Written by Joe Lane
Published: July 20, 2004 at 9:28 AM
Most of you may have noticed that I haven't been posting articles on a regular basis. I can only attribute this to an overabundance of classes and work--both of which have hampered my theme park visits rather significantly. Classes have ended for the time being, so I'm hoping to bring my theme park reports back and rolling strong, at least until the fall semester kicks in.
JOE TOURIST – A Day In The Park With Barney
Put It Off As Long As I Could
Being an attraction and show reviewer, it means you have to ride rides or see shows that your normally wouldn't care to ride or see. That's why I was a little apprehensive about reviewing A Day In The Park With Barney, but I put my dread aside and decided it was necessary to brave the dangers to bring an informative review, which can be summed up quite easily: if you like Barney, you'll like the show. If not, then it's not worth your interest.
The queue empties into a covered pre-show area that looks upon an odd-looking house facade, covered in pipes, knobs and doors. It's home to a unique character, Mr. Peek-A-Boo (whose nickname just happens to be the same as his favorite game). There's a small song and some cute gags before we're led into the main show building.
Inside? It's a fake park, but it's done in a very convincing manner and it's also air conditioned! A lot of special effects have been added to the room to change the setting from a sunny day to a starry night, and leaves and snow fall from the ceiling at certain points of the show. There's an elevated, circular stage in the center where Barney, Baby-Bop and B.J. sing and dance.
Barney marches to the ever-popular "Barney Theme Song", dances to a number of different popular tunes, some old and some new, before wrapping up with the traditional "I Love You" song. After the show, guests exit out into Barney's Backyard, an indoor activity center for the little tykes, where they can also get their picture taken, if but briefly, with Barney himself.
Seeing A Day In The Park With Barney is like going to the dentist and leaving with a good report. Your inclination is likely to loathe the show altogether, but once it's over, you discover it wasn't as bad as you expected it to be. Unless, of course, you simply don't like going to the dentist (read Barney), in which case you just won't enjoy yourself.
The show is clearly geared towards little ones with a love for the big purple dinosaur, but even the most adoring Barney fan could become confused by the events and start to cry. The good news is there are Park Rangers (Universal employees) stationed around the room, so if your little one is demanding in their own special way that they want to leave, the Rangers will direct you to the exit. Word of caution, there is a brief moment at the beginning of the show, right before Barney appears, where the room gets dark, so little ones afraid of the dark might not favor the beginning.
I think one of the better points of the show is the absence of the school children. Their overly sunny, Ritalin-enhanced dispositions from the TV show are missing, allowing even the oldest of us to take the giant purple dinosaur seriously. I must say, the people who perform are either very patient or very much into what they're doing, and I tip my hat to the folks who work this attraction. Whether you like him or not, Barney is adored by children, and it's nice to have something to give to the toddlers.
There are more easily entertaining shows for older audiences, so on a TPI scale of 0-10, I give Barney a 6-Fair overall, but for the toddler audience, Barney easily garners a 10-Perfection for delivering exactly what the kids want.
If you have any questions or comments about A Day In The Park With Barney or any other central Florida attractions, don't hesitate to send a message my way and I'll do my best to keep you informed. Until next time, folks, keep on ridin'.
For young toddlers, and I mean kids under age three, Universal's Barney show and playground are simply the best theme park attractions anywhere. Barney's education value lies in exposing children to music, and encouraging them to sing, dance and play along. Children need to master basic listening and motor skills before they master intellectual lessons, and Barney delights many babies and toddlers with friendly, colorful images, lively songs and easy-to-imitate movement.
My biggest problem with Barney -- the TV show -- is, as Joe alluded to, the kids. I understand the value of having an audience surrogate on the show, but someone's overdirecting these kids. They're waaaaaay too slick. Which defeats their purpose, because normal kids can't identify with them as easily as they could a less stage-seasoned performer.
But Universal's production solves that problem by eliminating the kids, which are not needed as a surrogate because the kids watching are already there, live, in person. Let your kids get up and dance to Barney's songs, then sit back and drink in the frenzy of unadulterated joy around you in the room.
After the show, line up along the X-shaped stage for a quick shake of Barney's paw, then head into the Barney's Backyard play area, indoor, in the air conditioning, and with several interactive play areas that your kids can burn off their post-Barney adrenaline rush, all while developing some aural, visual or fine-motor skills.
Universal Studios Florida, once fairly derided as a kid-unfriendly destination, hit the ball out of the park with this combination. No, adults without toddlers ought not visit this show. But they have the whole rest of the park, indeed, all of Orlando, for their amusement.
I really wish that bitter teens wanting to show their alleged "maturity" and childless adults wanting to look hip, or something, would quit rating down this show. Leave it for people who've been there to rate it. And this parent proudly gave Barney's show and playground two of the very few 10s he's given anything on this site.
Let's face it, we all dislike Barney on some level. As somebody said on I Love The 90's, Barney is crack for kids, and the show is not quite of the educational variety. It does have it's value, and if a park can create a decent show around Barney without being too annoying, then I say good for them...as long as it's short. I don't think that I can sit through it for too long. Hopefully when my month old daughter gets a little older, all of this Barney crap will be gone.
The education behind Barney comes from the lessons taught in the shows and songs--imagination and creativity, manners and good behavior, movement, love, emotions and relationships and early learning skills, all very short and simplistic in design. A song about playing pretend, the seasons of the year, or loving one another may seem like goofy mush, but it's instilling ideas and concepts in young, impressionable minds. Cliche, yes, but truth. Anybody who's actually looked at Barney beyond watching satire probably would've gotten this to begin with.
That said, GAWD I hate Barney. Actually I don't much feel anything for Barney himself, but that Baby Bop and that other freak (what's his damn name?) are atrocious. And those kids! I have always said these are the kids who were picked up after being rejected for Saved by the Bell: The Elementary Years. Gag!
Still, last time I checked there were THREE rating systems, one each for adults, kids and toddlers. So if adults have seen the show and they think it sucks, shouldn't that be reflected? As it stands, with its unrealistic 8, many adults using this site for vacation planning might mistake this show as something they might enjoy. If people are zeroing it up, then fine, those should be deleted. But 1s, 2s, 3s and 4s could be realistic reviews.
Thanks for taking one for the team, brother.
Thanks in advance....
And Kenny, I'll hold ya to that dinner and drinks, although I admit I could've used the drink BEFORE going to the attraction. Where's the Reverend Jack Daniel when you need him?
Face it folks, it could've been worse...
... they could've made a Teletubbies show...
They might hear you...and you might give them IDEAS.
Anything with Barney, my eyes are closed. What's so educational about it? In the videos, you like see 6 year olds there, and at the end of the videos, it shows like 1 year olds watching! I only know that because I've been to someone's house while their 3 year old son was watching Barney.