Per Jim Hill, the Star Wars restaurant is coming.

[monothingie]

I have to disagree that Disneyland guests don’t know what Rise is...lots of them are locals and know EXACTLY what every new addition is.

Agree to disagree.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The fallacy here is it doesn’t need to be planned by WDI. It already was. They just need to approve building it when they are ready. WDI already designed it.

The way Disney handles project delivery, the chances of a complete set of construction documents just sitting on a shelf is almost nonexistent. Even then, they would most definitely have to be reviewed for programmatic and legal conformity.

 

[ToTBellHop]

The way Disney handles project delivery, the chances of a complete set of construction documents just sitting on a shelf is almost nonexistent. Even then, they would most definitely have to be reviewed for programmatic and legal conformity.

Of course. But it could be ready to go rather quickly. My point was the idea that a hold has been placed on all things Star Wars and that this will significantly impact when the restaurant is ready is incorrect. WDI is still working on our land, both RotTs, and a RotT for Paris. The extent of the Star Wars panic is “how can we convince people to go to Disneyland this month” because management never thinks ahead beyond this quarter. It’s not as though Trowbridge was drawing up a restaurant blueprint and Chapek knocked the pencil out of his hand.

The restaurant can be built within a year when they’re ready. Just like TSL.

 

[erasure fan1]

Both in Star Wars Land, or, in SWL and the resort?

In galaxys edge and over in epcot when they turn the seas into Camino.

There honestly is no "Star Wars problem". It'll be fine. Once they open the big ticket RotR, all will be good. We need to view these early months as previews.

I agree, as long as rise is the star wars home run we have been waiting for.

ive heard tons of youtubers and podcasters.. I haven't heard a negative word yet..

Heres the thing. You don't see a lot of outright negative. But you don't see people gushing all over it either. So for what peoples expectations are you would expect people losing their minds. I just haven't seen a lot of this is truly amazing. outside of the lands theming anyway.

How exactly is New Fantasyland "half baked"?

In my opinion I agree it's half baked. Mermaid is disjointed with an amazing queue. The mine train is themed fantastic but insanely underbuilt. As a whole, the land only really netted a new place to eat as both rides replaced closed attractions.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Glad to read about all the insider conflict. Makes for fascinating time on the forums. Thanks everyone!

 

[Bleed0range]

That's pretty darn naive. "Influencers" are given free trips, free tickets, free food, the opportunity to talk to celebrities, items of high value that they often sell, and if said "influencer" were to say negative things about the experience / product, that would be the last time they were invited.

Yeah I would want to keep getting free trips from Disney too. But that being said, I’ve noticed some bloggers just rarely have anything negative to say to begin with, like Tim Tracker... from even before he was comp’d by Disney. But I did notice he didn’t seem to be gushing over it as much as others and has rarely brought it up when it comes to the WDW version. He must not be that into it.

... also, is this table service restaurant actually happening or proven this is false?

 

[Surferboy567]

Yeah I would want to keep getting free trips from Disney too. But that being said, I’ve noticed some bloggers just rarely have anything negative to say to begin with, like Tim Tracker... from even before he was comp’d by Disney. But I did notice he didn’t seem to be gushing over it as much as others and has rarely brought it up when it comes to the WDW version. He must not be that into it.

... also, is this table service restaurant actually happening or proven this is false?

We don’t know on the table service, conflicting reports from different people.

 

[mikejs78]

Yeah I would want to keep getting free trips from Disney too. But that being said, I’ve noticed some bloggers just rarely have anything negative to say to begin with, like Tim Tracker... from even before he was comp’d by Disney. But I did notice he didn’t seem to be gushing over it as much as others and has rarely brought it up when it comes to the WDW version. He must not be that into it.

... also, is this table service restaurant actually happening or proven this is false?

Tim does say negative things about Disney. He also raved about the land the day he was there, said he thought Falcon was tons of fun and that the immersion was above Potter.. But why would he talk about it? He talks about the thing he is doing at any given time.

 

[mikejs78]

We don’t know on the table service, conflicting reports from different people.

Well, to be fair, one has been a trusted insider here for a while, and the other has an account that is a week old. Not saying that what he says isn't valid, but one needs to build a reputation. So I'd be more likely to take the report from the person who has a pretty good track record and an account longer than a week.

 

[Surferboy567]

Well, to be fair, one has been a trusted insider here for a while, and the other has an account that is a week old. Not saying that what he says isn't valid, but one needs to build a reputation. So I'd be more likely to take the report from the person who has a pretty good track record and an account longer than a week.

Yes, of course I wouldn’t of made the thread in the first place if I didn’t think this was gonna happen.

 

[Angry Warlock]

One specific limited quantity item selling out is not the same as merch across the board flying off the shelf.

Droid bags.....Lizzard monkey's .........3 different Legacy Lightsabres........Those ration box things that Luke used.........Most DIY droid customisation packs......Droid personality chips - and that's off the top of my head, have all had (or are having) shortages.

 

[Angry Warlock]

And another thing...Disney doesn’t bribe the bloggers. They are given free trips to report on a land they can say whatever they want to say. The feedback has been great on the land.

But would a bad review increase, or decrease their chance of further good content from Disney........There must be some assumed / implied influence unless the "influencer" is so popular it doesn't matter. I think you could count them on the fingers of 2 hands though.

 

[mikejs78]

But would a bad review increase, or decrease their chance of further good content from Disney........There must be some assumed / implied influence unless the "influencer" is so popular it doesn't matter. I think you could count them on the fingers of 2 hands though.

I've seen negative things from several people who get the freebies from Disney. I think Disney doesn't mind it as long as the person is cordial and respectful when giving bad feedback.

 

[TP2000]

What an interesting rumor from Jim Hill. While I think Bob Chapek made a huge mistake by cutting the supper club out of the budget (plus all the interactive entertainment because when I went to Star Wars Land last week the land felt dead and lifeless!), I am of the opinion that they know they are in a world of hurt with the crowd response to Star Wars in Disneyland and they've got to get a handle on the crowds or lack thereof before they greenlight any big money towards a fix.

They've also got to get the WDW version of the land opened first, and then get the Resistance ride open on both coasts, before they make long term investment decisions. I'm sure there are a couple dozen execs in full finger-pointing panic mode in Anaheim and Burbank and Glendale while Orlando watches from the sidelines in shock, but they can't be so stupid as to not take a breath first.

That said, the back of house land where this supper club was supposed to go is currently being used as overflow queue for whenever the Millennium Falcon line extends past the 45 minute mark (rarely). It's basically an employee parking lot decorated with cargo containers and strips of tarp, with views of Disneyland's industrial back of house buildings on the horizon. Like the rest of the land, music is forbidden here. You're on Batuu!

This begs the question, if they can't contain more than a 45 minute queue in a regular area when they aren't even running Fastpass on the Falcon ride, then where do they think they are going to put the extended queue when the big crowds eventually do show up and they turn on Fastpass? And how are they going to be able to give up this plot of land to construct a swanky supper club for the next two years?

 

[Villains0501]

How exactly is New Fantasyland "half baked"?

Feel free to disagree of course, and maybe it's just me, but don't the additions feel a bit hollow? Take the Beauty and the Beast area, for example. Beautiful exteriors, fantastic ambient music, but not a whole lot of substance. As someone in their mid-20s trying to plan a last-minute trip to Disney in late July, the BatB area is essentially superfluous to my itinerary as I'm too old and outside the target audience for the Belle M&G (which I have done once previously) and out of luck in terms of scoring a BOG reservation. The main weenie of the land, Beast's Castle, is inaccessible to me and anyone else without a reservation. Had they built a BatB castle walk-through or ride in addition to or instead of the restaurant, I'd be able to get my Beast fix without needing to pay to play. I guess I'll settle for a Gaston cinnamon roll, where being "half-baked" is ideal!

Likewise, with the Little Mermaid attraction, terrific queue and place setting, far from ideal dark ride storytelling. And as has been pointed out on here many times, the Mine Train is a shadow of what it should and could have been. I pretty much visit the circus area for the cupcakes in the jumbo tent. I do love the remodeled train station, though.

This isn't to say that having these kid and toddler-friendly attractions in NFL isn't great for some families. It is. I just find it a little too imbalanced for my tastes. I'm sure others agree.

TSL is a whole different set of problems, but as with NFL there are aspects of the land they got right.

Ok, apologies for the digression - carry on!

 

[Surferboy567]

What an interesting rumor from Jim Hill. While I think Bob Chapek made a huge mistake by cutting the supper club out of the budget (plus all the interactive entertainment because when I went to Star Wars Land last week the land felt dead and lifeless!), I am of the opinion that they know they are in a world of hurt with the crowd response to Star Wars in Disneyland and they've got to get a handle on the crowds or lack thereof before they greenlight any big money towards a fix.

They've also got to get the WDW version of the land opened first, and then get the Resistance ride open on both coasts, before they make long term investment decisions. I'm sure there are a couple dozen execs in full finger-pointing panic mode in Anaheim and Burbank and Glendale while Orlando watches from the sidelines in shock, but they can't be so stupid as to not take a breath first.

That said, the back of house land where this supper club was supposed to go is currently being used as overflow queue for whenever the Millennium Falcon line extends past the 45 minute mark (rarely). It's basically an employee parking lot decorated with cargo containers and strips of tarp, with views of Disneyland's industrial back of house buildings on the horizon. Like the rest of the land, music is forbidden here. You're on Batuu!

View attachment 386268

This begs the question, if they can't contain more than a 45 minute queue in a regular area when they aren't even running Fastpass on the Falcon ride, then where do they think they are going to put the extended queue when the big crowds eventually do show up and they turn on Fastpass? And how are they going to be able to give up this plot of land to construct a swanky supper club for the next two years?

I see no reason why they wouldn’t

 

[bstiles]

Do we think the weak attendance is due to another round of price increases? Has the market finally adjusted itself where people think yea I'm not paying that much for less of a product that I have been getting over the past 10 years for a way cheaper price that I used to pay?

 

[mikejs78]

Do we think the weak attendance is due to another round of price increases? Has the market finally adjusted itself where people think yea I'm not paying that much for less of a product that I have been getting over the past 10 years for a way cheaper price that I used to pay?

That's my theory. Why pay $150 per person when I can go in Sept and save $20/person? For a family of 4, that's a difference of $80....

 

[WDW Pro]

Of course. But it could be ready to go rather quickly. My point was the idea that a hold has been placed on all things Star Wars and that this will significantly impact when the restaurant is ready is incorrect. WDI is still working on our land, both RotTs, and a RotT for Paris. The extent of the Star Wars panic is “how can we convince people to go to Disneyland this month” because management never thinks ahead beyond this quarter. It’s not as though Trowbridge was drawing up a restaurant blueprint and Chapek knocked the pencil out of his hand.

The restaurant can be built within a year when they’re ready. Just like TSL.

This is a semantic argument now. You and I both agree that WDI is working to complete RotR for DLR, the entire SW:GE for WDW, and work is ongoing in Paris. We both agree that Phase 2 for both WDW and DLR is not green lit. We both agree that the footprint, utility connections, and facade for a future restaurant were conceptualized for Phase 2. You have insinuated that the interior and everything else is already out of iteration, and I have not heard that at all outside of your statement. It seems then, that we both agree that the Jim Hill "leak" is false.

Yeah I would want to keep getting free trips from Disney too. But that being said, I’ve noticed some bloggers just rarely have anything negative to say to begin with, like Tim Tracker... from even before he was comp’d by Disney. But I did notice he didn’t seem to be gushing over it as much as others and has rarely brought it up when it comes to the WDW version. He must not be that into it.

... also, is this table service restaurant actually happening or proven this is false?

Tim is rather unique and seems to be a very forthright YouTuber. Now that said, the more unscrupulous tend to be the ones tied to corporate sites; not only do they want to be invited back, but their companies have a vested interest in the influencer garnering more trips for the company. I don't want to look it up right now (if you can't yourself I can in the morning), but I have definitely seen -- and it's public knowledge -- that Disney will stop inviting influencers to events, even blackballing them, if they give a negative review.

Well, to be fair, one has been a trusted insider here for a while, and the other has an account that is a week old. Not saying that what he says isn't valid, but one needs to build a reputation. So I'd be more likely to take the report from the person who has a pretty good track record and an account longer than a week.

I think you would find it interesting if you look at some of the people liking my posts.

What an interesting rumor from Jim Hill. While I think Bob Chapek made a huge mistake by cutting the supper club out of the budget (plus all the interactive entertainment because when I went to Star Wars Land last week the land felt dead and lifeless!), I am of the opinion that they know they are in a world of hurt with the crowd response to Star Wars in Disneyland and they've got to get a handle on the crowds or lack thereof before they greenlight any big money towards a fix.

They've also got to get the WDW version of the land opened first, and then get the Resistance ride open on both coasts, before they make long term investment decisions. I'm sure there are a couple dozen execs in full finger-pointing panic mode in Anaheim and Burbank and Glendale while Orlando watches from the sidelines in shock, but they can't be so stupid as to not take a breath first.

That said, the back of house land where this supper club was supposed to go is currently being used as overflow queue for whenever the Millennium Falcon line extends past the 45 minute mark (rarely). It's basically an employee parking lot decorated with cargo containers and strips of tarp, with views of Disneyland's industrial back of house buildings on the horizon. Like the rest of the land, music is forbidden here. You're on Batuu!

View attachment 386268

This begs the question, if they can't contain more than a 45 minute queue in a regular area when they aren't even running Fastpass on the Falcon ride, then where do they think they are going to put the extended queue when the big crowds eventually do show up and they turn on Fastpass? And how are they going to be able to give up this plot of land to construct a swanky supper club for the next two years?

Couple of things:
1) The fact they are lining guests in backstage areas is completely and utterly against company policy and I have no idea who is directing it be used in that way or why.
2) In DLR (not WDW), that area is not where the restaurant would go. The restaurant would go in the SW section of the Resistance area (unless they have changed it since my last time seeing plans). That area you're referring to is one of the last remaining attraction expansion pads accessible for future DLR additions, so it's unlikely they would have moved the restaurant plans there again. It is possible, but I would say unlikely.

 

[mikejs78]

I think you would find it interesting if you look at some of the people liking my posts.

That is interesting - and my comment was not meant in any way to disrespect you. It's just natural to be skeptical unless someone has a proven track record - there have been many people who claimed insider status who really didn't know much.