Galactic Starcruiser: DLR Opinions

[GimpYancIent]

I'm speaking generally of the "Disney doesn't understand their business" / "Disney has lost their way" / "Walt would be so disappointed" / "They're too greedy" set of people.

At the point that you're basically poking fun at the people that could like this thing, you've lost the point.

I agree with Disney straying from its founding core ideals in pursuit of profits and following a cold business corporate model. It is all very disappointing. The nostalgia is now only in memories since the parks have been steadily redone or changed, the pricing is ridiculous while services are lower in quality. The fans, customers / guests are very disappointed, disillusioned and sad but raging? NO. I see folks moving on to other entertainment and venues that fill the needs better than Disney. Rage is too strong a descriptor for what is going on people are being expressing themselves strongly yes, but Rage No.

 

[Practical Pig]

Instead, I'm going to talk about how low Disney's once-vaunted standards have become. Like how they have put all the CM's in this "immersive adventure" in cheap, shapeless, meaningless uniforms like this that look like a dental hygienist in an Ohio strip mall instead of a tailored and luxurious looking employee on a fancy galactic spaceliner. Or do you think this is actually good?

When I look at those, I'm reminded of when I was 21 working as a room service waiter at a Red Lion Inn wearing the company uniform jacket. The criteria for issuing the uniform wasn't whether it fit, but whether you could put it on. Even though I was a total stud back then , much lumpishness ensued.

 

[TP2000]

When I look at those, I'm reminded of when I was 21 working as a room service waiter at a Red Lion Inn wearing the company uniform jacket. The criteria for issuing the uniform wasn't whether it fit, but whether you could put it on. Even though I was a total stud back then , much lumpishness ensued.

I love that story! I'm sure you wore it well.

And yet, Disney used to be so different. They used to outfit their CM's, especially the CM's in highly themed and top-end locations, in uniforms that were at such an obvious step above the competition or comparable industry. But no longer. Not even in expensive "immersive adventures!" like the Starcruiser.

Speaking of Red Lion, I heard at a recent gathering that Red Lion abandoned their property near Disneyland on Harbor. They still have a presence in the Northwest, but one of their hotels on the Columbia River in Vancouver caught fire recently. Red Lion used to be a uniquely Western hotel chain that always did a fine job. You don't hear much about them any more though; I think they got swamped by the Hilton and Marriott mega empires in recent years.

 

[Practical Pig]

And yet, Disney used to be so different. They used to outfit their CM's, especially the CM's in highly themed and top-end locations, in uniforms that were at such an obvious step above the competition or comparable industry. But no longer. Not even in expensive "immersive adventures!" like the Starcruiser.

I remember and lament.

 

[CaptinEO]

RLH Completes Sale of Red Lion Hotel Anaheim for $21.5 Million

DENVER, March 10, 2020 -- RLH Corporation (NYSE:RLH) announced today that it has closed on the sale of its Red Lion Hotel Anaheim for $21.5 million in gross proceeds. Red Lion Hotel Anaheim was wholly owned by the Company and unencumbered by a mortgage. Proceeds after broker fees and customary...

www.hotel-online.com

 

[chadwpalm]

Oh wow. I've stayed at that Red Lion a couple of times. It's a convenient walk to the Toy Story buses. I hope whomever takes over that property takes the time to spruce it up and make it a nice place to consider staying at again.

 

[el_super]

I disagree with your last point.

That's something you will eventually have to reconcile. If you don't care for Disney, and you don't care for Disney fans, what is the point of your involvement with the company any longer? As long as the fans are happy, Disney will keep doing what they are doing, and you will be left in the cold.

 

[TP2000]

RLH Completes Sale of Red Lion Hotel Anaheim for $21.5 Million

DENVER, March 10, 2020 -- RLH Corporation (NYSE:RLH) announced today that it has closed on the sale of its Red Lion Hotel Anaheim for $21.5 million in gross proceeds. Red Lion Hotel Anaheim was wholly owned by the Company and unencumbered by a mortgage. Proceeds after broker fees and customary...

www.hotel-online.com

Thank you! This was just some cocktail party chatter from some folks in commercial real estate. The topic was how turbulent the local market now is and how dominated it is by the Big Three hotel players. Red Lion used to be a solid middle-market player with a nice style on the West Coast, but it's really faded.

Their former property on Harbor next to the Toy Story lot is a good location. It deserves investment.

 

[Californian Elitist]

That's something you will eventually have to reconcile. If you don't care for Disney, and you don't care for Disney fans, what is the point of your involvement with the company any longer? As long as the fans are happy, Disney will keep doing what they are doing, and you will be left in the cold.

What?

 

[el_super]

What?

I think suggesting that Disney fans, or any Star Wars fans that might like this, are cringy / buffoonish / infantile is taking this a little too far. It's one thing to say that you don't think it's for you, but it's another thing to insult people who may like this, for just being different from you.

It moved from reasonable critique to just bashing a concept you didn't like and didn't fully understand.

That underpinning of "Disney isn't for me" anymore you keep expressing is something you are eventually going to need to figure out. You can't keep engaging with something that is continually disappointing you.

 

[Parteecia]

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Disney's live-in theme park, could change how we vacation

It may be the most ambitious Disney theme park endeavor since Disneyland: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, a live-action role-playing game for the 1%.

www.latimes.com

I enjoyed reading a different take on it. I'm sorry I wasn't able to visit the Adventurers Club. I'm also reminded of the soap opera restaurant that was briefly open at DCA. Personally I tend to seize up around strangers so interactive doesn't work well for me. Wish it did.

Having said that, I still remember moments of magic created for me by cast members even after many years. I guess that's the point.

 

[DrAlice]

I just don't see how this is a long-term success at the price they are asking. While it isn't for me, there are people that will enjoy this and have the means to go experience it once. However, unless Disney is willing to invest in new story lines*** regularly, how do you keep people coming back to this? Without repeat visitors, are there enough people into this very niche type of entertainment (that can also afford it!) to keep it going long term? I don't think so, but maybe I'm just not plugged into that part of life.

*** IMO, current Disney doesn't behave like a company willing to invest in new story lines.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

I hear you, however I feel that may offer us a shred of possibility. Hollywood Studios is unlikely to ever receive walk around or in land entertainment because it might cannibalize the offerings on the Starcruiser. At Disneyland there is no alternate draw for such characters or shows, so we might see such things come to the land at some point.

You will see them at DL in just a few weeks - at an upcharge event. Star Wars Nites at the park in May. I'm sure whatever is offered there will be exactly what the area needs on a daily basis - shows, characters, LIFE in all the quiet zones plus special food, merch and themed experiences. It's an upcharge, but a more "affordable" one.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

It's occurring to me, though I made a somewhat related comment earlier in the thread - people who are finding this experience sterile, "cringe" and "lame" and essentially thinking it beneath them also had the same reaction to Avengers Campus. And those of us who enjoy Avengers Campus like the place for the same reasons certain Star Wars fans enjoy the Starcruiser experience -

If I was staying in a Marvel *interactive* hotel - I'd expect to experience things like: slinging webs with Spidey, learning magic with Doctor Strange, weapons training with the Dora Milaje, seeing the heroes take down some villains in some kind of action show, attending a dance party with Star-Lord, and other character experiences/meets. I'd love lots of little Easter Egg references to the Marvel Universe throughout the place. I'd want to hear Marvel music piped in constantly. I'd swap out the quick service big and little food from Pym's with a table service/buffet in Asgard (ala Akershus or Biergarten in Epcot) and call it a fabulously fun experience. Which... other than the table service... I get any day of the week at Avengers Campus. Which is probably why I enjoy it there immensely. And people just looking for cool thrill ride E-ticket experiences don't find much there that's "worthy" of their time to steal one of Thor's favorite words. Because we enjoy different things.

I think most people seeking a $6000 hotel experience are (understandably) expecting a deluxe accommodation, rather than one that can be lived daily in a theme park already or experienced (as noted in my post above) at a $150 party night. Heck, if I had the $6000 for a resort stay, I'd probably rather stay at the deluxe Art of Marvel *non-interactive but GORGEOUSLY decorated* hotel in Paris. The unique suites there look amazing. But I'd still then happily spend my days at Avengers Campus there with all the characters.

I think the disconnect is offering a 2-day "party night" experience at a deluxe hotel rate. If you're looking for a party night, you're generally not looking at the Four Seasons. If you're looking at the Four Seasons, you're generally not looking at a party night. Other than a very small select group that this hotel may or may not wind up succeeding in serving well.

 

[Californian Elitist]

It's occurring to me, though I made a somewhat related comment earlier in the thread - people who are finding this experience sterile, "cringe" and "lame" and essentially thinking it beneath them also had the same reaction to Avengers Campus. And those of us who enjoy Avengers Campus like the place for the same reasons certain Star Wars fans enjoy the Starcruiser experience -

I don’t think anyone has claimed that this experience is “beneath them.” Just that it’s simply not for them. That’s not necessarily the same thing.

 

[Parteecia]

I liked the reaction from the reporter who loved it. I like Mousertainment's take on an Avengers version. I guess we'll see if enough people are interested at that price point. The reporter did mention that there were many stories going that he didn't get a chance to experience.

So while it's not for me, I'm seeing it with more understanding because of the way my late boyfriend viewed my trips to the park. He hated the Disney Machine as overpriced and fake. I will happily admit that part of the reason I paid a lot for an annual pass was to spend time in a safe familiar environment where I could play and cast members had to be nice to me. Non-Disney lovers thought paying that much for a pass was crazy.

The Star Cruiser just kicks it to a much higher level, which the article also says they admit is a gamble.

 

[ParkPeeker]

I don’t think anyone has claimed that this experience is “beneath them.” Just that it’s simply not for them. That’s not necessarily the same thing.

No one’s going to explicitly say it, but the thought is there through the language and statements. Anyone honest with themselves can look back and see it throughout the thread, assuming no one edited anything out.

 

[mickEblu]

No one’s going to explicitly say it, but the thought is there through the language and statements. Anyone honest with themselves can look back and see it throughout the thread, assuming no one edited anything out.

There has been nothing stated indicating people think that those participating in the Starcruiser are “beneath us.” if someone is taking it that way I’d argue that’s their own insecurity coming out.

 

[Californian Elitist]

No one’s going to explicitly say it, but the thought is there through the language and statements. Anyone honest with themselves can look back and see it throughout the thread, assuming no one edited anything out.

You guys are seeing what you want to see. The language suggests and outright states that this experience isn’t for us because of finances, not being into the role playing, etc. Some of us even talked about what we did like about the hotel. So to say that we think it’s beneath us doesn’t make sense.

It seems that some of you are irritated with the majority opinion here.

 

[ParkPeeker]

You guys are seeing what you want to see. The language suggests and outright states that this experience isn’t for us because of finances, not being into the role playing, etc. Some of us even talked about what we did like about the hotel. So to say that we think it’s beneath us doesn’t make sense.

It seems that some of you are irritated with the majority opinion here.

I disagree that it stops at “not being into role playing.”

Edit to add:

There has been nothing stated indicating people think that those participating in the Starcruiser are “beneath us.” if someone is taking it that way I’d argue that’s their own insecurity coming out.

I disagree, but I clearly don’t have the same definition as y’all do of what it means when someone thinks something is beneath them. Because Mousertainment basically had it all there already. My mistake responding to Raven as I have nothing more to add to Mouser’s post