DHS Star Wars Land announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Dropout]

OK, which would you rather visit? Mos Eisley Spaceport with the Cantina from the first movie and the rides promise? Or Generic Star Wars Spaceport with a Cantina similar to the one in the first movie and the rides promised?

First of all, Tatooine is ruled out from the start because it's a dry planet that sees no rain. Those Florida rain showers would be quite the immersion breakers. As for picking a location from the films, it's a tricky proposition, especially with endless films coming out. There is also not a single location or planet featured in every film (Tatooine comes close with 5 appearances). Harry Potter had it easier in this regard, Hogwarts is in every film, and Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley makes multiple appearances and host multiple important moments.

I was initially disappointed that we wouldn't be visiting a specific location from the films, but the more I think about the more it makes sense. They can do anything with a new planet that is a "remote trading port". The story possibilities open it up to everything from the Star Wars universe. Visitors come from all over the galaxy, so they can imagine any reason for any character having visited this location. As I said in another post, if they wanted to build a replica of the Mos Eisley Cantina, they could. The story could be the former owner of that Cantina decided to try is luck on this new planet with a cantina. Han Solo was a smuggler, maybe he frequented this planet for trading reasons. There could be a secret Rebel/Resistance base located here. They want a podracing attraction, no reason it can't be on this planet. There's also no reason a future film can't feature this place either. There are so many exciting possibilities.

 

[Baltar]

In the past few days have we got a more "definitive" guesstimation on where Star Wars Land will be exactly in DHS? The announcement day rumors were all over the place.

 

[BrianLo]

On the concept art. the outdoor queue appears to be gone, so either Star Tours is staying and they don't expect to need it for an aged attraction, or the Millennium Falcon walkthrough becomes the extended queue for the re-vamped Star Tours.

I really missed this whole discussion, but I don't know why no one said anything... the concept art is likely for Disneyland. I would not go overlaying it to DHS the same way we are doing Toy Story, it's just not representative.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Who wants to "explore" I want to sit in the booth Han sat in and drink listening that those aliens play the bong.

That booth is not visually engaging and would be no different than all of the other booths. Can you even describe the booth's aesthetic? The unique element would be the music, which has nothing to do with the place and is limited to only ever hearing one song.

For all those saying the cantina is unappealing and boring, you do realize they are building the cantina. Just dropping on the wrong planet.

The better reason is why this bothers you since you just said the highlight would be the music. Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes have already been established as a touring act that has played in various cantinas across the galaxy. Even then, lounge acts playing certain known standards/covers is not a new concept and the band their music is part of a genre. Playing "Cantina Band" on loop would just get annoying very quickly, so most of the soundtrack would have to be something you don't already know from the films.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I was skeptical about a Boba spinoff but I really would be down for a whole movie of this.

Dirty little smuggler.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

That booth is not visually engaging and would be no different than all of the other booths. Can you even describe the booth's aesthetic? The unique element would be the music, which has nothing to do with the place and is limited to only ever hearing one song.
I guess it is the concept that if you are going to build a land based on a beloved movie franchise it probably should be a place from that movie franchise. Doesn't seem to be rocket science to me.

The better reason is why this bothers you since you just said the highlight would be the music. Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes have already been established as a touring act that has played in various cantinas across the galaxy. Even then, lounge acts playing certain known standards/covers is not a new concept and the band their music is part of a genre. Playing "Cantina Band" on loop would just get annoying very quickly, so most of the soundtrack would have to be something you don't already know from the films.

Just seems to me that if you are going to build a land based on a beloved movie franchise, it should be a place from the movies.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I guess it is the concept that if you are going to build a land based on a beloved movie franchise it probably should be a place from that movie franchise. Doesn't seem to be rocket science to me.

Because themed entertainment should not be subordinate to other mediums. The Star Wars canon has long been expanded in other mediums. Shouldn't you have been bothered when Empire Strikes Back took you to Hoth, Degobah or the Cloud City because "if you're going to do a sequel to a beloved movie it should be set in places from that movie"? Star Wars is beloved, but its locations aren't that well established.

 

[Beholder]

I grew up with Star Wars and I love the original movies and the characters, however, I'm more than ok to let a new "era" begin. Having a "generic" planet allows for an unlimited mashup of original, prequel, clone wars, new films, spin offs, stand alones, and whatever else comes along. This blank canvas allows this without having to remain faithful to canon or any strict idea of what an established planet, spaceport, or locale should look like, or what it contains. It's not a film, not a playbook from George Lucas's secret manuscript on the SW universe, it's a theme park. It's an interpretation of an established idea, of how it "could" exist in a real world setting, while incorporating all the things we love, the new stuff, and the "off camera" elements. I'm excited, I don't call the shots, I'm not bankrolling this, I'm just a spectator. I will say though, as an ancient, who has enjoyed the evolution (good and bad) of the Star Wars Universe, I can't see this as anything but a positive. Good for SW, good for WDW and ultimately, good for me. That's just the way I look at this.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Because themed entertainment should not be subordinate to other mediums. The Star Wars canon has long been expanded in other mediums. Shouldn't you have been bothered when Empire Strikes Back took you to Hoth, Degobah or the Cloud City because "if you're going to do a sequel to a beloved movie it should be set in places from that movie"? Star Wars is beloved, but its locations aren't that well established.

That's a silly argument. Of course there are well established locations in Star Wars.

And that whole thing about Empire doesn't even make sense.

 

[Ignohippo]

OK, which would you rather visit? Mos Eisley Spaceport with the Cantina from the first movie and the rides promise? Or Generic Star Wars Spaceport with a Cantina similar to the one in the first movie and the rides promised?

There is nothing "generic" about this. This isn't some Disney Parks made-up land, this is a land featured predominantly in The Force Awakens (and most likely VIII and IX).

The reason you aren't in love with it is because it is brand new. If the new movie is any good, this new environment will hopefully be as recognizable ad Hoth, Tatooine, Naboo or Corruscant. And remember, TFA will have been out for 4-5 years by the time this land even opens.

Personally, my complaint isn't with this particular environment, it's that there's only one.

 

[jakeman]

Lots of talking points in here.

 

[Ignohippo]

And a lot of Star Wars locations work because they are huge sweeping vistas. Coruscant is a cool planet, but trying to represent any one small part of it in a theme park would be that interesting.

I think it could be done successfully in the same way SOA represents New York or San Francisco. San Francisco Street is tiny but works amazingly well. I think Coruscant could have worked in the same way.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Ok, I'll leave this argument and start another. Star Tours is screen based. Falcon will most likely be screen based. And if the battle ride is like Rat or even MM it will have a fair amount of screens and projections. Is this going to be a problem for you guys? You guys seem to HATE screens.

 

[lazyboy97o]

That's a silly argument. Of course there are well established locations in Star Wars.

And that whole thing about Empire doesn't even make sense.

They are known names, but they do not featured details that make for a place. Tatooine is desert. Hoth is ice. Coruscant is urban. It's all very big brushes.

The thing about The Empire Strikes Back is exactly the same thing you are saying. The film did not feature the locations from Star Wars. Why is it acceptable for a film to introduce new planets but not a theme park land? Only sticking to what was done previously just results in the typically lousy book-report rides.

 

[JohnD]

Whew, lucky you were there. We all you a debt of gratitude. The calamities you saved us all from by correcting her are unimaginably horrifying.

I hear you dripping with sarcasm. People like you were complaining this morning. I shared that it actually came up today, I did my part. And shared. What's the point of these complaints then? Don't complain then the next time someone refers to MK as "Disney World."

 

[lazyboy97o]

Ok, I'll leave this argument and start another. Star Tours is screen based. Falcon will most likely be screen based. And if the battle ride is like Rat or even MM it will have a fair amount of screens and projections. Is this going to be a problem for you guys? You guys seem to HATE screens.

If the screens are used poorly like on Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy or Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, then yes they will be a problem.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

They are known names, but they do not featured details that make for a place. Tatooine is desert. Hoth is ice. Coruscant is urban. It's all very big brushes.

The thing about The Empire Strikes Back is exactly the same thing you are saying. The film did not feature the locations from Star Wars. Why is it acceptable for a film to introduce new planets but not a theme park land? Only sticking to what was done previously just results in the typically lousy book-report rides.

It's acceptable, just odd. It's like Universal decided not to build what is known of Potter and decided to invent a new magical place and stamp Potter on it. It's like when you see a sequel and it is obvious that all the new characters were shoved in just to sell merch. It is unnecessarily contrived.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

If the screens are used poorly like on Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy or Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, then yes they will be a problem.

Gringott's has pacing issues, but to say that it is poorly done is rediculous.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It's acceptable, just odd. It's like Universal decided not to build what is known of Potter and decided to invent a new magical place and stamp Potter on it. It's like when you see a sequel and it is obvious that all the new characters were shoved in just to sell merch.

But Universal did do just that and its something they keep repeating about their approach. The books and films never mention a Muggle open house at Hogwarts, an Olivanders Wand Shop in Hogsmead, Butterbeer Ice Cream, Voldemort and Bellatrix being sidetracked by Bill Weasley and others while in Gringotts, or Horizont Alley (where some noted places were relocated). Universal also changed/corrected King's Cross station to closer match the real life station instead of using St. Pancras station like was done for the films.

Gringott's has pacing issues, but to say that it is poorly done is rediculous.

The use of screens in the attraction is very poor and contribute heavily to the pacing issues.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I'll give you Ollivander's in Hosmeade, Horizont Alley, and Carkitt Market. But they brought the stories as we know them to life. They didn't go, "We are going to build one WWoHP and can't decide on Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley so we'll just invent a totally new place, but it will be OK because we'll shove in both The Leaky Cauldron and The 3 Broomsticks, Hogwarts, and Gringott's."