Iger Confirms Star Wars Domestic Parks Presence

[lazyboy97o]

The other part of the reaction is skepticism. At this point, being skeptical of Disney is healthy. Saves you from massive disappointment when all this teasing turns out to be for gift shops, meet and greets and a C-ticket attraction. Hopefully that won't be the case. But if you don't at least prepare yourself for the possibility of Disney cheaping out, you're setting yourself up for a massive disappointment 5 years from now.

The dueling X-Wing and Tie Fighter spinners will be an incredibly detailed family experience that is unprecedented in the theme park world. If you look closely you may notice that the starships' serial numbers are actual the initials and birthdays of Imagineers!

 

[ParentsOf4]

What has the financial impact of new fantasyland been, parentsof4?

Record attendance at WDW in Q4 and decent increases over last year on a year to date basis. Can any of that be credited to FLE? Who knows. Probably more impact from foreign tourists and a recovering economy, but it didn't hurt. With FLE the MK is more packed than it already was making DHS and AK stand out even more than they already did as sore thumbs.

As you note, MK basically stole attendance from DHS and DAK. WDW attendance was up slightly for Q4. MK had record attendance for the year. WDW as a whole was essentially flat for the year, buoyed by South American attendance. (As was Universal's attendance.) Domestic attendance at WDW has been slowly declining for several years as price increases have far outpaced family income.

Financially, NFL is doing well; two new restaurants that are always 100% full. So full, in fact, that Disney felt comfortable raising prices at BOG by over 10% after being open only a few months.

Fantasyland now is, bar none, the place for families with small children to be. With a 36" roller coaster opening in 2014, it will become increasingly difficult for WDW to get those families to visit other parks for more than a few hours. Inevitably, families with small children spend half-days at the other parks and then want to return to Fantasyland. It's one of the reasons WDW is trying to discourage park hopping; MK is bursting at the seams while the other parks are becoming increasingly inefficient to operate.

NFL's success is hurting WDW other theme parks, especially DHS. It's why DAK needs Pandora. It's why DHS desperately needs Star Wars Land. With FP+, Epcot needs anything.

 

[Darth Sidious]

The dueling X-Wing and Tie Fighter spinners will be an incredibly detailed family experience that is unprecedented in the theme park world. If you look closely you may notice that the starships' serial numbers are actual the initials and birthdays of Imagineers!

I'm waiting on my Imagineering team to circle back with me on the plans to leverage one of our great brands.

 

[lebeau]

The dueling X-Wing and Tie Fighter spinners will be an incredibly detailed family experience that is unprecedented in the theme park world. If you look closely you may notice that the starships' serial numbers are actual the initials and birthdays of Imagineers!

Exactly.

I keep thinking about applying the FLE mentality to Star Wars in DHS. Where they just retheme Pizza Planet to the cantina, add a spinner, a gift shop and some Tatooine-themed toilets and call it a day. I hope they apply the same level of detail that Fantasyland got but with a lot more substance. Otherwise, I'm not all that interested.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Exactly.

I keep thinking about applying the FLE mentality to Star Wars in DHS. Where they just retheme Pizza Planet to the cantina, add a spinner, a gift shop and some Tatooine-themed toilets and call it a day. I hope they apply the same level of detail that Fantasyland got but with a lot more substance. Otherwise, I'm not all that interested.

I can see the comments now. "Star Wars is for little kids and that section of Disney's Hollywood Studios was always about little kids. It isn't supposed to be for adults and thrilling. You'd understand if you had children."

 

[doctornick]

Exactly.

I keep thinking about applying the FLE mentality to Star Wars in DHS. Where they just retheme Pizza Planet to the cantina, add a spinner, a gift shop and some Tatooine-themed toilets and call it a day. I hope they apply the same level of detail that Fantasyland got but with a lot more substance. Otherwise, I'm not all that interested.

For the FLE, more or less they added two rides, doubled capacity for another, added an plussed M&G and two popular restaurants. They also closed one ride and replaced it with another M&G. Being realistic, the main issues with the FLE is that (1) the net gain in rides was only +1 and that's discounting the closure of the subs years ago and (2) the rides are not thought to be "e-ticket" captivating adds (though we'll see how the 7DMT ends up, but it seems safe to regard it as a "d-ticket" or so).

The irony is that it seems like we will be getting something like the FLE for Star Wars -- maybe two rides (bike coaster and family ride), a interactive M&G (indoor Jedi academy), a destination restaurant (cantina) and maybe some other additions (Millennium Falcon walk through, a second restaurant). However, I'd argue if we get a FLE type expansion for Star Wars, that it would be a good thing for DHS. For starters, it will be a net gain in rides since no rides are expected to close for it. For another, the theming will become more cohesive in that area and likely more popular with most guests.

I believe the Star Wars expansion will be popular with run of the mill guests regardless. I think whether it works with the hardcore/more discerning Disney fans will be based on the quality of the attractions, not the total scope of the expansion. We'll see how it ends up.

 

[GoofGoof]

For the FLE, more or less they added two rides, doubled capacity for another, added an plussed M&G and two popular restaurants. They also closed one ride and replaced it with another M&G. Being realistic, the main issues with the FLE is that (1) the net gain in rides was only +1 and that's discounting the closure of the subs years ago and (2) the rides are not thought to be "e-ticket" captivating adds (though we'll see how the 7DMT ends up, but it seems safe to regard it as a "d-ticket" or so).

The irony is that it seems like we will be getting something like the FLE for Star Wars -- maybe two rides (bike coaster and family ride), a interactive M&G (indoor Jedi academy), a destination restaurant (cantina) and maybe some other additions (Millennium Falcon walk through, a second restaurant). However, I'd argue if we get a FLE type expansion for Star Wars, that it would be a good thing for DHS. For starters, it will be a net gain in rides since no rides are expected to close for it. For another, the theming will become more cohesive in that area and likely more popular with most guests.

I believe the Star Wars expansion will be popular with run of the mill guests regardless. I think whether it works with the hardcore/more discerning Disney fans will be based on the quality of the attractions, not the total scope of the expansion. We'll see how it ends up.

And if they propose 3 e-tickets for StarWars someone would complain that it's too much for 1 land. That they should put 1 in EPCOT or make one a Pixar theme instead. If they build what you describe for StarWars it will be wildly successful and everyone outside of the small community of Disney fanatics would love it.

 

[DeanFinder2.0]

Maybe they were for installation of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights?

I'm usually down this time of the year and I've never seen these smaller cranes. Also, lots of activity near th WDI trailer. Not saying anything is happening, just reporting what I saw =)

 

[Matt_Black]

They can do whatever they like as long as they make a Mos Eisley Cantina.

 

[doctornick]

They can do whatever they like as long as they make a Mos Eisley Cantina.

My feeling. They need to have the following: (1) Mos Eisley cantina and (2) at least 2 rides, with at least one of them being a family friendly one. I'd like to see them fill it out with more beyond that, sure, but that's the basic requirements that is necessary for this to be successful IMHO.

 

[doctornick]

It's probably worth re-linking the Micechat article from October 8, which discussed potential plans for Star Wars additions at TL in Disneyland. It's likely that whatever ends up at DHS will likely be similar to what is seen at DL. Anyhow, the article talks about....

* Millennium Falcon walk through with Chewbacca M&G
* Mos Eisley Cantina with " interactive dining/entertainment concept using the Star Wars universe"
* Speeder Bike thrill ride
* Ewok village and walk-through attraction that will house dining and shops

(There's also been talk in the past, not from that article, about an interactive show -- possibly an indoor version of the Jedi Academy with Yoda or a 4D movie -- replacing the Eo theater in DL.)

 

[Matt_Black]

My feeling. They need to have the following: (1) Mos Eisley cantina and (2) at least 2 rides, with at least one of them being a family friendly one. I'd like to see them fill it out with more beyond that, sure, but that's the basic requirements that is necessary for this to be successful IMHO.

Honestly? The Cantina is practically a no-brainer, as many folks have responded that if Disney were to add more SW stuff, that is something they'd definitely like to see.

 

[IowaHawks7]

If they were to place this in HS then I could for sure see a potential E-Ticket arriving to draw attention away from ToT and RnRC. And then further theming by adding Mos Eisley Cantina and another family ride. Maybe the E-Ticket could be a speeder bike ride? Much like the supposed Tron lightcycle coaster that was rumored?

 

[The Empress Lilly]

The dueling X-Wing and Tie Fighter spinners will be an incredibly detailed family experience that is unprecedented in the theme park world. If you look closely you may notice that the starships' serial numbers are actual the initials and birthdays of Imagineers!

I can see the comments now. "Star Wars is for little kids and that section of Disney's Hollywood Studios was always about little kids. It isn't supposed to be for adults and thrilling. You'd understand if you had children."

 

[culturenthrills]

If they were to place this in HS then I could for sure see a potential E-Ticket arriving to draw attention away from ToT and RnRC. And then further theming by adding Mos Eisley Cantina and another family ride. Maybe the E-Ticket could be a speeder bike ride? Much like the supposed Tron lightcycle coaster that was rumored?

Don't forget if they do an actual land they will need to retheme the entrance to Star Tours or it will be out of place.

 

[bhg469]

I can see the comments now. "Star Wars is for little kids and that section of Disney's Hollywood Studios was always about little kids. It isn't supposed to be for adults and thrilling. You'd understand if you had children."

Even sarcasm about those comments is making me mad.

 

[doctornick]

Don't forget if they do an actual land they will need to retheme the entrance to Star Tours or it will be out of place.

Indeed. But I've got to think that update the entrance/queue for ST would be part of any development of a fleshed out Star Wars land.

 

[Buck]

Don't forget if they do an actual land they will need to retheme the entrance to Star Tours or it will be out of place.

Eh?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Eh?

The entrance to Star Tours is set up as a set, not as the actual Star Wars universe.

 

[ford91exploder]

As you note, MK basically stole attendance from DHS and DAK. WDW attendance was up slightly for Q4. MK had record attendance for the year. WDW as a whole was essentially flat for the year, buoyed by South American attendance. (As was Universal's attendance.) Domestic attendance at WDW has been slowly declining for several years as price increases have far outpaced family income.

Financially, NFL is doing well; two new restaurants that are always 100% full. So full, in fact, that Disney felt comfortable raising prices at BOG by over 10% after being open only a few months.

Fantasyland now is, bar none, the place for families with small children to be. With a 36" roller coaster opening in 2014, it will become increasingly difficult for WDW to get those families to visit other parks for more than a few hours. Inevitably, families with small children spend half-days at the other parks and then want to return to Fantasyland. It's one of the reasons WDW is trying to discourage park hopping; MK is bursting at the seams while the other parks are becoming increasingly inefficient to operate.

NFL's success is hurting WDW other theme parks, especially DHS. It's why DAK needs Pandora. It's why DHS desperately needs Star Wars Land. With FP+, Epcot needs anything.

NFL - Worlds Largest Stroller Parking Lot