Debut of Canadian Lumberjacks @ Epcot

ehhhhhhh, wasn't that exciting to me...

Oh wow, if I was in that audience, I would not have been proud to say I am Canadian (which I am). That was boring, and felt like something you'd find at some third rate local fair, not WDW. I can't believe someone thought this would be a great show to represent our country. I sure hope they improve it, or scrap it altogether.

I would imagine it's hard to find qualified, experienced Lumberjacks who are also capable and entertaining actors. Hopefully their acting abilities will improve with time and maybe they'll come up with a better script for the MC.

Good grief... what is Disney thinking???

As a fellow Canadian, I totally agree with finngirl. That show is pathetic. I'd find staring at the flowers in the garden more entertaining.

They need drums and guitars back on that stage.

Oh my - well that was ... a show.

All things put aside regarding the lumberjacks, that stage just does not do for this show. I really think that the way the stage is set up lowers the overall production value, it makes it difficult to watch, the "action" is hard to see, the audience is removed from the action and excitement instead of being part of it. They seriously need to rethink the stage. I like a lumberjack show - that was kind of sad.

I do however think that it was VERY creative of them to put "booing" in the act. That was some slick forethought to combat the possible protests of Off Kilter Fans.

not Canadian, never seen what a lumberjack show looks like. Ummm did I miss something?

Off Kilter is looking better all the time

Ha ha ha, I didn't last 2 minutes watching that!

I am Canadian and yikes!!!! I couldn't even watch the whole thing. Bad very bad!

Ah well...This will give us more time to enjoy the F&W festival..

It was their first show, I think it will get better. I can't imagine the MC will stay around, he is the owner/manager of the show.

Okay! I am not going to watch that video and hope that by the time I visit Epcot the act will have improved significantly.

That. Was. Subpar. I mean, I sincerely feel you can't do a lumberjack show on a stage. You need a lot more space for it. On an Alaskan cruise I went on when I was 9-10, my family saw a lumberjack show in Ketchikan, Alaska and believe me, that show was miles better than the Epcot one! To be fair, they had more events like log pole climbing with only a rope wrapping around the pole and my personal favorite event of that show, log rolling! But I just feel that some events and spectacles can't be shrunken down to a smaller scale because shrinking it down means the quality suffers and I do feel the quality does suffer in this case.

I'm not surprised the number of dislikes in the video and negative feedback from all the forums. What am I surprised is that people didn't boo loudly after all was said and done. Were all those people who vowed to boo the new entertainment just full of hot air after all? Maybe...maybe not. Perhaps they thought cancelling their trip was their equivalent of "booing" but not exactly proactive. Big mistake on Disney. Someone needs to make a viral YouTube rant because if that doesn't generate attention, I don't know what will.

I really don't think it's these guys fault that the show is not up to people's standards. It certainly would seem rude and out of place at Disney for people to boo them for things that are out of their control, like small stage.. The show did not thrill me but maybe they will work out the kinks, get a good banter between the lumberjacks and improve the tricks and things and it will get better. We have to remember this is just the first show.. I know people are upset about Off Kilter, but we have to remember it is not the lumberjacks' fault that Off Kilter got the boot, and booing them for a decision that was made by Disney, is not the right way to handle displeasure, in my opinion.

So continue to write those letters, post on Disney's websites and facebook and show THEM that you are unhappy... and hope that this show gets a little more entertaining in the coming weeks/months.

I never stopped log enough to see off kilter. I will spend even less time with these fellows. Really a big step down in entertainment value.

you said log enough, uh huh huh

Ugh. I was bored before they finished the ax throwing and never came anywhere close to being entertained. I actually feel bad for the performers not only are they taking the place of a very popular and much loved show but you can tell that what applause the did get was of the polite kind not the I was entertained/blown away by their talent kind.

I went to the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Facebook Page and I saw an older post where they hired performers just for Disney. Maybe they just haven't been doing it long enough.

I agree with you and I will give them a shot. They have a little over a month get improve before I get there. They are doing the show 6 times a day!

After I watched this I noticed that ABC had a "timber sports" competition on TV this past weekend. So I watched it with the hopes of being able to compare and contrast what was going on at Disney to one of the major timber sport events.

Oy vey...

I can't say that I found it that much more exciting (except for the log rolling, I really enjoyed watching the log rolling) however as far as the staging goes the competition offered some options that would improve the Disney Show.

In the competition the guys backs were NEVER to the audience, so when they were doing the two man sawing the viewers weren't watching someone's butt and could see the progress the saw was making through the wood. You actually knew who was "winning" because you could see it. Also, even though the competition had the plexiglass protection during the hot saw portion, the plexiglass that they were using on the ABC sports program didn't have that wood frame border around it, it was entirely clear - so you could see through it. The stages at the sporting event were also very well lit and not in shadow.

I still really believe that the stage and staging they are performing with is creating a big problem. The logs are place wrong for a show, the stage is too dark for the show, the shields block the view. You can't have a fun show if no one can see what's going on. I don't think Disney thought this out very well.

100% agree

if you want to see entertainment in Epcot, you are going to have to pay extra for it after hours. They are stripping the park down to bare bones.

I dont understand. please explain

Off Kilter, Mo Rockin, Voices of Liberty, The World Showcase Players, The Jamminators, PUSH, etc. They are all gone. And if the lumberjack show is any indication, they're replacements are a huge step down. However, if you pay extra at Epcot for the After Hours offerings, you can get music, bands, parades and DJs.

Nothing is a coincidence at WDW.

I also think it is interesting that they have removed acts that encourage a drinking/social "party" vibe - that area of Epcot was always a spot to grab a brew and listen to music. Folks may keep walking now - wonder what affect it may have on sales at the outdoor carts?

Voices of Liberty and Jammitors aren't gone.

I see. I will keep a look out for such offers while I am there this November. Thanks for the insight.

I was just about to say that..Some friends of mine are there right now and Voices of Liberty are still singing their Acapella hearts out...

I believe that Fide & Drum are gone as of last week, right?

I watched the lumberjack show all the way through and as I've never seen something like this before, it was interesting for a one-time watch, but there is no re-watchability here at all. As a frequent WDW visitor, that's something that is very important to me. I was disappointed that they didn't do any log rolling, but maybe that's the tie-breaker? Having never actually seen Off Kilter, I can't really compare, but I will agree with you all that in total, I am underwhelmed by this act. I would not put it on par with my favorite world showcase acts--Serveur Amusant in France, the acrobats in China, and Sergio the Juggler in Italy.

I meant fife and drums-sorry

Jamminators were all but gone- did THEY manage to get a contract extension? They must be working for peanuts