanical difficulties to dissatisfaction with the music and/or show storyline.  Early reviews have not been favorable, but we’re a family that likes to decide for ourselves where on our attraction popularity scale each new offering falls.  We booked FastPasses so we could arrive at 8:00 pm for the 8:30 show.  The FastPass entrance to the amphitheater (in Asia near Everest) was just opening up as we arrived and we found seats easily.

There’s a pre-show for Rivers of Light that involves lights in the trees, animal noises, shadows and music.  I thought the lights were nice.  When the 15-minute show began, we were captivated by the visual effects.  Animal Kingdom’s first nighttime spectacular predictably focuses on the relationship between nature and all living things.  There are shamans on boats who do a lot of arm waving which creates some cool shadow effects on the boats’ sails.  The combination of lights, lasers, music, boats, lanterns, projections on water screens, and colorful floats sounds like an easy win – and the show itself is not bad, just not what we’ve come to expect from Disney.

Great Use of Special Effects

Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot to like.  Joseph thought it was good entertainment and was especially impressed with the visual effects.  Raymond wished it had been a little more “Disney” with familiar (or at least memorable) music or even the inclusion of some appropriate characters (Pocahontas, Jungle Book, Brother Bear, etc.)  I thought the music was pretty terrible, but the water screens, projections, and floats were fantastic.  The storyline (if you can call it that) seemed to be an overly simplistic “we are one” theme.  Based on the kids around us who were asking if the show was over barely five minutes in, I’m guessing Rivers of Light will not be popular with kids up to about age 8 or 9.

I received a survey about Rivers of Light via email after we got home and tried to be as honest as possible about what we did and didn’t like.  Hopefully Disney is planning to make some improvements.  I completely understand the need for Animal Kingdom’s nighttime show to reflect the park’s conservation message, but there’s certainly room for improvement with the music and disjointed scenes.  Go see Rivers of Light for the beautifully illuminated floats and projection effects.  Don’t expect catchy tunes or a soundtrack you’d like to purchase.

Since Megan hasn’t seen Rivers of Light yet, we’ve got FastPasses for the last week in June.  Maybe seeing it for a second time will give me a better appreciation for the music and overall message…we’ll see.

Have you seen Rivers of Light?  What did you think?  If there were children in your party, was it a hit with them?

Walt Disney World offers plenty of choices to grown-up guests looking for vacation libations.  For those of us who like trying new foods and drinks, flights have become a popular way to enjoy adult beverages while sampling new flavors.  From beer and wine to whisky, rum, and tequila, there are options all over the place! (As a mom, I feel compelled to add:  Please drink responsibly.)

Disney Vacation Libation – Flights Around the World

This list is in no way all-inclusive.  Rather like the flights featured, this selection of options is but a small sample of the many choices available in Disney’s many pubs and lounges.

Rose and Crown – I’ve described in detail the single malt scotch flight in a previous post.  I highly recommend it if you’re a scotch fan and currently priced at $20 for samples of Glenkinchie, Oban, and Lagavulin, it’s a pretty good value.   The next time we stopped by this lively bar in Epcot’s UK Pavilion, we were pleasantly surprised by the rare availability of a table.  Hot, thirsty and with plenty of time to spare, we ordered up a couple of Imperial Sampler beer flights ($12) and sat down to enjoy the atmosphere and tasty flavors of Bass, Harp, Strongbow (cider), Boddingtons, and Guinness – that’s five beers to try (5-ounce pours of each).

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto – Even if you’re not into the specialty cocktails this pub is famous for, Trader Sam’s has something for you.  The Kona Beer Flight is an excellent choice (5-ounce pours each of Longboard Island Lager, Fire Bock Pale Ale, and Castaway IPA).  Trader Sam’s also offers a Rum Flight which includes 3/4-ounce pours each of Bacardi 8-year, Pyrat XO Reserve, and Ron Zacapa Centenario 23-year.

On Our To-Do List…

La Cava Del Tequila – This very popular (but tiny) spot in Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion offers a highly touted Tequila flight that’s on my must-try list.  Described on the Menu as “La Cava Tequila Flight  22 Casa Noble Blanco, Partida Reposado, and Ambhar Añejo”.  I know next to nothing about tequila (except for a few ill-advised shots in college) and I’m interested to learn more.  Per several sources, the best time to visit this establishment is in early afternoon – could be dicey imbibing in tequila that early in the day, but I’m game.

Possibly Extinct…

Morimoto Asia – The Sake Flight may be gone now.  We loved this option during lunch last December and now it appears to have disappeared from the menu.  We thought it was a fantastic way to try different sake styles and had planned on a repeat during our Christmas week visit this year.  Maybe they’ll bring it back or perhaps if we ask the amazing wait staff will work something out for us.  At about $35 per flight, it was pricey, but we thought it was worth a special treat.

What about you?  Have you tried a flight (or more) at Walt Disney World?  What would you recommend?