Former VP Details Original Star Wars Land Plans

[doctornick]

An endless desert with no trees, no water, and no rain is. And I certainly wouldn’t want a land with just flat stucco walls.

Even as someone who has supported the idea of a Tatooine based land, I would agree that it would not be the most aesthetically pleasing.

I fail to see how any of this is news. Wasn’t this exactly what Jim Hill was saying SWL was going to be 7 years ago?

Honestly, when I first read this thread, I thought the same thing. It's been long rumored that Tatooine was considered as a setting and the Cockerall interview confirms that I guess - but insiders here have stated it before. That Echo Lake was the originally planned site for SW at DHS is long known. The OP added in some talk of other plans but absent the context of those plans -- like where they were in the development/approval stage - they just sound like blue sky stuff to me that was never finalized. We knew there plans for an indoor Jedi training concept, for example.

I guess the "new" information is that Kathleen Kennedy got into Iger's ear and encouraged using the timeframe of the sequel trilogy as the setting for the land which is about the most unsurprising reveal I've heard about WDW in a while. Of course she would have wanted the land to be complimentary to the films that were slated to come out in upcoming years.

 

[Darth Snips]

@Magic Feather Are able to share any details on this? I saw you mention on the IU forums that you know some info about this proposal.
Of course, I understand if you can't say.

 

[doctornick]

As an aside, can anyone who knows details talk about why they shifted from using Echo Lake for Star Wars to doing the LMA/Backlot area? I recall that it was because it was felt the later space could be developed more quickly and so it would be closer in development time to Anaheim's schedule. And I would guess Echo Lake would have taken longer because it would have needed additional parking completed first so that the bordering parking lot would be able to be used for construction. Is that right?

 

[412]

Tatooine wouldn't have worked, if for no other reason than Orlando's afternoon rainstorms.

 

[deWild]

Read through this, then go back through my history and see if this doesn't line up 100% with what I said, even down to the original location of the cantina. And do you know why people normally can't tell this sort of thing unless it's anonymous? Because you'll be blacklisted in the entertainment industry, and you run the risk of forgetting an NDA in small print somewhere on an initialed paper from 15 years ago.

Former Disney World VP: Kathleen Kennedy Pushed for 'Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge' to be Based on Sequel Trilogy

There's been a disturbance in the Force.

www.piratesandprincesses.net

Is it entirely plausible that Disney (long-term) ultimately goes with a two phase land at WDW? Hear me out -

Indy needs to go. We’ve known this for a while and it’s shelf life has run its course. The whole echo lake area could use a major overhaul. Same with Star Tours. It’s still a fun attraction, but why have separate areas? So, in effort to “right the ship” after mixed reviews from the Sequel trilogy and backlash for not using the original trilogy for a Star Wars land, create a second area that repurposes Echo Lake into another planet. I don’t know if Tatooine has enough to build on, to be honest. The cantina, obviously, but what else? Maybe a pod racing attraction, but it could be too similar to the other rides that have screens. That’s why I think Endor or Yavin 4 could make more sense. It would continue a forest-esque planet theme from Batuu and be an easier transition than a desert. Then add a speeder bike attraction and let the Ewoks roam free.

I’m sure this will never happen, but that’s what forums are for, right? To discuss the what if’s, ands, and could be’s. It seems pretty logical from a fan perspective. And you could connect the two with that Jedi Temple concept where there is no true “era”.

@realBobChapek, I wish you had the guts (and hair) to do it. But you won’t because you’d rather be bald than bold.

*Side note, Tatooine makes more sense from a continuity standpoint since it was featured in each of the trilogies. I’d love to see them make it work.

 

[wedenterprises]

I wouldn't mind something underwater, similar to how they do 20,000 Leagues in Japan. Just no more simulators for a while. I think they really overestimated who would want to pilot the Falcon, when you already have a SW simulator right next door. It's hard to swallow two.

A variation on 20,000 leagues in Tokyo would be amazing

 

[Kate F]

For the 1,000,000th time, talking about my hair is OFF LIMITS!

Talking about something that doesn’t exist is off limits?

 

[Fsunolekrw]

First off I just want to say I am very happy about what we got. I really enjoyed Galaxy’s Edge when my family and I visited over Christmas and expressed as much in a review/trip report in another thread. BUT...

after reading this A) they got their timeline off about 50 somethings only wanting an OT land. Early 40’s here, born the year ANH came out. They forgot that until 1999 there were no new films to speak of. You have A LOT of people who’s young, teenage, and young adult years fall within that window. Most of them are the ones paying right now (when the parks are open) for their family’s entrance into the parks. There are multiple generations who have dreamed of stepping up to the bar at the Mos Eisley cantina, most of them since before they were even old enough to order a drink. Then to get to see the Falcon in docking bay 94. Smuggler’s Run could have easily been worked into that. Does it limit the setting somewhat, yes it does but Mos Eisley could have been expanded on further as we only see limited parts of it in the films.
B) Kathleen Kennedy as has been discussed many times over has damaged many people’s vision of Star Wars, for some to such an extent that they only consider the OT as real Star Wars. Maybe this is a hindsight 20/20 thing but most people I’m sure don’t think they should have been taking their direction on this from her.
C) Plausible that after Iger saw the dallies from TFA he thought the future looked so bright for the new films they definitely had to base the new land on them and that would be understandable. It was the one film in the new trilogy that can hold up in some way to the originals (even if it does rip off ANH in a lot of ways). Who knew what the future films held in store then, once again hind sight is 20/20.

So do I wish we had a Star Wars Land based on the OT with all of the beloved locations everyone knows? Sure I do! Just the thought.

I am glad they decided not to put it where Echo Lake and 50’s Prime Time are, would of hated to have lost those. It’s an iconic area that ties in with Hollywood and Sunset Blvds. I am thankful for what we have and do love this new land but....man what could have been.

 

[Rteetz]

I would've probably enjoyed the original plan but I still very much enjoy what we got. As a younger SW fan I see what Kennedy was saying that there is whole future ahead not to just stick with Tatooine or whatever. The new trilogy is what got me involved. I have been to celebration now, I have read books, I have watched the TV shows. Is the new trilogy perfect? No of course not. You can critique the originals and the prequels to no end too. So much is built on nostalgia. I for one am thrilled with what we got in RotR.

 

[deWild]

For the 1,000,000th time, talking about my hair is OFF LIMITS!

Toupee, I mean, touché.

 

[Imagineer45]

I enjoyed the LMA show when it was around, but I am much happier that they removed it for Star Wars instead of removing the entire Echo Lake section. It would have completely taken over the park to have Star Wars shoved in your face the moment you entered and disrupted the LA/Hollywood theming that does exist at the front of the park. The back of the park is perfect. My only location complaint is the Toy Story Land transition, as it is much worse than the Grand Avenue transition. In an ideal world, they would have made people board transports to enter the land (imagine Rise of the Resistance but Galaxy's Edge instead of the hanger), but that would have been such a capacity nightmare I understand them not doing it.

I am honestly fine that they chose to make a new planet. Star Wars emphasizes exploring new planets in every movie, so there is no one place that fits the whole series. Mos Eisley probably does it best, appearing in the prequels, originals, and Mandalorian, but it is purposely boring other than the inside of the cantina. I also think a new planet was the right move because it gave them the opportunity to just jam everything in there with no regard for a timeline Harry Potter style instead of having to say "This is Mos Eisley in 20 BBY" or something, but they squandered this opportunity and forced Galaxy's Edge into a set time. This truly is an easy fix and they could do it now, but I suspect they do not want to abandon the idea yet. The complaints about a lack of droids and aliens that have been mentioned countless times are also valid, but that can always be added later and is not a land specific complaint, as Chapek probably would have cut it from Mos Eisley too.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I fail to see how any of this is news. Wasn’t this exactly what Jim Hill was saying SWL was going to be 7 years ago?

In that same interview, Jim Hill also got slapped down when we learned that the Monsters Door Coaster was definitively slapped down as soon as it was proposed, yet, he kept the rumor alive for years and years.

 

[No Name]

The last part of Steve’s article makes little sense. Leave the back of the park essentially unused for when they decide to do something with it in ten or 30 years? And is a Pixar land a foundationally strong idea that anyone should be advocating for? Legitimate arguments in favor of the Echo Lake location are that it would’ve been adjacent to Star Tours and probably kept LMA around instead of IJ.

Still, I think the choice they ultimately made, in regards to location, was definitely the right one.

 

[Giss Neric]

Does it matter anymore? If Tatooine was built with the same amount of shops and restaurants, people will still call it a big overpriced shopping area. If Tatooine was built but with lacking/no streetmostphere, people will still complain that it's dull. It all boils down to the attractions. I'm very contented that Rise of the Resistance was built and an "okay" Smugglers Run.

 

[marni1971]

The last part of Steve’s article makes little sense. Leave the back of the park essentially unused for when they decide to do something with it in ten or 30 years?.

Like a Monsters Coaster and a Cars darkride?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The last part of Steve’s article makes little sense. Leave the back of the park essentially unused for when they decide to do something with it in ten or 30 years? And is a Pixar land a foundationally strong idea that anyone should be advocating for? Legitimate arguments in favor of the Echo Lake location are that it would’ve been adjacent to Star Tours and probably kept LMA around instead of IJ.

Still, I think the choice they ultimately made, in regards to location, was definitely the right one.

Grouping all of Star Wars together would have made for a better park, imho. Losing echo lake wouldn’t be ideal, I like that area, but the only attraction that would have been lost is Indiana Jones.

We lost the tram tour, Lights Motors, Streets of America which allowed for Osborne Lights, the earful tower, and the ability to do quality fireworks shows.

I do agree that having Star Wars in your face as you enter the park would not have been totally ideal.

 

[Little Green Men]

Grouping all of Star Wars together would have made for a better park, imho. Losing echo lake wouldn’t be ideal, I like that area, but the only attraction that would have been lost is Indiana Jones.

We lost the tram tour, Lights Motors, Streets of America which allowed for Osborne Lights, the earful tower, and the ability to do quality fireworks shows.

I do agree that having Star Wars in your face as you enter the park would not have been totally ideal.

I highly doubt they would've survived regardless of where SWL was

 

[WEDway Inc & Company LLC]

Like a Monsters Coaster and a Cars darkride?

Is that something that’s even being considered at this time?

 

[marni1971]

Is that something that’s even being considered at this time?

Monsters still pops up. Cars ride seems dead.

 

[marni1971]

Former Disney World VP: Kathleen Kennedy Pushed for 'Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge' to be Based on Sequel Trilogy

There's been a disturbance in the Force.

www.piratesandprincesses.net

Imagine that.