Local Disney fans and fans of all things immersive who were looking forward to stepping into the upcoming Immersive Disney Animation Experience in Houston are out of luck.
Lighthouse Immersive Studios, the production company behind the highly anticipated Immersive Disney Animation Experience, announced that the Houston shows set to July 1 through September 3 at White Oak Station have been cancelled as of Tuesday, June 20.
The news first came from the local public relations company assisting in the Houston event, who contacted CultureMap. The national PR firm representing Lighthouse Immersive later confirmed the cancellation.
"Lighthouse Immersive decided it will not open its production of Immersive Disney Animation in Houston," Nick Harkin, a PR representative for Lighthouse Immersive, tells CultureMap. "We are currently working on contacting our guests and issuing refunds for ticket purchases, as taking care of our guests is our primary goal at the moment."
As CultureMap previously reported, this new immersive experience offered guests the opportunity to belt out their own version of "Let It Go," singing like Elsa in Frozen, step into Maribel's casita from Encanto or be at Pride Rock when Rafiki presents Simba.
A premium ticket provides a special wristband that lights up at different points during the exhibit, allowing visitors to be part of the show.
Sweeping through Disney animation's centennial of movies, the projection experience brings exhibit goers into an array of Disney classics, from Peter Pan and Pinocchio to the studio's recent hits. The projection show's responsive floor design moves with the audience, creating a 360-degree immersion that makes guests feel they are inside the art.
In a particularly show-stopping moment, the Gazillion Bubbles special effects team fills the 500,000 cubic feet of galleries with bubbles. Music from a century of Disney animated movies, lights and more take imagination to a whole new level.
Immersive Disney Animation Experience has already received rave reviews in other cities and markets. Here in Houston, locals packed the company's wildly popular exhibits that included The Original Immersive Van Gogh, Immersive Frida Kahlo, and Immersive Monet & The Impressionists.
Fans are encouraged to check the official event site for any additional information. CultureMap will update this developing story.
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Initial reporting by Holly Beretto.
Photo by Kyle Flubacker/Disney
The Immersive Disney Animation Experience is so enchanting you won't be able to let it go.
