Did Disney improperly time SW:GE Launch?

Disney Irish

Disney Irish

Premium Member
nesboy43 said:
I was thinking about this the other day. Disney’s Star Wars really hit a peak around the time of Force Awakens launch. This is when interest was at a high. Even Rouge One did very well, albeit slightly below expectations, but it still made a lot of money. The public was very into Star Wars at this point.

With the negative reactions to the Last Jedi, and the incredibly poor box office performance of Solo, I can’t help but think Galaxy’s Edge is launchig at a low point for the series. They had way more demand if they would have launched in 2015 or 2016. As it stands I know many long time Star Wars fans who are no longer interested in the series. There is also people such as myself who are cautiously awaiting the next film but have a lot of their fandom gone. The series has reached its point of saturation and toys from recent films are found on clearance and at dollar stores.

While the area will be popular just for being a new land, I feel the timing is incredibly off. Disney should have moved back in 2012 on getting the land open by 2016. The demand for the series, characters, and merchandise, was at a much higher point.

Did Disney wait too long to launch SW:GE?
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Well Disney didn't acquire LucasFilms until December 2012, with legal change happening like 6 months later. So the earliest they could have done something was toward the end of 2013. So basically 2014 is when design would have started, which usually takes a year or two (given the rumors of them being told to go bigger). So the earliest construction would have started was summer 2015. And with all the demo that needed to be done in DL before they could start actual construction, it would have still been into 2016 before that was done. So we'd still be looking at fall 2018 opening at the earliest.

So long story short, no, they are basically doing it the quickest they could have given the size and scope of the land.

Now as to whether the timing is off, no I don't think so. The films are only the launching off point for SW:GE, its going to be a living world. A living world that most real SW fans will have a hard time resisting. And even those that are up in arms right now, well the land isn't going anywhere. So a year, two years, three years after opening you may see another rush.
 
Rich T

Rich T

Well-Known Member
Now, even though I no longer have any interest at all in Star Wars, and would have preferred no more SW beyond Star Tours in DL.... I think they moved as quickly as they could. No one can predict the future; no one could see ahead of time what a buzzkill Last Jedi would be, or that Solo would tank.

I think Disney was wise to make SWGE a flexible, generic SW locale. If EP 9 is a hit, they can play it up like crazy in the new land. If EP 9 ends up being the final death blow to the new trilogy's marketability, Disney can just fold more Original Trilogy back into it; Joe and Betty Public just want stormtroopers, wookies and lightsabers.
 
Curious Constance

Curious Constance

Well-Known Member
I think the original characters will exist for a long time. The new characters will be forgotten in no time. Timeless isn’t exactly something that’s “trending” in today’s world.

Companies keep trying to be bigger and better than the original by catering to today’s world, it’s not going to happen. Today’s world doesn’t live in reality, only lofty ideals they wish were true. So things don’t often work out as expected or desired.

But Darth Vader and Yoda, they’ll be fine.
 
George Lucas on a Bench

George Lucas on a Bench

Well-Known Member
Titanic-ioan-gruffudd-25723580-500-218.jpg


We waited too long...
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
nesboy43 said:
If you read my OP I am not saying Star Wars Land is doomed, I was just pointing out the fact that a Star Wars Land in 2016 would fare much better than a Star Wars Land in 2019. It will do well regardless, but it could have easily been an upcharge event for a long time based on how high the demand was for all things Star Wars upon the series’ return.
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Having had star wars in my life from the very beginning I see no difference regarding with SWL opens in 2016 or 2019. The demand is the same. Besides this is a theme park. Tourists go on all rides regardless of the experience.
 
Stevek

Stevek

Well-Known Member
Phrubruh said:
Having had star wars in my life from the very beginning I see no difference regarding with SWL opens in 2016 or 2019. The demand is the same. Besides this is a theme park. Tourists go on all rides regardless of the experience.
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Agreed on timing. Doesn't matter.

Cars isn't exactly the franchise Star Wars is and look at how it continues to perform. If it's good, folks will ride it...and probably would if it was mediocre given that it's SW.
 
Stevek

Stevek

Well-Known Member
jaxonp said:
Some people just want Star Wars to fail. It wont. There isn’t a franchise that comes close in popularity that Disney has and can develop.
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Yep. The crying and whining about it at this point is tiresome. If folks don't want to visit the land or are so vehemently against it, probably best to vote with their wallets and not visit the resort at all.
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
Stevek said:
Yep. The crying and whining about it at this point is tiresome. If folks don't want to visit the land or are so vehemently against it, probably best to vote with their wallets and not visit the resort at all.
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If those folks actually did that no one would notice. Those that complain the loudest about SWL in Disneyland will be the first in line.
 

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